FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
For the last three years The Pulp Ark Awards, awarded in conjunction with the Pulp Ark New Pulp Convention and Writer’s Conference have been the most comprehensive and only fan voted awards for the genre fiction identified as New Pulp. According to Tommy Hancock, founder and coordinator of Pulp Ark and
the Awards, although the Convention and Conference will not occur in
2014, the legacy of the Pulp Ark Awards will continue, though with
changes, including a new name.
“The Pulp Ark Awards,” says Hancock, “were called such because of the associated convention. With there being no convention it seems odd to call them the Pulp Ark Awards. Also, because of a couple of other circumstances, the decision has been made to change the name of the awards. As these awards strive to represent the broad field that
is New Pulp, it is only fitting that they should be the New Pulp
Awards, especially since I, and several recipients and those involved
with the awards were part of the group that in 2011 put together what has been referred to as The New Pulp Movement, a group of creators and publishers intending to promote New Pulp as a whole. So, from this point forward, the yearly awards will be known as The New Pulp Awards.”
Hancock also notes other changes. “In the past, nominations have been open to the public, but voting was closed to only those who nominated during the allowed time. This year, nominations will be open for a period of two weeks. Then, voting will be open for a two week period. Anyone can nominate and anyone can vote. It is not required that a person nominate someone to be able to vote. However,” Hancock clarifies, “an individual can only nominate once for each category and can only vote once in each category.”
Nominations for the 2014 New Pulp Awards are now open and will close at 5 PM CST on February 24th, 2014. Anyone can nominate in any of the available categories for work that was published in 2014, either in print, ebook form, or in an established internet venue, such as an e-magazine. Postings on personal blogs do not qualify.
All
nominations that are made that fit the qualifications of New Pulp will
be placed on the final ballot, regardless of the number of nominations
any one work or individual receives. NO CREATOR MAY NOMINATE HIM/HERSELF
OR HIS/HER WORK FOR A NEW PULP AWARD. Publishers may, however, nominate
works from their own publishing houses as long as the Publisher is not a
writer or artist involved in the nominated work. This is also a change
from previous years.
To
determine if a work or creator qualifies for these awards the
definition for works that qualify is as follows-New Pulp is fast-paced,
plot-oriented storytelling of a linear nature with clearly defined,
larger than life protagonists and antagonists, creative
descriptions, clever use of turns of phrase and other aspects of writing
that add to the intensity and pacing of the story.
Hancock
also states, “We will also give a Lifetime Achievement Award again this
year as well. A Ten Person committee selected from well-known Creators
in New Pulp currently will decide the recipient of this award. This
award is given to someone who has contributed to Pulp, not necessarily
just New Pulp, but to the continuation of the interest and promotion of
Pulp in all its forms.” Last year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement
Award was Charles Boeckman.
The New Pulp Awards will be awarded as a part of MidSouthCon, in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 23rd, 2014. For more information on MidSouthCon, one of the premiere Pop Culture conventions in the South, go to www.midsouthcon.org.
The
only works eligible for the 2014 New Pulp Awards are those produced
between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Anyone can make a
nomination and anyone that makes a nomination will receive a ballot on
February 25th and voting will be open until 5 PM CST on March 11, 2014.
Also, ballots will be posted on www.NewPulpAwards2014.blogspot.com and available for anyone who wishes to cut and paste and email the ballot to NewPulp2014@yahoo.com.
Each ballot must contain a link to a Facebook page, a Twitter account,
an email profile, or some other verifiable source by which the identity
of the voter can be affirmed.
Although
Hancock will still be the Coordinator of the New Pulp Awards, there
will be a body of a total of five individuals who will have full access
to all information, including the received nominations and votes
throughout the process.
The Categories open for Nomination until 5 PM CST February 24, 2014, are as follows. Only One Nomination allowed per person per category in-
1. Best Novel (This includes E-books as well as print books and length must be 40,000 + words)
2.
Best Collection/Anthology (This includes single author story
collections and multi author anthologies. This includes E-publications
as well as print books)
3.
Best short story (this includes stories that appear in short story
collections, anthologies, magazines, and e magazines. If from an e-mag,
the story must appear on a site identified as an e-magazine, not simply
be posted on a site or blog. It includes e-publications as well
as traditionally printed works. Length must be 17,500 words or less.)
4. Best
Novella (this includes stories that appear in short story collections,
anthologies, magazines, and e magazines. If from an e-mag, the story
must appear on a site identified as an e-magazine, not simply be posted
on a site or blog. It includes e-publications as well
as traditionally printed works. Length must be 17,500- 40,000 words)
5. Best Cover Art (This is restricted to prose book publications, including e-books)
6. Best Interior Art (This is restricted to prose book publications, including e-books)
7.
Best Pulp Related Comic (This refers to a series, complete run, one
shot, etc. This award is for art, writing, and all other work associated
with the nominated comics and the winner. This includes e-publications
as well. )
8.
Best Pulp Magazine (This award is for art, writing, and all other work
associated with the nominated comics and the winner. This includes
e-publications as well, but the e-publication must be identified as an
e-magazine on the site supporting it. )
9.
Best Pulp Revival (The Revival nominated must be published within the
calendar year of 2013 and relates specifically to characters featured in
Pulps when they were originally created. This includes epublications as
well.)
10. Best
New Character (This must be a character that debuts in a New Pulp work
published in 2013. This included e-publications as well)
11.
Best Author (This reward refers to the author and any author with work
published in 2013 is eligible, including novels, short stories, etc.
This includes e-publications as well).
12.
Best New Writer (To be nominated, a writer must have been published for
the first time in the pulp field in the calendar year of 2013. This
includes e-publications as well).
