Rules & Eligibility

The BookTok Indie Author Awards exist to recognize and celebrate independently published authors and books through a reader-driven voting process.

These awards are independently organized and are not affiliated with TikTok, BookTok, or any professional author organization.

Author Submissions

Submissions for all standard author categories must be made by the author or publisher of record.

Authors and publishers are responsible for ensuring that:

• Their submission meets all eligibility requirements

• The work is entered into appropriate categories

• Publication information is accurate and verifiable

Reader Submissions

Readers may submit nominations only for explicitly designated reader-driven categories.

Reader nominations are not accepted for author-competitive categories, including but not limited to:

• Genre awards

• Craft awards

• Production awards

Eligible works must have been first published between:

May 1, 2025 — April 30, 2026

This publication window applies to all submission and nomination categories unless otherwise specified.

Revised / Re-Released Works

Reprints, rereleases, or new editions do not reset eligibility unless the work has been substantially rewritten.

To qualify as substantially rewritten, at least one of the following must apply:

• A new ISBN has been issued

• A new retail listing has been created

• Significant narrative, structural, or content revisions have been made

The awards organizer may request documentation or comparison materials if eligibility is unclear.

Failure to provide verification may result in removal from consideration.

Indie Author

An indie author is defined as an author who publishes independently without a contract from a large traditional publishing house.

This includes:

• Self-publishing via Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Kobo, Apple Books, Draft2Digital, etc.

• Direct-to-reader publishing models

Indie authors retain creative control and publishing rights to their work.

Small / Independent Press

A small or independent press is defined as a publisher that:

• Operates independently of major publishing conglomerates

• Publishes a limited catalog

• Does not require authors to relinquish full creative control

Not Eligible

The following are not considered indie:

• Imprints owned by large traditional publishers

• Hybrid arrangements functioning as traditional publishing contracts

• Titles published under major publishing houses or their subsidiaries

Eligibility determinations remain at organizer discretion.

A book may be submitted to multiple categories, provided it genuinely fits each category’s definition.

The organizer and committee reserve the right to:

• Move a submission to a more appropriate category

• Remove submissions from categories where they clearly do not apply

An author may submit only one (1) work per category.

If multiple works are submitted to the same category by the same author:

• Only the first valid submission will be considered

• All additional submissions in that category will be disqualified

This applies regardless of:

• Series vs. standalone works

• Multiple pen names under the same author

• Publisher-submitted entries on the author’s behalf

Attempts to circumvent this limit may result in removal of all submissions from the affected category.

All submissions are evaluated at the individual book level unless a category explicitly indicates series eligibility.

Examples of series-eligible categories include:

• Best Completed Indie Series

Books submitted into series categories, or series submitted into book-specific categories, may be removed or reassigned at organizer discretion.

All submissions must be made through the official awards submission form.

Required information includes:

• Book title

• Author name

• Publication date

• Selected category or categories

• Valid Amazon and/or Goodreads link

Submissions without a valid retailer or Goodreads link will be considered incomplete and may be removed.

Incomplete or ineligible submissions may be removed without notice.

Detailed, step-by-step submission instructions will be provided separately in the Submission Guidelines.

To preserve transparency and trust, the following rules apply.

Writing

AI-assisted tools used for grammar, spelling, proofreading, or light editing are permitted.

AI-generated writing where artificial intelligence substantially authors narrative content is not eligible.

If concerns arise, authors may be asked to disclose:

• Writing process details

• Draft history

• AI usage scope

Failure to respond or deliberate misrepresentation may result in disqualification.

Cover Art

AI-generated cover art is permitted only if:

• The submitter holds full commercial rights

• Usage complies with platform licensing terms

Failure to disclose AI-generated artwork when requested may result in removal.

Enforcement Note

The awards operate in good faith but reserve the right to review submissions where AI authorship is credibly questioned.

The awards recognize human creativity. AI may assist, but may not replace authorship.

The BookTok Indie Author Awards are fully reader-driven.

No judging panel selects winners.

All voting rounds are determined by public votes, subject to integrity monitoring and review safeguards.

Attempts to manipulate voting through:

• Bots

• Fake accounts

• Coordinated mass voting

May result in disqualification.

The organizer reserves the right to remove suspicious votes or affected submissions.

Authors may request removal of their work at any time by contacting the official awards email and providing:

• Book title

• Author name

Removal requests will be honored as promptly as possible.

Awards are for recognition only.

No monetary prizes or merchandise are provided.

Winners receive:

• Digital recognition

• Social promotion

• Community visibility

By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the organizer, volunteers, and affiliated individuals from claims related to participation, inclusion, or award outcomes.

The organizer reserves the right to adjust timelines, eligibility, or procedures if necessary.

Any changes will be communicated transparently and in good faith.