Since 1980, the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have honored the literary achievements of the world's greatest authors. Prizes are presented in eight categories, including the Young Adult Fiction category, which debuted in 1998. Three judges in each category decide on the Times Book Prizes. Most are published writers; none is a current Times employee.

The Prize

Each winner receives a citation and $1,000.

The Robert Kirsch Award

is presented each year to a living author who resided in the West or whose work focuses on the region and whose contribution to American letters deserves special recognition. The Kirsch Award is named after the late Times book critic, who died in 1980 following a 25-year career as a novelist, editor, and teacher as well as one of the nation's foremost reviewers.

The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction

This award is named for the founder of the book prize program, who served as Times book editor from 1978 to 1985.