Massachusetts Book Bites

November 14–15, 2020

Map reproduction courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library

On November 14–15, the Boston Book Festival is teaming up with Massachusetts Center for the Book for a bonanza weekend of local literature, featuring authors from across the Commonwealth, in all genres, introducing readers to their latest books in a fast-paced series of short and snappy videos. If you’re the author of a recent book (see full eligibility guidelines below), we hope you’ll join us for this lively showcase of homegrown literary talent!

Applications are due by September 4. Selected authors will be notified by September 15, and videos need to be submitted by October 26.

Apply Now

Are You Eligible?

• You must reside in Massachusetts at least 6 months out of the year.

• Your most recent book must have been published after October 21, 2019 or be forthcoming before January 1, 2021.

• Your book must be published by a traditional publishing house (i.e., not self-published or published by a subsidy publisher).

• Your book must be available for purchase/pre-order on bookshop.org.

Video Length Guidelines (note that only selected presenters will be asked to submit a video):

• Nonfiction: 5 minutes

• Fiction/Memoir: 4 minutes

• YA/Middle Grade/Picture Books: 4 minutes

• Poetry: 3 minutes

What’s the Process?

• Submit this application by September 4, 2020.

• All applications will be reviewed for eligibility, thoroughness, and creativity. Presenter rosters will be curated by Boston Book Festival staff to promote a broad range of genres and geographic locations within Massachusetts and to prioritize presenters who represent the Commonwealth’s diverse populations. Special consideration will be given to BIPOC and to debut authors, as well as to creative proposals that go beyond traditional readings. Updated 9/2/2020: Priority will also be given to eligible authors who are not presenting their work as part of BBF 2020 between October 4 and 25.

• Selected authors (no more than 20–25 authors in each genre) will be notified by September 15, 2020.

• Selected authors will submit their videos (see length guidelines above) no later than October 26, 2020.

• BBF staff will group the videos by genre and theme/topic. BBF staff will not edit the videos (other than to provide identifying captions), and we reserve the right to exclude submitted videos that do not meet quality standards (e.g., picture clarity, file format, uploading process, sound quality, length) that will be provided to selected authors.

• The BBF will host free livestreams of this video content on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15. On its website, the BBF will provide a schedule of each day’s livestream, listing presenter names and book titles with links to their website and to purchase their book on Bookshop.org. The BBF and Mass Center for the Book will also promote the program through their social media channels. Participating authors are also expected to promote their own involvement via their networks. The videos will remain online through December 31, 2020.

Please direct questions to Norah Piehl, norah@bostonbookfest.org.