You’ve worked day and night writing, editing, promoting, and selling your book—isn’t it about time you received a little recognition? We think so! That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best upcoming industry awards for independent authors here on the Big Bad Book Blog.

Awards are a great way to gain recognition and visibility, and they just might boost sales and confidence, too. Best of luck!

Happy Pub Day!

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who have books coming out this May.

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet

Change Intelligence: Use the Power of CQ to Lead Change That Sticks by Barbara A. Trautlein, Ph.D.

My Greek Drama: Life, Love, and One Woman’s Olympic Effort to Bring Glory to Her Country by Gianna Angelopoulos

The Behavior Breakthrough: Leading Your Organization to a New Competitive Advantage by Steve Jacobs and Colleagues

Unpredictable Webs by Darlene Quinn

Widow Walk by Gerard LaSalle

Never In Your Wildest Dreams: A Transformational Story to Tap Into Your Hidden Gifts to Create a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity by Natalie Ledwell

Scrap by Emory Sharplin

Bucket List Bars: Historic Saloons, Pubs, and Dives of America by Clint Lanier

You Should Only Have to Get Rich Once: For Entrepreneurs—How to Avoid Toxic Financial Advice and Focus on What Really Matters by Russell E. Holcombe

HeadTrash: Cleaning Out the Junk that Stands Between You and Success by Tish Squillaro and Timothy I. Thomas

America’s Soul in the Balance 2^nd ed. By Gregory J. Wallance

 Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

Not shown in photo: Scrap by Emory Sharplin, You Should Only Have to Get Rich Once: For Entrepreneurs - How to Avoid Toxic Financial Advice and Focus on What Really Matters by Russell E. Holcombe and America's Soul in the Balance 2nd Edition by Gregory J. Wallance

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who have books coming out this April.

Slingshot: AMD’s Fight to Free an Industry from the Ruthless Grip of Intel by Hector Ruiz

The Last Daughter of Prussia by Marina Gottlieb Sarles

Dare: Accepting the Challenge of Trusting Leadership by Scott Weiss

From Frazzled to Focused: The Ultimate Guide for Moms Who Want to Reclaim Their Time, Their Sanity and Their Lives by Rivka Caroline

The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success (Second Edition—Entirely Revised): Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search by Wayne Breitbarth

The Balance Myth: Rethinking Work-Life Success by Teresa A. Taylor

Fast Fresh + Simple: Over 100 Delicious Recipes for Entertaining and Every Day by Hope Cohen

The Third Peril by Paul Hoffman

The Home Office Handbook: Rules of Thumb for Organizing Your Time, Information, and Workspace by Lorie Marrero

Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

Not pictured: The Third Peril by Paul Hoffman

It’s no secret that the number of books being published each year has skyrocketed. As a result, publishers, distributors, booksellers, and consumers are bombarded with a sea of choices. One way to ensure that your book swims and doesn’t sink is to gather powerful, moving endorsements.

Ideally, your endorsements will come from celebrity voices—authors, business leaders, or other notable figures working in your field or industry. Unfortunately, not all of us are on Oprah’s speed dial. But pay attention to the following tips, and you’ll be well on your way to an awesome cover blurb.

Start Early

One of the best ways to maximize your chances of receiving a great endorsement is to start many months before your pub date. The popular authors and thought leaders you’re reaching out to aren’t typically the type of people who lounge around reading all day. Starting early will give them more time to consider your proposal and read your work. It will also give you more time to brainstorm backup endorsers and write follow-up emails and letters. Makes sense, right? You’d be surprised how many authors wait until the last moment to contact potential endorsers. Don’t procrastinate on gathering great endorsements.

Take Time Building a List

Scribbling down the first five people that come to mind isn’t going to do you any favors. Do your research. Take time looking up the top sellers in your genre, the exciting new faces in your field, the movers and shakers of your niche. But don’t stop there. Think of authors whose books you respect, colleagues whose ideals you admire, bloggers whose pages you visit often, and people you just plain like.  A list of ten to twenty potential endorsers is a great place to start. You’ll want a mix of easily recognizable names and less well-known but very relevant professionals. Additionally, make sure you have a valid way to contact them directly (not through a Facebook message or publisher address if you can help it). Make Google, Amazon, Goodreads, and bestseller lists your best friends at this stage.

Strut Your Stuff

In your initial email or snail-mail letter to your list of potential endorsers, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn a little bit. Be proud of your work and highlight any professional or personal accomplishments you’re particularly proud of. Know that you deserve great endorsements. Mentioning any other endorsements you’ve received or blurbs from press will get your endorser’s attention. Be sure to include the first few chapters of your book and even your cover art if you’d like.

Get Personal

Do you know who, besides booksellers and consumers, are swamped with books? Other authors. In order to stand out amid the spam mail, fan mail, and other endorsement requests, you need to get personal. Tell them why you like them and which book(s) of theirs you’ve read. Share a few lines from your upcoming book or write a killer summary. Why not even go ahead and share your favorite ice cream flavor and yoga pose if you feel so inclined?

Being specific and adding a little color to your email will certainly work in your favor. And while we’re on the subject, adding actual color to your email in the form of a funny design or image could work as well, depending on your subject matter.

