Affordable Book Awards for Independent Authors
Get your book assessed by a real judge, receive your result within 28 days and, if your book wins an award, access a certificate and promotional badges to help showcase your achievement.
Entries are open all year — most authors hear back within 28 days.
Currently 50% off — usually £60.
- Result within 28 days
- Judged by real experts
- No closing date — enter all year
- Pay securely with PayPal or card
Recent Highly Recommended winner
Fighting for Brianna
Harry Farley
What do I get if I win an award?
We think we’re the best value book promotion package available, if you win an award you get:
- 1
Free promotion on Vernibooks.com, get your book in front of thousands of readers!
- 2
Lifetime access to authorly.me's 'Pro' account, to create the perfect author page to send to readers.
- 3
A book badge that you can download anytime and use where ever you like, especially on your book cover.
- 4
A personalised certificate to show your award.
- 5
Access to your award winners page with social media content and free promotion opportunities.
- 6
The chance to be in a featured interview on Verni Books News — share your story in a permanent Author Spotlight article.
A book awards for authors, by authors.
Since our launch in August 2025, hundreds of authors have experienced the low cost promotion benefits of the Open Book Awards, with entries from over 20 countries.
Aug 2025
Launched
Hundreds
Of authors entered
20+
Countries
How does it work?
Enter your book
Upload your book cover, a sample of the book, and your details. One short form, that's the whole thing.
Our experts judge it
Our panel of industry experts judges your book against our published criteria. No algorithms, no shortlists.
You get your result
Within 28 days you are notified of the result, with a personalised certificate and your award badges.
- Result within 28 days
- Judged by real experts
- No closing date — enter all year
- Pay securely with PayPal or card
Recently recognised
See all winnersFighting for Brianna
Harry Farley
Highly Recommended
One Fall
Joe Maldonado
Highly Recommended
Free to be me
J L Givens
Highly Recommended
THE ONE
Pandora Fraley
Highly Recommended
The Housekeeper of Worthley Hall
Beverley Bowry
Five Star
THE LUCKIEST DEAD MAN ALIVE
Richard Green
Five Star
You've written a book, you've done the hard work.
This is the book awards made by authors, for authors. A book attached to an award gains recognition, and can form a huge part of a marketing campaign.
We were founded by a group of independent authors who know exactly what goes into launching a book, especially an independently published one. We also know how expensive most book competitions are, and how small the chances of winning can be.
Our awards are different. There is no closing date, and your book isn't judged against other books. It is judged against our published criteria — cover design, marketability, writing, plot and more.
We use industry experts to judge against that criteria, which means we run the awards all year round and you get a result within 28 days. If you win, you can use it as part of your marketing campaign straight away.
What would I get if I win an award?
- 1Instant recognition for your book.
- 2A personalised certificate with your congratulations email.
- 3Exclusive access to your awards page to download your award badge and social media content.
- 4We promote your book on our social media.
- 5Display your award on your book for life.
Your book will be promoted on vernibooks.com
in the price of book entry!
If your book wins an award it’ll automatically be added to vernibooks.com, our customer facing website, alongside the world’s biggest bestsellers.
Visit vernibooks.comCheck out the site and see where your book could appear, all included in the price of entry! As soon as you enter your book will appear in ‘Under consideration’ giving you exposure as soon as you submit your book!
Plus lifetime ‘Pro’ access on authorly.me
Every winning author receives lifetime ‘Pro’ access to their own authorly.me page, with all options available. Showcase your books, buy links and profile in one beautiful author page to share with readers.
Visit authorly.meAuthor Spotlight
The chance to be in a featured interview on Verni Books News
Winning authors may be invited to tell their story in a featured Author Spotlight interview. Your article is published on Verni Books News with your cover and buy links, and keeps its own permanent page you can share with readers forever.
Read Verni Books News
What authors say
“I nearly didn't enter. Self-doubt is a loud voice. But the award I won, I printed it out and pinned it above my desk. Then the email arrived and I actually cried into my tea. Best money I've ever spent on my writing.”
“The judges read it like it mattered, and the sticker on my cover has sold more copies than I could ever imagine.”
“Lovely, warm, professional from start to finish. Clear entry process, quick replies, and a results email that felt like a real celebration. I've recommended it to everyone in my writing group, and two of them have already entered.”
“Indie authors rarely get to feel like the main event. The Open Book Awards made me feel like one. The result was honest, and my winner's badge has done more for my sales page than any ad I've run.”
What awards could I win?
Five awards, each with its own badge and certificate. Your judge decides which one your book has earned.
Five Star
Given to books that score highly across each of our categories.
Readers Choice
Given to books that read like a complete package for readers.
Highly Recommended
Highly Recommended is exactly that: books we would highly recommend to readers.
Great Story
Given to books with highly developed plot lines and exciting, detailed pages.
One to Watch
Given to books we think are great stories that readers should find.
The criteria
We are very open about how books are judged. Scores across these categories lead to consideration for the different awards. Each category is scored out of 10.
1Writing & Style
0–10- —Clarity, flow and readability
- —Consistency of tone and voice
- —Grammar, punctuation and polish
2Storytelling / Structure
0–10- —Strength of plot, pacing or overall structure
- —Originality and creativity
- —Ability to hold reader engagement
3Characters / People
0–10- —Depth and development of characters
- —Believability and relatability
- —Dialogue and authenticity of voices
4Themes & Ideas
0–10- —Depth of message or subject matter
- —Relevance and resonance with readers
- —Freshness of perspective
5Emotional Impact
0–10- —Does the book move, inspire, entertain or provoke thought?
- —Lasting impression
6Presentation
0–10- —Professional quality of cover design
- —Formatting, layout, readability
- —Appropriateness for target audience
7Commercial Appeal
0–10- —Marketability and genre fit
- —Clear audience and reach potential
- —Blurb, title and hook strength
8Originality
0–10- —Uniqueness of concept or execution
- —Innovation in storytelling or presentation
9Book Cover
0–10- —Does the book have a good quality cover that sits right in its genre?
Can I enter?
We welcome entries from everyone — fiction and non-fiction, poetry, short stories and children's books. If you are unsure, please get in touch and we'll happily check for you.
Contact usThere are a few exceptions. We don't accept:
- ×Heavy erotica or pornographic content.
- ×Religious or doctrinal texts.
- ×Academic or technical textbooks too specialised for general readers.
- ×Pamphlets or very short works.
- ×Low content books.
- ×Heavy horror that our readers would find overly disturbing.
Check out our recent winners
See every book we have recognised, and the awards they were given.
Become an award winning author
Join hundreds of authors who have already entered their book. Entry is £30, one book per entry, and you'll have your result within 28 days.