Annual Literary Awards 2009

NOW CLOSED, WILL REOPEN MID-FEBRUARY 2010

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.


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 2009 copyright date. (Copyright date is on the copyright page of the printed book.) (Yes, that means copyright date - no, it doesn't mean a copyright date of 2008 and publication in 2009. This means copyright in 2009.) 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, production quality, enjoyment/impact, plot/story line, and resoursefulness (depending on category.) Three finalists in each category will be determined by a point system. Final judging will be determined by a jury of judges.

In the first level of judging, a reviewer will write a review and it will be forwarded to you. The review 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 review, however, we will attempt the best we can to review/judge your book as soon as it is submitted. Keep in mind, the sooner you submit your book, the sooner you will get a review. The review will be in a form of tear sheet and you may use it for your marketing purposes. If you have already received a review from us, you will not be receiving another review. Your book will automatically go into the second level in the process. 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

Children/Teen/YA
# Code, Genre

  • (1) Children - toddler to 5
  • (2) Children - early reader, age 6 to 8
  • (3) Children - young reader, age 8 to 12
  • (4) Teen - age 12 to 16
  • (5) Young Adult - age 15 to 18

Adult
# Code, Genre

  • (6) Aging/Retirement/Seniors
  • (7) Art/Music/Pop Culture/Performing Arts
  • (8) Body/Mind/Spirit
  • (9) Business/Sales/Economics
  • (10) Cooking/Crafts/Hobbies/How-to
  • (11) Erotica
  • (12) Fantasy
  • (13) Gay/Lesbian
  • (14) General Fiction/Novel
  • (15) Graphic Novel
  • (16) Health/Fitness
  • (17) Historical Fiction
  • (18) History/Science
  • (19) Humanities (Men’s-Women’s issues/Multi-cultural/Sports)
  • (20) Humor
  • (21) Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
  • (22) Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror
  • (23) Parenting/Family/Relationships
  • (24) Poetry
  • (25) Religion (Eastern/Western)
  • (26) Romance Novel
  • (27) Science Fiction
  • (28) Self-help
  • (29) Societal Issues (Politics/Society/Environment/Current Events/True Crime)
  • (30) Spirituality/Inspiration
  • (31) Travel
  • (32) Writing/Publishing

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/New Zealand/Australasia
AF: Africa

General Awards

Three 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 winner will receive a certificate. All certificates and awards stickers will be dated for year 2010.

Finalists will be announced in our weekly e-mail newsletter on March 1, 2010 and the winners on March 29, 2010. If we can possibly speed it up, we certainly will.

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. If you are a winner of a specialized award, it must be claimed within 60 days of notification.

*Reader Views Kids Award for Best Children’s Book of the Year

Award:  $600 value. One year of advertising on the right side-bar of Reader Views Kids website.  Size of ad will be 200 x 200 px.  Link will go to winner’s choice.  As well, author will be interviewed for Inside Scoop Live, and the interview featured on Reader Views Kids, and, Reader Views. Sponsored by Reader Views Kids.

Criteria:  Winner will be chosen from the first place winners in the Children’s categories.

*Reader Views Kids Award for Best Teen/YA Book of the Year

Award:  $600 value. One year of advertising on the right side-bar of Reader Views Kids website.  Size of ad will be 200 x 200 px.  Link will go to winner’s choice.  As well, author will be interviewed for Inside Scoop Live, and the interview featured on Reader Views Kids, and, Reader Views. Sponsored by Reader Views Kids.

Criteria:  Winner will be chosen from the first place winners in the Teen/YA categories.

*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.

*Pump Up Your Book Award for the Best Regional Book of the Year

Award: $399 value. "Silver Package Plan" virtual book tour with 15 to 20 blog stops during a one month period. Includes a syndicated press release sent to media. Sponsored by Pump Up Your Book.

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 two-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.

*Lynda Goldman Award for the Best Novel of the Year

Award: $350 value. "Lynda Goldman’s Magical Rewrite.” Rewite of the first page of author's website or sales material such as a brochure. Sponsored by: Lynda Goldman Ink.

Criteria: Winner will be chosen from the General Fiction/Novel category. The book must be considered a novel to qualify.

*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.

*Book Marketing Maven Award for Best Writing/Publishing Book

Award: $200 value: $100 cash prize plus one copy of each of the Savvy Book Marketer Guides. Sponsored by Dana Lynn Smith, the Book Marketing Maven.

Criteria: 1st Place book in the Writing/Publishing 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.

*Walsh Seminars 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 or $200 merchandise from LHP. 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.

*Bookhitch Award for the Most Innovative Book of Poetry

Award: A two 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.

*Richard Boes Award

Richard enlisted into the US Army and served in Vietnam in 1969 - 1970 with the
First Air Cav. He is the author of two books, The Last Dead Soldier Left Alive (2007)
a firsthand inquiry into why thousands of Vietnam veterans have committed suicide
and Last Train Out (2008). Right up to his death Richard was writing a third,
In the Valley of Dry Bones.  He passed away on Feb 21st, 2009 at the VA Hospital
in Albany, NY.

Award: $100 cash prize. Sponsored by Modern History Press

Criteria: Best debut book by a Veteran (fiction or memoir)

 

Entry Fee

$65.00 per title (for the initial category) if postmarked before October 31, 2009, $75.00 if postmarked November 1, 2009 or later. $20.00 for each additional category or regional/global entry.

Entry fee must be in USD via U.S. check or U.S. money order payable to: Reader Views. (Our bank will no longer accept International Money Orders. If you are from out of the United States please contact us for instructions for payment.)

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, 2009. 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 so print your email address clearly.

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 2009
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 we will not be doing that. Please be sure you enclose two copies of your book for the first category as well as one book for each additional category.

Do not deface your book by stamping it as "review copy" or "promo copy." After the judging is over we donate the books to a local library or a school library(every year donation is a different one) and SafePlace Austin - a center for abused women and children. We may also use some of the books as a fund raiser and all the proceeds we receive go to Higher Power Foundation Scholarship Fund. This fund supports people, in need of recovery, to attend life-changing workshops.

2008 Finalists
2008 Winners
2007 Finalists
2007 Winners
2006 Finalists
2006 Winners

List of Other Awards