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Midwest Book Awards
Midwest Book Awards
20th Annual Midwest Book Awards
The 20th Annual Midwest Book Awards (for excellence in books published in 2009) deadline was January 29, 2010. The books are now being read by the judges. The results of the judges' evaluations will be compiled at the end of March and the FINALISTS will be announced the first week in April, 2010. WINNERS will be posted here after the awards ceremony on May 12, 2010.
Call for Entries (Form with details and fees)
Award Sticker Information
ELIGIBILITY
All entries MUST carry a 2009 copyright and an ISBN. New editions of previously published books are eligible. Reprints do not qualify.Entries must be PUBLISHED within the 12-state region: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, & WI.
Deadline for receipt of books and entry fees was January 29, 2010. Absolutely no exceptions. Judges’ decisions are final.
AWARDS and BENEFITS
Three (3) finalists are selected in each category. From those, one (1) winner is chosen. Finalists and award-winning authors and publishers receive certificates and may purchase foil seals for use in their marketing efforts. Winners will also receive a bronze medallion and be featured in the MIPA catalog and MIPA News, on the MIPA website, and at MIPA displays throughout the year, including the Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA) trade show. Judges’ individual book evaluation sheets will be provided to the entrants after the awards are announced.
SUBJECT CATEGORIES (Publisher or author selects one or more categories in which to enter each book)
Arts (art, design, architecture, photography, coffee table books)
Biography/Memoir
Business (commerce, career, technology)
Child/Young Adult Fiction
Child/Young Adult Non-fiction
Children’s Picture Books
Commercial Fiction (genre-specific, e.g., mystery, sci fi, romance)Cookbooks
Crafts/Hobbies/How-to
Culture (diversity, gender issues, aging)
General Fiction (non-genre specific, e.g., literary, story collections)
Health
Humor
Midwest Regional Interest
Nature
Poetry
History/Current Events
Recreation/Travel/Sports
Reference
Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration
Social Science (psychology, family, self-help)
DESIGN CATEGORIES
Illustration
Interior Layout
Cover: 1 or 2 Color
Cover: 3 or more Color
Please email Midwest Book Awards Chair, Marly Cornell, for more book awards information or for any questions about the awards program.
Advantages to Entering the Midwest Book Awards
When you are a finalist or a winner of a Midwest Book Award (or any book award), you can put that information on your website, on blogs, in your publicity and marketing materials, press releases, announcements, other book sites such as Amazon, and anywhere else you can think of. A book award is a good excuse to resubmit your book to venues that may not have accepted the book before. In a way, it’s like a new book again and your sales will experience a boost. You can also put the award designation on the cover of reprints.
MIPA will make sure that your award is publicized in press releases, on the MIPA website, in the MIPA book catalog distributed at the annual Midwest Booksellers Association Trade Show and other book festivals and MIPA events. MIPA award winners can have their book-availability information posted on the MIPA website.
Winners and finalists can purchase award stickers (Gold for Winner and Silver for Finalist) and use these on their books. Some bookstores may move your book to a better location if it has a book-award sticker. You can reproduce that sticker on reprints, posters, and marketing materials.
MIPA provides those who enter books in the Midwest Book Awards with copies of the judges’ evaluation summaries and notes. Our judges include a variety of book lovers who are often experts in specific fields and/or genres of writing and design. As a committed audience, these readers take the time to evaluate the merits of your book from several perspectives. Even when your book does not win an award, juror feedback can be extremely valuable. Non-winning MIPA authors have sometimes revised their manuscripts and/or book design elements as a result of the critiques and gone on to publish much better, even award-winning, books. Judges’ comments (when used with permission) may even be useful quotes in future promotional materials.
Give careful consideration when you choose the category or categories in which you submit your book. An advantage of submitting your book in more than one category is that it will be read and evaluated by more judges. Midwest Book Awards Chair Marly Cornell can answer your questions and provide guidance if you are not sure how to choose the specific categories that could be appropriate for your book in the Midwest Book Awards program. Click here to contact Marly.
Make the Most of Your Book Awards!
MIPA begins the awards notification process by sending out press releases that include lists of Midwest Book Awards finalists and winners to various places including local Twin Cities newspapers, Publishers Weekly, ForeWord, Midwest Booksellers Association, SPAN, IBPA, etc., as well as posting the finalists and winners on the MIPA web site. The next steps are yours…
Book awards can translate to additional book sales. Even if a finalist does not win first place honors, silver finalist award stickers can be used on your book covers to draw attention to your book.
The stickers can also be used to draw attention to an announcement or press release about your book.
You may also send stickers to your warehouse or distributor to affix on outgoing copies of your book.
You may want to reproduce the award sticker on the cover for new printings. MIPA will provide a scan to award finalists (silver) and winners (gold) for this purpose.
Book Awards can indicate greater credibility. You may use the terms “award-winning book” or “award-winning author” in marketing materials for the book and in your written credentials.
First place winners and finalists will receive copies of the judges’ evaluation sheets, which can provide useful feedback about your book. Judges’ responses can vary. Remember that each judge’s response is only one person’s opinion, but that person has been chosen to be a judge because of their commitment to book quality. Some judges provide comments that can be used in sell sheets, press releases, and media kits (cite source as Midwest Book Award judge).
Additional suggestions:
Write a brief press release that includes:
- publication date and price in the first paragraph.
- a brief but strong message that will capture the reader’s attention.
- a quote from a reviewer or judge.
- contact information.
- indicate author availability for interviews.
Target and distribute your press release locally and regionally:
- local newspaper, radio, and TV.
- include the geographic region of the publisher and the author.
- in a cover letter mention that the author or the publisher is local.
- You can send (or offer to send) a review copy (with the award sticker on it).
- create and include 5-8 sample interview questions.
- include any additional marketing materials for the book (articles, review quotes, tidbits from the book, etc.).
Send notification of award status or a copy of a press release to all those in the chain of sales of your book.
- Distributors
- Wholesaler networks
- Retailers, top store, library, and special sales accounts
- A simple announcement is appropriate for the publisher’s sales and distribution network–buyers at Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Partners/West, and BookPeople, etc.
- Voicemail tag lines
- Email tag lines
- Business cards
- Web site (publisher can note being home to a book award finalist/winner)
- Letterhead banners
- Note award-finalists in future trade and consumer catalogs
Good luck with your book!