Book Awards
Writing a book and being able to hold a physical copy of your is a tremendous feat. But what if you were able to win an award for your writing? There are so many book awards available to authors celebrating books in different genres and languages. Let’s take a look!
To begin we need to go back to basics. What is a book award? Book awards are given out to authors and publishers to honor them for their literary talent. Some award prize money, while others are ways for authors to increase their marketing channels and to reach a wider audience.
Here are some of the most well-known book awards today:
Man Booker Prize for Fiction for literature written in the English language
Caldecott Medal for the best children’s picture book of the year
National Book Award is presented to four different categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult literature
Newbery Medal for authors who have made “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”
While these are all highly regarded in the world of books, the prizes are usually only awarded to authors who have worked with large publishing houses and have been listed on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Luckily for you, there are plenty of other awards out there for authors who have worked with smaller, independent publishers and have (so far) reached a smaller audience. The goal of these book awards is to help lesser known authors receive more publicity for their work.
The IndieReaders Discovery Awards
First, second, and third prize awards are given to authors in fiction and non-fiction categories. In addition, authors are also awarded the Best First Book and Best Cover Design in both fiction and non-fiction categories.
On top of receiving a winning title, winners will also receive a variety of prizes such as a tailored consultation session with a publicist, custom author website, and a new Kindle.
Applications are $150 and can be submitted on the IndieReaders website.
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Awards, or IPPYs, are presented to authors in a variety of categories, including Best Cover Design, Best First Book, and Best Book Series (fiction and non-fiction). There are also opportunities to win regional awards and e-book awards.
Authors will receive national publicity and social media exposure, and will be awarded tickets to attend the IPPY gala which is held during BookExpo America each year.
Applications are $85 and can be submitted online or by mail.
IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award
Organized by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), this award is “regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers” as they recognize excellence in book editorial and design in over 56 categories.
All submissions, whether or not they win a prize, will receive direct feedback on their work. Winners will be awarded an engraved trophy which will be presented at a gala held during the IBPA Publishing University conference. Authors will receive publicity via major trade journals and libraries, as well as being featured on IBPA’s social media accounts.
Applications are $95 for members and $229 for non-members. The information for mailing your book and application is available here.
Illumination Book Awards
So far, the awards discussed here have included a variety of different categories that would apply to most authors. In contrast, this award is specifically for new books that have a Christian worldview as stated in their motto, “Shining a Light on Exemplary Christian Books.”
There are 20 different categories, including Bible Study and Family/Parenting, that can be entered into. Winners will receive marketing opportunities for their book as well the winning title.
Applications are $75 for the early bird fee and can be submitted online or by mail.
Mom’s Choice Awards
For all the children’s authors out there, this one is for you! So many books for children are published each year, and who better to judge them than all the moms (and dads) of the kids who will be reading them.
Many families and educators use this award to establish “the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products, and services.” Book categories include Juvenile Books (Level 1: Ages 5-8), Juvenile Books (Level 2: Ages 9-12), Young Adult Books, and Adult Books.
Applications are either $500 or $1,500 depending on the category you choose to enter. Plus, you’ll receive 40% off that price as an author. Here are the entry details.
These are just a few of the many book awards accessible to authors. We hope that this has given you some motivation to get out there and enter your book for one of these awards. Your book could be a winner, but you won’t know until you try!
#AtlanticPublishingGroup #blog #APGBlog #bookpublisher #publishing #bookpublishing #bookawards #authoradvice #authorhelp #author #editor #bookmarketing