The Independent Author Network
  • Home
    • Testimonials
    • Author Services
    • Member page changes
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • About IAN
    • FAQ
  • Fiction Directory
    • Non Fiction Directory
    • Free eBooks
  • Join Us
    • Gold and Platinum
    • Bronze and Silver
  • Author Directory
    • Members Page 13
    • Members Page 12
    • Members Page 11
    • Members Page 10
    • Members Page 9
    • Members Page 8
    • Members Page 7
    • Members Page 6
    • Members Page 5
    • Members Page 4
    • Members Page 3
    • Members Page 2
    • Members Page 1
  • Book Awards Contest
  • Blog
Open to all authors

More than 48 million Books are available on Amazon.com. 
100,000 new titles are added to the Kindle Store every month.

 How will you ensure your books stand out to readers in a market with millions of choices?

 The best way to move your book ahead of others in your genre(s) is to win an award contest. 

The Independent Author Network presents the 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards, an international contest open to all authors with 50 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners are eligible to receive a share of cash prizes of $6,000 USD. The 2023 Contest opens October 15, 2022 and Closes August 15, 2023.


An Outstanding Book (category winner) will be awarded in each category with recognition of Finalists.


Six outstanding titles will be named the 2023 Books of the Year.


One Book will be named the 2023 Grand Prize Book of the Year and win $2,500 Cash.



> Winning books will be shared at the IAN Facebook page with over 120,000 fans.


> Winning books will be shared with our 575,000 followers at twitter.  

The 2023 Book of the Year Awards results will be announced on November 15, 2023

2022 Winners and Finalists

2021 Winners 

2020 Winners

2019 Winners 

​2018 Winners 


2017 Winners
​
​2016 Winners

​
​2015 Winners ​

The 2023 Book of the Year Awards Contest is Open.

Picture

Picture

Self-Publishing Relief rates the
IAN Book of the Year Awards as one of the 10 Best Awards Given to Self-Published Books

Picture

Rosepoint Publishing names The IAN Book of the Year Awards
​ONE OF
Six Novel Writing Contests to Enter This Year – And Six Reasons You Should

Picture

"Westwind Communications" names
The IAN Book of the Year Awards as one of the Top 30 Book Awards of 2022

Picture

Author Marketing Experts recommend the IAN Book of the Year Awards

Picture

Book Award Pro recommends the IAN Book of the Year Awards

Picture

Eligibility

The IAN Book of the Year Awards is open to all English language print and eBooks available for sale, including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.

We do not have a publication/copyright date requirement or word count restriction. Authors retain all rights. International entries will be accepted as long as the work is in English. 

>Entrants are not required to forfeit rights to their work.


Judging

Our judges are experienced reviewers, authors, publishers, and editors. Awards are based upon various criteria and the judges’ decisions are final. 

Judges do not return written “reviews” for entered books.

Qualities we are looking for in this year's submissions:

Fiction 

Vibrant covers, attention-grabbing openings, memorable characters, crisp dialogue, captivating and original plots, and climactic, memorable endings.

Non-fiction

​Eye-catching covers and interior design. A descriptive and inviting title with organized, well-researched material on a subject that is timely and/or timeless, unique, or presented in a unique way that appeals to a wide audience.

Submissions (2023)

Now Open

Entry Fee (2023)

Enter until the Contest Deadline from October 15, 2022 to August 15, 2023 and pay only $49 for the first category and $35 for each additional category (No limit) Entry fee must be paid via Paypal. Submissions received without the entry fee will not be considered.  Entry fee is non-refundable.

IAN Member Discounted Entrance Fee> $39 for the first category and $30 for each additional category (No limit)

We do not return written critiques or judges comments.

Announcements (2023)

The 2023 Contest is Now Open

The 2023 Book of the Year Awards results
 will be announced on November 15, 2023.

