Celebrate the stories that connect us — and the indie authors and libraries who make it happen! On Friday, Nov. 13, Indie Author Project (IAP) will host a free, virtual event connecting indie authors, libraries, and readers across North America. Among other things, they will announce the winners of the 2026 IAP Annual Contest. This year, they received just shy of 4,000 submissions this year, including 70 from Jacksonville.
Tune in to see who wins! All sessions are completely free and open to authors, librarians, and readers alike. Check out the schedule below and register to save your spot.
# Full Schedule of Events
- 12 PM: From Manuscript to Library Shelf » an Indie Author Project 101
- 1 PM: Self Publishing Basics for Any Author » with Libby Waterford, author of 20+ books
- 2 PM: Story First, Marketing Second » with award-winning author Carlo Emanuele
- 3 PM: The Envelope, Please: The 2026 IAP Awards Celebration & Announcements
Or check out archived webinars from past Indie Author Day events.
# Self-Publish for Free
Have more questions about your self-publishing options? Do you have an e-book you want to share with the Library? Learn more about free tools for indie authors, available to Jacksonville Public Library cardholders:
- Create your e-book or print ready files with the Pressbooks Public
- Share your e-book to the Indie Author Project and Indie Florida Collection
- Get discovered on BiblioBoard Library, using free author tools to promote your work
Find instructions, frequently asked questions, and more on the Indie Author Project Annual Contest site. Submissions are accepted April 1 - May 31 but you can submit your e-books to the Indie Florida Collection at any time.
Submit your e-book to Indie Author Project
# Your Book, Our Shelf
To be considered for inclusion in the physical collection, please visit:
- Submit to the Local Author Collection (if you are submitting a copy of your book)
- Market Your Book to the Library (for small presses & non-local authors)
# More Ways to #ReadLocal
Don't forget to check out our Local Author Collection! While it is physically housed at the Main Library, titles in this collection can also be placed on hold through the Library's catalog and picked up at your preferred branch.
#No Waiting, Just Reading
Want to support indie authors from right here in Jacksonville and throughout the state? Then, be sure to check out the Indie Florida Collection on BiblioBoard Library. There, you'll find work submitted through the Indie Author Project and Annual Contest, including When a Stranger Comes, by Karen Bell, Jacksonville author and 2019 Indie Florida contest winner.
Pro Tip: Look for Free to Be by James Denmark and other titles marked "Indie Author Project Select" to discover the top indie books from around the country, carefully selected by Library Journal (and other publishing partners).
IAP Select features:
- New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors
- Numerous award winners
- Talented emerging authors
You can start reading right away, with no holds or waitlists on the BiblioBoard website. To read on the go, download the BiblioBoard Library app on the Apple Store or Google Play. Note: If you have an Amazon Kindle Fire, follow these instructions to side load BiblioBoard Library on to your device.
For more, including how to download e-books for offline reading, visit our BiblioBoard Library info page.
