The BookFest Book Awards

Submissions now open for the Fall 2023 BookFest Awards.
Please join us live on October 21st and 22nd for The BookFest Fall 2023 with panels, and conversations for authors and readers as well as fall 2023 book award announcements.

Use early bird coupon code: FALL23 to receive 25% off submissions through June 18th
Your Book Could Be Honored with an Award from The BookFest
The BookFest Awards honors authors who create outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction. Books are judged in categories based on genre, theme, and aesthetics. Entries will be vetted by an initial team, then the final places will be determined by an elite team of experts in the literary and entertainment world.
How The BookFest Awards Are Assigned
Awards are assigned based on first, second, third and honorable mention, according to their score.
This means that sometimes not every category has a first place, second and/or third place winner. If no books in that category rated appropriately, then no award was granted in that place. Likewise, several books sometimes tie for first place, second and third place. Much like getting a letter grade in school, sometimes there are more “A”s in the class because there are outstanding students who warrant that grade. Books are similar. Sometimes there are several outstanding books deserving of their place in The BookFest Awards.
The goal in the judging process is to highlight books in niche or often unrecognized genres as well as books that sometimes can dominate top-level genres. At The BookFest, we feel it is important to give niche or often unrecognized genres a chance to shine, too.
Judging
Three Components to Vetting in The BookFest Awards Judging Process
The vetting process has three components. An initial team vets each book submitted to make sure it is eligible and correctly categorized. Then judges with individual expertise further evaluate the submissions using the judging form, rating the books based on several criteria. The ratings are averaged to give the books a score.
The judges are experts in their field. For example, a professional artist evaluates the cover designs, a professional in the literary arts for children evaluates children’s books, etc. The third round of judging is done by the Executive BookFest Awards judging committee.
Awards are given in book genres as well as other categories such as best cover art and best website. There are four levels of awards in each subcategory.
The executive BookFest Awards judging committee
The committee includes Elaine Ash, Celeste S. Duckworth, Flo Selfman, and Elliott Wolf. Submissions are also judged by industry experts and BookFest Bellwethers.
All book award recipients will receive
- Free downloadable certificate
- Free downloadable award graphic to use on their website, social media, newsletter etc.
- Free placement on The BookFest website award winners’ page
- Optional purchase of award certificate
- Optional purchase of award stickers
- Optional purchase of award trophy
(Additional certificates and trophies may be purchased for coauthors, cover illustrators, editors, etc., but must be purchased under your account.)
Select Winners will be evaluated and may be invited to be a guest on the award-winning Books That Make You Show.
Special Promotional Opportunities like the New York Times Square Salute to The BookFest Award Winners billboard display may be offered to winners. (Graphic design and production costs may apply.)
First Place Winners may be featured in social media posts on The BookFest social media platforms.
Are you ready to enter your book? See complete rules and submission information below.
Submission guidelines
What books can be submitted
Any traditionally published, independent published, or self-published books may be submitted as long as they are published between Jan 1st 2019 and Aug 29th 2023, and are available for sale online in the US.
Who can submit for an award
Authors, and representatives of authors such as publicists, publishing companies etc.
Also, artist, designers, voice actors, audio producers, web developers, and social media experts. But these submissions must be related to a book, audio book, author or book website, or social media platform.
What you will need to complete your submission
Required:
- Book cover in PNG or JPEG format at least 1080 pixels tall
- Book interior file in PDF or ePub format. (You can also ship your book to us but there is an additional cost for this service. If you are submitting an audio book you will need to provide a download code for Audible)
- Book title
- Author name (You may also add a coauthor and illustrator)
- Book description
- Book sales link, preferably Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Recommended but not required:
- Website link
- Social media links
Submit your book in the most comprehensive lists of genres and subgenres
We have the most comprehensive genres and subgenres you can submit your book to, so you can find the perfect fit for your book. We have all of the standard fiction and nonfiction genres as well as technical categories for art, design, audio books, author websites, and social media platforms.
