It’s very exciting when your book is finally published and you are holding it in your hands. You put a lot of time and effort into this project and now it’s time to let others know about it! One way to get the word out about your book is to enter contests. There are so many contests available, it’s just a matter of sifting through them to determine the best fit. Benefits of entering your book into contests:
- It’s a fantastic way to get more exposure
- It builds credibility for your book if you win or are a finalist
- You may win a prize (or two or three!)
- You have positive news about your book to share on social media
- Some contests have ‘winner’ stickers you can place directly on hard copies of your books
Be aware that most contests have fees and specific guidelines to follow when submitting your book.
I’ve included links to a variety of contests, however, some may have closed, changed names, etc. Take some time to research and determine which contests are the best fit for your book:
- Cascade Awards
- Publishers Archive
- American Library Association
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
- New York Book Festival
- Book Pipeline Competition
- CSPA – Christian Small Publishers Award
- Bookvana
- Purple Dragonfly Book Awards
- International Book Awards
- USA Best Book Awards
- Readers Favorite
- Blue Ridge Mountain Selah Award
- San Francisco Book Festival
- The Gertrude Warner Awards
- Authors Talk
- ECPA Book Awards
- USA Best Book Awards
- Illumination Awards
- London Book Festival Awards
- Carol Awards (you must become a member first)
- Christian Retailing’s Best
- BU Fiction Book Awards
There are many, many more you can find by doing an online search. Best wishes in submitting your book!