GUIDELINES
DEADLINE Approaching — Submit Your Book by September 30, 2024!
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What are the FIRE & Embers Book Awards?
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The FIRE & Embers Book Awards serve as a beacon for independently published books, illuminating exceptional literary works that may otherwise go unnoticed. This prestigious recognition honors not only the skillful craftsmanship of writing but also the intricate development of characters, the intricacy of plot, and various other elements that elevate a book from good to outstanding. Embracing a holistic approach, the FIRE & Embers Book Awards also acknowledges the importance of visual appeal by considering factors such as publishing standards, cover design, description, and overall presentation, because the team recognizes that these things play a crucial role in captivating readers' attention as well as those who buy books for the retail market.
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In addition to celebrating contemporary achievements, the FIRE Book Awards extend their reach through the Embers Book Awards. This award bestows recognition on books published with copyright dates from 2019 through 2023 that exhibit enduring excellence deserving of renewed attention and acclaim. By shining a light on both new releases and hidden gems from recent years, the FIRE & Embers Book Awards collectively contribute to fostering a vibrant literary landscape — where quality and creativity are celebrated, and deserving voices find their rightful place in the literary canon.
Why are the FIRE & Embers Book Awards different?
The FIRE & Embers Book Awards elevates winners by posting all the Gold Winners from the Categories in the FIRE Award and the Gold Winners in Fiction and Nonfiction from the Embers Award online for an internet vote for two weeks in December 2024.
We believe that if a book can pass muster to the point that it becomes an award winner it deserves to be showcased and marketed as vigorously as the Grand Prize Winner that gets the big prize money. To that end, during the online internet voting period, all of the winners (Gold, Silver & Bronze) will be showcased in an online catalogue with links to where the books can be purchased during the internet vote which will give voters the opportunity to purchase books they like on the spot. This point-of-purchase approach will help entry winners take advantage of the tremendous amount of traffic and awareness the Online Internet Vote will be generating during the holiday buying season.
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The FIRE & Embers Book Award winners Showcase Catalogue, included in the Online Internet Vote, will also be featured in ads placed in leading online trade magazines.
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What is the Judging Process Like?
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Judges will select a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner in each category including the six (6) Design Award Categories listed.
Each entry must be available for sale as both a PRINTED book and an eBook no later than December 31, 2024. Although the FIRE & Embers Book Awards are open globally, the book must be published in the English language.
After you submit the Entry Form you will receive an email with instructions on how to send the hard and digital copies for evaluation. Once we receive your package with the hard copy of the book (with the Entry Form enclosed inside the front cover), you will receive an email letting you know that we have received your submission. ONLY the person entering the award competition will received the email notification.
One judge will score your book content including story, writing style, punctuation, etc. on a Judge’s Evaluation Form. If the score on the content is high enough another ebook copy will be needed to send to a second judge. More ebook copies may be requested via email depending on how high up in the elimination process your title goes.
A second judge will independently score your book on its professionalism, graphic design, print quality, and adherence to publishing standards.
All Gold Winners from both the FIRE & Embers Book Awards will be put online for an internet vote which will start December 14, 2024 and end December 30,2024. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced January 7, 2025.
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Once the online internet vote is completed every entry will receive its Evaluation Forms via email. This is done in hopes of giving you direction to make you a better author and/or publisher for future projects.
Is Your Book Eligible?
Your book project is eligible for inclusion in The FIRE Book Awards if it holds a copyright date for the year 2024. All books published with a 2019 to 2023 copyright date are also eligible for the Embers Book Awards. Your entry must be independently published* by one of the following:
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Independent press
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Small press
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Hybrid press
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Self-published author
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University press
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*If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us at admin@FIREBookAwards.com. Please put "Question About PUblisher" in the subject line.
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Your book must also adhere to these rules and guidelines listed below:
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English language books ONLY
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Only books for sale before December 31, 2024
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Project must include PRINTED books
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eBook ONLY projects ARE NOT ELIGIBLE
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Books must be in hard copy as well as ebook format
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Fees payable in US Dollars only
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NO ARCs or Galleys (ONLY PRINTED books are eligible)
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Must be 18 years of age to enter.
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Also, please check out the Terms and Conditions as well as the Frequently Asked Questions for more specifics before completing the entry form for the competition. If you have any questions about eligibility, please don't hesitate to email us.
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When Will the Winners Be Announced?
The top three winners per category — Gold, Silver, Bronze — of the FIRE Book Awards, and a Gold Fiction and Nonfiction award per year of the Embers Book Awards will be announced December 1, 2024. This will give the author/publisher time to utilize the winning of the award in their awareness before the end of the year, and help with marketing and sales for the all-important holiday gift season.
Then in the middle of December, for a 2-week period starting midnight December 15, 2024 through December 30, 2024, all of the Gold Award Winners will be posted for an Online Internet Vote where the authors and publishers will solicit votes for their book. The FIRE Book Award Winner of the Online Internet Vote will receive $1,500 Grand Prize money for their marketing and literary efforts. The Embers Book Award Winner will receive $250 Grand Prize money for their efforts.
The Grand Prize Winner from the Online Internet Vote Will Be Announced January 7, 2025
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The online voting site will also have a Showcase Catalogue featuring all of the winners (Gold, Silver & Bronze) from the FIRE & Embers Book Awards with links where these winning books can be purchased online.
What Do the Winners Receive?
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Only the Gold Winners will be included in the Online Internet Vote to pick the Grand Prize Winners.
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Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 FIRE Book Award will receive $1,500 Grand Prize Money.
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Grand Prize Winner of the 2019-2023 Embers Book Award will receive $250 Grand Prize Money*.
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All medal winners will be Included in the online Point-of-Purchase Catalogue available during the Internet Vote.
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All medal winners will be included in any ads placed in online trade book publishing magazines.
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Generic Press Release to use in marketing and PR endeavors.
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All Entries whether or not they are Medal Winners will receive an ebook copy of the "Revised 2025 Edition" of Book Promotion Directory of Blogs, Podcasts & Promoters.
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Digital Sticker to place on the cover and utilize in their marketing.
- 75 Foil Stickers to place on books which are sold at the back of the room**.
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Opportunity to buy a beautiful FIRE and Embers Book Awards Trophy.
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Access to Top Rated "Author Talk Podcast" to promote their book.
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Access to the Judge's Evaluation Forms***.
*Only one Grand Prize for the 2019-2023 Embers Book Award will be given.
**Additional stickers are available at a nominal cost.
***All entries will receive access to the Judge's Evaluation Forms toward the end of January 2025.
What Are the Categories?
This link will take you to the categories and additional design awards. While the entries for specific categories/genres are chosen by evaluation scores, the winners in the six (6) additional design awards will be chosen by the competition personnel.
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