Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about submissions, nominations, voting, eligibility, and participation in the BookTok Indie Author Awards.
For detailed policies, please review the Rules & Eligibility page.
General Questions
The BookTok Indie Author Awards celebrate independently published authors and books through a fully reader-driven voting process focused on community recognition and visibility.
No. The awards are independently organized and are not affiliated with TikTok, BookTok, or any professional publishing organization.
Awards are recognition-based. Winners receive community recognition, promotional visibility, and digital award acknowledgments.
Submission Questions
Submissions must be made by the author or publisher of record.
Only one work may be submitted per category by the same author.
Books must have been first published between:
May 1, 2025 — April 30, 2026
Nomination Questions
Readers may nominate indie titles for reader-driven categories only.
Authors should use the submission form rather than the nomination form.
No. Only independently published authors and small press titles are eligible.
Voting Questions
Voting occurs in two rounds — Round 1 and Finalist Voting — with winners determined by public vote totals.
Yes. No purchase or payment is required to vote.
Yes. Votes are reviewed to ensure fairness and authenticity.
Eligibility Questions
An indie author publishes independently without a contract from a major traditional publishing house.
Yes, provided they operate independently and do not function as traditional publishing imprints.
AI may assist editing or proofreading, but AI-generated narrative writing is not eligible.
Still have questions?
If your question isn’t covered here, please contact the awards team directly.