I don't have that kind of entry fee money, but you might

Thank you to all participants in the inaugural Virginia Kirkus Literary Award. The finalists have been announced and contacted.

The second annual Virginia Kirkus Literary Award is officially underway!

Deadline: January 1, 2007
Early-Entry Deadline: October 31, 2006
Fee: $135 until October 31, $165 after

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND REGISTRATION FORM

Kirkus Reviews, the leading pre-publication book-review journal, has officially launched its second year of the annual search for the Next Big Literary Star. "For this project, Kirkus has turned its well-known abilities in the area of literary criticism and analysis to finding a brand-new voice," said Jerome Kramer, Kirkus Reviews Editor-in-Chief. "You might call it American Idol for the book world."

Kirkus is now accepting submissions for the 2006-2007 literary award, with the winning manuscript to be published by a major New York publisher. To enter your completed yet unpublished, full-length (45,000+ words) novel or short-story collection, please follow the submission guidelines for a chance to win a publishing contract.

Over the past seven decades, Kirkus has reviewed nearly 400,000 books, many of which have gone on to become classics of American literature. This literary competition serves to honor the legendary Virginia Kirkus, the founder of Kirkus Reviews, who had an eye for identifying "sleepers"—books not likely to otherwise receive the attention they deserved.

2006-2007 VIRGINIA KIRKUS LITERARY AWARD

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

DEADLINE: January 1, 2007

Full-length (45,000+ words) first novels and short-story collections will be accepted, provided they have never been published and are not under contract for publication.
If you have had a short story published in a literary journal or other publication, your work is still eligible for entry. However, if you have previously published or self-published a novel or short-story collection, your work is NOT eligible.
English translations may be submitted, again so long as they have never been published and are not under contract for publication.
Submission Fees: $135 before October 31, 2006; $165 after
Please submit TWO copies of your manuscript in a single package or box.
Submissions should be double-spaced and printed on 8½ x 11 white paper (two-sided printing is permitted), bound on the left side, using one of the following bindings (do NOT use rubber bands or a three-ring binder):
Spiral-binding
Comb-binding
Fast-binding
Plastic coil-binding
In addition to the order form below, please include ONE page with the following information:
Full contact information, including email address
Plot summary
Author biography
For notification of the arrival of your manuscript, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.
Please note that due to the volume of submissions, manuscripts will NOT be returned to the author.
NOTE: Failure to follow the submission guidelines could result in disqualification.