Another great way to stand out is to have your publisher handle your endorsement outreach if it’s an option for you. This will add credibility and expertise to your request, and will likely provide you with better access to more popular names and more professional insight into potential endorser lists.

Look Beyond the Endorsement

One important thing to remember while you’re searching for endorsers is that the really important part of this process isn’t actually all about the endorsements. Making endorsement lists will expose you to popular and innovative topics in your field, which will be good news for you when it comes time to draft marketing materials and publicity plans for your piece. Reaching out to those on your list will not only get your name out there, it will give you a personal contact for any future correspondence. Recognize that the entire process is a connections builder, and you can’t lose. 

Alright, now it’s time to get researching and writing! Not sure how to word your email or letter? For an example endorsement letter check out our previous blog post on getting great endorsements for your book. 

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who have books coming out this March.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob—A Journey Begins by Brooks Olbrys

Infinite Progress: How the Internet and Technology Will End Ignorance, Disease, Poverty, Hunger, and War by Byron Reese

Create Distinction: What to Do When ‘Great’ Isn’t Good Enough to Grow Your Business by Scott McKain

Leasing NYC: The Insider’s Guide to Leasing Office Space in Manhattan by Gregg Lorberbaum

The New Middle Class: Creating Wages, Wealth, and Opportunity in the 21^st Century by Steve Gunderson

The Unheralded King of Preston Plains Middle by Jedah Mayberry

Patients Come Second: Leading Change by Changing the Way You Lead by Paul Spiegelman and Britt Berrett

Beliefs, Behaviors, and Results: The Chief Executive’s Guide to Delivering Superior Sharholder Value by Scott Gillis, Lee Mergy, and Joe Shalleck

Arlene, The Rebel Queen by Carol Liu with Marybeth Sidoti Caldarone

Heaven’s Night by Harry Aderton

Horse Photography (2^nd Edition) by Carol Walker

Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who have books coming out this February.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob—A Journey Begins by Brooks Olbrys

The Forbidden Text by Dawn Clark

How to Fall Out of Love (2^nd Edition): How to Free Yourself of Love That Hurts—And Find Love That Heals by Dr. Debora Phillips

The Culture Secret: How to Empower People and Companies No Matter What You Sell by Dr. David Vik

A Bitter Cup of Tea by Tim McDaniel

ForeTalk: The 7 Critical Conversations for Living in the Season of Now by Stan Craig

Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton by John Borling

Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

If you wrote or published a book in 2012 and are ready to receive some much-deserved recognition, this post is for you. It’s our annual roundup of writing awards with winter and spring deadlines. Have a favorite award you don’t see on this list? Let us know about it in the comments!

Eric Hoffer Award 

Eligibility: This award is presented every year in the memory of great American philosopher Eric Hoffer. Two awards are given: One for short prose (both fiction and creative nonfiction) and one for independent books published by small, academic, or self-published presses.

Book Deadline: January 21

Prose Deadline: March 31

Award: $250 for best short prose; $2,000 for best independent book; publication in Best New Writing and coverage in the US Review of Books

Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series 

Eligibility: All writers (including non-US citizens) of fiction and poetry working in English. Manuscripts must be at least 50 (for poetry) or 150 pages (for fiction).

Deadline: Applications must be received from January 15-March 15

Award: $3,000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press

Best Translated Book Award

Eligibility: Founded by the University of Rochester, the Best Translated Book Award recognizes the best original works of fiction and poetry published in the US the previous year.
Deadline: January 31

Award: $5,000

Arab American Book Award

Eligibility: The prize honors significant literature by and about Arab Americans. It is awarded by the American Arab National Museum. Authors of fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and poetry books are eligible.
Deadline: February 1

Award: Publicity

Children’s Africana Book Awards

Eligibility: Children’s and Young Adult books copyrighted in 2012 about Africa published in the US

Deadline: End of February

Award: Publicity, seal, and review publication in Sankofa

Hugo Awards

Eligibility: One of the most prestigious writing awards, the Hugo Awards are given to authors of science fiction and fantasy who have published in English the previous year.
Deadline: March 10

Award: Widespread publicity

Independent Publisher Book Awards

Eligibility: The “IPPY” Awards honor the previous year’s best independently published titles. Seventy-five genres are eligible, now including ebook and audiobook submissions.

Deadline: March 16

Award: Publicity

Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

Eligibility: Children’s books with a 2012 or 2013 copyright or released since November 1, 2011. Books must be written in English and intended for the North American market.

Deadline: March 23

Award: Gold, silver, and bronze medals, personalized certificate, and twenty sample seals

National Indie Excellence Awards

Eligibility: Books in a variety of genres published between 2009 and 2013. According to the website, the award recognizes books with an “indefinable synergy of elements that makes for an excellent presentation.”

Deadline: April 2

Award: Various (Sponsored; see website for details)

Barnes & Noble’s Discover Great New Writers Award

Eligibility: Two awards are given annually—one for fiction and one for nonfiction. Authors must have fewer than three published books.

Deadline: April 4

Award: $10,000; extensive in-store and online prom

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who published this December and January.

