Important! To receive the FAPA member discount, you must be logged in to the FAPA website as a member. You will need to enter your FAPA Member ID# and expiration date when submitting your entry. To get your FAPA Member ID# and expiration date, log in to the FAPA website, click on the arrow next to your name in the upper right-hand corner, and underneath, click on profile. Once in your profile, click on Membership Card & Badges in the left-hand column to open your membership card. Take note of your Member ID# and expiration date. Then click on the Book Awards tab to read the instructions and scroll to the bottom of the guidelines to submit.
If you are not a FAPA Member and would like to receive the member discount, please join FAPA before submitting your entry. Then log in to the FAPA website, note your Member ID# and expiration date, and click the Submit button under the Book Awards tab.
Please read these guidelines carefully. Submitting an entry that is incomplete or does not meet our criteria may delay the judging process or disqualify your entry.
No refunds are available once a submission is processed.
Before you submit, compile all the required information, including the author’s address, phone number, and email, as well as email addresses of coauthor(s), publisher, illustrator, and cover designer, if applicable.
Books are submitted digitally. A complete PDF file of your book's manuscript and a PDF or JPG digital image of the full spread (including the front cover, spine, and back cover) consistent with the industry, are required.
You will also need to enter the ISBN, the Publisher (the 'Published by' name as it is officially registered with the ISBN agency, including any entity or LLC, if applicable, or your name), and the year published.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:
Each entry must have a valid, registered ISBN, as well as the year of publication printed within the book. Publication dates eligible for entering this year’s awards are 2023, 2024, or 2025.
Books must be submitted in PDF format only; no other format is acceptable.
eBooks are not accepted at this time. eBooks submitted in PDF, ePub, Mobi, html, or other ebook file formats will not be assigned to judges or reviewed.
Cover Art is required for all entries and must be submitted in PDF or Professional JPG only. It must include the full spread of your book’s press-ready art, including front, back, and spine. Photos and other image formats are not acceptable.
Previous titles entered in FAPA President’s Book Awards may not be reentered.
FAPA board members may enter books in the awards competition.
01 Adult Fiction: Action/Adventure —Books in this category are action-packed and often centered around a trip, journey, or quest, usually in an unfamiliar or dangerous environment.
02 Adult Fiction: Anthology/Collection—Books in this category include any collection of selected writings or short stories by one or more authors.
03 Adult Fiction: Folklore/Mythology—Books in this category include magical, mythical, fairy tales, supernatural creatures or beings, and/or other unusual characters, settings, or experiences that lack scientific explanation.
04 Adult Fiction: Historical—Books in this category draw the reader into a fictional experience based on real people or events of the past.
05 Adult Fiction: Mystery/Suspense—Books in this category create suspense through the unknown and are usually centered around solving mysteries or crimes through investigation. Tension and apprehension are created by unpredictability.
06 Adult Fiction: Romance—Books in this category showcase a central love story where two characters overcome adversity in an attempt to obtain their happily ever after.
07 Adult Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy—Books in this category involve other-worldly or futuristic societies, time and space travel, parallel universes, and fictional worlds.
08 Adult Fiction: Thriller/Horror—Books in this category are thrilling, scary, or terrifying, or include an action-packed plot and seemingly impossible situations. May include violence and gore.
09 Adult Fiction: General—This category is reserved for works of fiction that do not fit the description of any other Adult Fiction category in this contest and are not eligible for entry in another Adult Fiction category.
10 Arts/Entertainment—Books in this category explain topics such as visual art, film, music, and dance histories, critiques, materials, methodologies, etc.
11 Autobiography/Memoir—Books in this category recount a true story of the author's life or a portion of the author's life.
12 Biography—Books in this category chronicle a true story about another real person's life, career, or accomplishments.
13 Business/Technology—Books in this category focus on organizing and improving business operations, utilizing technology, and/or business leadership.
14 Education/Teaching—Books in this category detail pedagogy, methods, and techniques of teaching, theoretical aspects of education, or practical advice for parents, teachers, or administrators.
