Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

( L - R ) Gwyneth Barber Wood Ann Margaret Lim - Contributed Photos

As a year of poetry readings draws to a close the nominees for the 2006 RedBones Literary Awards have been announced.

Selected from its Contemporary Literature series, held on the last Wednesday of each month, six poets will compete for a $2,500 first prize and an equal amount for the poem named Poem of the Year at the Braemar Avenue, New Kingston, restaurant on Wednesday, November 29.

Duane Francis, Sister Melva Ramcharan, Andrew 'Osakwe' Burton, Dwayne Phineas, Shelly-Ann Harris and Gangugeh Nevadye will have up to 15 minutes to read a maximum of three poems, a panel of four judges assessing each poet on originality, context and performance.

The first runner-up will not go away with empty hands or stomach, as they will have earned dinner for two at RedBones, while the second runner-up takes home a bottle of wine.

The sixth staging of the Writers Award will be a tribute to Gwyneth Barber-Wood, who died on October 30, less than a month after her latest of many readings at RedBones. She was also a judge at last year's event.

The Writers Award starts at 8:00 p.m.