Receiving Readers’ Favorite Award, November 2016
That depends on you, your book, and what you hope to achieve from entering contests.
We know from Bookscan sales data that very few book awards actually help to sell books.
The Pulitzer does, but most others make no measurable difference.
Sadly, from experience I have to agree. I’ve written six books and collected five awards, but the world isn’t knocking down my door.
Still, awards are helpful.
They signal a book’s quality to potential readers. They add credibility that gives assurance the book is worthwhile.
You get a little touch of magic from a third party endorsement. When an authority says your work is worthy, that’s actually priceless.
If You’re an Indie Author
Here’s a list of my Top 8 book awards worthy of your consideration:
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1.Entering IndieFab Awards should definitely be on your literary to-do list. Formerly ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards.
2.Find out how to make it on the Indie Next List to win an Indies Choice Book Award
3.The National Indie Excellence Book Awards selects award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation in dozens of categories. Created especially for indie and self-published authors.
4.Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Here’s your chance to enter a competition exclusively for self-published books. One winning entry will receive $8,000 with nine first-place winners who’ll receive $1,000 each.
5.Readers’ Favorite Awards receives submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants like HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times best-selling authors.
6.The Eric Hoffer Award for independent books recognizes excellence in publishing with a $2,000 grand prize and various category honors and press type distinctions. To enter, a book must be from an academic press, small press or self-published author.
7.Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Thousands of dollars in prize money. Finalists and Winners receive a listing in the Next Generation Indie Book Catalog distributed to thousands of book buyers, media and others. Plus the top 70 books will be reviewed by a top New York Literary agent for possible representation.
8.Shelf Unbound Magazine’s Best Indie/Self-Published Book Competition honors more than 100 indie/self-published books. In addition to $1,500 in cash prizes, they’ll feature the winner, five finalists, and more than 100 “notable” books in the December/January issue of Shelf Unbound.
Any independently published book in any genre in any publication year is eligible for entry.
Entering a Competition
Was it worth it for me? Definitely.
Judged by competent professionals in the publishing world and deemed to be one of the best in its category, potential readers do take notice when a book wins an award.
Did book sales for Blood Lake increase? Did I recover the costs of entering the contest? Not yet, on both counts … and certainly not when I add the cost of round-trip plane fare to Miami, car rental and reserving nights at the Regency Hotel.
However, the book, if nothing else, has gained a measure of prestige. Who knows what the long-term benefits will be?
What Do You Think?
Should you send your book off to be judged alongside others? That depends. Are you confident you have a professional product that can compete and perhaps even win?
If you think so, then go for it. As Hockey great Wayne Gretzky said “You Can’t Score Unless You Shoot!”
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On December 3, 2016, I’ll be signing books from 1:00-4:00 pm at the annual “Giving Season” event at the Orion Township Public Library (825 Joslyn Rd).
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My books have all garnered some terrific reviews and you can see the ones I have available by using the Amazon link below. Look for them. Better yet, buy one and read it. You just might like it.
You’re invited to visit my web site, BROKEN GLASS, or
like my Book of Face page. You can find me on Goodreads, or follow
some of my shorter ramblings on The Twitter.
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Comments posted below will be read, greatly appreciated and perhaps even answered.
Painting With Light 
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