Gain industry recognition with a Foreword INDIES Book Award.

For 25 years, the prestigious Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards has been opening doors for independent and university press books. From emerging indie-published authors to established presses, winners gain invaluable exposure to our audience of 30,000+ librarians, booksellers, and industry professionals worldwide.

We celebrate extraordinary books that rise above the ordinary - giving outstanding independent titles the recognition and visibility they deserve.

  • “I think getting the book in the hands of people who will not only read it, but who are also in a position to purchase, order, and/or recommend it is a good use of $100 bucks, irrespective of outcome.”

    A.A.

  • “Since my novel was nominated as a finalist in Foreword Reviews’s INDIES Book of the Year Award and after it won Silver in the Thriller/Suspense category, many other companies have recognized it. Your company has also helped me gain exposure in the press. From online sites to mainstream media outlets, there have been several articles written about this book—Walmart is even carrying it online now! I have a few movie producers who are interested in the story—so I just finished writing the screenplay.”

    D.A.

  • “I have the gold Finalist seal on every copy of [my novel]. Many readers have commented that seeing that made a difference to the way they first approached purchasing it. Foreword Reviews’s name is well-established and respected.”-P.S.

    P.S.

  • "The gold Finalist seal from Foreword on the front of my book has really helped sales (7500 copies). My rank on Amazon is still high (about 104,000). "

    K.P.

  • "Book awards are an important way to differentiate among hundreds of thousands of books. It has certainly helped us with foreign rights. So far, his book has sold in Brazil, Poland, Taiwan, China, and Korea. And the Chinese publisher lists several of the awards right on the book cover."

    L.P.

THE JUDGING PROCESS

Expert Judges Who Buy Books for a Living

Your book will be evaluated by the very professionals you want to reach - librarians and booksellers who make millions in purchasing decisions annually. Our rigorous judging process sets the INDIES apart, putting your work directly in front of these key industry buyers.

Each finalist undergoes careful evaluation based on:

✓ Editorial excellence

✓ Professional production quality

✓ Narrative originality

✓ Genre innovation

This prestigious evaluation process helps explain why INDIES winners consistently find their way onto library and bookstore shelves nationwide. When you enter the INDIES, you're not just competing for an award - you're showcasing your book to the decision-makers who matter most.

PRIZES FOR FINALISTS AND WINNERS

Get Your Book the Recognition It Deserves

Becoming an INDIES Finalist or Winner opens doors to unprecedented exposure for your book. Here's what you'll receive:

Massive Market Reach

  • Featured placement in Foreword Reviews print magazine

  • Prominent coverage in our weekly digital newsletters to industry professional

  • Press releases to our 30,000+ industry professionals

  • Strategic promotion on our social media channels

  • Placed on the award winners shelves at the many international events attended by the Foreword Independent Press Collective

Marketing Arsenal

  • Complete INDIES winner marketing toolkit

  • Exclusive advertising discounts in Foreword Reviews

  • Professional publicity guidelines for local and national promotion

  • 500 prestigious foil seals (Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners)

Cash Prize

  • Two $1,500 cash prizes awarded annually (one each for fiction and nonfiction)

APPLICATION PROCESS

We’ve streamlined the entry process to make it as quick and simple as possible.

The entire application process is managed through our main website, and notifications are sent to your email along the way (be sure to verify your email address). Here’s the timeline you can expect, starting with registration and through the winners announcement:

  1. Register your book for the Foreword INDIES

  2. We’ll send you an email with instructions for claiming your complimentary 1-year subscription to Foreword Reviews

  3. Send two copies of your book (physical or digital) to the address on the receipt by January 15, 2025

  4. We’ll send you an email letting you know we’ve received your book

  5. Finalists will be announced in March 2025 on our website, Facebook, and Twitter

  6. Finalist seals for your book cover, a Foreword INDIES marketing toolkit, and Foreword-exclusive advertising opportunities for finalists will immediately become available to finalists

  7. Winners will be announced June 16, 2025 on our website, Facebook, and Twitter

  8. Gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mention seals for your book cover and Foreword-exclusive advertising opportunities for winners will immediately become available to winners

  9. Winners will be sent a packet containing a winner certificate, 500 seals for your book cover, and marketing tips soon after the announcement

Submit Your Book for a Foreword INDIES Award

We’ve been in a conversation with librarians and booksellers now for over twenty years, and we’ve winnowed down our categories to fifty-six top genres from indie presses.

The fee is $119 per entry, and $99 for additional categories. If your 2024 book is published, why not enter today?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept advance reading copies or final copies?

We accept both ARCs and final copies, but final copies are preferred and ARCs will be judged as if they were final copies.

Why do I need to send two copies of my book?

Finalist books are each sent to two different judges: one librarian and one bookseller. Two copies of the book allows us to send each of the judges their own copies of each book.

Do I need to send both a physical copy and an eBook?

No, and we prefer that you only send two physical copies or an eBook, not both.

What books are eligible to compete?

Any independently published book—including those from self-published authors and university presses—published in 2024, and available for purchase in print or e-book formats. Revised editions of previously issued books are eligible for entry only with newly issued ISBNs. Reissued editions are not eligible for entry.

When do books need to be sent to your offices?

The deadline for entries is January 15, 2025. Judging begins February 1; please ensure your books have arrived at our offices before then.

Where should I send my books?

Physical books (two copies) should be mailed to the following address accompanied by an entry form, online receipt, or order number and category:

Attn Foreword INDIES
Foreword Reviews
12935 SW Bay Shore Dr., Suite 380
Traverse City MI 49684

Ebooks are only accepted in the PDF format. The file must be downloadable and able to be shared with our judges and editors. Files under 25 MB should be emailed as an attachment. Files 25 MB and larger must be uploaded elsewhere and the link to download it should be emailed to us.

Ebooks, along with an order number, should be emailed to (you will be notified by email when we receive your entry):

ebooks+awards@forewordreviews.com

Foreword Reviews will not be held liable for the loss, damage, or return of any books submitted for awards.

How do I claim my complimentary 1-year subscription to Foreword Reviews

Once you’ve registered your books and paid, we’ll send you an email with instructions for claiming your complimentary subscription. Alternatively, you can view your available complimentary subscriptions at any time and claim through there.

For additional assistance, please email us at christopher@forewordreviews.com.