ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards were established to bring increased attention to librarians and booksellers of the literary and graphic achievements of independent publishers and their authors. ForeWord is the only review trade journal devoted exclusively to books from independent houses.

Our unique awards process brings readers, librarians, and booksellers together to select their top categories as well as choose the winning titles. Their decisions are based on editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, author credentials relative to the book, and the value the book adds to its genre.

If your books expand a reader's world, introduce a voice society needs to hear, offer practical knowledge where none existed before, or simply entertain so compellingly that all distractions fall away, they should be submitted for the Book of the Year Award.

FEATURING:

Editor's Choice Prize:
BEST FICTION - $1,500
BEST NONFICTION - $1,500

2007 Award winners were announced on May 30 at the 2008 BookExpo America in Los Angeles

2008 CONTEST OPEN FOR ENTRIES:

Read below for information about the 2008 contest.

CATEGORIES:

GUIDELINES:

Eligibility: Any independently published titles in any format with a copyright date of 2008 are eligible to enter. New editions of previously published books are eligible. Reissued editions are not. Spanish language submissions are accepted. More than one book and/or one book in more than one category may be submitted.
Entry Fee: $75 per title, per category. Submit TWO copies of each book per category.
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2009
Registration: Register online for the Book of The Year Awards with ForeWord Connections. Once your order is completed, submit your books with a copy of your receipt.
Notification: Finalists and winners will be notified by email.

disclaimer

JUDGING:

Judging Criteria: Keeping in mind the standard used by booksellers and librarians for purchases/acquisitions, judges will take note of the following: editorial excellence, intent of book met by author, originality of subject matter, accuracy, author credentials, and professional packaging. Finalists will be determined by a jury of judges consisting of editors and reviewers of ForeWord Magazine, booksellers, librarians, and other industry professionals.

PRIZES & AWARDS

First, second, and third place winners will be awarded in each category. A $1,500 cash prize will also be awarded to Best Fiction and Best Nonfiction as determined by the editors of ForeWord Magazine. ForeWord Magazine reserves the right to withhold an award in any category should submissions not meet criteria outlined by editorial and professional production standards mentioned above.

Finalists will be announced in our weekly email newsletter, ForeWord This Week, in March 2009.

Winners in each category and overall fiction and nonfiction prize winners will be announced at Book Expo America, with a follow-up winner announcement in ForeWord This Week in June.

DEADLINE

Publishers are urged to submit their entries as soon as possible but postmarked no later than January 15, 2009. Two books for each entry must be accompanied by a ForeWord Connections Receipt and sent to:

Book of the Year Awards
ForeWord Magazine
129 1/2 E. Front Street, Ste. C
Traverse City, MI 49684