Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
International Latino Book Awards: A Contest or a
Scam?
Scam?
Editorial
April 15, 2006 - According to the mission of the Latino Literacy Now, the Latino Book Awards was
established in 1999, “in recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by
publishers and writers worldwide.” The non-profit organization, created to support and promote literacy
and literary excellence within the Latino community, states that due to the dramatic increase of
nominations from Latin America and even Spain, the contest has recently added the word “International”
to its title.
This year, according to Jim Sullivan, Latino Literacy Now Executive Director, the nominations for the 8th
Annual International Latino Book Awards, reached a record of 175 entries. The deadline for submissions
was March 17. In his press release, Sullivan indicates that due to the high number of entries for one of
the contest’s categories, Best First Book, the organizers needed to split it in two, to accommodate both
English and Spanish language titles. The award ceremony will take place on May 20th at the Washington
Convention Center, at the nations’ capital, and within the context of the Book Expo America, an event
that promises to attract hundreds of visitors.
What seems to be an important and respected contest, may be in question. An e-mail inquiry sent by the
Hispanic Institute of Social Issues, publishers of BARRIOZONA, to Sullivan, revealed a rather shocking fact
about this book contest: the organizers do not notify any participants who may have won the contest
until the night of the ceremony. Sullivan’s e-mail to HISI’s question bluntly read: “Winners are announced
at the awards ceremony and not beforehand.”
Sullivan’s response means more than just a surprise factor, similar to that of an Oscar’s awards
ceremony. The RSVP for the awards ceremony section on the call for nominations’ flyer, also offers the
option to receive “information on being a sponsor for this event.” It also includes “information on exhibiting
or being a sponsor at the 2006 Latino Book & Family Festival,” to take place in very key cities in the U.S.
Phoenix, Arizona, a participant city for at least the last four years, was removed from this tour. Is it
possible that sponsors and exhibitors have a greater chance of winning this contest?
The implicit message from Sullivan’s press release and e-mail to HISI’s staff, is that some publishers and
writers who nominated their works for this annual contest, will have to invest a significant amount of
money just to attend this event, without prior notification if their books were even selected. We are
talking about an event that has been deemed by the same organizers as “international,” so publishers
or writers who may have submitted their literary works from Latin American nations, and perhaps, Spain,
may need to invest a little fortune just to attend this event.
Any contest aspiring to be taken seriously and to be respected, can't afford to do this to those who
enthusiastically responded to their call for nominations. The 14th Annual Writer’s Digest International
Book Awards, for instance, not only openly publishes its rules and describes the prizes, but also
establishes that “all winners will be notified by October 9th.” Another example is the Delacorte Press Book
Contest. They again clearly establish their rules, as well as announce that “winners will be notified by
phone by October 1st.”
Apparently, the International Latino Book Awards does not have written and clear rules. Nor do they
specify what the prize actually is. This doesn’t only take credibility away from Latino Literacy Now, but
questions their true intent as well. If contestants are not notified previously to the awards ceremony,
this can be interpreted to mean that only those who can afford to attend, or who may be in a financial
position to sponsor this event, will be the winners. The organizers have not disclosed who the judges
are, and when their verdict will be reached. These factors place a big shadow of doubt upon the
organizers’ motives, undermines the endorsement of Edward James Olmos, who is associated with this
award, and reduces what is supposed to be a literary event into a commercial and potentially
manipulated event.
From the financial aspect, this award can actually be more costly than worthy to obtain. And this is only
applicable to those who actually will win. Flying from the west coast or a Latin American country to
Washington D.C., lodging costs, the $50.00 entry fee, plus the cost of five books required to enter the
contest, can represent a high expense to afford, in exchange for a prize that may not be, after all, a
prestigious one to win.
