The IAN Book of the Year Awards is an annual contest run by the Independent Author Network, a promotion site for independent authors. The 2027 edition is the 13th and covers 75 fiction and non-fiction categories.
Judges (reviewers, authors, publishers and editors) read and score every entry, naming Gold, Silver and Bronze winners plus finalists in each category, and six overall Books of the Year.
Benefits & funding
- Fiction Book of the Year: Gold at least US$1,500, Silver US$750, Bronze US$500; non-fiction: Gold at least US$1,250, Silver US$750, Bronze US$500 — each with an IAN Platinum, Gold or Silver membership.
- Category winners and finalists: a digital award seal and seal stickers, no cash.
- Winners are shared on IAN’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X; cash is paid via PayPal.
Eligibility
- English-language print or eBooks on sale or preorder at Amazon, another online store or the author’s website.
- Self-published authors and small, mid-size independent and university presses may enter; international entries are accepted.
- No publication-date or word-count limit.
- The text must be human-written; AI-generated works are ineligible (spelling, grammar or research tools excepted).
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Choose 1–6 categories from the 2027 list.
- 2Submit the online entry form, uploading a PDF or ePub or shipping a print copy.
- 3Pay the PayPal invoice by 15 August 2027: US$59 for the first category, US$35 for each extra (IAN members US$49 / US$30); the fee is non-refundable.
Program timeline
1 September 2026
2027 contest opened
28 November 2026
2026 results announced
Entry deadline
15 August 2027
27 November 2027
2027 results announced