Annual Literary Awards 2008

picture of a man studying a book

The annual literary awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher geared for the North American reading audience. POD books are accepted.



2007 Semi-Finalists
2007 Finalists
2006 Semi-Finalists
2006 Finalists
Other Awards

Eligibility

Reader Views Literary Awards are open to all authors regardless of residency, however, the books must be published in the English language and targeted for the North American market. Work published by major book publishers, their subsidiaries, or their imprints are not eligible.  Books must have 2008 copyright date. (Yes, that means copyright date - no, it doesn't mean a copyright date of 2007 and publication in 2008. This means copyright in 2008.) Submission for more than one category or more than one title is acceptable.  Books that have racist themes will be not be accepted.

Regional or Global entries may refer to the book's topic or the author's residency. For example, an author living in Alberta writing about a plot in Alabama may enter Canada-West as a regional author and/or the South-East as a regional book. Or, an author living in the UK writing about a plot in Texas may enter Global EU as well as Regional S.

Judging

All initial judging will be done by reviewers from Reader Views.   They are experts in their fields as well as avid readers.  Consider them your reading audience.  Criteria for judging is content/originality, presentation/design, innovation, social relevance, and production quality. Five semi-finalists in each category will be determined by a point system. Final judging will be determined by a jury of judges.

If the reviewers/judges feel the book is worthwhile of readership they will supply reviews which will be forwarded to you. The reviews will also be posted on Reader Views or Reader Views Kids as well as our weblog and amazon.com. We cannot guarantee the timing when you will get the reviews, however, we will attempt the best we can to review/judge your book as soon as it is submitted. Each book, whether it gets a review or not, will be issued a critique. You will receive the critque for your own information. A critque will not be posted. Keep in mind, the sooner you submit your book, the sooner you will get a review and critique. The review will be in a form of tear sheet and you may use it for your marketing purposes. Please do not wait until deadline date to submit your book if your book is now in print. It is only fair to other authors, who publish late in the fall, to use this deadline date.

Categories

Fiction
# Code, Genre

  • (1) Business
  • (2a) Children - toddler to 5
  • (2b) Children - early reader, age 6 to 8
  • (2c) Children - young reader, age 8 to 12
  • (3) Erotica
  • (4) Fantasy
  • (5) Gay/Lesbian
  • (6) General Fiction
  • (7) Historical Fiction
  • (8) Humor
  • (9) Multicultural
  • (10) Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror
  • (11) Poetry
  • (12) Pop Culture
  • (13) Religion/Spirituality
  • (14) Romance
  • (15) Series - at least one book must have 2008 copyright
  • (16) Science Fiction
  • (17) Teen - age 12 to 16
  • (18) Young Adult - age 15 to 18
Nonfiction
# Code, Genre
  • (19) Aging/Retirement
  • (20) Alternative Health
  • (21) Art/Music
  • (22) Biography
  • (23) Body/Health
  • (24) Business/Sales
  • (25a) Children - toddler to 5
  • (25b) Children - early reader, age 6 to 8
  • (25c) Children - young reader, age 8 to 12
  • (26) Cookbooks
  • (27) Current Events (Politics/Society)
  • (28) Environmental Issues
  • (29) History
  • (30) How-to
  • (31) Memoir/Autobiography
  • (32) Men’s Issues
  • (33) Multicultural
  • (34) Body/Mind/Spirit
  • (35) Parenting/Family
  • (36) Poetry
  • (37) Religion (Eastern/Western)
  • (38) Self-help
  • (39) Spirituality/Inspiration
  • (40) Sports/Fitness/Recreation
  • (41) Teen - age 12 to 16
  • (42) Travel
  • (43) True Crime
  • (44) Women’s Issues
  • (45) Writing/Publishing
  • (46) Young Adult - age 15 to 18

