Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions?

Check out the FAQ below. If you don't find an answer to your question in this FAQ section or have any further questions feel free to email us at:

Info@IndieBookAwards.com

What is the Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the most rewarding and exciting book awards program for independent publishers and authors worldwide.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in 80+ different categories, for the year, and is presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group (www.IBPPG.com ) in cooperation with Marilyn Allen of Allen Literary Agency (formerly the Allen O'Shea Literary Agency).

Who can enter the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

The 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards is open to all indie publishers including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors based in the U.S., Canada or internationally who have a book, a manuscript, or a galley proof written in English and released in 2023, 2024 or 2025 or with a 2023, 2024 or 2025 copyright date.

What makes the Next Generation Indie Book Awards so special?

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the only book awards program of its kind because more than 80 cash prizes and awards and maximum exposure (even possible representation) with a leading New York literary agent are given to the top 80+ books entered. Additionally, unlike almost all of the large book awards programs open to independent authors and publishers, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards is a book awards program with ALL of the entry fees going back to the Winners and Finalists through cash prizes, trophies, medals, certificates, awards ceremony, running of the program and the ongoing promotion of Winners and Finalists.

What are the cash prizes and awards given out for the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

• $1,500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the best Fiction Book
• $1,500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the best Non-Fiction Book
• $750 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the second best Fiction Book
• $750 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the second best Non-Fiction Book
• $500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the third best Fiction Book
• $500 Cash Prize and trophy awarded to the third best Non-Fiction Book
• $100 Cash Prize and a Gold Medal awarded to the winner of each of the 80+ categories
• Finalist Medals will be awarded to up to five finalists in each of the 80+ categories

What other benefits will Winners and Finalists receive?

In addition to the recognition and prestige of having an award-winning book, Finalists and Winners will also receive the following:

• Winners will be listed in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog which will be distributed to thousands of book buyers, media, and others!
• Exposure for a full year at www.IndieBookAwards.com as a Winner or Finalist and social media coverage.
• An invitation to attend the Gala Awards Reception.
• The opportunity to display Finalist or Winner gold award stickers on your book.
• Other benefits of an award-winning book (such as potential increased revenue).
• PLUS, the top 80+ winning books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen Literary Agency (formerly the Allen O'Shea Literary Agency) or one of Ms. Allen's co-agents for possible representation (unless an entrant prefers not to have the book forwarded to an agent).

What is the benefit of having my book reviewed by a literary agent?

Having your book reviewed by a literary agent may lead to representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights or it may lead to representation to major publishing houses.

Many Indie publishers and authors know it is difficult to get a book in front of a leading New York literary agent or major publishers because they are swamped with requests from individuals to review their books. Many quality books never get seen because there are hundreds of thousands of books released each year in the U.S. and industry experts don't have the time and resources to review all of them.

According to the most recent (October 2019) report by Bowker, publisher of the Books in Print database, the number of titles self-published in the United States grew to over 1.6 million in 2018, an increase of 40% over the previous year. "This trend is likely to continue as the quality of many self-published works now rivals that of traditionally published titles," according to the report.

Worldwide, as of 2022, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates more than 2.7 million books are now being published in a single year.

The overwhelming number of new books, makes it almost impossible to get your book seen by the right people to catapult it to success. However, if your book is selected as one of the top 80+ books, it will be forwarded to a leading literary agent for review (unless you prefer not to have your book forwarded to the agent).

What is the literary agent's background?

Marilyn Allen is a leading New York literary agent with Allen Literary Agency (formerly the Allen O'Shea Literary Agency). Ms. Allen has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including serving as Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing for Harper Collins and directing sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins and many divisions of the Penguin Random House Publishing Group. Ms. Allen has had the pleasure of working with many best-selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more.

What if my book is selected as one of the top 80+ books and I don't want it forwarded to the literary agent?

We understand that some entrants may prefer to not have their book forwarded to the literary agent because they already have their own representation or for other reasons.

You can opt out of having your book forwarded to the Literary Agent by simply checking off the opt out box on the entry form.

How does the judging work?

All books are judged for their content. The judges include expert editors, writers and publishers in the book publishing industry.

Entrants can also enter their books in the best design categories and these categories will be judged by a team of professional book designers in the book publishing industry.

When are entries being accepted and what is the deadline for entry?

Entries are being accepted now for the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The deadline for entry is February 14, 2025; all books must be received in our offices by February 14, 2025.

What happens if my book is delayed and not ready in time or I missed sending in my books to meet the deadline?

