Tag: Awards

Awards, Book Awards, EVVY Book Awards

Book Awards Build Buzz

One of the best ways to create a buzz about your book is by winning an award! Winning a book award is a great feeling, and sometimes it even comes with prize money — best of all, it can be a powerful marketing tool.

There are hundreds of thousands of self-published books released each year, and competition is fierce. Authors who are serious about getting their book noticed will need to put extra effort into the promotional department. By entering legitimate writing contests, authors can up their chances of winning recognition…and so much more.

When you win a book award…

  • You receive third-party validation that your book is worthy.
  • You may win prize money…
  • The awards website will feature a list of all the winners and send out a press release announcing the winners — resulting in more publicity for you!
  • You can send out your own press release to announce your award — again, more publicity.
  • You can add an award sticker to your book cover that consumers, librarians, and booksellers will see immediately, and this can influence their buying decisions.
  • You gain credibility as a writer and an edge in the market.
  • You can call yourself an award-winning author, not only with friends and family but in promotional materials and interviews as well!

New writers publishing with the New & Improved Outskirts Press starting in August will receive the Book Marketing RoadMap at publication, and one article is devoted to helping our authors identify reputable book contests to enter.  So, in recognition of our amazing 16 award finalists in the Colorado Independent Publisher Association EVVY Awards, we are going to give you an excerpt from the free Book Marketing RoadMap right now by listing a few of the upcoming book award contests to consider entering after your book is published. The contests listed below have approaching deadlines, so act fast!

And if you didn’t see our 16 EVVY Award finalists, you can see them here.

Top National Contests and Book Awards

USA Best Book Awards

  • Deadline: Fall
  • Website: USABookNews.com
  • Details: This contest is another option to spread your marketing dollars, as they accept manuscripts up to two years after publication. All winners receive industry and media exposure.

Benjamin Franklin Awards

  • Deadline: Fall/Winter
  • Website: IBPABenjaminFranklinAwards.com
  • Details: Held by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the annual Benjamin Franklin Awards is one of the premiere contests in independent publishing today, where Gold Medal winners in each category receive an engraved crystal trophy acknowledging their accomplishment.

Reader Views Literary Awards

  • Deadline: December of your copyright year
  • Website: ReaderViews.com/literaryawards
  • Details: With numerous categories and various awards per category (including cash prizes and publicity packages), the Reader Views Literary Awards should not be missed. And it’s easy to miss them! They have the earliest deadline among all these contests, so plan early.

INDIEFAB Awards

Deadline: Dec/Jan
Website: IndieFab.ForewordReviews.com
Details: Held by the prestigious review journal Foreword Reviews, the INDIEFAB Awards are a cornerstone of the independent publishers marketing foundation. Not only are winners featured in the print and digital editions of Foreword Reviews, but they play a role in a national publicity campaign.

Eric Hoffer Book Awards

  • Deadline: January
  • Website: HofferAward.com
  • Details: One submission automatically makes you eligible for numerous category considerations, including most-thought provoking work, best cover, best first-time author, and best over-all book, which comes with a $2,000 Grand Prize.


The Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards

  • Deadline: By invitation only
  • Website: OutskirtsPress.com
  • Details: Every year Outskirts Press recognizes one book as our official Best Book of the Year with this prestigious award that comes with a $1,500 Grand Prize for the winning author. The prerequisite for becoming one of the three special Semi-Finalists in this contest is winning a Colorado Independent Book Publishers Association EVVY Award.

This year’s EVVY Awards take place in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, August 20th. Outskirts Press executives will be on-hand to accept awards on behalf of authors unable to attend.  Once our EVVY Winners are announced, three of them will be hand-selected as our Semi-Finalists for the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award. Stay tuned!

Submitting your book to contests can be rewarding. It can also be time-consuming and frustrating. Let Outskirts Press help you!

Outskirts Press authors can automatically enter six reputable, vetted book contests with one click of a button!

The Book Awards Submission package, exclusively from Outskirts Press, takes care of everything by automatically entering your book into the following book award contents for you: Benjamin Franklin Awards, INDIEFAB Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Reader Views Literary Awards , Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards, and the USA Best Book Awards. If you’re already published with Outskirts Press, look for this Marketing Service in your Publishing Center under “Marketing Options.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awards, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing Writer’s Digest Awards Entrants

A few weeks ago, we announced the upcoming Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Awards deadline of March 31st.

