FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Benjamin Thompson
thompson@boaeditions.org
BOA Editions, Ltd.
250 North Goodman Street, Suite 306
Rochester, NY 14607
BOA Editions Announces Call for Submissions for Blessing the Boats Selections
Rochester, NY — June 4, 2024 — BOA Editions, Ltd. is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for Blessing the Boats Selections, an initiative that spotlights poetry collections by women of color. This selection of books, named in honor of Lucille Clifton’s National Book Award-winning collection, Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems, seeks to celebrate and amplify the poetic voices of women of color.
One selected poet will receive:
* Book publication by BOA Editions, Ltd. in Fall 2026
* A $5,000 honorarium
Blessing the Boats Selections Editor-at-Large, Aracelis Girmay, will review all submissions and choose the final manuscript for publication. Blessing the Boats Selections is committed to fostering a space that celebrates and supports the literary contributions of women of color, including poets who identify as cis, trans, and non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers on women’s experiences, regardless of citizenship and publication history.
"We are honored and humbled to continue cultivating the distinguished tradition begun with Blessing the Boats Selections," said Peter Conners, Executive Director & Publisher of BOA Editions. "Now in its 4th year, Blessing the Boats Selections continues to facilitate encounters between readers and the writers of some of the most extraordinary texts of our time.”
Submissions are accepted via Submittable or by mail, and there is no submission fee. The deadline for receiving submissions is July 14, 2024.The winning manuscript will be announced in Fall 2025 and published in Fall 2026 as part of the American Poets Continuum Series.
For more details, including information on how to submit your manuscript, please visit: https://www.boaeditions.org/pages/blessing-the-boats-selections
About BOA Editions, Ltd.:
BOA Editions, Ltd. is a Rochester-based, independent, nonprofit publisher committed to fostering the work of contemporary poets and authors. Since its founding in 1976, BOA has published over 300 American poetry books and remains dedicated to promoting literary excellence and diversity. For more information visit: www.boaeditions.org