Regional
Letter Code, Region

NE:      North-East – ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY
MA:     Mid-Atlantic – PA, WV, VA, DE, MD, DC, NJ
S:         South – MS, LA, AR, TX, TN
SE:       South-East -- KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL
GL:      Great Lakes -- OH, MI, IN, IL, WI
MW:    Mid-West – MN, IA, MO, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND
WM:    West-Mountain – MT, WY, ID, UT, CO, NM, AZ, NV
WP:     West-Pacific – CA, OR, WA, HI, AK
CE:      Canada-East – ON, QB, NF, NB, NS, PE, NT
CW:     Canada-West – BC, AB, SK, MB, NWT, YK

Global
Letter Code, Country

SA: South America
CA: Central America
EU: Europe
AS: Asia
AU: Australia
AF: Africa

General Awards

Three semi-finalists will be chosen in each fiction and non-fiction category. First and second place winners will be awarded in each category. Third place will receive an honorable mention.

One finalist, the top score in each area, will be chosen in each regional and global category.

Each will receive a certificate. All certificates and awards stickers will be dated for year 2009.

Semi-finalists will be announced in our weekly e-mail newsletter on March 2, 2009 and the finalists on March 30, 2009, or earlier.

Specialized Awards

Aside from general awards the following awards will be presented. All books submitted will qualify and be considered for these awards. A jury of judges will make the final decision on awards.

*Kick Start Guy Book of the Year Award - awarded to the book that has the possibility to develop into national success through a unique marketing platform. The book's message uniquely influences the way people think, act, and become motivated to live their lives.

Award: $1,500 value. Two personal consulting sessions from The Kick Start Guy with the addition of marketing planning and implementation templates.

Criteria: First place winner from each categorywill compete for the Book of the Year.

*Perceptive Marketing Book Award for the Best Nonfiction Book of the Year

Award: $1000 value. Winner will have a choice of a la carte services provided by Perceptive Marketing to the value of $1000. Sponsored by Perceptive Marketing.

Criteria: Winner will be chosen from all first place winners in the nonfiction categories.

*Garcia Award for the Best Fiction Book of the Year

Award: $1000 value. Package consists of one press release written and distributed to at least 100 media targests, plus 1/2 hour phone consultation. Sponsored by Maryglenn McCombs Book Publicity.

Criteria: Winner will be chosen from all first place winners in the fiction categories.

*Author Marketing Experts Award for the Best Regional Book of the Year

Award: $1000 value. Interviews on Fascinating Authors, featured placement on a top interview site, as well as one additional featured author podcast. Sponsored by Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Criteria: Wnner will be chosen from the first place winners, fiction and nonfiction, in the regional category.

*KarenVillanueva Award for the Best Global Book of the Year

Award: $400 value. An hour long consultation/Q&A session with three-half hour follow-up phone sessions (anytime, availability permitting) plus a free "PR Tips and Marketing Information" package (mailed out)--advice from many of the industries top professionals. Sponsored by: Karen Villanueva Author Services

Criteria: Winner will be chosen from the firstplace winners, fiction and nonfiction, in the global category.

*Polka Dot Banner Award for the Best Body/Health Book

Award: $300 value. ProPromoter package which includes an advanced Star Author listing - created for you to save you time and effort. Listings include author and book information, links to reviews, POD casts, and personal website, contact info and more. In addition, the ProPromoter package includes a top-of-the-page author highlight banner announcing the book as a winner in this category. These banners are placed randomly throughout the site and click the reader direct to the author's profile. ProPromoter authors receive extra visibility on the site with additional book highlight images and direct Amazon links. The listing lasts for a period of one year. Sponsord by Polka Dot Banner.

Criteria: First place winner in the Body/Health category.

*Jack Eadon Award for the Best Book in Contemporary Drama

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Jack Eadon

Criteria: The characters must be vividly portrayed as those individuals who can exist side-by-side with someone living in this world now, dealing with issues of today in a dramatic fashion. The setting must be excruciatingly real.

*Bill Cooper Leading Beyond Tradition Award

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by William E. Cooper

Criteria: Book must show how to build successful leadership in organizations focusing on maximizing resources and processes.

