• Books must be entered by their publishers (though judges may call in further books at their discretion).
• Books much be available for purchase in hardcopy, i.e. books that are only available as e-books are not eligible.
• Publishers must complete the online entry form for each title, and upload a PDF of the final book file.
• Publishers must also provide five physical copies of each title entered sent by reliable courier to The Bocas Lit Fest.
• Publishers must agree to provide a further eight copies of shortlisted titles.
• Self-published books may be submitted by their authors, following the same procedure outlined for publishers. Self-published authors should provide their own contact information on the entry form.
• There is no requirement for publishers of eligible books to be located in the Caribbean.
• Each publisher may enter a maximum of five books per category (poetry, fiction, non-fiction), for a maximum of fifteen titles per publisher. A book may be entered in only one category. Publishers must get authors’ consent for entry.
• There is an entry fee of US$35 (TT$240) per title. We can accept US dollar bank drafts (drawn on American banks only) made payable to The Bocas Lit Fest or credit card payments made online through WiPay Caribbean (link to pay sent once the entry form is received). Please select your payment option in the online form. Note: Trinidad and Tobago authors or publishers can pay in local currency.
• Each entry should be accompanied by a short biographical note on the author. Publishers must also provide digital photos of shortlisted authors.
• Books will be accepted for entry at the discretion of The Bocas Lit Fest. Decisions on eligibility are final.
• Books published before 31 October, 2020, must be delivered to the Bocas Lit Fest (or directly to judges, where applicable) by 9 November, 2020. ONLY books published between 31 October and 31 December, 2020, will be accepted for entry by the second deadline, 8 January, 2021. Eligible books that arrive after each deadline date will not be considered and entry fees will not be returned. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
• Publishers must send the books by courier to the Bocas Lit Fest office to guarantee timely arrival and onward dispatch to judges:

Bocas Lit Fest
Attn: OCM Bocas Prize
14 Alcazar Street
St. Clair
Trinidad and Tobago
Tel: 1 868 222-7099

• However, if a publisher is located in the same country as one of the category judge(s), one copy of the relevant title should be sent directly to that judge. Other copies should be sent to the Bocas Lit Fest at the above stated address. Please contact the prize administrators at info@bocaslitfest.com for the names and locations of relevant judges.
•  The 2021 prize longlist will be announced in March 2021. The shortlist will be announced in April 2021. The overall winner will be announced at the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, Trinidad and Tobago’s annual literary festival in Port of Spain, 23 – 25 April 2021.
• Publishers must agree that extracts from shortlisted books may be published in the Trinidad and Tobago Daily and Sunday Express, for purposes of promoting the winning titles.
• Publishers should notify authors of titles entered for the prize that the three category winners may be invited to attend and participate in the Festival and the award ceremony in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and are expected to record a filmed interview.
• Category winners and the overall winner of the OCM Bocas Prize are expected to be willing to represent the Prize at international festivals and other fora if invited to do so. Please confirm that the writer whose work is being submitted would be prepared to accept this condition of entry.
• Publishers must use a reliable international courier (not regular air mail) to send entries, to ensure prompt delivery. The word “gift” must be marked on the air waybill and commercial invoice, and the description must clearly state that the books are “for review purposes only”.