Only Winners and Finalists will be contacted by email.
​
​BOTYA 2023 Categories

Fiction

# Code, Category
 
(01) Action/Adventure
(02) Christian Fiction
(03) Fantasy
(04) Short Story Collection (Single Author or Anthology)
(05) First Novel* (40,000 to 80,000 Words)
(06) First Novel** (Over 80,000 Words)
(07) General Fiction

(08) Historical Fiction
(09) Holiday Fiction
(10) Horror 
(11) Humor/Comedy/Satire (Fiction and Non-Fiction)
(12) LGBTQ Fiction
(13) Literary 
(14) Multi-Cultural Fiction

(15) Mystery
(16) Novella (Under 40,000 words)
(17) Paranormal/Supernatural 
(18) Romance 
(19) Science Fiction
(20) Spiritual/Inspirational Fiction

(21) Thriller/Suspense
(22) Women's Fiction
(23) Young Adult/Teen/New Adult
(24) Children's/Juvenile Fiction
(25) Children's Fiction Illustrated


Non-Fiction

# Code, Category

(26) Children's/Juvenile/Young Adult Non-Fiction
(27) Addiction & Recovery
(28) Biography/Autobiography
(29) Business/Sales/Finance
(30) Career/Occupational
(31) Education/Reference 
(32) First Non-fiction *
(33) General Non-fiction
(34) Grief/Hardship
(35) Government/Politics
(36) Health/Medicine/Fitness/Dieting

(37) History
(38) LGBTQ Non-Fiction

(39) Memoir
(40) Military/War
(41) Multi-Cultural Non-Fiction

(42) Parenting/Family/Relationships
(43) Religion/Christian Non-Fiction
(44) Self-Help/How-to
(45) Social Issues
(46) Spiritual/Inspirational Non-Fiction
(47) Travel/Nature
(48) True Story
(49) Women's Non-Fiction

(50) Poetry


*** Categories 5, 6, and 32 ***

You may have published subsequent books, however, this entry must be your first published Novel or Non-Fiction. All other Fiction or Non-Fiction entries can be any book from your publishing catalogue.  


Category (5) First Novel 40k-80K must be your First Published novel with between 40,000 and 80,000 words.

Category (6) First Novel Over 80k must be your First Published novel with over 80,000 words.

Category (32) First Non-Fiction with any word count.

(All other categories have no word count restriction)



2023 Prizes

Finalists in each Category will receive:
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies

The Outstanding Book in each category will receive:
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 

FICTION: The Book of the Year - First Place will receive:
  • A minimum cash prize of $1,000  
  • A Platinum membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies

FICTION: The Book of the Year - Second Place will receive:
  • A minimum cash prize of $500 
  • A Gold membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies

FICTION: The Book of the Year - Third Place will receive:
  • A minimum cash prize of $250 
  • A Silver membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies 

NON-FICTION: The Book of the Year - First Place will receive:
  • A minimum cash prize of $1,000 
  • A Platinum membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies

NON-FICTION: The Book of the Year - Second Place will receive:​
  • A minimum cash prize of $500 
  • A Gold membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies
 
NON-FICTION: The Book of the Year - Third Place will receive:​
  • A minimum cash prize of $250 
  • A Silver membership at the Independent Author Network
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file 
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies

The Grand Prize Book of the Year - ​will receive 
  • A minimum cash prize of $2,500  
  • A Platinum membership at the Independent Author Network​
  • A digital award seal in a PNG file
  • A set of award seal stickers for print copies


The Finalists, Category Winners, and Book of the Year winners will all be announced in Press Releases after their announcement day.

Only Winners and Finalists will be contacted by email. 

The 2023 Book of the Year Awards results
 will be announced on November 15, 2023

Cash prizes will be delivered via PayPal.

Entry fee is non-refundable.
Picture

Picture
$1 from each entry fee will be donated to FirstBook.org

First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 125 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. See more at: FirstBook.org.

                                                                                     A Thank You Message from First Book


Home

Author Directory

Book Directory

About IAN
Picture
Promoting and Supporting Indie Authors Since 2010
©2023
All Rights Reserved