How to Use Book Awards to Find Your Next Magical Read
Have you ever wanted to break into a new genre or find another author to follow but been afraid to wade through all the not-so-good books out there? You might have better luck if you start with a list of books that have already been vetted for quality. Awards are one such list.
As a reader and author, I make it a point to read indie/self-published books as well as traditionally published ones. However, I often get frustrated by a lack of quality. I recognize my quality standards are relatively high as a professional editor, but they aren’t unreasonably so. Sometimes when I’m looking for new authors, I look at recent award winners and finalists, so quality of writing isn’t as much of a concern.
There are all kinds of different book awards, so if you decide to go this route, make sure you find a contest that caters to your reading tastes. Some of the bigger, more well-known awards favor literary fiction or big-name authors you might already have read. I prefer to look for more niche awards.
Awards to Watch
If you love romance, look at the RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America. For thrilling mystery stories, check out the Edgar Awards. As a fantasy lover, I always watch the Hugo Awards, which are unique because the books are entered and voted on by readers. I’d love to win a Hugo.
If you want to support indie authors, both self-published and those from small publishers, take a look at the Benjamin Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association and the CIPA EVVYs from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. Both of these contests have some incredible books.
I’m a Multi Award Winning Author
I’m a bit biased toward that last one because my modern fairy tale collection When Magic Calls won the 2021 CIPA EVVYs. My cover designer and illustrator took first place in the cover category and I won first in anthologies/collections. I was really shocked and honored to also win the best of the best in fiction, the Herb Tabak Award. This is extra special as a short story writer because collections rarely beat out novels for overall awards.
So the next time your in-between authors and looking for someone new to add to your to-be-read pile, look up the CIPA EVVYs or another book awards contest and try whichever book catches your eye. You might find a relatively unknown author has just the writing style you’re looking for.
What’s your favorite book award? Let me know in the comments and I’ll check it out.
Caitlin Berve is the author of When Magic Calls: A Collection of Modern Fairy Tales and currently working on a fantasy novel involving an arranged marriage, damsels who save themselves, and non-human shape-shifters. Through her company Ignited Ink Writing and MFA, she edits other people’s novels, creates video tutorials, teaches, and writes. Caitlin seeks to fill the world with the kind of writing that lingers with readers, pet all the fluffy and scaly animals she can, and find magic in modern times.