Indie Awards
Indie and self-published books are raising the bar year after year with incredible stories and professionally designed book covers. Therefore, it’s only fair that indie authors are recognized and rewarded for their amazing talents! There are a number of new and growing competitions and awards aimed specifically at indie authors, and these can be a fantastic way to network with other authors and market your book. However, some charge a hefty entrance fee which we feel aren’t worth it.
We wanted to recommend the best competitions and awards that we encourage you to enter!
These awards accept submissions at specific points in the year, so keep an eye out, or follow us and we’ll let you know when they’re open.
Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award AKA BBNYA is an annual indie book award hosted and judged completely by book bloggers from all over the world! Sponsored by the Folio Society, the BBNYA’s goal is to give under appreciated, lesser known Indie authors a chance to make themselves known without being overshadowed by the big names, but also show the world the power of book bloggers! In fact, we at Uncharted Library have been panelists!
This annual award does come with a small administration fee, however the prizes are worth the price of entry with runner up blog tours. Entries are open to self-published authors and small presses.
Entries up in May each year. Visit the official BBNYA website for more information.
Indie Ink Awards
Newly started in July 2022, the Indie Ink Awards accepts nominations by indie and self-published authors on Indie Story Geek, a catalogue of indie books. This award was created by Indie Story Geek in collaboration with Inked In Gray and WriteHive and is designed to bring together the writing community to celebrate books that have made an impact – to highlight the future they want to see in books – by uplifting those that shine.
Nominations open in July, with voting in August. Nomination is free and open to self-published authors and small presses. Visit the Indie Ink Awards website for more information and to take part.
Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off
The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off AKA SPFBO is the biggest of the indie awards and open to fantasy authors. Hosted by renowned fantasy author Mark Lawrence, SPFBO is an annual award where 300 entries are judged by ten of the best fantasy book bloggers. Competition is fierce and the cuts are brutal, but if you’re a self-published fantasy author, then entering the SPFBO will be one of the best choices you make!
Entrance is free, but only open to self-published authors, not small presses.
Entries open on the 1st June. Keep an eye on this one as slots fill up fast! For more information, visit Mark Lawrence’s website.
Self-Published Science Fiction Competition
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition AKA SPSFC is the much requested sci-fi sibling to the SFBO! Started in 2021 by Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan, the SPSFC follows similar rules to SPFBO, but focusses on sci-fi books instead of fantasy. It’s an annual competition where 300 entries are judged by ten book bloggers.
Entrance is free, but only open to self-published authors, not small presses.
Entries open on July 1st. For more information, visit Hugh Howey’s website.