Awards for Self-Published Books as of 8/26/2018

This is a list of awards offered for self-published books which I have compiled. I tried to eliminate those that have received poor reviews from writing groups and associations such as ALLI.  I offer this as a starting point and make no recommendations one way or the other. Please do your own research before entering your book into any contest.  They all cost money so invest wisely.

(entry fees under $100 per category unless noted)

American Book Fest- Best Book; Best Fiction (closes 8/31/18)
http://www.americanbookfest.com/2018bestbookawards.html

Axiom Business Book Awards (business books only)
http://www.axiomawards.com/

Benjamin Franklin Awards/IBPA
http://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com/

Best Indie Book Award (closes Nov. 1)

2024 Best Indie Book Awards | Official Entry

BookLife Prize in Fiction (due 8/31/18, max 100,000 words)
https://booklife.com/about-us/the-booklife-prize-enter-now.html

Christian Indie Awards (for Christian market)

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CIPA EVVY Awards (Entries open Feb-May)

CIPA EVVY™ Awards

eLit Book Awards (early bird date 8/31)
http://www.elitawards.com/

Eric Hoffer Award (cash award, closes Jan 21)
http://www.hofferaward.com/

Feathered Quill (closes 9/30/18)

Feathered Quill Book Awards

Foreword Indies Book of the Year (Closes 9/30/18)
http://www.forewordreviews.com/services/book-awards/botya/

Global eBook Awards (Opens 9/1/18)

Imagine…

IACP Cookbook Awards
http://www.iacp.com/awards/cookbook/

IAN-Independent Author Network (2019/Opens October 1, 2018)
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/book-of-the-year.html

Independent Press Award (Closes 3/31/19)
http://www.independentpressaward.com

IndieBrag (continuous)

Submit Your Book

IndieReader Discovery Awards (Closes 2/28/19)
http://indiereader.com/enter-discovery-awards/

International Beverly Hills Book Awards *
http://www.beverlyhillsbookawards.com/

International Book Awards* ($10 off through 8/31/2018)
http://www.internationalbookawards.com/home.html

International Excellence Body, Mind, Spirit Book Awards*
http://www.bmsbookawards.com/index.html

IPPY/Independent Publisher Awards (Closes 2/23/19) http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/ipawards.php

Kindle Book Awards (2018 closed, re-opens 2/1/19)
https://www.thekindlebookreview.net/2016-kindle-book-awards/

Midwest Book Awards (for those based in Midwest)

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National Indie Excellence Book Awards (Closes 3/31/19)
http://www.indieexcellence.com/

Nautilus Book Awards ($165 + 4 books. Fiction–no subcategories)
http://www.nautilusbookawards.com/

Next Generation Indie Book Awards (Cash awards! Closes 2/15/19)
http://www.indiebookawards.com/

North St. Book Prize Winning Writers) (cash award, Opens 2/19)
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize

Reader Views Literary Awards (copyright date must be 2018)

Annual Literary Awards

Royal Dragonfly Awards
https://www.dragonflybookawards.com/royal-dragonfly/

The Eric Hoffer Award (cash awards, closes Jan 21)
http://www.hofferaward.com/

The Firecracker Awards (no info for next contest)
http://www.clmp.org/readers/programs/firecracker/

The International Rubery Book Award (UK, no subcategories for fiction)
http://www.ruberybookaward.com/index.html

The Living Now Book Awards (self-improvement books)
http://www.livingnowawards.com/index.php

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/

Shelf Unbound for Best Self-Published Book (no info)

Home Page

The WISHING SHELF Awards [UK, includes feedback]
http://www.thewsa.co.uk/

Writers Digest Book Awards (Cash prizes) for:
Self-Published Printed Book (closed for 2018, opens in April)
Self-Published E-Book (Closes Sept 4, 2018)
http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions

 

Review of “The Reality Thief” (Deplosion Book 1) by Paul Anlee

I debated between giving this 3 or 4 stars on Amazon, and decided to be generous because the writing is captivating and the science is impressive. I might have given it 5 stars if not for the frequent and sudden shifts in timelines to stories with all new characters and plots with no connection made between them. The shift to a fantasy like environment with a dragon-slaying princess threw me at first and I see from other reviews here, I wasn’t alone. If you pick up this book, I encourage you not to throw it across the room when you get to this chapter and trust that the author hasn’t lost his mind. He soon pulls you back into a science-based story.

Eventually (and I do mean eventually), I started to see how the earlier timeline must have given birth to the later ones, but it was a struggle to see how they were all connected until the very end, which resulted in another issue for me … the ending felt very abrupt and unsatisfying due to so many unresolved questions–an obvious ploy to get the reader to purchase the next book. I prefer stand-alone novels, and this isn’t one of them.

What I enjoyed most in this book were the deeply philosophical discussions about God, religion and man. I definitely recommend this book for those who question authority and religious dogma. However, readers who are firmly ensconced in their faith may find this book offensive because the main character is an atheist and the religious characters are portrayed as scheming duplicitous murderers.

I also recommend this book to lovers of hard science fiction. The author bases his extrapolations on sound knowledge and at times goes in deep. Those who find the science challenging may find themselves skimming over those parts to get back to the plot.
Having said all that, I found Book 1 intriguing enough to get Book 2. So, I must give kudos to Anlee for pulling me into his world.