Monday, September 14, 2009
Persons wishing to apply for the Wyoming Arts Council’s Neltje Blanchan and Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Writing Awards are reminded that the postmark deadline for applications is October 30.

The $1,000 Blanchn Award is given to a wroter whose work, in any literary genre, is inspired by nature. The $1,000 Doubleday Award is given to the best manuscript submitted by a woman author.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a Wyoming resident.

The competition is sponsored by the Wyoming Arts Council and funded by artist and arts patron Neltje of Banner.

The judge for this year’s competition is Aaron A. Abeyta, a poet, novelist and professor of English at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo. His first poetry collection, “Colcha,” received both an American Book Award and the Colorado Book Award. His second book of poetry, “As Orion Falls,” was published by Ghost Road Press in Denver.

Abeyta’s first novel, “Rise, Do Not Be Afraid,” was published in 2007 by Ghost Road Press. He is the recipient of a Colorado Council on the Arts fellowship for poetry. He earned a Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing from Colorado State University.

Get a printable application and guidelines at the WAC web site, wyoarts.state.wy.us. For more information, contact Michael Shay, 307-777-5234.

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