Mary Hunter Austin Book Award A project of Port Yonder Press (see other related projects). Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (September 2019). We provide the following information as an archive. About Mary Hunter Austin was a prolific novelist, poet, critic, and playwright, as well as an early feminist and defender of Native American and Spanish-American rights. She is best known for her tribute to the deserts of California, The Land of Little Rain (1903). Austin was part of the cultural circle that included Jack London, Sinclair Lewis, Nora May French, Alice MacGowan, Harry Leon Wilson, George Sterling, and Xavier Martinez. We are naming this award in honor of her and her multitude accomplishments. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. Country of Publication United States Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationUnknown contest frequency Collapse section Fiction Closed Contemporary westerns, mountains culture, southern culture (or other place-based culture), mystery, spy, speculative fiction, hybrid works, cross-genre, etc. Lyric works especially welcome.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Open to all/most Genres (Excluding: Erotica), including: Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Cross-Genre Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Cross-Genre Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Cross-Genre Western Subgenres: Contemporary, Cross-GenreLengths: Novelette: 12,500 - 15,000 words. Novella: 15,000 - 40,000 words. Fiction Collection: 12,500 - 75,000 words. Novel: 40,000 - 75,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Place/Regions: Specific region. Other: See guidelines.Winner's Prize:Semi-pro advance (US$200-1999) + Unknown royalties Semi-pro advance (US$200-1999). Unknown royalties.Note: We list broad pay categories rather than prize specifics. Check with the publisher for details.Submissions:Method: Electronic submissions. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Unknown.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Closed Essay collections, prose poetry collections, nature writing, environment, focus on Midwest, Southwest, Plains states, Northwest, Deep South, Rocky or Appalachian Mountains culture (or any strongly place-based culture), woodswoman/woodsman (think Anne Labastille or Thoreau's Walden), hybrid works, cross-genre, etc. Lyric works especially welcome.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Nonfiction Collection: 12,500 - 75,000 words. Book: 12,500 - 75,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Nature/Environment: General, Environmental issues, Nature. Place/Regions: Specific region. Society/Culture: See guidelines. Sports/Recreation: Outdoor recreation, See guidelines. Other: See guidelines.Winner's Prize:Semi-pro advance (US$200-1999) + Unknown royalties Semi-pro advance (US$200-1999). Unknown royalties.Note: We list broad pay categories rather than prize specifics. Check with the publisher for details.Submissions:Method: Electronic submissions. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Unknown.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Correction/Update Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Mary Hunter Austin Book Award Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! 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Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 May 2026 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only