The Alan Black Award for Speculative Fiction

Named in honor of independent author Alan Black, this award recognized the finest submitted science fiction or fantasy title during the current submission period.

Alan Black had been writing novels since 1996. His writing tastes are as eclectic as his reading preferences. He is a #1 Amazon best selling author for Metal Boxes, a young adult, science fiction, military, action adventure. He has published twenty books to date. Black is an indie multi-genre writer who has never met a good story he didn't want to tell. Alan Black's vision statement: "I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours. I want to offer stories I would want to read."

Alan passed in 2017, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and giving to others.

History of the Award

Alan was the winner of the original Cirque du Livre Book of the Festival Award in 2016. Alan passed away, and the award was renamed in his honor for the 2017 event. The Award has been incorporated into the 2023 Mesa Book Festival.  Previous winners include Bruce Davis, Deena Remiel & Hal C Astell.

2025 Entry Information

The Priscilla White Award for Poetry

Named in honor of poet Priscilla White, this award recognized the finest published work of poetry title during the current submission period.

Priscilla was a former Arizona State Poetry Society President, President of the Phoenix Poetry Society, and very active in the Glendale, AZ Poetry Society. She was most proud of the fact that each of her five children also wrote poetry.

She may be best described in this stanza from "Voyager I", a poem about her by her daughter CChristy White:

"Mother was a spiritual drifter,
            sticky paper picking up New Thought,
                        Atlantean and Lemurian philosophy,
Edgar Cayce health readings,
            Religious Science and World University,
                        homeopathics and energy healing,
                                    from possible to currently impossible."

History of the Award

The award was created in 2023, and the inaugural award will be presented as a part of the Mesa Book Festival in December. Read the 2023 Submission Guidelines.

2025 Entry Information