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On April 1, the National Book Foundation announced the opening of submissions for the 71st National Book Awards. The Foundation also announced its 25 judges for this year’s Awards, in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.
“We are honored to present this year’s judging panels,” said Lisa Lucas, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “The panelists who have opted into reading during a time when normal processes are upended, and so much is in flux, are providing a service to the arts and publishing community and readers everywhere. We thank these well-read, creative, and incredibly dedicated literary citizens.”
This year’s judges include writers, booksellers, academics, critics, editors, and translators from across the country. Panelists include a National Book Award Winner; National Book Award Finalists and Longlisted authors; a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 author; three Pulitzer Prize finalists; an Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence winner and finalist; a Whiting Award winner, a PEN/Jean Stein Award winner; an Anisfield-Wolf Award winner; recipients of Guggenheim Fellowships, professors, critics, arts nonprofits directors, and bookstore owners.
The judges for the 2020 National Book Awards will select 50 Longlist titles, 10 per category, which will be announced mid-September. There will be 25 Finalists, to be announced on October 6. Winners in all five categories will be announced at the 71st National Book Awards in November.
You can find the judges’ full bios here.
