The Lexi Rudnitsky First Book Prize in Poetry, a collaboration between Persea Books and The Lexi Rudnitsky Poetry Project, is an annual competition dedicated to sponsoring the publication of a debut poetry collection by a woman or nonbinary person. Since its inception, the prize has served as a vital entry point for voices that have historically been underrepresented in the literary landscape, offering not only a publishing contract but also a meaningful financial and residential foundation for a sustained career. Persea Books, an independent press with a long-standing commitment to literary excellence, brings a discerning editorial eye to this endeavor, ensuring that the winning manuscript is not merely a first book but a significant contribution to contemporary poetry. The winner receives a $1,000 advance against royalties and publication by Persea Books, a press known for its curated list of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, the winner is offered an all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center, a renowned artists' retreat housed in a fifteenth-century castle in Umbertide, Italy. This residency provides uninterrupted time and space for creative work, a rare and valuable opportunity for a poet at the beginning of their career. The prize thus combines the immediate validation of publication with the material support necessary to continue writing. The competition is open to poets who identify as women or as nonbinary people who relate through lived experience to girlhood and/or womanhood. Entrants must be U.S. citizens (living anywhere in the world) or permanently living in the United States, regardless of citizenship or residency status. Manuscripts should be at least 48 pages of poetry. The curatorial vision of the prize is to identify and nurture distinct poetic voices that demonstrate artistic rigor, emotional depth, and a command of craft. The jury seeks manuscripts that are cohesive and ambitious, reflecting a singular vision rather than a collection of disparate poems.