Hunger Mountain announces a new writing contest for writers of young adult (YA) and children’s literature: the Katherine Paterson Prize. The contest, which is open to all writers, awards $1,000 and publication in Hunger Mountain’s new online arts journal, due to launch this summer.

“We created the Katherine Paterson Prize because we wanted to support the work of young adult and children’s writers,” says Hunger Mountain managing editor Miciah Bay Gault. “We wanted a new way to honor the writers in this exciting field.” The Katherine Paterson Prize is open to writers of young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and picture books. Entries must be unpublished, and no more than 5,000 words. There is a $20.00 entry fee. Deadline for entries is June 30, ‘09 (postmark date). The prize will be judged by Vermont native Katherine Paterson, critically acclaimed author of numerous children’s books, including Bridge to Terabithia, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved, and, most recently, Bread and Roses, Too. Katherine Paterson has won the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and scores of other awards and honors.