GUIDELINES

Why are the FIRE & Embers Book Awards Different?

The FIRE & Embers Book Awards elevate winners by posting all the Gold Medal Winners from the Categories in the FIRE Award and the Gold Medal Winners from the Embers Award online for an Internet Vote that runs for two weeks in December.

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We believe that if a book can pass muster to the point that it becomes an award winner it deserves to be showcased and marketed as vigorously as the Grand Prize Winner that gets the big prize money. During the Online Internet Voting Period, all of the Gold Medal Winners will also be available for purchase. Links will be provided where the books can be purchased giving voters the opportunity to purchase books on the spot. This point-of-purchase approach will help entry winners take advantage of the tremendous amount of traffic and awareness the Online Internet Vote will be generating during the holiday buying season.

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What is the Judging Process Like?

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Judges will select a Gold Medal Winner in each category including the Design Award Categories listed. 

Each entry must be available for sale as both a PRINTED book and an eBook no later than December 31, 2024. Although the FIRE & Embers Book Awards are open globally, the book must be published in the English language.

After you submit the Entry Form you will receive an email with instructions on how to send the hard and digital copies for evaluation.  Once we receive your package with the hard copy of the book (with the Entry Form enclosed inside the front cover), you will receive an email letting you know we have received your submission. ONLY the person entering the award competition will received the email notification.

One judge will score your book content including story, writing style, punctuation, etc. on a Judge’s Evaluation Form. If the score on the content is high enough another ebook copy may be needed to send to a second judge. More ebook copies may be requested via email depending on how high up in the elimination process your title goes.  

A second judge will independently score your book on its professionalism, graphic design, print quality, and adherence to publishing standards.

All Gold Medal Winners from both the FIRE & Embers Book Awards will be put online for an Internet Vote to start December 15, 2024 and end December 30, 2024. The Grand Prize Winner of both the FIRE & Embers Awards will be announced January 7, 2025.

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Once the Online Internet Vote is completed every entry will receive both its Evaluation Forms via email. This is done in hopes of giving you direction to make you a better author and/or publisher for future projects.

Is Your Book Eligible?

Your book project is eligible for inclusion in The FIRE Book Awards if it holds a copyright date for the year 2024. All books published with a 2019 to 2023 copyright date are also eligible for the Embers Book Awards. Your entry must be independently published* by one of the following: 

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• Independent press

• Small press

• Hybrid press

• Self-published author

• University press

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*If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us at admin@FIREBookAwards.com. Please put "Question About Publisher" in the subject line.

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Your book must also adhere to these rules and guidelines listed below:

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• English language books ONLY

• Only books for sale before December 31, 2024

• Project must include PRINTED books

• eBook ONLY projects ARE NOT ELIGIBLE

• Books must be in hard copy as well as ebook format

• Fees payable in US Dollars only

• NO ARCs or Galleys (ONLY PRINTED books are eligible)

• Must be 18 years of age to enter.

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Also, please check out the Terms and Conditions as well as the Frequently Asked Questions for more specifics before completing the entry form for the competition. If you have any questions about eligibility, please don't hesitate to email us.

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When Will the Winners Be Announced?

The Gold Medal Winners of the FIRE Book Awards, and a Gold Medal Winners of the Embers Book Awards will be announced December 7, 2024. This will give the author/publisher time to utilize the winning of the award in their marketing awareness before the end of the year, and help with sales for the all-important holiday gift season. 

Then in the middle of December, for a 2-week period starting midnight December 15, 2024 through December 30, 2024, all of the Gold Award Winners will be posted  for an Online Internet Vote where the authors and publishers will solicit votes for their book. The FIRE Book Award Winner of the Online Internet Vote will receive $1,500 Grand Prize money for their marketing and literary efforts. The Embers Book Award Winner will receive $250 Grand Prize money for their efforts. 

The Grand Prize Winners from the Online Internet Vote Will Be Announced January 7, 2025

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What Do the Winners Receive?

1. Only the Gold Medal Winners will be included in the Online Internet Vote to pick the 2 Grand Prize Winners.

2. Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 FIRE Book Award will receive $1,500 Grand Prize Money.

3. Grand Prize Winner of the 2019-2023 Embers Book Award will receive $250 Grand Prize Money*.

4. All Gold Medal Winners will have a link available during the Internet Vote where their books can be purchased.

5. A Generic Press Release to use in marketing and PR endeavors.

6. All Entries whether or not they are Gold Medal Winners will receive an ebook copy of the "Revised 2025 4th Edition" of Book Promotion Directory of Blogs, Podcasts & Promoters to  utilize in their marketing efforts. 

7. Digital Sticker to place on both the paperback and ebook covers to utilize in their marketing.

8. 50 Foil Stickers to place on books which are sold at the back of the room**

9. Access to Top Rated "Author Talk Podcast" to promote their book.

10. Access to both of the Judge's Evaluation Forms in January of 2025***.

*Only one Grand Prize for the 2019-2023 Embers Book Award will be given.

**Additional stickers are available at a nominal cost.

***All entries will receive access to the Judge's Evaluation Forms toward the end of January 2025.

What Are the Categories?

This link will take you to the categories and additional design awards. While the entries for specific categories/genres are chosen by evaluation scores, the winners in the additional design awards will be chosen by the competition personnel. 

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