Annual Book Awards 2025
Writing a manuscript is challenging.
Publishing that manuscript shows dedication.
Winning an award for that book highlights talent.
If you have written a book that was published in the last five years, even if you entered the Annual Book Awards contest last year, you are eligible to enter it in the NAIWE Annual Book Awards contest. Books can be self-published or published traditionally (or anything in between). Entries will be capped at 100 per category.
Winning books will be reviewed on the NAIWE blog, promoted on the NAIWE social media pages, and mentioned in NAIWE’s newsletter The Edge. To boost our winning authors and their books even further, we will invite the authors to be interviewed on the NAIWE podcast. In addition, all NAIWE books that were entered in the contest will also be reviewed on the NAIWE blog.
2024 Winners
Book Cover Design: Graydon Hubbard – Network Apprentice
Children’s Books: Namita Gandhi – Immune Heroes
Genre Books: Leslie Simmons – Red Clay, Running Waters
Informational Nonfiction: Steve Waddell – Valuepreneurs
Literary Fiction: Tong Ge – The House Filler
Middle Grade Books: Sherry Roberts – The Galaxy According to Cece
Narrative Nonfiction: Frederick Reynolds – Saint Bloodbath
Poetry: Joseph McGovern – Words Left Unspoken
Young Adult Books: Gary Natoli – Lizard Larson and the Time Keeper
Congratulations! Winners (and all NAIWE member books) will receive reviews of their books on the NAIWE blog beginning in January.
Categories
- Book Cover Design
A cover design should hint at what is to come in the book, perhaps highlighting the genre, tone, and protagonist. Typography, color, mood, imagery, and style are key in this category. - Children’s Books
Picture books and early readers. Characters, conflict, language, plot, point of view, reading level, resolution, setting, and theme are key in this category. - Christian Fiction
This type of book will be looked at for how seamlessly Christianity is woven within the book. Characters, conflict, epilogue, language, plot, point of view, prologue, resolution, setting, and theme are key in this category. - Genre Fiction
This type of book easily falls within a specific genre, such as creative nonfiction, historical fiction, humor, mystery, romance, western, and women’s fiction. Characters, conflict, epilogue, language, plot, point of view, prologue, resolution, setting, and theme are key in this category. - Graphic Novels
This type of book typically focuses on the action of the story in a visual manner. Characters, conflict, language, plot, point of view, resolution, setting, and theme are key in this category. - Informational Nonfiction
This type of book is written with the purpose of informing the reader, such as biography, DIY, and guides. Language and organization are key in this category. - Literary Fiction
This type of book is character driven, describing how actions and situations affect the character. The purpose of this type of book is to better understand the human condition. Characters, conflict, epilogue, language, plot, point of view, prologue, resolution, setting, theme are key in this category. - Middle Grade Books
This type of book focuses on a character about 10 to 13 years old and their friends and family. These books target a character’s reaction, rather than self-reflection. Characters, conflict, language, reading level, resolution, setting, theme, plot, point of view are key in this category. - Narrative Nonfiction
This type of book focuses on telling a story. While this is nonfiction, the story takes precedence over the facts. Characters, conflict, epilogue, language, plot, point of view, prologue, resolution, setting, and theme are key in this category. - Poetry
Language and theme are key in this category. - Reference
This type of book is not meant to be read from beginning to end. Rather it is meant to be consulted as an expert on a specific topic. Expertise as well as clarity in explaining the information are key in this category. - Spanish-Language Books
Books that have been translated into Spanish or have only been published in Spanish may be entered into this category. - Young Adult Books
This type of book focuses on teens and their lives. Characters, conflict, language, reading level, resolution, setting, theme, plot, point of view are key in this category.
Entry Process
- Register online.
- Submit your payment via check with the signed copies of your book.
- 1 Book – $50 (NAIWE Member Rate: $40)
- 2 Books – $95 (NAIWE Member Rate: $75)
- 3 Books – $140 (NAIWE Member Rate: $110)
- Mail two signed copies of your book to NAIWE: P.O. Box 412, Montpelier, VA 23192. Note: We only accept print copies; e-books will not be accepted. Package must be postmarked by July 1.
All books entered in the NAIWE Book Awards program will be submitted for NAIWE Member Benefit #15: Book Promotions. When members sign up to support another member, they will receive a copy of a member’s (or a NAIWE Book Awards contestant) book, along with a request that they post a review online. This is a great way to build your book’s audience and reviews!
Winners will be announced in December.
In the event of low submissions in a particular category, NAIWE reserves the right to not select a winner in that particular category. In the event of high submissions in a particular category, NAIWE reserves the right to subdivide that category.