📌 About the Event

The Ann Petry Award seeks to discover and elevate outstanding prosebe it a novel, a novella, or a collection of short stories written by Black authors. It is a unique annual mission to bridge the gap between talented underrepresented writers and the global publishing industry, ensuring that diverse stories reach the readers they deserve. Named after the legendary Ann Petry, the first Black woman to sell over a million copies of a novel, this award honors her legacy by providing a transformative platform for authors who are ready to take their place in the literary canon.

---

ℹ️ Event Details

• Category: Arts and Culture / Language and Humanities / Academic
• Organizer: Red Hen Press and Peauxdunque Writers Alliance
• Eligibility: Open to all Black writers who have not previously published a book with Red Hen Press.
• Fest Type: Annual Award
• Edition: 2026 Cycle (Judged by Lisa Teasley)
• Effort Level: Very High (Requires a full manuscript)
• Submission Type: Online via Submittable (Unpublished prose manuscript of 150+ pages / ~25,000 words)

---

📅 Important Dates

• Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Mode: Online (Submissions)
• Venue: Virtual (Administered by Red Hen Press, Los Angeles)

---

🏆 Highlights and Prize Details

• Prize Pool: $3,000 Cash and Professional Publication
• Top Event Prize: $3,000 award plus a standard royalty contract with Red Hen Press.
• Certificates: Official award recognition and announcement in the Peauxdunque Review.
• Residency: A four-week residency at The Community Library’s Ernest and Mary Hemingway House in Ketchum, Idaho.

---

🎯 What You Will Experience

• Professional Vetting: Your work is winnowed by the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance before reaching the final judge.
• Anonymized Review: To ensure total integrity, all manuscripts are submitted to judges without any identifying material.
• Traditional Publishing Journey: Experience the full lifecycle of a book, from manuscript selection to international distribution.
• Community Engagement: If you accept the residency, you will engage with the local community in Idaho through public readings and programs.

---

📦 How to Register

• Prepare Your Manuscript: Ensure your work is at least 150 double-spaced pages in 12pt Times New Roman.
• Remove Identifying Info: Strip your name, bio, and acknowledgments from the manuscript file.
• Submit Online: Upload your work and a cover letter (including bio) via the Red Hen Press Submittable portal.
• No Fee: There is no submission fee for the Ann Petry Award.