We don’t issue refunds on paid entries. If you paid for your entry but your books were delayed and will not be ready in time to meet the deadline date, or you missed getting your books in on time before the deadline date, your paid entry will automatically be rolled over to the next awards year.

What are the Entry Fees for the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

The entry fee is $75 per title for the first category entered and $60 for each additional category entered. For example, if three categories are entered for one title the total entry fee will be $195 ($75 for the first category plus $60 for the second category plus $60 for the third category).

What forms of payment are accepted to pay the Entry Fees?

The easiest and fastest way is to pay online by PayPal or credit card via PayPal. If you are not paying online, a company check, cashier's check, or an International Money Order (to be cashed within Canada) made payable to Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group in US dollars are the only other alternate forms of payment accepted. (Note: Personal checks are not accepted and if paying by money order it must be an International money order.)

How can I enter the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

SUMMARY OF ENTRY GUIDELINES

1. Select the category or categories you wish to enter
2. Create/log into your IBA Account and complete the online entry form for each book you want to enter
3. Make payment of entry fee(s)
4. Submit completed entry form, entry fees and books by no later than February 14, 2025 (all books must be received in our offices by February 14, 2025) to:

Next Generation Indie Book Awards
7916 NE 173rd Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98682
USA

When mailing in copies of your books, please be sure to include the correct postage on the package. Incorrect postage could result in your package being returned to you resulting in delayed processing time and possibly missing the entry deadline date.

Please avoid sending book shipments requesting a signature. Requesting signatures for proof of delivery can cause a delay in receiving and processing your books.

We do not accept in-person book drop-offs. If sending in copies of your books, they should be sent by mail or courier.

A more detailed explanation of our entry guidelines may be found here

Will I receive confirmation that my books have been received and, if so, when will I receive confirmation?

We will send you an email confirming receipt of your books only once we have processed your books in our system. If you are tracking your book shipment, although it may show your books have arrived, please allow several days for processing before expecting an email acknowledging receipt of your books. We will send you an email confirmation just as soon as your books have been processed. You can also check the status of your entry anytime by logging into your account.

How many titles can I enter in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

There is no limit to the number of titles you can enter in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

How many categories can I enter per title?

You can enter as many categories as you like per title. We recommend selecting the categories you wish to enter based on which categories most apply to your book or to your marketing strategies.

For example, if you have a historical and multicultural romance novel, you may choose to enter the Romance, Multicultural Fiction and Historical Fiction categories and possibly even other relevant categories. Alternatively, you may choose to only enter one of these categories. The choice is yours!

What are the categories for this years awards program?

The categories are listed here

We do not recommend entering a novel into a non-fiction category such as Cookbook and Home/Garden, Health/Wellness, How To, Relationships, etc. because a novel would not be appropriate for any of these categories and will be moved to another category for appropriate judging.

If I am uploading my book digitally, does it have to be entered into one of the E-Book categories? Is more than one PDF copy required?

You can upload your book in PDF format to be judged in any of the categories we offer. It does not have to be entered into the e-book category to be uploaded digitally. If uploading digitally, you only need to send in one PDF copy of your book.

Will I be notified even if I don't win or do not place as a Finalist?

Only Winners and Finalists will be notified of their Winner or Finalist placement by email notification, however, a complete list of Winners and Finalists will be available to view online at www.IndieBookAwards.com near the end of May.

When will I be notified if my book has been selected as a Finalist or Winner?

Winners and Finalists will be announced and notified by approximately mid-May, 2025.

Why wasn't my book chosen as a finalist or winner? Can I get feedback from the judges on my book?

Each category winner receives a written review from the judge, however, we don't provide individual feedback from our judges on any of the category finalists. If a book was not selected it's likely there was a lot of excellent competition in the category or the book may need more editing or did not fit the genre entered. Any books named a winner or finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards are considered the "cream of the crop" and are held in high regard.

If I entered my book in your competition one year, can I enter the same book in the same category in a subsequent year as long as it is within the three year time period allowed under the publishing/copyright date guidelines?

You can enter the same book in a subsequent year but it must be entered into a different category.

Can I enter a book that was published years ago but has since been revised and has been re-released?

If the book has been revised by 10% or more than you can enter it under the new release/copyright date.

What will happen to my books after the contest is over?

If your book is one of the top 80+ books, one copy of it will be sent to Marilyn Allen, Literary Agent, for review by Ms. Allen or one of Ms. Allen's co-agents. All other books will be donated to libraries and/or schools, or organizations such as senior centers, hospices and other care centers.

Does it make a difference if I upload my book digitally or send a print book?

Both formats are completely acceptable and are reviewed the same by all judges.