The Indie Author Project (IAP) is thrilled to announce the return of the Indie Author Project Annual Contests!
More than a writing competition, IAP contests are an opportunity to help local authors build readership within their communities and establish meaningful partnerships within libraries and beyond. In 2023, Jefferson County Public Library patron Tasha Christensen won the Colorado Indie Author Project Contest!
Eligibility Requirements
Each book that is submitted to the contest must:
- Be independently published
- Fall within one of the following genres:
- Mystery/Thrillers
- Romance
- Sci-Fi
- Fantasy
- Historical Fiction
- General/Contemporary Fiction
- Memoir
- Young Adult
- Children's Picture Books, 2 - 8 years old, 0 - 1,000 words (see full eligibility details)
- Be written for an Adult or Young Adult audience (except Children's Picture Books)
- Be available in ePUB (strongly recommended) or PDF format
- Be authored by a writer residing in the U.S. or Canada
- Submissions must be original works by the author; while AI tools may be used for brainstorming or editing, entries that are primarily AI-generated are not eligible. AI-generated illustrations are not permitted in the Children's Picture Books category.
- If part of a series, only the first book may be submitted
Prizes
The winners of the contest will receive:
- $2,500 to the first-place winner and $500 each to two runners-up in each genre
- Honors at the 2027 Indie Author Day Reception at ALA Annual
- Opportunities to promote their book(s) at JCPL
- Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal
- Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select Commercial Collections (ePUB format required for eligibility)
Submit your work April 1 through May 31. Winners will be announced during the Indie Author Day reception in November.
For more information and help with all things writing, check out JCPL's Writing Guide with recommended reads, resources and events!