About The Backwaters Press
Founded in 1997, the Backwaters Press has published award-winning books by some of America’s finest writers. The University of Nebraska Press acquired the Backwaters Press in 2018, with its impressive backlist in poetry and prose that contributes to the cultural landscape of our state and region. As a general interest imprint of UNP, the Backwaters Press continues to plant it roots firmly in the Great Plains, delighting readers with literature of enduring value and consequence. Nebraska is proud to announce that titles under the Backwaters Press imprint will be available as ebooks as well.
The Backwaters Prize, an international poetry book competition, was initiated in 1998 and continues under the auspices of UNP. Contest winners are chosen by distinguished American poets; past judges include Hayden Carruth (winner of the National Book Award and the National Book Circle Critics Award), Philip Levine (National Book Award winner and two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize), and Ted Kooser (Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize winner).
Visit the Backwaters Prize page for more information and a link to make an electronic submission.
Join our mailing list to receive updates about the prize competition and the Backwaters Press.
Support the Backwaters Press by joining Friends of UNP.
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Recent Award Winners
Congratulations to the following UNP authors who have been recently recognized for their work. Joyce Sutphen was a finalist for the “Read Poetry Central Minnesota 2020” program. Liz Breazeale was awarded a 2020 Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Derek Sandhaus receive [...]
From the Desk of Cecil Harris: Yes, Black History Absolutely Includes Tennis
Cecil Harris is the author of four books, including Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution (February 2020). As we commemorate Black History Month, let’s take a moment to recognize the significant contributions by blacks in an activity that may not immediately come to mind—tennis. Bec [...]