*Brian Walsh Award for Best Personal Growth Book of the Year

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Brian Walsh

Criteria: Must be a self-published author of new work, which is a substantial contribution to the field of personal growth. Book must help the reader define present undesirable states, and provide processes or guidelines that lead to personal success. The book should also have templates for an action plan to assist the reader to reach goals. 

*Writers in the Sky Award for the Best Creative Writing of the Year

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Yvonne Perry, the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services

Criteria: Must have original, imaginative and creative use of words that create vivid mental pictures of scenes and characters.

* Loving Healing Press Best Book Award in Metapsychology

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Loving Healing Press

Criteria: A psychology or self-help book which emphasizes the following distinguishing characteristics of Metapsychology (as defined by Frank A. Gerbode, M.D.) 1. Person-centered approach: reader is the "expert" of their own world, not the author or some higher-power 2. Non-evaluative: does not focus on what is wrong (or even "right") with the reader. 3. Empowerment: by allowing the reader to look at his/her world in a new way, disempowering beliefs or stories are transformed.

*WOW! Women on Writing Award for the Best Book in Women's Literature

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Wow! Women On Writing

Criteria: May be either fiction or nonfiction. Book must express all the conflicts and struggles influencing women as well as growth and transformation. Qualifying female writers must write with this commonality and keep feminine awareness in mind.

*Bookhitch Award for the Most Innovative Book of Poetry

Award: Atwo year premium service and an ad package (website and newsletter ad) valued at over $100 on Bookhitch.com

Criteria: Book must possess creative use of elements as well as originality of subject matter.

*The Jean Carpenter-Backus Award for the Best Book in Financial Management

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Jean Carpenter-Backus of Carpenter and Langford P.C.

Criteria: Book must focus on personal or business financial management. It must profile advanced strategic plans taking into account financial variables concerning real economy.

*You are a KEEPER! Award for the Best Cookbook of the Year

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Keepers of the Grill Nation.

Criteria: Book must contain a collection of original recipes. The ingredients must be available at any local grocery store and instructions must be clear and easy to follow.

Entry Fee

$50.00 per title (for the initial category) if postmarked before October 30, 2007, $60.00 if postmarked November 1, 2007 or later. $20.00 for each additional category or regional/global entry.

Entry fee must be in USD via U.S. check or international money order payable to: Reader Views.

Submission for more than one category or area is acceptable. Submit two copies of the book for the first category, and an additional book for each other category to be considered. For example, if you enter your book in the "Fiction - Historical" category as well as "Young Adult" and "SW Region" you must send in four books.

All books entered will become the property of Reader Views and donated to local charities after the awards program is completed.

Submissions received without the entry fee will not be considered.  Entry fee is non-refundable.

Registration Deadline

Authors are encouraged to submit their entries as soon as possible but postmarked no later than December 15, 2008. Any submission postmarked after this date will not be accepted. (Help us prevent judge burn-out and submit your book early! Hint: our judges read the book in its entirety - give them plenty of time to read the book.) We will confirm your entry via e-mail.

Registration

Registration form may be downloaded here.  Be sure one form is included with each title submitted.  If submitting more than one title or in more than one category, one check or money order may be included for all submissions.

Be sure to send appropriate number for books. (Two for the first category, one for each additional category.) Registration form must accompany each title and sent to:

Reader Views Literary Awards 2008
7101 Hwy 71 W #200
Austin, TX 78735

Rights

Reader Views will not retain any rights to submitted books. Nor will they reproduce or publish any submission.  All contact information will not be disclosed to a third party other than the sponsor of the above noted awards.

Reader Views reserves the right to disqualify any entry, without prior notice, if guidelines and criteria are not met. Entry fee is non-refundable to disqualified entries.

Important Notice
In the past we would contact the submitter if the appropriate number of books were not enclosed with the submission. This year will not be doing that. Please be sure you enclose at least two copies of your book for the first category as well as one book for each additional category.

Additional Information
Read Contests: A path to credibility by award winning author Carolyn Howard-Johnson.