Nominations Now Open for the 2020 Christian Indie Awards

Winning a book award is one of the best promotional tools an author can have.

Not only does the book become an award-winning title worthy of media attention, the author also becomes an award-winning author. Authors who win a book award can bill themselves as an award-winning author on all their marketing materials, in their media kits, and on their subsequent books.

However, you can’t win a book award unless you enter a book contest.

Nominations are now OPEN for the 2020 Christian Indie Awards. Any independently published Christian author or small publisher can nominate a Christian book published in 2018 or 2019 for the award. Nominations can be made on the Awards’ website at https://www.christianaward.com.

Check out these four great benefits of winning a book award!

Related Posts:
The Hidden Benefit of Winning a Book Award
Book Awards Help Promote Books
Book Awards Produce Winners!

Don’t miss out on any of the great information shared in this blog. Subscribe to receive each post in your email box. Just click here.

 

The 2019 Christian Indie Award Winners!

The votes are in and counted. The winners of the 2019 Christian Indie Awards have been determined!

Christian book lovers and retailers voted on 189 nominated titles in 18 categories. The winners in each of the 18 categories are:

Bible Study
Wisdom Speaks, Dr. Tim Riordan, GreenTree Publishers

Biography & Memoir
Hogan’s Hope, Connie Bombaci

Business & Finance
Through the Eyes of a Fisherman, Dennis Blue

Children’s 4-8
Daddy, I Want to Know God, Vanessa Fortenberry, author; Sharon Grey, illustrator

Children’s 8-12
A Little Goat in Africa, Deborah Smith Ford, author; Susi Galloway, illustrator

Christian Education
The Praying Church Made Simple, P. Douglas Small, Alive Publications

Christian Living
My Heart, My Love, My Life, My Lord; Valecia Carter

 Devotional
Treasures in Secret Places, Jerrie Brooks

General Fiction
The Problem With Miracles, S.K. Jansky, Electio Publishing

Gift
Finding Hope in the Words of John, Randall M Mooney, Crossover Publications

Historical Fiction
A Heart for Freedom, Janet Grunst

Mystery & Suspense
The Last Three Tickets to Heaven, Sandra Thompson Williams

Poetry
It Comes From the Soul, Phyllis Stowe-Jackson

Relationships & Family
A Short Season, G David Bohner & Jake Gronsky, Sunbury Press, Inc.

Romance
After His Heart, Samantha Adkins, CKN Christian Publishing

Self-Help
Live Pure and Free, Dave Howe, TRISTAN Publishing

Theology
Transforming Your Church into a House of Prayer, P. Douglas Small, Alive Publications, 

Young Adult
Speak Truth in Your Heart, Sarah Mally

Congratulations to all the winners! The Christian Indie Awards are sponsored by the Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA).

Are you looking for a great book to read? Try one of the winners of the Christian Indie Awards!

Related Posts:
Announcing: The 2018 Christian Indie Award Winners
The 2017 Book of the Year Award Winners
The 2016 Book of the Year Award Winners

Don’t miss out on any of the great information shared in this blog. Subscribe to receive each post in your email box. Just click here.

Voting is Open for the Christian Indie Awards!

If you read Christian books, you are invited to VOTE for the 2019 Christian Indie Awards!

You can vote online right now at www.christianaward.com. Cast your vote for one book in each of the Awards’ 18 categories.

The Christian Indie Awards aims to recognize outstanding Christian books by small publishers and independent authors. Often smaller publishers and authors produce fresh, innovative books that inspire readers and fill niche needs. Yet, these books go without recognition in an industry that recognizes bestsellers and famous personalities.

The winners of the awards are determined solely by the votes of Christian book lovers and retailers alike. The winners of the 2019 Christian Indie Awards will be announced by May 1, 2019.

The Christian Indie Awards are sponsored by Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA).

What are you waiting for? Go Vote! And, invite your friends to vote also!