15 Fitness/Health—Books in this category encompass ideas, plans, or breakthroughs regarding diet/weight loss, exercise, mental health, medical advancements, or other related topics.
16 History—Books in this category describe factual accounts about events or people of the past.
17 Inspirational/Motivational/Self-Help—Books in this category include guidance, advice, and encouraging or uplifting messages or stories about self-development or relationships.
18 Political/Current Events—Books in this category address current political situations or other newsworthy events.
19 Religion/Spirituality—Books in this category pertain to religious or spiritual topics.
20 Science/Nature—Books in this category deal with any of the sciences (physics, biology, astronomy, etc.) or the natural world (animals, plants, rivers, etc.).
21 Sports/Recreation—Books in this category discuss teams, rules, techniques, or sports histories and/or individual and group activities involving competitive games or physical recreation.
22 Travel/Geography—Books in this category contain travel guides, reviews of destinations, travel hacks, or detailed information about specific places.
23 Nonfiction: General—This category is reserved for nonfiction works that do not fit the description of any other nonfiction category in this contest and are not eligible for entry in another nonfiction category.
24 Coffee Table—Books in this category are large, hard-cover books with aesthetically pleasing covers, ideal for display on a table. Contents include photographs, images, and/or stand-alone chapters. Coffee Table Books may be fiction, nonfiction, or a combination of both, and may be intended for children or adults.
25 Coloring/Activity Book—Books in this category consist of pages for adults or children to color or complete word games, puzzles, or other activities. Coloring/Activity Books may be fiction, nonfiction, or a combination of both, and may be intended for children or adults.
26 Cookbook/Home & Garden—Books in this category include recipes, gardening, or other related topics, and may be intended for children or adults.
27 How-To/Instructional—Books in this category instruct readers on how to do a craft, hobby, or other specific task, and may be intended for children or adults.
28 Humor/Comedy—Books in this category are funny or comical narratives and may include parody, irony, jokes, gags, etc. Humor/Comedy Books may be fiction, nonfiction, or a combination of both, and may be intended for children or adults.
29 Poetry—Books in this category primarily consist of poems by one or more authors. Poetry Books may be fiction, nonfiction, or a combination of both, and may be intended for children or adults.
30 Children: Pre-Reader/Picture Book—Books in this category are 50 to 1,000-word narratives told in a visual and verbal book format (pictures are necessary to propel the story) intended to be read to children ages 2–4 or read by children ages 5–8. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the illustrator.
31 Children: Beginning Reader—Books in this category are 200 to 1,500-word easy-to-read books with illustrations, simple words, and short sentences (words stand on their own, but pictures help tell the story), relevant to beginning readers ages 5–8. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the illustrator.
32 Children: Chapter Book—Books in this category are 1,500 to 15,000-word stories using language and content relevant to readers anywhere in the age range of 6–12 (for example, may be more appropriate for ages 6–8 or 9–12) and divided into short chapters. May contain illustrations to enhance the story. May be fiction or nonfiction.
33 Middle Grades: Fiction—Books in this category are 15,000 to 50,000-word fictional stories including age-appropriate, imaginary content and characters relevant to readers ages 9–12. May be divided into longer chapters or sections and/or include some illustrations to engage or entertain the reader.
34 Middle Grades: Nonfiction—Books in this category present real-world facts and information relevant to readers ages 9–12. May contain illustrations or photographs that help to explain concepts.
35 Young Adult: Fiction—Books in this category include any Young Adult fictional story, including sci-fi/fantasy, romance, historical fiction, etc., relevant to readers ages 13–18.
36 Young Adult: Non-Fiction—Books in this category are true stories relevant to readers ages 13–18.
This is the cover design category for any genre of children's books. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the cover designer.
This is the cover design category for any genre of Middle Grades books. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the cover designer.
This is the cover design category for any Young Adult book genre. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the cover designer.
This is the cover design category for any Adult book genre. Winning medals will be awarded to the author and the cover designer.