Find the complete list of genres and categories below
Major categories include Artistic & Technical, Fiction, and Nonfiction
Action & Adventure |
Anthologies |
Children’s – Action & Adventure |
Children’s – Activity Books |
Children’s – Animals |
Children’s – Beginning Readers |
Children’s – Board Books |
Children’s – Chapter Books |
Children’s – Diversity & Multicultural |
Children’s – Fables |
Children’s – Fairy Tales |
Children’s – Family |
Children’s – Historical |
Children’s – Holidays |
Children’s – Picture Books |
Children’s – Sci-Fi |
Children’s – Social Themes |
Children’s – Transportation |
Christian – Action & Adventure |
Christian – Biblical |
Christian – Classic & Allegory |
Christian – Collections & Anthologies |
Christian – Contemporary |
Christian – Fantasy |
Christian – Futuristic |
Christian – Historical |
Christian – Mystery |
Christian – Romance |
Christian – Suspense |
Christian – Western |
Comics – Action & Adventure |
Comics – Fairy Tales, Myths & Legends |
Comics – History & Learning |
Comics – Horror |
Comics – Humor |
Comics – Juvenile |
Comics – Manga |
Comics – Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
Comics – Slice-of-Life |
Comics – Superheroes |
Comics – YA |
Detective – Amateur Sleuths |
Detective – Cozy |
Detective – Hard-Boiled |
Detective – Historical |
Detective – Police Procedural |
Detective – Private Investigators |
Detective – Traditional |
Detective – Women Sleuths |
Dystopian – Alternate History |
Dystopian – Climate Change |
Dystopian – Genetic Engineering |
Dystopian – Science Fiction |
Dystopian – Society, War |
Dystopian – Viruses, Plagues & Zombies |
Fantasy – Action & Adventure |
Fantasy – Contemporary |
Fantasy – Dark |
Fantasy – Dragons & Mythical Creatures |
Fantasy – Epic |
Fantasy – Gaslamp |
Fantasy – Historical |
Fantasy – Humorous |
Fantasy – Magic, Myths & Legends |
Fantasy – Military |
Fantasy – Paranormal & Urban |
Fantasy – Superheroes |
Fantasy – Urban |
Gothic |
Historical – Fictional Biography |
Historical – Multi-Period Family Saga |
Historical – Mystery |
Historical – Nautical, War & Military |
Historical – Pre-2010 |
Historical – Western |
Horror – Body Horror & Gore |
Horror – Creatures & Monsters |
Horror – Ghosts & Paranormal |
Horror – Gothic |
Horror – Psychological |
Horror – Serial Killers |
Humor – General |
Humor – Comic Strips |
Humor – Jokes & Riddles |
Humor – Limericks & Verse |
Humor – Parodies |
Humor – Pictorial |
Humor – Puns & Wordplay |
Humor – Politics |
Humor – Relationships |
Juvenile – Action & Adventure |
Juvenile – Bedtime & Dreams |
Juvenile – Boys & Men |
Juvenile – Concepts |
Juvenile – Multicultural |
Juvenile – Fairy Tales |
Juvenile – Family |
Juvenile – Fantasy & Magic |
Juvenile – Girls & Women |
Juvenile – Historical |
Juvenile – Holidays |
Juvenile – Myths, Fable |
Juvenile – Lifestyles |
Juvenile – Mysteries |
Juvenile – People & Places |
Juvenile – Science & Nature |
Juvenile – Social Themes |
Juvenile – Sports |
LGBTQ+ – Fantasy |
LGBTQ+ – Graphic Novels |
LGBTQ+ – Historical Fiction |
LGBTQ+ – Literary Fiction |
LGBTQ+ – Mystery |
LGBTQ+ – Romance |
LGBTQ+ – Science Fiction |
LGBTQ+ – Thriller & Suspense |
LGBTQ+ – Young Adult |
LGBTQ+ – True Crime |
Literary – Coming of Age |
Literary – Historical |
Literary – Journey & Adventure |
Literary – Love Story & Romance |
Literary – Mystery, Thriller & Suspense |
Literary – Sci-fi & Fantasy |
Mystery – Cozy |
Mystery – Historical |
Mystery – Spies & Espionage |
Mystery – Murder & Crime |