According to the Writer’s Digest website, the winners of the awards will receive not only recognition but also “one grand prize winner will be awarded $3,000 cash and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. The editors of Writer’s Digest will endorse and submit 10 copies of the Grand Prize-Winning book to major review houses. Brian Jud & Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a one-year membership in Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), guaranteed acceptance in a special-sales catalog giving you national representation through 1800 salespeople selling to non-bookstore markets, guaranteed acceptance by Atlas Books, a top distributor to wholesalers, chains, independents, and online retailers, six hours of book shepherding from Poynter Book Shepherd Ellen Reid and a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review.

10 first-place winners will receive $1000 cash and promotion in Writer’s Digest. In addition, Brian Jud & Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a one-year membership in Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN), a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review, a one-year membership to Book Central Station where you can find lists of suppliers rated by previous clients, an ebook of Beyond the Bookstore by Brian Jud (with CD) and a copy of Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers by Shel Horowitz.

Plus, all Grand Prize and First Place winners will receive 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 of Writer’s Digest Books and a Notable Award Certificate.

HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS will receive promotion at http://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.”

An impressive number of Outskirts Press authors submitted their books for consideration. In alphabetical order, here are the entrants:

  • Addiction
  • All Points North
  • Attic Door
  • Beads of Lapis
  • Biscuits With Archie
  • Body Parts
  • Celebrity
  • Command Influence
  • A Cookbook for A Knucklehead
  • The Cosmic Order of Reincarnation
  • Devil Dogs and Banana Slugs
  • Duckegg
  • Easy Money
  • Edgewood Troupe
  • Four Farm Boys
  • The Fruit of the Dendragon Tree
  • God’s Jewel
  • h1
  • He Blew Her A Kiss
  • Heaven’s Rage
  • The Janus Project
  • Khan in Rasputin’s Shadow
  • Le beau jardin…A Love Story
  • Legend of the Pumpkin Carver
  • Murder by Another Name
  • Musing Along the Ike
  • My Odyssey
  • Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie and her Secret Duke of Sesto: Imperial Wedding of Old Paris
  • Narcissistic Predicaments
  • Odyssey of a DP
  • One Canoe, Many Paddles
  • One Wacky Wasp
  • Pilot Mountain
  • Public Schools Are Archaic
  • Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer
  • Reflective Empowerment
  • Roberto El Rápido
  • Russia’s Prestige:Historical Architecture
  • Salvation, Money, Then Marriage
  • Same ‘Ol Moon
  • SAT & BAF!
  • Starfish, Seashells, Coral and Gems
  • Supernova
  • Sworn to Secrecy
  • Tearing Down the Wall
  • They Call Me Nuisance
  • TRUCK
  • The Umbrella Race
  • An Unknown Journey
  • Vendeka’s Creed
  • Waiting for My Wife
  • When I Was A Child
Please pass your best wishes on to these authors as the contest begins.

It’s time to get published and experience book marketing support like this.

Click here for free publishing guides to help you get started.

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contests, Uncategorized

Upcoming Award Deadline for Self-Publishing Authors: Readers Favorite Awards

Time is running out!  The deadline for the Readers Favorite Book Award contest is June 1, 2011

View last year’s winners featured on our blog:

2010 Readers Favorite Award-Winning Outskirts Press Authors

Why Enter the Readers Favorite Award Contest?

Book Awards grab the attention of book stores, publishers, libraries, and readers, which can translate into increased sales. You can refer to your book as an “Award-Winning Book” and yourself as an “Award-Winning Author” on your book cover, website, and all other marketing materials. You can add your Award Sticker to existing copies of your book, or incorporate a digital image of it into new or reprinted versions.

Already published and ready to submit your book?
Click the button below to enter now.

Not published yet and ready to publish your own award-winning book?
Click below for free publishing guides to help you get started.

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Awards, Outskirts Press News, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Colorado Independent Publishers Association Recognizes Nine Self-Publishing Authors With Outskirts Press in the 17th Annual EVVY Awards

Outskirts Press, the fastest growing self-publishing and book marketing company, leads the way with the most award-winning books at the 17th Annual EVVY Awards book competition.