The Tragedy of Fidel Castro by Joao Cerqueira

Blood on the Threshold by Karin Richmond

Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age by Rob Shindler

A Texas Destiny, the Saga Begins by Joe G. Bax

Fresh Passion: Get a Brand or Die a Generic by Michael D. Brown

Shortcut to Prosperity: 10 Entrepreneurial Habits and a Roadmap for an Exceptional Career by Mark Hopkins

The Longing by Cornelia Warmenhoven

Your Killer Emotions: The 7 Steps to Mastering the Toxic Emotions, Urges, and Impulses That Sabotage You by Ken Lindner

The Constant Choice: An Everyday Journey From Evil Toward Good by Peter Georgescu

The Million-Dollar Race: An Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Dream Job by Kirk Hallowell, Ph.D.

Dear Preston: Doing Business with Our Hearts; A Practical and Friendly Guide to Running Your Own Creative Service Business by Preston Bailey

Cultureship: The ACBs of Business Leadership by Jason Bingham

How to Say Anything to Anyone: A Guide to Building Business Relationships That Really Work by Shari Harley

Raising the Kid You Love with the Ex You Hate by Edward Farber, Ph.D.

Utopia, Texas by Michael E. Glasscock III

Maggie McNair Has Sugar Bugs in There by Sheila Booth-Alberstadt

The Money Code: Improve Your Entire Financial Life Right Now by Joe John Duran, CFA

Shadow of the Piper by Paul Hoffman

Crunch Time! 8 Steps for Making the Right Life Decisions at the Right Times by Ken Lindner

Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

We at Greenleaf Book Group would like to take a moment to congratulate our authors who have books coming out this November.

The Parents’ Guide to Boys: Help Your Son Get the Most Out of School and Life by Abigail Norfleet James, Ph.D.

My Love of Affairs by Sandi R. Hoffman with Marnie Abramson

Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age by Rob Shindler

Well done! All your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we’re honored to be partners in your latest and greatest work.

You’ve worked day and night writing, editing, promoting, and selling your book—isn’t it about time you received a little recognition? We think so! That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best upcoming industry awards for independent authors here on the Big Bad Book Blog.

Awards are a great way to gain recognition and visibility, and they just might boost sales and confidence, too. Best of luck! And remember: It’s never too early to start reorganizing the mantel to make room for your many imminent awards.

A Room of Her Own Award 

Deadline: November 1

Genres: Poetry, Playwrighting, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction

The $50,000 A Room of Her Own Award is the largest award available for women writers. The award’s generous prize is intended to allow women writers to restructure their lives over the two-year award period in order to finish a book-length manuscript.

Best Fiction for Young Adults Award 

Deadline: November 1

Genre: YA Fiction

This award, governed by the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), was created in the 1930s and has been awarded annually ever since. The award recognizes outstanding books for readers between the ages of 12 and 18 and is used by librarians and library workers as a resource for collection development (read: sales for you!) and reader’s advisory purposes. The YALSA sponsors a number of great awards with fall deadlines, such as the Margaret A. Edwards Award; explore them on their website by clicking the link above.

The Bancroft Prizes 

Deadline: November 1

Genre: American History (including Biographies) and Diplomacy

The Bancroft Prizes are awarded by Columbia University to writers of American history and diplomacy. American history may refer to North, Central, or South America. Volumes of papers, letters, or speeches of authors are not eligible, but biographies are permissible.

North American Travel Journalists Association Award 

Deadline: November 15

Genre: Print and digital journalism

The NATJA Awards are in their 21^st year of recognizing both the print and digital work of professional travel journalists. Not exactly a book award, but if you write in this genre on a regular basis, the award could bring attention to your body of work  and consequently your book.

Coretta Scott King Awards 

Deadline: December 1

Genre: Children’s and YA books that demonstrate an appreciation for African American culture

The Coretta Scott King Award is a prestigious award sponsored by the American Library Association; it was founded in 1969 to commemorate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The Awards are given annually to both authors and illustrators.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award

Deadline: December 1

Genre: Military Fiction

Also sponsored by the ALA, the W.Y. Boyd Literary Award recognizes fiction whose plot is set during an American wartime. The award consists of a $5,000 prize and 24-k certificate.

Golden Kite Awards

Deadline: December 3 

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration

Presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Golden Kite Awards recognize excellent authors and illustrators in children’s literature; it is the only award judged by a jury of fellow children’s authors and illustrators. The $2,500 cash prize is given to four winners and an additional four books are honored as well.

California Book Awards 

Deadline: December 14

Genre: Several, see site for more details

California residents are eligible for the California Book Awards held by the Commonwealth Club of CA. Six to eight gold medals are awarded in genres as varied as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s, and California-based theme. Remember, local buzz can lead to a national readership.

John W. Campbell Memorial Award 

Deadline: Fall Season

Genre: Science Fiction

The John W. Campbell Memorial Award is a major award for science fiction writers based at the University of Kansas. The winners are selected by a prestigious, small committee; nominations come from science fiction publishers and individual jurors.

There are a slew of awards out there, so if you know of any prestigious independent book awards with fall deadlines that we’ve missed, let us know in the comments!