Do you or someone you know write for middle grade or young adult readers? Are you an unpublished writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer hoping to break into the publishing industry for the first time?
Don’t miss this terrific opportunity to have your work considered for publication by a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent.
Submissions for our New Visions Award are open from now through June 30, 2024.
This contest is open to writers of color and Indigenous/Native writers who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a middle grade, young adult or graphic novel published. It’s one way Lee & Low Books uplifts historically marginalized voices in the predominantly white children’s book industry.
Submissions are evaluated on originality, strength of voice, appeal to readers between the ages of 8 to 18, and thought-provoking themes.
The winner receives a standard publication contract, including Lee & Low Books’s basic royalties for a first-time author and an advance in the amount of $15,000.
Previous New Visions winners include Ink and Ashes by Valynne Maetani, an Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Young Adult honor book; Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh, which received three starred reviews; and Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People with two starred reviews.
Watch Shaping Up Your Manuscript: A Conversation With Our Editors for more specific information on what we’re looking for in the craft department. Check out these Frequently Asked Questions about the award.
Visit the New Visions Award page for complete rules and guidelines.
It’s September! And with the opening of a new school year comes the closing of the 
readers? If so, we encourage you to submit your manuscript to LEE & LOW’s annual writing contests. Our well-established contests
Inglewood, California, is the winner of the company’s fifteenth annual New Voices Award. Her manuscript, Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee, is a picture book biography of James Van Der Zee, an African American photographer best known for his portraits of famous and little known New Yorkers during the Harlem Renaissance. From a young age, James Van Der Zee longed to share his vision of the world with others. When he discovered photography, this dream became a reality. Over many years, James worked hard to build his own business, where he specialized in highlighting the black middle class of Harlem, an aspect of American society rarely showcased at the time. 