ItalianAmericanWriters.com: Contemporary Italian American Writing

The prize, consisting of book publication in bilingual edition by Bordighera, Inc., is dedicated to finding the best manuscripts of poetry in English by an American poet of Italian descent and surname or middle maiden surname, to be translated upon selection by the judges into quality translations of modern Italian, for the benefit of American poets of Italian ancestry and the preservation of the Italian language. Each winning manuscript will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 to the winning poet and $1,000 for a commisioned translator. The poet must be a U.S. Citizen, but the translator may be an Italian native speaker, not necessarily a U.S. citizen. The poet may translate his/her own work if bilingually qualified. Submission may be made in English or bilingually with English followed by Italian mss.

The poet must submit 2 COPIES of 10 sample pages of poetry in English on any theme. Quality poetry in any style is sought. Universal themes are welcome. The final book manuscript length should not exceed 48 pages since, including translations, the published, bilingual book will be 96 pages in length. To give the translator time to complete the work, the entire winning manuscript will not be due for at least 6 months after selection of the winner.

The 10 sample pages of poems in English should be on white 8 1/2 by ll standard paper, clearly typed and photocopied and submitted in duplicate mss. (Single-spaced except between stanzas with no more than one poem to a page, though a poem may run on to more than one page.) Be sure to label all pages with titles of poems and number them from 1 to 10. The applicant's name should NOT appear on any poetry pages. Staple the ten anonymous sample pages securely together and attach one cover page to the front of each of 2 duplicate mss. with name, address, telephone, e-mail if applicable, of the author, plus a biographical note. The remainder of the ms. must be anonymous. Poems may have appeared in magazines, anthologies or chapbooks. Include acknowledgements at the bottom of the cover page only.

If poems have already been translated into modern Italian, submission of a bilingual sample is encouraged making a 20 page sample with a translation page following each English page. Include name and biographical note of translator on the 2 cover pages.

Manuscripts are judged anonymously. No entry fee.

Mail To: " Bordighera Poetry Prize"
Bordighera Press, Inc.
c/o John D. Calandra Italian American Institute
Daniela Gioseffi, Founding Coordinator
City University of New York, Graduate Center
25 West 43rd St. 17th Flr.
New York, N.Y. 10036

* Include a self-addressed stamped, business-sized envelope.
* For acknowledgement, send a self-addressed postcard.
The decision of the judges will be final. Winners will be announced by October 30th. Mss. will not be returned.
Bordighera, Inc. and the judges reserve the right not to award a prize within a given year if no manuscripts are eligible for publication. The author and translator will share in the royalties in the usual amount of a standard book contract to be drawn with Anthony J Tamburri, Publisher: Bordighera,Inc.
Prize Co-Founders: Daniela Gioseffi & Alfredo de Palchi.

Former winners: Lewis Turco | Joe Salerno | Luisa Rossina Villani| Stephen Massimilla | Jane Tassi | Gerry La Femina, | Carolyn Guinzio | Grace Cavalieri | Emily Ferrara |
Tony Magistrale | Michael LaSorsa Steffen| Carla Panciera