James Baker Hall Book Award
Year and Genre
James Baker Hall Book Award
Results
2024
Poetry
2025
Short Fiction
2026
Creative Nonfiction
2027
Poetry
Submission Window
May 1 – June 30, 2024
No submission fee
Author Qualification
Emerging Kentucky author*, over 18 years-old
Manuscript
Poetry collection of at least 50 pages previously unpublished
Announcement & Presentation
September 2024
Winner and 3 Finalists
$3,000 honorarium, Accents publication contract, KYOTR series ground expense
Publication & Launch
KYOTR Series
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
Judge
Toni Ann Johnson
Submission Window
April 1 – June 30, 2025
No submission fee
Author Qualification
Open to all Kentucky authors* over 18 years
Manuscript
Short Story Collection Previously unpublished
Announcement & Presentation
October 2025
Winner and 3 Finalists announced
November 1, 2025
Presentation at the Kentucky Book Fair, Lexington
Publication & Launch
Spring, 2026
Publication
April 8, 2026 Launch at
Joseph Beth Booksellers, Lexington
KYOTR Series
May – November 2026
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
Judge
Richard Taylor
Submission Window
April 1 – June 30
Author Qualification
Kentucky author*, over 18 years of age
Manuscript
Full-length work of Creative Nonfiction
Announcement & Presentation
Fall announcement
November presentation to Winner and 3 Finalists
Publication & Launch
Spring 2027 publication
May 2027 Launch
KYOTR Series
June – November 2027
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
Judge
TBD
Submission Window
TBD
Author Qualification
Kentucky author*, over 18 years-old
Manuscript
TBD
Announcement & Presentation
TBD
Publication & Launch
KYOTR Series
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
2024
2025
2026
2027
Award for Poetry
Wesley Houp
Strung Out Along the Endless Branch
Award for Short Fiction
Willie Davis
Honeysuckle Season
Award for Creative Nonfiction
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Award for Poetry
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