Mystery – Noir |
Mystery – Procedurals |
Mystery – Supernatural |
Mystery – Thriller |
Poetry – Children’s |
Poetry – Collections & Anthologies |
Poetry – Contemporary |
Poetry – Cultural |
Poetry – Inspiration |
Poetry – Love |
Poetry – Modern |
Poetry – Nature |
Romance – Contemporary |
Romance – Fantasy |
Romance – Holiday |
Romance – Medical |
Romance – Military |
Romance – Multicultural |
Romance – New Adult |
Romance – Paranormal |
Romance – Romantic Comedy |
Romance – Royalty |
Romance – Science Fiction |
Romance – Small Town |
Romance – Suspense |
Romance – Urban |
Romance – Wholesome |
Romance Historical – 20th Century |
Romance Historical – Ancient World |
Romance Historical – Medieval |
Romance Historical – Regency |
Romance Historical – Time Travel |
Romance Historical – Victorian |
Sci-Fi – Action & Adventure |
Sci-Fi – Aliens & Alien Invasion |
Sci-Fi – Alternate Realities |
Sci-Fi – Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic |
Sci-Fi – Crime & Mystery |
Sci-Fi – Cyberpunk |
Sci-Fi – Exploration & Adventure |
Sci-Fi – Galactic Empire & Colonization |
Sci-Fi – Genetic Engineering |
Sci-Fi – Hard |
Sci-Fi – Humorous |
Sci-Fi – Medical & Future Technology |
Sci-Fi – Military |
Sci-Fi – Robots, Computers & AI |
Sci-Fi – Space Exploration |
Sci-Fi – Space Opera |
Sci-Fi – Steampunk |
Sci-Fi – Time Travel |
Sci-Fi – Utopian |
Short Stories |
Supernatural – Ghosts |
Supernatural – Magic, Legends, & Lore |
Supernatural – Paranormal & Psychic Phenomenon |
Supernatural – Supernatural Creatures & Beings |
Supernatural – UFOs |
Supernatural – Weird Stuff |
Thriller – Crime & Legal |
Thriller – Domestic |
Thriller – Espionage |
Thriller – Historical |
Thriller – Medical |
Thriller – Military, Spies & Politics |
Thriller – Political |
Thriller – Psychological |
Thriller – Supernatural |
Thriller – Suspense |
Thriller – Technothrillers |
Urban |
War & Military |
Westerns |
Women’s – Fantasy |
Women’s – Graphic Novels |
Women’s – Historical Fiction |
Women’s – Historical Romance |
Women’s – Horror |
Women’s – Mystery |
Women’s – Science Fiction |
Women’s – Thriller & Suspense |
YA – Action & Adventure |
YA – Animals |
YA – Boys & Men |
YA – Dystopian |
YA – Fairy Tales & Folklore |
YA – Family |
YA – Fantasy |
YA – Fashion & Beauty |
YA – Girls & Women |
YA – Historical |
YA – Humorous |
YA – Law & Crime |
YA – Legends, Myths, Fables |
YA – Literary & Coming of Age |
YA – Mystery & Thrillers |
YA – People & Places |
YA – Poetry |
YA – Romance |
YA – Science Fiction |
YA – Social Themes |
YA – Thrillers & Suspense |
Arts |
Animals |
Anthologies – Nonfiction |
Biographies |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Afterlife & Reincarnation |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Angels & Spirit Guides |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Astrology |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Divination |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Healing |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Meditation |
Body, Mind & Spirit – Parapsychology |
Business – Careers |
Business – E-Commerce |
Business – Entrepreneurship |
Business – Industries |
Business – Labor |
Business – Marketing |
Business – Real Estate |
Business – Sales & Selling |
Business Leadership – Business Communication |
Business Leadership – Industry Expertise |
Business Leadership – Leadership & Management |
Business Leadership – Professional Growth |
Business Leadership – Psychology & Mindset |
