Open to submissions from publishers and agents only.

The PEN/Beyond Margins Awards invites submissions of book-length writings by authors of color, published in the United States during the current calendar year. The Beyond Margins Awards were created by PEN American Center's Open Book Committee, a group committed to racial and ethnic diversity within the literary and publishing communities. The awards confer five $1,000 prizes upon authors of color who have not received wide media coverage. U.S. residency or citizenship is not required. Works of fiction, literary nonfiction, biography/memoir and other works of literary character are strongly preferred.

Past winners: Laila Halaby, Suki Kim, Nasdijj, Willie Perdomo, April Reynolds, Meena Alexander, Luis Francia, Joy Harjo, Victor LaValle, Nelly Rosario, Faith Adiele,
Raquel Cepeda, Lan Samantha Chang, Lolita Hernandez, Ishle Yi Park, Richard Blanco, Andrew Lam, Ed-Bok Lee, Caryl Phillips, Jennifer Tseng, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ernest Hardy, Harryette Mullen, and Alberto Ríos

Deadline: Nominations must be received between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. Early submissions are strongly recommended.

Please mail three copies of the candidate's book, a completed submission form, and a $50 entry fee to:

PEN/Beyond Margins Award
PEN American Center
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012