Can you please describe the process for judging the Novello Literary Award?
After the deadline for manuscripts is reached, the staff of Novello Festival Press distributes manuscripts to our first readers. These readers include librarians, college professors, literary agents, writers, and editors. None of the judges has a manuscript in the competition, nor does the staff or board of Novello Festival Press. Once the first round of readings conclude, the evaluations are reviewed by NFP staff and our final review panel, which is comprised of the NFP staff, board, and guest reviewers. The most highly-rated manuscripts are read and reviewed. The winner and the finalists are chosen from that group. The winner of the Novello Literary Award, upon acceptance of the award, enters into a contractual and working relationship with the press, which leads to publication of the winning book.