March 29, 2011. Denver, Colorado – In its 17th year, the 2011 EVVY Awards ceremony was held Saturday night by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) to recognize excellence in self-published and independently published books from Colorado publishers. Entries are judged by a panel of independent judges who are experts and professionals in their respective category fields.

Categories included autobiography/memoirs, biography/history, business/finance, fiction, how-to, inspirational, self-help, juvenile, legacy, non-fiction experiences, poetry, political/social, spirituality/religion, workbooks and travel. Each category can award a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place EVVY award, along with honorable mentions (Merit Awards).

For the sixth consecutive year, Outskirts Press led the way with the most award-winning books among participating publishers with two 1st place awards, one 2nd place award, one 3rd place Tech award, and five Merit Awards.

The 2011 EVVY Award-winners from Outskirts Press are:

  • The Beads of Lapis Lazuli by Doris Kenney Marcotte – 1st Place, Fiction
  • The Key to Job Success in any Career by Frank B. Leibold, Ph.D. – 1st Place, Self-Help
  • The Rise and Fall of Captain Methane by Dorcey Alan Wingo – 2nd Place, Autobiography
  • I Am Equus by Duaa Anwar – 3rd Place, Tech Award, Cover Design
  • Art, Experience and Faith by William Squires – Merit, Spirituality
  • One Wacky Wasp by Brent Sampson – Merit, Children’s
  • Psych Consults by Robert J. Mignone, M.D., F.A.P.A. – Merit, Self-Help
  • Queen Vernita Meets Sir Heathy Bean by Dawn Menge and Heath Rhoades – Merit, Children’s
  • Whispers of Joy by Joy Andreasen – Merit, Spirituality

Outskirts Press EVVY Award winner Doris Kenney Marcotte says, “Thank you Colorado Independent Publishers Association and your judges for selecting my book, The Beads of Lapis Lazuli, to receive the 1st Place EVVY Award for Fiction. I feel very honored.  A special thank you goes to the talented production staff at Outskirts Press for helping me turn my words and my vision into an award winning book. This has been a wonderful experience, one that I will never forget.”

For more information about Outskirts Press, where award-winning authors publish award-winning books, visit http://www.outskirtspress.com .

About Outskirts Press, Inc:

Outskirts Press offers high-quality, full-service self-publishing and book marketing services for writers and professionals who are seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining 100% of their rights, 100% of their profits, and 100% of the creative control. www.outskirtspress.com.

# # #

Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd. – 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
http://outskirtspress.com 1-888-OP-BOOKS

Awards, Uncategorized

2010 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Award Winners Announced

The Writer’s Digest 2010 Self-Published Book Award Winners have been announced!

Three Outskirts Press authors/titles won an award.  They are:

Three Little Bayou Fisherman book cover
Three Little Bayou Fishermen by Julie T. Lamana

Category: Children’s Picture Books

Award: Honorable Mention

ABENAKI AUTUMN book cover
Abenaki Autumn by Richard Brian Clark

Category: Fiction

Award: Honorable Mention

Eddie's Wake book cover
Eddie's Wake by C.A. Peterson

Category: Mainstream/Literary Fiction

Award: Honorable Mention

Congratulations to our winners! Since Outskirts Press publishes so many award-winning books, we make it easier than ever to promote your award with our Award Recognition Cover Enhancement option. For details and to order, visit the Marketing Options screen of your author’s center, or click the link above or the icon to the right.

 

 

Ready to publish your own award-winning book? Click here for free publishing guides to help you get started.

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Awards, Uncategorized

Reader Views Literary Award Finalists in Self-Publishing

The Reader Views 2010 Literary Award Finalists have been announced and Outskirts Press published more finalists  than any other publisher.

In fact, we recently received a wonderful unsolicited email from the owner of Reader Views, Irene Watson.  Through Reader Views, Irene comes in contact with a LOT of books from a LOT of self-publishing companies.  She granted us permission to share her recent email with our viewers.  Here’s what she had to say:

I’m very impressed with the quality of books that come from Outskirts Press.  We get a lot of self-published books and many are horribly (that’s the most gentle word I could find) produced. The quality just isn’t up to par.  Yours match any large traditional publishing company to a T. Occasionally we do review a book that hasn’t been properly edited but we know that’s the choice of the author.  If only, if only…there was a way to instill into the authors the importance of editing.

In fact, I am so impressed I recommended Outskirts Press to my assistant for her book. It’s in production now with your company.

