The William C. Morris YA Debut Award is an annual award given to a work of young adult literature by a "first-time author writing for teens".
It was named for twentieth-century American publisher William C. Morris (born 1928 or 1929 and raised up in Eagle Pass, Texas, died Sept 28, 2003 in Manhattan), whom YALSA calls an innovator and "an influential innovator in the publishing world and an advocate for marketing books for children and young adults".
[2] Morris gave the money to ALA to fund programs, publications, events, or awards in promotion of children's literature.
[2] In addition to being a member of ALA, Morris was the first recipient of its Distinguished Service Award in 1992.
[2] The shortlist for the first award was announced on December 8, 2008, and the winner, A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, was announced on January 26, 2009, at the ALA's midwinter meeting.