And the Winner is… Awards Programs for Fiction Writers

Getting recognition for your writing in the form of an award is not only a boost in confidence but it’s

also a great marketing and PR opportunity. Having an industry stamp of approval from an unbiased judging process is a great endorsement of the quality of your writing and gives you fodder to help rise

2013 IPPY Awards in NY

above the noise of the competition.

One of the most highly regarded awards programs for indie authors is the IPPY Awards, which was started by Independent Publisher Magazine 20 years ago. My first novel, Mental Pause, was a bronze award-winner in the best adult fiction ebook category in 2013. I was both shocked and pleased, as it was the first awards program I had ever entered. The publicity alone was well worth it, not to mention a great party in New York!

The point is, including awards programs in your book launch marketing plan is a solid strategy. It’s great exposure for both you as an author and for your books.

Here are the awards programs I’m submitting or have already submitted my latest novel, Deep Deceit, to (fingers crossed). They all have different submission guidelines and some charge entry fees so click on each to visit the website for more details. This is certainly not a comprehensive list so if there are others you know of please feel free to add them below in the comments section…

IPPYAwards, deadline Feb. 27, 2016

EricHoffer Book Award, deadline Jan. 1, 2016

Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Awards, deadline Dec. 2015

IndieFab Book Awards (Foreward Reviews), deadline Jan. 15, 2016

IndieReader Discovery Awards (Alliance of Independent Authors), deadline March 2, 2016

InternationalBook Awards, deadline Feb. 2016

LibraryJournal - 2016 Self-Published eBook Awards, deadline Aug. 31, 2016

NationalIndie Excellence Book Awards, deadline April 5, 2016

NextGeneration Indie Book Awards, deadline Feb. 12, 2016

Reader'sFavorites, deadline March 30, 2016

Writer'sDigest Self-Publishing Awards, closed now, opens in Nov. for next year's competition

Writer'sDigest Self-Published ebook Awards, closed now but keep on the list for next year

Writers& Editors, March 15, 2016

eLitBook Awards - Jenkins Group, January 31, 2016

BestKindle book awards - Next Gate Press, closed for 2015, watch for next year!

Feel free to share what your awards program experience has been.

If you’d like to receive my newsletter, book launch announcements or information on upcoming writing retreats, go ahead and sign up for my mailing list. When you sign up you’ll also receive a free copy of my ebook, 10 Steps to a Successful PR Campaign – a Do-it-Yourself Guide for Authors.

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Paul tinkles the ivories with the Beatles 'Let it Be' Artists Inspire Artists I was at my brother's piano recital yesterday and had a very interesting conversation with his 92 year old piano teacher and one of her students. The student, who was an artist and had only started learning to play the piano, was talking about how she used sound to teach painting. A long stroke was a 'shoosh' and making short, staccato brush movements went 'bup, bup, bup'. I smiled and thought about how all creative types overlapped, embracing all elements of culture to enrich one's specific area of skill and passion. A sculptor or painter often creates to music and, as a writer, I definitely pull from my cultural experiences, whether it's a symphony or an art gallery, to help formulate descriptions of feelings and senses to lay out on a printed page. Nature Inspires Creative types see the world around them just a bit differently, which leads to the creation ...

Writing Process? What Writing Process?

Ah, the ever elusive 'writing process'. I've been a writer for years but as an author I’m a fairly new having published my first book in 2011 and two more since. Over the past three years I’ve been happily writing away, working towards my dreams of being a famous novelist, and feel pretty good about a strong ‘author voice’ that seems to be developing. The more you write the closer you get to finding the voice that’s uniquely yours, pulling bits and pieces from those you admire and drawing from your own experiences and mental meanderings. I think the same goes for landing on a writing process that works for you. However, I’m having a slightly more difficult time nailing that down. I read a blog a while ago that talked about famous writers’ writing processes. I found it fascinating as I struggle to find one that works for me day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year. I did a search to see if I could find that particular blog again so I could at least giv...

Guest Blog - Mari Barnes, Author of My Peace Place

I'm very pleased to host Mari Barnes today as part of her virtual book tour for her book, My Peace Place. Mari is participating in D'Vorah Lansky's Book Marketing Boot Camp , which is where we 'met'. Take it away Mari! Eye on the Why I read this recent post from a discouraged new author: My friends don't seem very excited about my new book. Does no one read anymore? I've sold 4 whole copies so far. That did more than ring a bell—it set a gong clanging in my mind. I remember those days too well. Some friends and family weren’t even reading gift copies of my book, much less actually spending money to support me. It created a hollow feeling unlike anything I can adequately describe but despair, disappointment and betrayal all come close. How could they not understand how important this is to me? Haven’t I bought every Girl Scout cookie--supported every sport, church and school fundraiser? When little Cindy Lou was selling crocheted key rings, who boug...

Writing...Just because!

Search This Blog