Related Posts:
The 2018 Christian Indie Award Winners
The 2017 Book of the Year Award Winners
The 2016 Book of the Year Award Winners

Don’t miss out on any of the great information shared in this blog. Subscribe to receive each post in your email box. Just click here.

Christian Small Publishers Association Gets a New Name

This month, Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) celebrates its 15^th anniversary and embraces a new name. The organization has changed its name to better reflect the current publishing landscape and the authors and publishers it serves. The association is now known as Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA).

Over the past 15 years, the publishing industry has undergone tremendous changes. According to R.R. Bowker, the official U.S. ISBN agency, the number of independently published books has grown by 156% over the past six years. Since CSPA’s membership is comprised of both small publishers and independently published authors, the name change was instituted to better reflect who is being served.

The mission and focus of the organization stays the same: To provide information, tools and resources to strengthen small publishers and independent authors, and to continue to represent this group to the larger Christian book industry.

Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) offers the same great benefits as CSPA, with new benefits being added for 2019. Membership benefits include:

• A monthly e-newsletter packed with marketing tips and industry updates.
• Cooperative advertising opportunities including a print catalog, magazine ads, and eblasts.
• Quick reference guides and on-demand seminars on publishing and marketing.
• List of radio and podcast media actively interviewing authors.
• Book Launch Marketing Checklist.
• Tradeshow representation.
• A book review program.
• Free title setup and revisions with IngramSpark.
• Free title setup with Lightning Source.
• Discount when ordering ISBN.
• Discount on Publishers Weekly subscription.

Membership in Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) is just $90 for the calendar year. You can join today at www.christianpublishers.net.

Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) will continue to sponsor the Christian Indie Awards for Christian books by small publishers and independent authors. Voting for the 2019 Awards opens February 1, 2019. Watch for the announcement.

Related Posts:
Five Christian Book Publishing Trends for 2019
New Record: One Million Books Published
Are You Pursuing Radio Exposure?

Don’t miss out on any of the great information shared in this blog. Subscribe to receive each post in your email box. Just click here.

The Hidden Benefit of Winning a Book Award

Awards signal success to the world. Winning a book award provides numerous benefits including:

1. Increased visibility for the book and author.

All awards send out press releases announcing the winners. Having your book listed both in the press release and on the award’s website increases your visibility.

2. Increased opportunities for publicity.

Authors can also create press releases announcing that their book has won an award, garnering publicity. Media outlets are more likely to interview an award-winning author. In addition, announcing the award in your email newsletter, on your website, and on your social media sites brings you more exposure.

3. Increased perception of credibility of the book and author.

An award signals to book buyers, reviewers, and the media that your book is trustworthy and provides an excellent read.

4. Increased perception of the book’s value.

An award shows the public that your book is worth their time to read it and worth the money they will spend on purchasing it.

5. Increased sales.

Studies show that when presented with two similar books, book buyers will choose the one toting an award over the non-award winning book.

Book awards also carry hidden benefits. One big hidden benefit of winning a book award is increased author morale and confidence.

Winning a book award lifts an author’s spirit. It provides an author validation in a way that positive reviews cannot. It tells the author that their book stands out above others.
Increased author morale and confidence can have long-lasting effects:

• It can spur an author to write more books.
• It can provide an author the confidence he needs to launch a speaking career.
• It can help the author persevere in marketing and promoting her book.

Of course, you cannot win an award unless you enter your book into awards. Only one month remains for you to nominate your book for the Christian Indie Awards. The deadline to nominate a book is November 15, 2018.

The Christian Indie Awards exist to recognize outstanding Christian books by Indie authors and small publishers. Books published in 2017 or 2018 are eligible for nomination. Books can be nominated by an author or a publisher.

To nominate your book for the Christian Indie Awards, CLICK HERE.

Related Posts:
10 Reasons to Enter a Book Award
The Value of Book Awards
Book Awards Help Promote Books

Don’t miss out on any of the great information shared in this blog. Subscribe to receive each post in your email box. Just click here.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Olinger.