“Real success is finding your lifework
in the work that you love.”

—David McCullough

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award

Submit a First Novel

The VCU Cabell Award Committee is eager to discover another rising star. Please have your editor or publicist send us your work, or feel free to send it yourself!

Deadlines

Books published January–June 2012:
     September 14, 2012

Books published July–December 2012:
     January 14, 2013

The Winner will be announced in June 2013.

How to Submit

Send three copies for review, with complete contact information, to:

     VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
     Department of English

     900 Park Avenue
     Hibbs Hall, Room 306
     P.O. Box 842005

     Richmond, VA 23284-2005

Rules for Submission

  1. The submission must be the author’s first novel, published in calendar year 2012.
  2. The U.S.A. must be the country of first publication.
  3. The author may have published or produced previous work in a different genre or form, such as poetry or short stories; the submission must be his or her first novel.
  4. No self-published novels can be considered.
  5. Books available in e-format only are not eligible.
  6. While books with crossover audience appeal may be considered, we reserve the right to eliminate those with a primary audience of young (YA or middle-grade) readers.
  7. The author must agree to attend the Award events, usually scheduled in November.

For updates and special features, please visit our blog and our Facebook page. Read about the Award for a more detailed history.