Business Leadership – Women in Business |
Business Leadership – Work Culture |
Business Leadership – Harassment & Discrimination |
Children’s – Activity Books |
Children’s – Animals |
Children’s – Crafts & Hobbies |
Children’s – Family |
Children’s – Games & Activities |
Children’s – History |
Children’s – Holidays |
Children’s – Learning & Educational |
Children’s – People & Places |
Children’s – Science & Nature |
Crafts & hobbies |
Entertainment |
Fitness & Dieting – Diet & Nutrition |
Fitness & Dieting – Exercise |
Fitness & Dieting – Guides & How-Tos |
Fitness & Dieting – Massage & Reflexology |
Fitness & Dieting – Weight Loss |
Fitness & Dieting – Yoga |
Food & Drink – Beverages, Wine, Beer & Spirits |
Food & Drink – Cookbooks |
Food & Drink – Courses & Dishes |
Food & Drink – Food & Travel |
Food & Drink – Health & Healing |
Food & Drink – Vegan |
Health & Wellness – Addiction & Recovery |
Health & Wellness – Alternative Medicine |
Health & Wellness – Medical |
Health & Wellness – Mental Health |
Health & Wellness – Psychology |
Health & Wellness – Sexual Health |
History |
Humor |
LGBTQ+ |
Memoirs – Confessional |
Memoirs – Personal |
Memoirs – Portrait |
Memoirs – Professional |
Memoirs – Public |
Memoirs – Transformational |
Memoirs – Travel |
Money |
Outdoors |
Parenting |
Politics & Government – Corruption & Issues |
Politics & Government – Ideologies & Doctrines |
Politics & Government – International & World Politics |
Politics & Government – Political Psychology |
Politics & Government – Politicians & Leaders |
Politics & Government – United States |
Relationships – Family |
Relationships – LGBTQ+ |
Relationships – Love & Marriage |
Relationships – Race & Culture |
Relationships – Sex |
Religion – Buddhism |
Religion – Christianity |
Religion – Hinduism |
Religion – Islam |
Religion – Judaism |
Science – Breakthroughs |
Science – Futurism |
Science – Medicine, Health & Wellness |
Science – Technology |
Self-Help – Anxiety, Depression & Mental Health |
Self-Help – Happiness & Success |
Self-Help – Humor |
Self-Help – Inspiration |
Self-Help – Motivation |
Self-Help – Transformation |
Self-Help – Relationships & Communication |
Self-Help – Spirituality, New Age & Metaphysics |
Society & Social Sciences – History & Theory |
Society & Social Sciences – Human Rights & Political Movements |
Society & Social Sciences – Race, Class, Culture & Religion |
Spirituality – Agnosticism |
Spirituality – Atheism |
Spirituality – Meditation & Prayer |
Spirituality – New Age |
Spirituality – Occult & Paranormal |
Sports |
Technology |
Travel – Adventure & Destinations |
Travel – Guides & Tours |
Travel – Parks |
Travel – Self Discovery & Travel Journals |
True Crime |
YA – Family |
YA – History |
YA – People & Places |
YA – Self-Help |
YA – Social Issues |
YA – Sport+A1:A119s & Recreation |
Amazon Author Profile |
Audio Book – Overall Presentation |
Audio Book – Sound Quality |
Audio Book – Voice Over |
Book Cover – Overall Design |
Book Cover – Illustration |
Book Cover – Photography |
Book Cover – Typography |
Book Series |
Social Media – Facebook |
Social Media – GoodReads |
Social Media – Instagram |
Social Media – TikTok |
Social Media – Twitter |
Website – Overall Design |
Website – Blog |
Website – User Experience |
Submission Pricing
- One category = $74.99
- Three categories = $174.99
- Five categories = $249.99
Other Fees: There is a $25 shipping fee if you need to submit physical copies of your book. This fee is to cover shipping cost of your book to our judges.
