Charlotte, N.C. - Novello Festival Press (NFP) has announced it will publish a new literary anthology to mark the 20th anniversary of its namesake, the Novello Festival of Reading, in October 2010.

This year, NFP will depart from the tradition of awarding publication to a single writer. Instead, it will produce a collection of work from multiple authors who contribute to the rich literary life of the region and beyond it.

"We received more than 70 book-length submissions for the annual Novello Literary Award," said NFP Publisher Amy Rogers. "Choosing just one to publish during our upcoming anniversary year was nearly impossible.

"Since 2008, we've partnered with Charlotte ViewPoint magazine to raise the profile of our dynamic literary arts community. So it's a natural fit to join forces for this collaborative book project."

"This exciting anthology builds on our partnership with NFP to showcase the literary talents of our region," said Mark Peres, president of Charlotte ViewPoint, the nonprofit, community-based organization that advances metropolitan ideas and art.

The book will be edited by Jeff Jackson. He is associate editor of Charlotte ViewPoint. Jeff received an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and is a three-time fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

In lieu of an individual award winner, five authors who submitted their work to NFP have been named finalists. They are: Gilbert Allen, Greenville, SC; Marjorie Hudson, Pittsboro, NC; Janice Lierz, Fletcher, NC; Rosa Shand, Davidson, NC; Gilda Morina Syverson, Cornelius, NC. Each will receive $100 and be invited to participate in the forthcoming book.

The book will include literary fiction, literary nonfiction and poetry. A call for submissions will be announced soon. Guidelines will be posted at: www.novellopress.org and www.charlotteviewpoint.org.