The Reading the West Book Awards honor the best fiction, non-fiction, and illustrated books for adults and children set in one of the MPIBA member states, or created by an author or artist living in the region. The awards celebrate the spirit of the west and the rich variety of writing in and about our region and reflect the extraordinary diversity of our reading public.
Each year, publishers submit books with a regional connection for consideration by selection committees comprised of volunteer booksellers from across the region. These committees read and review the longlist and curate shortlists in each category. The public – booksellers and their customers – vote on the top pick in each category in May. Winners are announced via streaming event in early June.
Important dates for 2023
January 13
Nominations for the 33rd Annual Awards close.
February 13
The longlist of nominated titles announced.
April 10
Deadline to sign up for Shortlist mini-website & eblast announcement.
May 1
Shortlists announced & public voting begins (through 5/31).
June 13
Winners announced.
The Book Awards
The 33rd Annual Reading the West Book Awards will be celebrated in 2023. Thanks to all of the committee volunteers, the booksellers who suggested titles to be nominated and the publishers for nominating them! Your support and participation makes this program possible. Thank you.
You can see all the previous winners at readingthewest.com. While you’re there, you can confirm your bookstore listing is accurate and up-to-date!
You can volunteer to be on a reading committee or suggest any books publish shed in 2022 to be considered using the forms below.
33rd Annual Book Awards - Shortlists
The finalists have been chosen! You (and your customers) are invited to vote for your favorite books that made the cut. Winners will be announced in an online ceremony on June 13 at readingthewest.com.
Add your name to our roster of potential readers for next year’s reading committees and help us choose the Reading the West shortlists. Let us know that you’re interested and we’ll be in touch in the fall with more details.
You are invited to add books to this list at any time. To be considered for the 34th Annual Award, the book must be originally published in 2023 by an author living in the region – OR – the subject matter must be specifically regional to one of the fourteen Association member states.
The Marketing Program
Promote the Awards & Sell More Books
The Reading the West Book Awards offer easy marketing sales points for your store to use from February to June. To keep it simple and easy for you and your team, we’ve created free marketing tools to use in your shop, your email newsletter, and on social media.
Subscribe to the Bookstore Bulletin for weekly reminders about the Reading the West schedule.
Promote the Nominees!
The long list of nominated books is available now. Click on the buttons above to see the nominees in each award category. Promote the nominees, especially those you’re most excited about, to your customers in-store and on-line
- Build a display with any of the nominated titles you have in your store now.
- Use the awards as content for your newsletter or on social media.
- You can link to readingthewest.com to present the complete list of nominations, or add them to your website, or Bookshop.org page.
- Let your customers know that they’ll have a chance to vote for the shortlist in May!
Announce the Shortlists & Promote Voting
- Powered by our friends at Shelf Awareness, it will be branded for your store, and have BUY buttons linking directly to your e-commerce (see example to left).
- A store-branded eblast promoting the shopping page and public voting will go to your customer email list on (insert date).
- Promote the mini-shopping page via your own social media, website, and email using our premade marketing materials (include link).
If you’ve already signed up for MPIBA marketing programs, you’re all set! New to Shelf Awareness emails? All you need is your email list and logo.
WIN ONE OF FIVE $50 VISA GIFT CARDS WHEN YOU ENTER THE DISPLAY CONTEST. POST A PICTURE OF YOUR READING THE WEST DISPLAY TO INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK AND TAG @READINGTHEWEST. EACH POST IS AN ENTRY.
Celebrate the Winners
- Stay tuned for information on a virtual awards presentation which you’ll be able to share with customers.
- Use our digital and downloadable marketing materials for your in-store displays and social media promotions.
- Keep tagging us so you’ll be entered in the Display Contest!