Note, Children’s books are exempt from this fee. Children’s books that are physically submitted will be automatically added to our BookFest Children’s Book Giveaway that is widely promoted at no additional cost. If you submit a physical copy of your children’s book and do not want it included in the giveaway, please email us to let us know that you do not want it included
Use early bird coupon code: FALL23 to receive 25% off submissions through June 18th
How to submit your book for Consideration for The BookFest Awards
We at The BookFest take security and privacy very seriously. As a result, our book award submission process is a little different than most. So here are the detailed instructions on submitting your book. Yes, it’s a lot of information but it’s not as difficult as it looks.
Decide on number of categories
The first thing you need to decide is how many categories you would like. You can view the full list of categories above. Once you have decided, click the “Enter Your Book” button above.
Add submission to cart
This will take you to the product page. Select the appropriate number of categories from the dropdown and enter the full tittle of your book. Then click add to cart.
Preview your order and add coupon if applicable
This will take you to the cart preview screen. Make sure you add your coupon code on this screen if you have one and click the “Apply Coupon” button. Check that the total to verify that it has decreased indicating that the coupon was applied. Next click “Proceed to checkout” button.
Payment
This will bring you to the payment screen. Completing the payment process will automatically create a BookFest account for you if you do not already have one linked to the email address you use at checkout. It will also add an award entry or entries your account with the appropriate number of categories.
As soon as you complete the checkout process you will be sent an email from our team that verifies your purchase and that you can reply to if you run into any issues. We are always here if you need anything. If you have opted to ship books to us instead of uploading it, we will reach out to you with the mailing address after your awards submission has been completed.
Log in to The BookFest
To complete your award submissions go to your “Dashboard” (link at the top of the page). You must be logged in to see the “Dashboard” menu option. If you do not see the Dashboard link after checkout go to the home page by clicking The BookFest logo at the top right of the page. Note: If you are logged out click the “Log in” meu option at the top of the page. If you have forgotten your password, you can click the link under the login box “Lost your password?” to reset it.
Complete your submission
In your dashboard you will see “My Award Entries” Click on “Edit Award Entry”.
Uploading your cover image (needs to be JPEG or PNG file 1080px tall or larger). Upload your book interior file (needs to be PDF or ePub file under 25MB). Complete the required fields on the form and any other optional field you would like as well. Remember, we use this optional information to make your award post on The BookFest website should you place. So, adding social media links, additional links to purchase your book, or find you online will help BookFesters discover you. (Note: Your book file and personal information is not made available to the public or other users on The BookFest site.)
Next Choose Award Categories. Select the category or categories that you would like to submit your book in.
Click Save, to save your work. You can go back and make changes or add links etc. later if you need to.
Next click the blue link “Preview This Submission” on your dashboard under your award entry. Here you can verify the cover you uploaded looks good. If it is pixelated, please go back to Edit Award and upload a higher resolution image. Verify your interior file looks good. You can also verify that all of your links work as expected by clicking on them. Note, make sure to include https:// or http:// as appropriate at the beginning of your link or your links will not work properly. Last but not least you can click on your book file to verify it uploaded properly.
Submitting multiple books
If you are submitting multiple books you will need to add them individually to your cart. i.e. One book title, 5 categories will only let you add five categories to a single book. Not five book, one category each. If you add multiple book titles to your cart and complete the checkout process you will see multiple awards entries to complete in your dashboard. Keep in mind that all of the books will be linked to the one account. If you are submitting on behalf of other people and you want them to have access to their own accounts, you will need to process the purchase individually using the appropriate email address and contact info for each.
Issues completing your award submission?
If you have any issues completing your award submission, please reply to our support team via email. You will receive an email from them after checkout. If you have questions but have not completed checkout you can contact us by clicking the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of the page. Our team is standing by to assist you.
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