New Voices in Children's Literature: Tassy Walden Awards Seeks Unpublished Writers & Illustrators of Children's Books

 Illustration by Marcella Staudenmaier

New Voices in Children’s Literature: 14^th Tassy Walden Awards is seeking unpublished writers and illustrators of children's books.  This annual competition encourages and nurtures the creation of exceptional quality books for children of Connecticut residents.  This exciting book awards program has seen the successful publishing of 18 writers and/or illustrators and will be accepting entries for this year’s contest until February 3, 2014 in the categories of Picture Book (text only), Illustrated Picture Book, Children's Book Illustrator’s Portfolio, Middle Grade Novel and Young Adult/Teen Novel.  An award of $250 may be presented in each category as judged by publishing industry experts.  The winners and honorable mention recognition are determined at the discretion of the judges. 

Call for Entry guidelines and forms, as well as additional information on preparing manuscripts and portfolios, are available here or by calling 203-453-3890.  All submissions to the New Voices in Children’s Literature competition must adhere to Call for Entry requirements and will be evaluated pursuant to children’s book publishing industry standards and guidelines in a two-tier process.  Nationally recognized literary agents will make the initial selection of submission finalists in each award category after which acclaimed editors will determine the awardees.  All applicants will be notified of the judges’ decisions in early May.  

In order to provide encouragement and guidance to unpublished authors and illustrators, the Shoreline Arts Alliance in collaboration with public libraries and schools, will be offering workshops to address submission requirements and steps to publication.  Workshops are currently scheduled at 7pm on Tuesday, October 22 at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme; 2pm on Saturday, October 26 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown; 6pm on Tuesday, October 29 at New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven; and 7pm on Wednesday, October 30 at Welles-Turner Memorial Library, 2407 Main Street, Glastonbury. RSVP requested for attendees to tassy@shorelinearts.org or 203-453-3890. 

These workshops are open to the public and free to attend and are facilitated by published children's authors and illustrators and award winners of the New Voices in Children's Literature competition. The workshops provide potential entrants with guidance in preparing Tassy Walden Award submissions according to the entry requirements; provide insight into the standards of the children's book publishing industry; and answer questions about this field and writing and illustrating for an audience of children.

For call for entry forms and additional information forms click here.  Read more.

Katherine “Tassy” Walden (1913 – 2008) for whom these awards are named will long be remembered for her outstanding dedication and contributions toward the betterment of the Shoreline community.  Tassy’s volunteerism and primary interests were in the fields of education, theatre and social services, especially as those programs enhanced and enriched the lives of children.  As we commemorate the 14^th anniversary of these awards we also remember and celebrate the incredible life of its namesake.