Irene

Winners will be announced by today, March 3rd, 2011. Congratulations (and good luck) to the following Outskirts Press Finalists:

PJ and Split Pea

Behind the Columns

Command Influence

He Blew Her a Kiss

Keya Quests

Letters from Wheatfield

Outlook for a Better Life

Philosophy Back to Basics

Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer

Reflective Empowerment

Same Ol Moon

Tearing Down the Wall

Stalking the Dragon

The Union

The Valley Of Ashes

Congratulations to all our finalists! Since Outskirts Press publishes so many award-winning books, we make it easier than ever to promote your award with our Award Recognition Cover Enhancement option. For details and to order, visit the Marketing Options screen of your author’s center, or click the link above or the icon to the right.

Ready to publish your own award-winning book? Click here for free publishing guides to help you get started.

Start Publishing

 

Awards, Uncategorized

The USA Book News Award Winners in Self-Publishing – 2010

The National Best Books 2010 Award Winners and Finalists have been announced by USA Book News. Congratulations to the following Outskirts Press titles and authors:

All Healths Breaking Loose
All Healths Breaking Loose by Loa Blasucci, Finalist in the Health: Exercise & Fitness Category
All Points North
All Points North by Shelby R. Lee III, Finalist in the Fiction & Literature: Short Story Fiction Category
Bond Daddy
Bond Daddy By David Walby, Finalist in the Biography: General Category
Breaking the Time Barrier
Breaking the Time Barrier by Gordon E. Morrison, Finalist in the Science: General Category
CALLING ALL BOOMERS
CALLING ALL BOOMERS: REFLECT NOW BEFORE THE MEMORY GOES! by Randall D. Howard, Finalist in the Religion: General Category
Career Planning and Development
Career Planning and Development-In Reverse by Dr. Carl M. Powe, Finalist in the Business: Motivational
Dream For World Unity
Dream For World Unity by Haile Gebre Egziabher, Finalist in the Business: General Category
everything b
everything b by William Monroe Dean, Finalist in the Science: General Category
Giving Voice to Your Cause
Giving Voice to Your Cause: Speaking Tips for Nonprofit Professionals by Pamela Ziemann, Finalist in the Social Change Category
He Blew Her a Kiss
He Blew Her a Kiss by Angie Pechack Printup & Kelley Stewart Dollar, Finalist in the Self-Help: Motivational Category
In Search of the Great White God
In Search of the Great White God by Anthony T. Cluff, Finalist in the Religion: General Category
Kakos Prose & Poetry
Kakos Prose & Poetry by Kakos Kakos, Finalist in the Poetry: General Category
Kim's Confessions
Kims Confessions by Wilson Awasu, Finalist in the Religion: Christianity Category
Mystery of the Great Flood Confirmed
Mystery of the Great Flood Confirmed by Elsar Amos Orkan MD, Finalist in the Science: General Category
Narcissistic Predicaments
Narcissistic Predicaments by Sister Renee Pittelli, Finalist in the Religion: Christianity Category
No Hope for Gomez
No Hope for Gomez! by Graham Parke, Finalist in the Humor Category
Outlook for a Better Life
Outlook for a Better Life by Haile Gebre Egziabher, Finalist in the Religion: General Category
Practical English Level 365
Practical English Level 365 Volume 1 by Kaakyire Akosomo Nyantakyi, Finalist in the Education/Academic Category
Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer
Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer by Dawn Menge and Heath Rhoades, Finalist in the Children
Savannah's Black First Ladies
Savannahs Black First Ladies, Vol I: The Past, Present, and Future by Pamela Howard-Oglesby & Brenda L. Roberts, Finalist in the African American Studies Category
Steadfast Christian
Steadfast Christian: A Higher Call to Faith, Family and Hope by Patrick Dillon, Winner in the Religion: Christian Inspirational Category
Tearing Down the Wall
Tearing Down the Wall by Sharon M. Katzman, Finalist in the Self-Help: Motivational Category
The Cosmic Order of Reincarnation
The Cosmic Order of Reincarnation by Khun Shwe Thike, Finalist in the Science: General Category
The Heavens Weep for Us
The Heavens Weep for Us by Thelma T. Reyna, Finalist in the Fiction & Literature: Short Story Fiction Category
The Light of Innocence
The Light of Innocence by Carl Marshall, Finalist in the Religion: Christianity Fiction Category
The Miserly Mind
The Miserly Mind, 12½ Secrets of the Freakishly Frugal by Elise Cooke, Finalist in the Business: Personal Finance Category
The Protected
The Protected by Rowena Portch, Finalist in the Fiction & Literature: Romance Category
The Summer That Changed My Life
The Summer That Changed My Life by Shanile Sharay Goggins with Benita Taylor, Finalist in the Religion: Christianity Category
Two Sisters Journey
Two Sisters Journey: from Darkness Into the Light by Christi Rohan & Juli Rohan, Finalist in the Health: Death & Dying Category
Unlocking the Poet´s Realm
Unlocking the Poets Realm by Matt Wiebusch, Finalist in the Fiction & Literature: Fantasy/Sci Fi Category

