It’s that time of year again – the Indie Author Project contest is back, and this year, it’s better than ever! In case you haven’t heard, this year we’re switching up the format of the contest, and moving away from a region-based contest, to a genre-based contest. Doing this allows for even more inclusivity in the contests, as indie authors from outside North America can submit their ebooks (in English) for the first time.

This year, the awards will honor the best indie-published ebooks in seven genres:

• Mystery/Thrillers
• Romance
• SciFi/Fantasy
• Historical Fiction
• General/Contemporary Fiction
• Memoir
• Young Adult

One winner and two honorable mentions from each genre will be selected. Each genre winner will receive $2,500 (a prize increase from previous years!) and honorable mentions will receive $500. Out of all of this year’s winners identified by librarian judging committees, one Indie Author of the Year will be chosen by a team of industry professionals.

These contests give librarians the opportunity to engage with a growing group of diverse and exciting literary voices, and a way to play an active role in the discovery and promotion of new works. 

For indie-published authors, these contests are a great way to elevate their careers and expand their readership. Along with the accolade of the award, its cash prizes, and perks, being recognized by librarians creates credibility and visibility in the growing marketplace of digital content and indie-published books. Winning authors will reach hundreds if not thousands of new readers via the library, and can also leverage being an award-winning indie author for additional marketing opportunities.

The contests will run from April 1st through May 31st and authors can learn more and submit (for free) at: https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/iap/.