Nomination period opens for High Plains Book Awards

Nominations for the 2024 High Plains Book Awards are being accepted through March 8. Winners will receive $500.

Book categories are Fiction, Nonfiction, Short Stories, Poetry, Memoir/Creative Nonfiction, Art and Photography, Children’s Picture Book, Children’s Middle Grade Book, Young Adult, First Book, Indigenous Writer, Woman Writer and the Big Sky Award. The Big Sky Award is given to a book written by a full-time Montana resident who is nominated in at least one other category. Eligible books must be published for the time in 2023 and copies provided in print format. Digital-only published books are not eligible.

The High Plains Book Awards, which was established by the Billings Public Library Board of Directors, recognize regional authors and literary works that examine and reflect on life in the High Plains region. This region covers Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Canadian provinces Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Four community readers will read and evaluate books to determine category finalists. Finalists will be announced in June. A panel of published writers, with connections to the High Plains region, will determine the winners. Winners will be announced during an October awards ceremony in Billings. 

For more information visit www.highplainsbookawards.org or contact High Plains Book Awards President Shari Nault at 672-6223 or sharinault3@gmail.com.