Fall kicks off the Book Award submission season. Will the author be honored for his or her words and book? Or will the Book Boot be felt? The question every author needs to ask is, “Did I do the best job in writing, in presenting, in connecting with my crowd—the people who need, want my words?” In other words, “Did I rush to publish?”

Working with authors every day, there are routine hiccups that are all too common. When they are pointed out, they are often surprised that they didn’t notice them—both pre-layout and during layout. To anyone who is experienced with books, those hiccups are glaring and would have been noticed quickly.

What’s that mean? Simply this: don’t go it alone. Before you enter your book, make sure it’s of “star” quality.

Summer has passed and Fall is here, authors start thinking book marketing and business again. Book award possibilities are at every corner. Your email may be loading up with a variety of solicitations to enter book awards. Do you … or don’t you? Are they worth the entry fee? Which do you submit to? And what do you do if your book is recognized … besides telling all your friends?

Book Awards … Some Have Deadlines Soon  … Including Special BONUS from USA Book News for Author U!

Which book awards do you enter? Do they matter?

Let’s start with the second question first. The answer: sometimes. Depending upon the tenacity of the author/publisher in getting the word out about the book and the award, you could be wasting your money. Awards can be used to market your book, but it doesn’t happen by itself. You will be the primary promoter. Always.

                  As summer comes to a close, authors start thinking book marketing and business again. … your email may be loading up with a variety of solicitations to enter book awards. Do you … or don’t you? Are they worth the entry fee? Which do you submit to? And what do you do if your book is recognized … besides telling all your friends?

Can book awards make a difference? Yes, if they are the right ones—

Below are a few recommended by Author U and The Book Shepherd that receive ongoing national attention and are worth investing some of your marketing/promotional dollars for submissions. Some give stickers; some give cash prizes; all do national media releases/promotion with winners and finalists and have national recognition. None require that you become a “member.” Deadlines and entry fees for submissions are varied. Submissions and guidelines will give you the details on each site included—deadlines could mean books need to be in hand or merely postmarked. Read their rules.

Which book awards do you enter? Do they matter?

Let’s start with the second question first. The answer: sometimes. Depending upon the tenacity of the author/publisher in getting the word out about the book and the award, you could be wasting your money. Awards can be used to market your book, but it doesn’t happen by itself. You will be the primary promoter. Always.

Some of the more established awards—USA Book News, Foreword, Ben Franklin, IPPY and the Center for the Book (put your state name in front on Center for the Book to find contact)—send out professional press releases. Some actively promote the winners on their websites and events. When Judith Briles won the Colorado Center for the Book in the non-fiction category, the Tattered Cover Bookstore attended with a display of all the winners and sold books—lots of them … and continued to promote them actively throughout the year. However, other awards just take your money and only notify you if you are a finalist or winner. Little else is done.

Do You Quack About Your Book … or Just Peep Here and There?

As summer unfolds, many authors who entered their books in award competitions a few months ago are getting the news—some are finalists, some take first place. Author U has gotten notification of several members who have earned recognition from book awards, with the latest being the National Indie Excellence Awards.  Congratulations to Roger Frame (Don’t Carve the Turkey with a Chainsaw), Cathy Hawk and Gary Hawk (Get Clarity), Lynn McLeod (From Simms to Zanzibar), Mara Purl (What the Heart Knows) and John Maling (Have You Ever Held a Mountain?).

Members Barbara Sternberg (Anne Evans: A Pioneer in Colorado’s Cultural History and Joan McWilliams (Parenting Plans For Families After Divorce) picked up IPPY Awards, and Kitty Migaki (Alphabet Denver) was honored with the Children’s Moonbeam prize. Suzi Strike (Lucy Dakota: Rocky Mountain Beginnings) is a finalist in The Colorado Book Awards and an EVVY winner; Mary Anne Harvey has published multiple award winners (Preventing Litigation in Special Education Workbook authored by Randy Chapman and Jacques Phillips). Member Nick Zelinger is both a multi-award winning book and cover designer and now adds author to his pedigree (Another Nightmare Gig from Hell).  What are they going to do with their kudos?

Tis the season … Book award contests are everywhere. What do you do when you win a book award? The savvy author tells others about it. Don’t count on your publisher to do it if you are published by someone other than your own company. Wondering what Book Awards are worth their weight in entry fee costs? Author U posted a detailed list with submission guidelines in the January 2012 Resource news magazine that is currently available on the website. In February, it will only be available to members.

Get your computer open and:

1. Create the publicity to now support your book and drive up book sales. Write a media release that includes who awarded you, in what topic area. Make sure you include your book title (I’ve actually seen this forgotten), you as the author, publisher and where the book is available. For example, I live in Colorado—the top book store in Denver is the Tattered Cover—include that the book is available (and make sure it is). If you have a judge’s comment and appropriate, include it.

Book Awards List …

Which Book Awards Are for You?

It’s a new year … and thoughts of book awards get an author’s attention quickly … are they worth the entry fee? Which do you submit to? And what do you do if your book is recognized … besides telling all your friends?

Can book awards make a difference? Yes, if they are the right ones—that’s why Author U has cherry-picked the ones that are recommended for your “marketing dollars.”  Jerry Sears, Senior Editor at Boulder Publishers shares this:

“Ben Franklin is potent. One of my titles, A Course in Miracles in 5 Minutes won the best book of the year award and went
from 0 sales to calls from book distributors all over the country wanting to take it on. It now is in its 10th edition with sales
of 100,000 plus copies.”