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.
This extraordinary marketing opportunity allows publishers to spotlight their deserving regional titles and offers a ready-to-use marketing program for indie bookstores to sell more books!
This extraordinary marketing opportunity allows publishers to spotlight their deserving regional titles and offers a ready-to-use marketing program for indie bookstores to sell more books!
BOOK AWARDS CATEGORIES
Adult Fiction
Adult Biography/Memoir
Debut Fiction
Young Adult (ages 13+)
Adult Poetry
Young Readers (ages 7-12)
Adult Nonfiction
Picture Books
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES SUPPORT NOMINATED TITLES
- Committees of 10-15 booksellers carefully read and assess each submission in their category to determine the six titles for each shortlist.
- Booksellers, volunteer for a reading committee!
- Stores across the MPIBA region use the longlist to discover new regional titles to add to their shelves.
- MPIBA runs a display contest to feature shortlist titles and winners.
- Member bookstores promote the nominated titles, the shortlists, the public vote, and the winning books from March through June (and beyond)!
MPIBA promotes all submissions on SOCIAL MEDIA AND readingthewest.com
- Longlist announcement to the Reading the West email list, comprised of more than 10,000 previous voters.
- Shortlist titles promoted to 100,000+ consumers via Shelf Awareness for Readers.
- Promotion on readingthewest.com and via @readingthewest Instagram and Facebook.
- Ongoing shortlist promotion during the public voting in May/June
AWARDS TIMELINE:
October - January
Nominations Open
May
Public voting at readingthewest.com
February
Long-list Announced
June
Winners Announced
April
Short-list Announced
Summer
Bookstore Display Contest