LITTLE, BROWN EMERGING ARTIST AWARD

OFFICIAL RULES

Eligibility:  Contest open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years of age as of March 15, 2024. You may not enter if you are a professional children’s book illustrator or author; or if you are represented by a book publishing agent; or if any of your work has been previously published by any book publisher (self-published authors may enter).  Employees of Hachette Book Group, Inc. (“Sponsor”), and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, retailers, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies (collectively, “Promotion Entities”) and their immediate family members (spouses, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and/or those living in the same household of such employees, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win.  Contest is void where prohibited by law. 

Submission Period: The Submission Period for all entries is between 12:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on March 15, 2024 and 11:59 pm ET on June 15, 2024.

How to Enter: You may enter by visiting http://www.LBArtistAward.com and (i) filling out a submission form with your name, mailing address (no P.O. boxes), phone number, date of birth and a valid email address where Sponsor may contact you, and (ii) uploading your Submission (defined below).  Proof of Submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt of such Submission. 

Submission Requirements:  Each Submission that is entered into the Contest must meet ALL of the following requirements until the Award winner is announced:

  • Content: The Submission is:

    • a mock-up of a children’s picture book that:

      • Incorporates the Award’s Mission Statement;

        • To encourage the development of high-quality children’s picture books that resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds and experience, that in some manner draws from the rich cultural experience of this country—whether it manifests in character, theme, setting, plot, or is derived simply from the artist’s own experience of identity. Diversity includes literal or metaphorical inclusion of characters of underrepresented ethnicity, religious background, gender identity, class, mental or physical disability, or any other non-dominant populations.

      • A mock-up of no more than 32 pages of text (no more than 1200 words), sketches, and at least 2-3 double page spreads (or 4-6 individual pages) of finished art (see sample);

      • Is written in English and appropriate for children up to 8 years of age.

    • A “Portfolio” of at least 6 additional pieces of sample art that is representative of your work (unrelated to the picture book mockup).

  • Technical requirements for uploading Submission:

    • Must be uploaded in PDF (15MB maximum file size), with artwork at 150dpi;

    • Must include a cover page at the beginning of the file that only includes your full name, address, phone number and portfolio website address (if available); and

    • Must be named using the following format: “firstname_lastname.pdf”.

    • Additional 6 pieces of sample portfolio art should be included at the end of the picture book dummy, and be all part of the same uploaded file.

  • Restrictions:

    • Submissions may not be agented; submitted to an agent, publisher or other party evaluating the Submission for commercial opportunities; or previously published (self-published authors may enter, but no previously self-published works can be entered);

    • Submissions may not include any animated GIFS (only static imagery that is original illustration);

    • Submissions may only contain an entrant’s original work. Third party owned copyrighted and/or trademarked material, photos or other materials, such as images from the internet, digital alterations or derivatives of third party materials may only be used with prior written consent of the owner;

    • Only one (1) Submission per person, per household during the Submission Period; and

    • No team or collaborative Submissions.

Sponsor reserves the right, in sole discretion, to disqualify any Submission if it violates or potentially violates any of the above Restrictions, or any third party’s rights, or if Sponsor deems the Submission to be lacking in taste or quality.

Use of Submissions:  Sponsor may post select excerpts of the winning Submission (excluding anything from the Portfolio) along with the entrant’s name and/or entrant’s state of residence on any of its social media pages, accounts and/or websites, including, but not limited to: http://www.LBArtistAward.com, LB-Kids.com, LittleBrownLibrary.com, Twitter.com/LBKids, Twitter.com/LBSchool,Facebook.com/LittleBrownBooks,Facebook.com/LittleBrownSchool, Pinterest.com/LBKids, Instagram.com/LB_Kids, LBSchool.tumblr.com.  Sponsor has no obligation to make use of the rights granted herein. 

Winner Selection:  On or about July 15, 2024, one (1) Award winner will be selected by a panel of three (3) representatives from the Sponsor’s Editorial team and one (1) published children’s picture book author/illustrator (to be selected by Sponsor) (the “Judges”), and from among all eligible Submissions using the following criteria:

  1. Quality of the Submission (text, art and storytelling) (50%)

  2. Incorporation of Diversity Mission Statement (25%)

  3. Quality of the Portfolio (25%)

Judges’ decisions will be final and binding in all matters related to this Contest.  In the event of a tie, the judges will reconsider the tied Submissions using the judging criteria stated above to determine one (1) Award winner. Sponsor reserves the right to not provide the Award if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Submissions.  Sponsor will not reveal the judging scores for any Submission.

