A. This book contest began in 1931 at The Commonwealth Club of California to honor literary excellence among legal California-resident authors, academics, and writers at large. The Club grants Gold and Silver Medals in the categories of: Fiction, First Work of Fiction (novels and short story collections), Nonfiction, Poetry, Californiana (a California-themed work), Juvenile Literature (up to age 10), Young Adult Literature (Age 11-16), and Notable Contribution to Publishing (books with either a special design/presentation or layout). For more background, read our History.