The Latino Literacy Now organization has time to correct this. They should notify winners before May 20,
2006. Of course, this will happen only if the organizers have a genuine desire to promote literacy and
literary excellence. Otherwise, more than a contest, the International Latino Book Awards may be
considered a scam.
established in 1999, “in recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by
publishers and writers worldwide.” The non-profit organization, created to support and promote literacy
and literary excellence within the Latino community, states that due to the dramatic increase of
nominations from Latin America and even Spain, the contest has recently added the word “International”
to its title.
This year, according to Jim Sullivan, Latino Literacy Now Executive Director, the nominations for the 8th
Annual International Latino Book Awards, reached a record of 175 entries. The deadline for submissions
was March 17. In his press release, Sullivan indicates that due to the high number of entries for one of
the contest’s categories, Best First Book, the organizers needed to split it in two, to accommodate both
English and Spanish language titles. The award ceremony will take place on May 20th at the Washington
Convention Center, at the nations’ capital, and within the context of the Book Expo America, an event
that promises to attract hundreds of visitors.
What seems to be an important and respected contest, may be in question. An e-mail inquiry sent by the
Hispanic Institute of Social Issues, publishers of BARRIOZONA, to Sullivan, revealed a rather shocking fact
about this book contest: the organizers do not notify any participants who may have won the contest
until the night of the ceremony. Sullivan’s e-mail to HISI’s question bluntly read: “Winners are announced
at the awards ceremony and not beforehand.”
Sullivan’s response means more than just a surprise factor, similar to that of an Oscar’s awards
ceremony. The RSVP for the awards ceremony section on the call for nominations’ flyer, also offers the
option to receive “information on being a sponsor for this event.” It also includes “information on exhibiting
or being a sponsor at the 2006 Latino Book & Family Festival,” to take place in very key cities in the U.S.
Phoenix, Arizona, a participant city for at least the last four years, was removed from this tour. Is it
possible that sponsors and exhibitors have a greater chance of winning this contest?
The implicit message from Sullivan’s press release and e-mail to HISI’s staff, is that some publishers and
writers who nominated their works for this annual contest, will have to invest a significant amount of
money just to attend this event, without prior notification if their books were even selected. We are
talking about an event that has been deemed by the same organizers as “international,” so publishers
or writers who may have submitted their literary works from Latin American nations, and perhaps, Spain,
may need to invest a little fortune just to attend this event.
Any contest aspiring to be taken seriously and to be respected, can't afford to do this to those who
enthusiastically responded to their call for nominations. The 14th Annual Writer’s Digest International
Book Awards, for instance, not only openly publishes its rules and describes the prizes, but also
establishes that “all winners will be notified by October 9th.” Another example is the Delacorte Press Book
Contest. They again clearly establish their rules, as well as announce that “winners will be notified by
phone by October 1st.”
Apparently, the International Latino Book Awards does not have written and clear rules. Nor do they
specify what the prize actually is. This doesn’t only take credibility away from Latino Literacy Now, but
questions their true intent as well. If contestants are not notified previously to the awards ceremony,
this can be interpreted to mean that only those who can afford to attend, or who may be in a financial
position to sponsor this event, will be the winners. The organizers have not disclosed who the judges
are, and when their verdict will be reached. These factors place a big shadow of doubt upon the
organizers’ motives, undermines the endorsement of Edward James Olmos, who is associated with this
award, and reduces what is supposed to be a literary event into a commercial and potentially
manipulated event.
From the financial aspect, this award can actually be more costly than worthy to obtain. And this is only
applicable to those who actually will win. Flying from the west coast or a Latin American country to
Washington D.C., lodging costs, the $50.00 entry fee, plus the cost of five books required to enter the
contest, can represent a high expense to afford, in exchange for a prize that may not be, after all, a
prestigious one to win.
The Latino Literacy Now organization has time to correct this. They should notify winners before May 20,
2006. Of course, this will happen only if the organizers have a genuine desire to promote literacy and
literary excellence. Otherwise, more than a contest, the International Latino Book Awards may be
considered a scam.
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