Winner Notification: The potential winner will be notified by telephone, email, and/or mail using the contact information provided at the time of entry.  Sponsor shall have no liability for any winner notification that is lost, intercepted, delayed, or not received by the potential winner for any reason.  The potential winner will be required to execute and return any reasonably required documentation including an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Waiver and, unless prohibited, a Publicity Release (“Award Claim Documents”) within fourteen (14) days of notification and receipt of Award Claim Documents from Sponsor.  If a potential winner does not respond to the initial notification within the time period stated, all required Award Claim Documents are not returned within the specified time period (if applicable), award notification is returned as undeliverable, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these rules, the applicable award will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner may be selected.   

Award: One (1) Award is available and consists of:

  • American Express® gift cards totaling one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) (subject to the terms and conditions of the gift cards) delivered by Sponsor by mail. (Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) $1000);

  • A Portfolio review by the Artist Mentor and LBYR publishing staff via video conferencing. The video conference consists of an approximately one (1) hour online meeting with LBYR Key Design and Editorial Staff hosted on Webex to a date and time that will be notified by Sponsor by email (ARV $0);

  • An opportunity for the Submission to be reviewed by the LBYR’s editorial team for possible future publication. (**A subsequent book publishing deal, if any, with Sponsor will be separately negotiated between the winner and Sponsor, and is not considered part of the Award) (ARV $0).

The total Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of the Award is  one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) dollars.

The winner will be responsible for all taxes that may become payable as a result of the Award (federal, state, city, sales), as well as the proper reporting or declaration of income and payment of taxes and related costs, including interest and/or penalties, to the appropriate governmental authority(ies).

Right of First Offer: Sponsor has the right, within three (3) months of the prize announcement, to make a first offer to the winner for exclusive, world, all languages publishing rights to the Submission.  Sponsor has no obligation to make any offer, and no obligation to use the winning submission for any purpose.

General Award Conditions:  Certain additional terms and conditions apply to use of the American Express® gift cards (or another gift card, if applicable, see below).  The Award will be awarded only if the potential winner fully complies with these Official Rules. No interest will be paid on any Award.  The Award is non-transferable and non-assignable and non-cash portions of the Award cannot be redeemed for cash.  All details and other restrictions of the Award not specified in these Official Rules will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a different gift card due to any reason whatsoever.  The Award is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. 

Publicity:  By participating in the Contest, each entrant irrevocably grants the Promotion Entities and their respective successors, assigns and licensee, the right to use such entrant’s first name, state of residence, and select portions of the Submission (excluding the Portfolio) for advertising and promotional purposes, as well as in, on or in connection with the Contest and/or other promotions conducted by the Promotion Entities, and each entrant hereby releases the Promotion Entities from any liability with respect thereto.  Promotion Entities are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Submissions by third parties.  Sponsor has no obligation to make use of the rights granted herein.                                                                                        

General Liability Release/Force Majeure:  Entrants agree that the Promotion Entities (a) shall not be responsible or liable for any losses, damages or injuries of any kind resulting from participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, or from entrant’s acceptance, receipt, possession and/or misuse of the Award, and (b) have not made any warranty, representation or guarantee express or implied, in fact or law, with respect to the Award, including, without limitation, to such Award’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose.  Promotion Entities assume no responsibility for entrant’s participating in the Contest or use of the Award.  Promotion Entities are not responsible for (i) lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered or garbled Submissions or email or entry forms; (ii) lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications; (iii) failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure; (iv) jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (v) other errors or difficulties of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, mobile device, network, typographical, printing or otherwise, relating to or in connection with this Contest, including, without limitation, errors in these Official Rules or errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Submissions, the announcement of the Award or in any Contest-related materials; (vi) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; or (vii) injury or damage to any person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest.  Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsman-like or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorneys’ fees) and other remedies from any such person the fullest extent permitted by law.

In the event Sponsor is prevented from awarding the Award or continuing with the Contest as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, natural or man-made epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, terrorist threat or activity, war (declared or undeclared) or any federal state or local governing law, order, regulation, public health crisis (e.g. Ebola), order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sponsor’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), then subject to any governmental approval as may be required, Sponsor shall have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest.  If the Contest is terminated for Force Majeure before the designated end date, Sponsor will (if possible) select the winner from all eligible, non-suspect Submissions received as of the date of the event of Force Majeure giving rise to the termination using the judging procedure set forth above or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor.

These Official Rules cannot be modified or amended in any way except in a written document issued in accordance with law by a duly authorized representative of Sponsor.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

Governing Law/Jurisdiction:  ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABLITIY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS  OR SPONSOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE’S LAWS.

Data Collection: Information provided in connection with this Contest will be used in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/privacy-policy/.

Winners List:  To obtain a copy of any legally-required Winners List, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award Winners List, Hachette Book Group, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104. Attn: LBYR Art Department, NB-Work-Station #5-589.  All requests must be received by Sponsor within six (6) weeks after the end of the Submission Period.

Sponsor:  Hachette Book Group, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104.

American Express is a registered trademark of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.  This Contest is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.