SELF PUBLISHING NEWS

• National Media & Industry Exposure : Coverage of results from the USA Book News network of media outlets and industry contacts for exposure to over 500,000+ subscribers. In addition, the USA Book News national media campaign highlighting the winners and finalists runs from October through January.

It used to be that simply having a published book was indicative of supremely high quality, but now that self-publishing is available for everyone, winning a book award is one of the most powerful ways you can make your book stand above the crowd.

With so many book awards and contests available, Outskirts Press has pre-screened and vetted 3 contests for our Spring Season of Book Award Submissions, including the USA Book News Best Books Award, the Indie Book Awards, and the Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. 

Outskirts Press can facilitate the submission details to the USA Book News Best Books Award for you. We can handle all the details, including the entry fee, the completion of the necessary forms, and the required copies of your book. We will select the most appropriate category for your book (from among the choices below) for your convenience.

CLICK TO ORDER THIS AWARD SUBMISSION SERVICE

Simply select the USA Book News National Best Books Award Full Submission Service option from the Marketing Options screen inside your author’s center.  

The deadline for ordering through your Outskirts Press author’s center for this year’s awards program is June 30th, 2009. Your book must have a 2008 copyright date to be eligible.

Not yet a published author?

CATEGORIES

African-American Studies

Animals/Pets – General
Animals/Pets – Health
Animals/Pets – Novelty

Anthologies – Non-Fiction

Art – General
Art – Instructional/How-To

Audio Book – Business
Audio Book – Fiction, Abridged
Audio Book – Fiction, Unabridged
Audio Book – Humor
Audio Book – Mystery/Thriller
Audio Book – Non-fiction, Abridged
Audio Book – Non-fiction, Unabridged
Audio Book – Self-Help/Motivational
Audio Book – Spiritual
Audio Book – Travel

Audio Course – Business
Audio Course – Religion
Audio Course – Self-Help/Motivational
Audio Course – Spirituality

Autobiography/Memoirs

Best Cover Design
Best Interior Design
Best New Fiction (an author’s first published work)
Best New Non-Fiction (an author’s first published work)

Biography – General
Biography – Historical

Business – General
Business – Careers
Business – Entrepreneurship & Small Business
Business – Investing
Business – Management & Leadership
Business – Marketing & Advertising
Business – Motivational
Business – Personal Finance
Business – Real Estate
Business – Reference
Business – Sales
Business – Technology/Computers/Internet
Business – Writing/Publishing

Children’s Activity Book
Children’s Educational
Children’s Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Children’s Novelty & Gift Book
Children’s Religious

Children’s Picture Book – Hardcover Fiction
Children’s Picture Book – Hardcover Fiction w/ Audio CD
Children’s Picture Book – Hardcover Non-Fiction
Children’s Picture Book – Softcover Fiction
Children’s Picture Book – Softcover Fiction w/ Audio CD
Children’s Picture Book – Softcover Non-Fiction

Comics – Graphic Novels
Comics – Manga

Cookbooks – General
Cookbooks – Baking/Bread
Cookbooks – Desserts
Cookbooks – Grilling & BBQ
Cookbooks – International
Cookbooks – Poultry/Meat/Fish
Cookbooks – Regional
Cookbooks – Vegetables/Grains/Pasta

College Guides

Crafts/Hobbies/How-to

Current Events – Media/Entertainment
Current Events – Political/Social

Education/Academic
Education PreK-12

Environment – Political/Social
Environment – Green /Alternative Energy/Conservation

Fiction & Literature – General
Fiction & Literature – African American Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Anthologies
Fiction & Literature – Chick Lit/Women’s Lit
Fiction & Literature – Fantasy/Science Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Gay & Lesbian Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Historical Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Horror
Fiction & Literature – Multicultural Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Mystery/Suspense
Fiction & Literature – New Age Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Religious Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Romance
Fiction & Literature – Short Story Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Thriller/Adventure
Fiction & Literature – Visionary Fiction
Fiction & Literature – Western
Fiction & Literature – Young Adult Fiction

Gardening – General

Gay & Lesbian – Non-Fiction
Gay & Lesbian Studies

Gift & Specialty Books

Health – General
Health – Addiction & Recovery
Health – Aging/50+
Health – Alternative Medicine
Health – Cancer
Health – Death & Dying
Health – Diet & Weight Loss
Health – Exercise & Fitness
Health – Organizers & Planners
Health – Medical Reference
Health – Men’s Health
Health – Psychology/Mental Health
Health – Sexuality/Sex
Health – Women’s Health

