What is eligible?

The title…

MUST:

1. Be the sole work of one writer (illustrations and introductions excluded)
2. Be published for the first time (in either Welsh or English) in the calendar year preceding the award
3. Be comprised substantially of previously unpublished work           
4. Be creatively written (see note below)                                                
5. Be published    
6. Be intended for an adult readership


PLUS AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Be written in the Welsh language
2. Be written in English by a Welsh-born writer, or someone who was schooled in Wales
3. Be written in English by a non-Welsh-born/schooled writer who is currently resident in Wales
4. Be of clear relevance to Wales and Welsh culture (see definition below)


Note on works which are creatively written
Non-literary academic and biographical/autobiographical titles are not usually considered unless they raise the quality of writing in their field to new heights, even though the subject matter at first sight would not be a natural one for an exponent of creative writing. Examples past and present might be Jan Morris on travel, Gwyn Alf Williams on history, and Jim Perrin on mountaineering.

Definition of works which are of clear relevance to Wales and Welsh culture
Titles which discuss and/or add to themes which have a tradition of discourse in Welsh literary fields can, on occasions, be determined eligible for consideration despite the writer having no linguistic, residential or adolescent links with Wales.

Work published within anthologies of multiple writers is not eligible for consideration.

Translations are not eligible for consideration unless they are deemed to be of major significance to Welsh literature far beyond existing versions of the source material.

Works of literary criticism are eligible for consideration if they are, or can be convincingly argued to be, relevant to Wales or Welsh culture.

Scripts are not eligible for consideration.

If you are in any doubt about the eligibility of a book for Wales Book of the Year, please contact the Academi: 029 2047 2266 or post@academi.org