Congratulations to all our winners! We already know Outskirts Press helps our authors publish award-winning books, and now it is easier than ever to promote your award with our Award Recognition Cover Enhancement option. For details and to order, visit the Marketing Options screen of your author’s center.

Ready to publish your own award-winning books? Click here for free publishing guides to help you get started.

Start Publishing

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Author Spotlight, Awards, contests

Benjamin Franklin Book Awards Kick Off BEA

The annual Benjamin Franklin Awards take place tonight at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York between 6pm – 8:30pm. Outskirts Press will be on-hand in support of the self-publishing finalists.

From the IBPA Website: The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which includes fifty plus categories recognizing excellence in both editorial and design, is regarded as one of the highest national honors in small and independent book publishing. Ever since 1987, when the awards competition was established by Jan Nathan, founder of IBPA, winners have been announced at IBPA’s Publishing University, just prior to Book Expo America.

Outskirts Press is the only major self-publishing company to have even one finalist in these highly-respected book awards, much less two!  Which just goes to show that award-winning authors publish award-winning books at Outskirts Press.  Congratulations to the two talented authors below for their placement as finalists in the 2010 Benjamin Franklin Awards.  The winners will be announced tonight. Good luck!

In the Land of Cotton, by Martha A. Taylor
In the Land of Cotton, by Martha A. Taylor

Martha A. Taylor was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha’s natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a primitive Negro family living deep in the woods near her house, everyone’s life changed forever. Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times—a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color.
 

Lost American Principles, by Steven L. Hall
Lost American Principles, by Steven L. Hall

Steven L. Hall is originally from Idaho and currently lives in Alaska. A graduate of Boise State University, Summa cum Laude, he calls himself “an Economist by training; an Entrepreneur by vocation (semi-retired); and a writer by avocation.” He has studied politics, governments, and economies for years and offers unique insights, not only about how they affect our everyday lives, but also in regard to our responsibilities in a democratic society, if we wish to remain free.

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Awards

Denver Business Journal recognizes Outskirts Press

On July 17th, The Denver Business Journal recognized Outskirts Press as the fastest-growing privately held company in the “Flight IV” category within the Denver metropolitan area.

Participating companies were analyzed based upon their gross revenue growth over the past three years, and were subsequently divided by revenue tiers. “Small” companies were recognized in Flight V, “small-medium” companies were recognized in Flight IV, “medium” companies were recognized in Flight III, “medium-large” companies were recognized in Flight II, and “large” companies were recognized in Flight I.

This was the second year in a row The Denver Business Journal recognized Outskirts Press as one of the fastest-growing private companies. In 2007, Outskirts Press received its award for being the 3rd-fastest growing company in the “Small” companies category.

This year, Outskirts Press was recognized as the #1 fastest-growing company in the “Small-Medium” sized category, with a 3-year revenue growth percentage exceeding 500%, making it the third fastest-growing company overall.

When The Denver Business Journal interviewed CEO Brent Sampson and asked what has contributed to Outskirts Press’ growth, Sampson gave three main reasons:

  1. The growth of self-publishing in general. “The self-publishing industry is exploding.”
  2. Author support and customer service. “We’re in contact with many authors for years while they are still writing their books.”
  3. Unique opportunities for savvy authors. “The publication of a book is a strong marketing tool for speakers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and other professionals.”

 

 

Do you want to publish your book with a growing and vibrant company that is proving itself in the ever competitive self-publishing industry? Start publishing today.

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