The New Zealand Book Awards Trust has announced that submissions are now open for the 2018 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, which promote excellence in and provide recognition for, the best books published annually in New Zealand. Books published between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017 will be considered for the 2018 awards.

There are two submission dates. Publishers are asked to observe the guidelines for sending entries in two tranches, which are in place for ease of sending to judges. Submissions for titles published between 1 January 2017 and 31 August 2017 are now open and will close 5pm Monday, 4 September 2017.

Submissions of titles published between 1 September 2017 and 31 December 2017 open on Tuesday 5 September and close 5pm on Thursday, 5 October 2017.

For books in the second tranche, bound page proofs will be accepted where books publishing in October, November or December are not yet printed at the time the submissions close. Finished books in these cases must arrive with the Awards Administrator, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards c/- Auckland Writers Festival, Suite 9A Wellesley Centre, 44-52 Wellesley Street, Auckland 1010 by 5pm on Thursday, 2 November 2017.

The judges of the 2018 Ockham New Zealand Book awards will be named in late August.

Click here for eligibility criteria and a Call for Entries information pack, then enter online here.

All entries must be submitted online at www.nzbookawards.nz and fees paid by credit card via the online submission form.

For any further enquiries, please email Ockham Awards Administrator Chris Chan at awards@nzbookawards.org.nz.