Each year, hundreds of booksellers across the South vote on their favorite "handsell" books of the year. These are the "Southern" books they have most enjoyed selling to customers; the ones that they couldn't stop talking about. The Southern Book Prize was created to recognize great books of southern origin.

What books can be nominated?

For a book to be eligible, it must be set in the South, or the author must be Southern (preferably both) and it must have been published within the previous calendar year.

Who can nominate a book?

Books are nominated by SIBA-member booksellers.

Deadlines

• October 1: Nominations close
• November 1: Finalists announced
• November 1 - February 1: Booksellers and readers vote on finalists
• February 14: Winners announced!