History – General
History – Ancient
History – Media/Entertainment
History – Military
History – Political
History – United States
History – World

Home – General
Home – Decorating/Interior Design
Home – Exterior Design/Landscaping
Home – Gardening
Home – Green Living

Humor

Language Guides

Multicultural Non-Fiction

Native American Studies

New Age – Non-fiction

Non-Fiction – Narrative

Parenting/Family – General
Parenting/Family – Divorce
Parenting/Family – Organizers & Planners
Parenting/Family – Pregnancy & Childbirth
Parenting/Family – Reference

Photography – General
Photography – Instructional/How-To
Photography – Nature
Photography – People

Poetry – General
Poetry – Anthologies
Poetry – Chapbook
Poetry – Humor
Poetry – Inspirational
Poetry – Religious
Poetry – Urban

Religion – General
Religion – Buddhism
Religion – Christianity
Religion – Christian Inspirational
Religion – Comparative Religion
Religion – Eastern Religions
Religion – Hinduism
Religion – Islam
Religion – Judaism
Religion – Prayer & Devotionals

Science – General

Self-Help – General
Self-Help – Journals & Quotes
Self-Help – Motivational 
Self-Help – Relationships

Social Change

Spirituality – General
Spirituality – Inspirational
Spirituality – Journals & Quotes
Spirituality – Novelty & Gift Book

Sports – General
Sports – Autobiography/Biography

Theater Arts – General
Theater Arts – Drama/Plays

Travel – Guides
Travel – Essay
Travel – Pictorial
Travel – Recreational

True Crime – Non-Fiction

Young Adult – Educational
Young Adult – Non-Fiction
Youth Issues

Women’s Issues

You could win $3,000 cash and promotion in Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly!

Outskirts Press is already the sponsor and publisher of Writer’s Digest’s annual Writing Competition Collection, which is one of the most renown short story contests in the country.

Now Outskirts Press can help you participate in the Writer’s Digest contest for books, and be eligible to receive your part of over $17,000 in cash and prizes.

WRITER’S DIGEST
International Self-Published Book Awards

 We can take care of all the submission details for you, including the completion of the necessary forms, the entry fee, and the required copies of your book. We will select the most appropriate category for submission from among the category choices listed below.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS AWARD SUBMISSION

Simply select Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards Full Submission Service from the Marketing Options screen of your author’s center. This contest is one of three confirmed and vetted awards Outskirts Press recommends as part of its Spring Season Book Awards Submissions, along with the USA Book News Best Books Awards and the Indie Book Awards.

Your book must have a copyright date of 2008 to enter the Writer’s Digest contest through your Author’s Center.

Our deadline for ordering through your Author’s Center is April 1, 2009.

THE PRIZES:

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be awarded $3,000 cash and promotion in Writer’s Digest and Publishers Weekly. The editors of Writer’s Digest will endorse and submit 10 copies of the Grand Prize-Winning book to major review houses such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. In addition, Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a one-year membership in Publishers Marketing Association, guaranteed acceptance in a special-sales catalog providing national representation through 1800 salespeople selling to non-bookstore markets, guaranteed acceptance by Atlas Books (a top distributor to wholessalers, chains, independents and online retailers), six hours of book shepherding from Poynter Book Shepherd Ellen Reid and guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review.

10 FIRST-PLACE WINNERS will receive $1000 cash and promotion in Writer’s Digest. In addition, Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review, a one-year membership to Book Central Station, the eBook Beyond the Bookstore, a Publishers Weekly book by Brian Jud and a copy of Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers by Shel Horowitz.

Plus, all Grand Prize and First Place winners will receive book-jacket seals to promote the award-winning status of their book, promotion on the Writer’s Digest Web site at writersdigest.com, a copy of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 4th Edition by Tom and Marilyn Ross, $100 worth or Writer’s Digest Books and a Notable Award Certificate.

HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS will receive promotion at www.writersdigest.com, $50 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and a Notable Award Certificate.

All other entrants will receive Certificates of Participation, a brief judge’s commentary and a listing with a link on the Writer’s Digest Web site, provided an accurate URL is provided.

Not yet a published author?

