Nominate a Book
Nominations for the 2026 BookTok Indie Author Awards closed on August 31, 2026. Finalist voting is open October 2 – November 13, 2026. Vote for the finalists.
The eligibility information below is kept for reference.
Indie Eligibility Overview
What qualifies as an Indie Author or Publisher?
An indie author or publisher operates independently without a contract from a large traditional publishing house. This includes self-published authors and small independent presses.
- Self-published via KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital
- Published through small independent presses
- Authors retaining production and distribution control
- Independently funded publication
What does NOT qualify as Indie?
Books published under large traditional publishing houses are not eligible. This includes imprints owned by major publishers.
- Penguin Random House
- HarperCollins
- Simon & Schuster
- Hachette Book Group
- Macmillan
Not sure if a book qualifies?
Check the publisher listed on the book’s retailer product page.
Before You Nominate
One nomination per category
Nominate a book only once per category. Duplicate nominations may be removed to keep results fair and accurate.
If you are unsure which category fits best, choose the closest match. Final category placement may be adjusted during review.
Indie titles only
Traditional publishing is not eligible for these awards. If the publisher listed is a major house or one of its imprints, please do not nominate it.
Quick check: look at the “Publisher” field on the retailer listing. If it is a major publisher, it is not eligible.
Publication window applies
Nominated books must be first published within the eligibility window for the 2026 awards season.
Eligible publication dates:
May 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026
Need full eligibility details?
Review complete indie definitions, publication windows, and nomination guidelines.
Nominations are closed for 2026
Thank you to everyone who nominated a book this year. Show your support by voting in the Finalist Round.