Independent Publisher Online Newsletter

book awards FAQ

WHY ENTER BOOK AWARDS?

Our IPPY Awards contest now receives more than 3,000 book entries, making this the largest independent book awards contest in the world. Popular categories like Memoir and Inspirational receive over 100 entries, increasing the competitiveness and legitimacy of the Awards. Book reviewers, buyers, and book lovers are always on the lookout for "proven winners!"

SEAL OF APPROVAL

Awards seals are available to all award winners and semi-finalists. Putting these adhesive-backed seals on the front covers of all the books distributed to retailers or sent to the press signals that this is a book to pay attention to, one that has earned that attention. Editors, writers, journalists and producers receive hundreds of books every week from publishers, publicists, and directly from authors. Your book awards announcement and award seal makes your book stand out. It says to the media: “I’m a book that’s been honored. Look at me first. You can be assured that I’m a quality book worthy of your attention." When you’re competing against scores of other books for media attention, that little gold seal raises the odds considerably that the editor, reviewer, writer or producer will notice your book, pluck it from the pile, and then act on it.

MORE PUBLICITY - MORE SALES

The Millionaire Next Door, a winner in our inaugural 1997 awards contest, has gone on to sell more than 2.5 million copies and spawn off-shoots including The Millionaire Mind.

1997 Cookbook winner Southern Settings, published by the Decatur General Hospital Foundation, continues to sell today, thanks in part to the Awards sticker on the cover of each copy.

A major pharmaceutical company discovered IPPY winner Fit to Cook: Why "Waist" Time in the Kitchen? and bought 187,000 copies to use in a promotional campaign.

Our 2004 IPPY Fiction category winner, The Sleeping Father, by Matthew Sharpe, was also a TODAY Show Book Club winner, got notices in the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, and has become a popular reading group selection.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"I was speaking to (a publisher I'd met at BookExpo) on the phone and she didn't remember me, but then the moment I said that my book won the 2006 IPPY Award for Outstanding Book of the Year - Most Life Changing, she immediately perked up and went "OH." She got really excited after that and wanted to hear more about my book. She was happily anticipating my book proposal. First, it shows how well-known and prestigious the IPPY award is. Just the name IPPY Award can knock down brick walls. Second, it's a great example of how important it is for authors to submit their books to award contests."

- Bronwyn Marmo, author of The Food is a Lie, the Truth is Within

"Equipped with these awards, the book has taken on a new life. We've had several reviewers who passed on the chance to review it the first time around offer to review it now. We've also had some paperback reprint interest and even some film interest."

- Joan Schweighardt, author of 2004 winner, the historical thriller Gudrun's Tapestry

"The fact is award stickers help to convince buyers to purchase. I've seen this happen with librarians -- when faced with two competing titles and a limited acquisition budget the librarians will take the one that won an award, any award, over the title that doesn't have an award to its credit. I'm confident that this same phenomena works for bookstore patrons browsing the shelves as well."

- Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review

"It was always going to be difficult for me to do business all the way from Australia. You and your awards have provided a "foot in the door" in the US market for me, which I thoroughly appreciate!"

- Ronald Johnston, One Vision Books, Brisbane, Australia