Cash Prizes for Indie-Published Authors
Are you an indie author looking for a chance to showcase your talent? The Indie Author Project Annual Contest is looking for the best indie-published e-book in fiction. Submit your work before May 31, 2026, for your chance to win $2,500 and other amazing prizes!
Submissions open April 1, 2026.
Each book that is submitted to the contest must be:
- Indie-Published
-
In one of the following genres:
- Mystery/Thrillers
- Romance
- Sci-Fi
- Fantasy
- Historical Fiction
- General/Contemporary Fiction
- Memoir
- Young Adult
- NEW: Children's Picture Books
- Geared toward an adult or young adult audience with the exception of Children's Picture Books
- Available in either ePUB (strongly recommended) or PDF format
- Also please note: there is no limit on publication date. All publication dates are allowed.
- Author must live in the U.S. or Canada
The winners of this contest will receive:
- $2,500 to the 1st place winner and $500 each to two runner-ups in each genre
- Honors at the 2027 Indie Author Day Reception at ALA Annual
- Opportunities to promote your book(s) at public libraries
- Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal
- Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection (ePUB format required for eligibility)
Along with the accolade of the award and its perks, being recognized by librarians creates credibility and visibility for indie authors, setting you apart in a growing marketplace of digital content and indie-published books. Find out more about how you can participate, get the Author Rubric, and read the Frequently Asked Questions on the Indie Author Project Annual Contest guidelines page.
Don’t see your genre included? Not a fiction author? Even if your books are in other genres, you can still gain exposure and new readership by submitting your e-book to the Indie Author Project. After submitting, your e-book can be shared with participating libraries throughout your state, and if your title is chosen by the Indie Author Project network of curators, it will also be available alongside other top indie reads in participating libraries all across the U.S. and Canada.
Create Your E-Book or Print-Ready Manuscript
Thanks to your Library, you can now create, edit, format, and export a professional-quality manuscript ready for e-book distribution or on-demand printing for free using Pressbooks Public, an online do-it-yourself book design and production platform.
To Get Started...
- Sign up for a free BiblioBoard account using your library card number
- Check out this YouTube playlist for free, on-demand training
- Bookmark the Pressbooks User Guide for future reference
You can start using Pressbooks Public no matter where you are in the writing process. For more info about Pressbooks, Indie Author Project and BiblioBoard, read Self-Publish E-books at the Library.
Add Your Work to the Local Author Collection
Jacksonville Florida is the home of many talented writers. To make your work accessible to the entire community, Jacksonville Public Library created the Local Author Collection. Physical items in this collection are housed at the Main Library and available through the Library's catalog.
To be considered for inclusion in the physical collection, please visit:
- Submit to the Local Author Collection (if you are donating a copy of your book)
- Market Your Book to the Library (for small presses & non-local authors)
