HHKBA Submissions
Award Schedule
2026 Best Fiction (novel or collection of short stories)
2027 Best Literary Nonfiction (memoir, essays, journalistic writing)
2028 Best Poetry (collection of poems of at least 60 pages)
2029 Best Fiction
2030 Best Literary Nonfiction
2031 Best Poetry
continuing to alternate every three years
2026 Fiction Award Guidelines
Both novels and short-story collections are eligible.
Nominations can come from publishers, authors, or anyone interested in seeing a book considered. Only one book per author may be submitted.
Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim.
There is no entry fee. Please submit two signed copies of each book nominated. These books become the property of the Thomas Fox Averill Kansas Studies Collection.
Books must have an original publication date (copyright notice) within the three calendar years immediately preceding the year of the competition deadline. To be eligible for the 2026 Fiction award, the nominee’s book must have a publication date of 2023, 2024, or 2025.
Previous awardees are eligible to submit a new book.
Nominations for this year’s award must be postmarked or presented by February 17, 2026.
Along with a statement of Kansas connection, author email, phone number, and postal address, please submit books for consideration to:
Awards
c/o Thomas Fox Averill Kansas Studies Collection
University Library
1700 College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
2026 Fiction Award Judge
This year’s judge will be 2023 HHKBA Fiction winner Catherine Browder, author of Resurrection City (Willow Springs Books).