THE CATEGORIES:

• Mainstream/Literary Fiction
• Genre Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Inspirational (Spiritual, New Age)
• Life Stories (Biographies, Autobiographies, Family Histories, Memoirs)
• Children’s Picture books
• Middle-Grade/Young Adult books
• Reference Books (Directories, Encyclopedias, Guide Books)
• Poetry
• Humor

Every fall, Outskirts Press helps its authors facilitate the submission of their published books to renown book award contests like the Benjamin Franklin Awards, ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards, and Reader Views Literary Awards. 

Now, Outskirts Press introduces the Spring Awards Season, and a whole new crop of legitimate and vetted book awards that Outskirts Press can help you enter. The contests in our Spring Season are the Indie Book Awards, the USA Book News Awards, and the Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.

Keep an eye on this blog throughout the week for details about each specific award, including  deadlines for entry, eligibility requirements, cash/prizes, and more.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards submission service through Outskirts Press is open for any English-language book with a copyright date of 2008. 

When ordering this submission service through your author’s center, we will handle all the details, including form completion, applicable entry fee, all requisite copies of your book, and more, etc. We will choose the most applicable category for entry from among the 70 choices available (listed at the bottom of this posting).

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Order this award submission service conveniently from your Outskirts Press author’s center by choosing the Indie Book Awards Full Submission Service from your Marketing Options screen.

Hurry! The deadline for order is February 15. Remember, your book must have a 2008 copyright and be in English to be eligible.

Awards given to the Finalists and Winners of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards are:

• $1,000 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the best Fiction Book
• $1,000 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the best Non-Fiction Book
• $500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the second best Fiction Book
• $500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the second best Non-Fiction Book
• $250 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the third best Fiction Book
• $250 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the third best Non-Fiction Book
• $250 Cash Prize and trophy awarded (NEW THIS YEAR) to the Best Cover Design Book entry
• A Gold Medal awarded to the winner of each of the 70 categories
• Finalist Certificates will be awarded to up to 10 finalists in each of the 70 categories

Finalists and Winners will also receive:

• A listing in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog which will be distributed to book buyers, media, and others!
• Extra exposure for your book on websites and blogs.
• The opportunity to display Finalist or Winner stickers on your book.

PLUS, the top 70 books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen O’Shea Literary Agency or one of Ms. Allen’s co-agents for possible representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights (unless an entrant prefers not to have the book forwarded to an agent). Ms. Allen has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including serving as Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing for Harper Collins and directing sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books and Avon Books. Ms. Allen has had the pleasure of working with many best-selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more.

All Finalists and Winners for the 2009 Indie Book Awards will be selected and notified in May.

Not yet a published author, experiencing the convenience and support of book awards submissions? Click here to start publishing with Outskirts Press today.

Categories for the 2009 Indie Book Awards

• Action/Adventure
• Animals/Pets
• Anthology
• Art
• Audio Book
• Autobiography/Memoirs
• Biography
• Business
• Career
• Children’s/Juvenile Fiction
• Children’s/Juvenile Non-Fiction
• Children’s Picture Book
• Coffee Table Book
• Cookbook/Food
• Crafts/Hobbies
• Current Events/Political
• Diet/Nutrition
• Education/Academic
• Entertainment/Pop Culture
• Erotica
• Fantasy
• Finance
• First Novel
• Fitness/Sports/Recreation
• GLBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender)
• General Fiction/Novel
• Gift Books/Specialty
• Health/Wellness
• Historical Fiction
• History/Historical Non-Fiction
• Home/Garden
• How To
• Humor/Comedy
• Inspirational
• Motivational
• Multicultural Fiction
• Multicultural Non-Fiction
• Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
• Nature/Environment
• New Age Fiction
• New Age Non-Fiction
• Parenting/Family
• Photography
• Poetry
• Psychology
• Reference/Directories
• Regional Fiction
• Regional Non-Fiction
• Relationships
• Religion/Religious Non-Fiction
• Religious Fiction
• Romance
• Sales
• Science
• Science Fiction
• Self Help
• Short Story – Fiction
• Social Change
• Spirituality
• Travel/Travel Guide
• Women’s Issues
• Writing and Publishing
• Young Adult Fiction
• Young Adult Non-Fiction

Additional Categories

• Best Cover Design – Fiction
• Best Cover Design – Non-Fiction
• Best Overall Design – Fiction
• Best Overall Design – Non-Fiction

E-book Categories

• E-book – Fiction
• E-book – Non-Fiction