2025 Award Snapshot

In 2025 the Maya Angelou Book Award will be given to a work of poetry. Fiction submissions are not eligible for the 2025 award.

Submissions open: January 15, 2025
Submissions close: April 1, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT
Announcement of winner: Fall 2025
Book tour and ceremony: Spring 2026

For Writers

Each year, one writer will win $10,000, conduct a reading tour of partner colleges, universities and libraries, and be recognized in a ceremony sponsored by the Kansas City Public Library, the University of Missouri and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Eligibility

• Entries must come from publishers. Authors may not submit their works independently.
• Works with a publication date in 2024 or a scheduled publication date through November 2025 are eligible.
• Only full-length poetry collections will be considered.
• We are currently unable to consider translations.
• Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the United States.
• Entrants must be available for a two-week reading tour at partnering educational institutions in Missouri. The award winner and partner institutions will collaborate on the tour schedule.
• Entrants must not be employees of a Missouri college or university that co-sponsors this award, or an employee of the Kansas City Public Library.
• Publishers may be asked for additional physical copies of titles that are selected for the shortlist.
• Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. CDT on April 1, 2025. Please note that entries are not considered complete until an electronic manuscript has been received by the committee.

Partners

• Kansas City Public Library
• Missouri State University
• Northwest Missouri State University
• Southeast Missouri State University
• Truman State University
• University of Missouri - Columbia
• UMKC - The Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair in Continuing Education