IPPY AWARD CATEGORIES

Independent Publisher Book Awards are awarded each year in general, regional, and ebook categories. Ebook files can be sent for any entry in all three categories.

All entries, regardless of categories chosen, are automatically considered for special "Outstanding" medals - view last year's Outstanding medalists here. 

GENERAL CATEGORIES

  1. Fine Art
  2. Performing Arts (Music/Dance/Cinema/Theater)
  3. Photography
  4. Architecture
  5. Coffee Table Books
  6. Popular Fiction
  7. Literary Fiction
  8. Short Story Fiction
  9. Poetry - Standard
  10. Poetry - Specialty
  11. Anthologies
  12. Juvenile Fiction
  13. Young Adult Fiction - General
  14. Young Adult Fiction - Fantasy
  15. Fantasy 
  16. Science Fiction
  17. LGBTQ+ Fiction
  18. Erotica
  19. Historical Fiction
  20. Military/Wartime Fiction
  21. Horror
  22. Multicultural Fiction
  23. Multicultural Fiction – Juv-Young Adult
  24. Mystery
  25. Suspense/Thriller
  26. Religious Fiction
  27. Romance
  28. Novella/Short Fiction
  29. Visionary/New Age Fiction
  30. True Crime
  31. Graphic Novel/Drawn Book
  32. Humor
  33. Children’s Picture Books (7 & Under)
  34. Children’s Picture Books (All Ages)
  35. Children’s Interactive
  36. Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction
  37. Multicultural Non-Fiction - Juv-Young Adult
  38. Multicultural Non-Fiction - Adult
  39. Essay
  40. Creative Non-Fiction
  41. Autobiography/Memoir I (Celebrity/Political/Romance)
  42. Autobiography/Memoir II (Coming of Age/Family Legacy)
  43. Autobiography/Memoir III (Personal Struggle/Health Issues)
  44. Biography
  45. Aging/Death & Dying
  46. Animals/Pets
  47. Business/Career/Sales
  48. Cookbooks- General
  49. Cookbooks - Specialty
  50. Current Events I (Political/Economic/Foreign Affairs)
  51. Current Events II (Social Issues/Humanitarian)
  52. Education I (Workbook/Resources)
  53. Education II (Commentary/Theory)
  54. Nature
  55. Environment/Ecology
  56. Finance/Investment/Economics
  57. LGBTQ+ Non-Fiction
  58. Gift/Specialty/Journal
  59. Holiday
  60. Health/Medicine
  61. History (U.S.)
  62. History (World)
  63. History (Oversized/Coffee Table)
  64. Inspirational/Spiritual
  65. New Age / Mind-Body-Spirit
  66. Parenting
  67. Popular Culture
  68. Psychology/Mental Health
  69. Sports/Fitness/Recreation
  70. Reference
  71. Religion (Eastern/Western)
  72. Science
  73. Self Help
  74. Sexuality/Relationships
  75. Transportation (Auto/Aviation/Railroad)
  76. Travel – Essay
  77. Travel – Guidebook
  78. Women's Issues
  79. Writing/Publishing
  80. Book/Author/Publisher Website (note: Please enter website as a separate "Book Title")
  81. Cover Design – Fiction
  82. Cover Design – Non-Fiction
  83. Cover Design - Non-Fiction Oversize
  84. Best First Book - Fiction
  85. Best First Book - Juv/YA
  86. Best First Book - Non-Fiction
  87. Book Series - Fiction
    • (note: Book Series category submissions require at least two volumes, with one volume's copyright/release date falling within the 2021-2023 copyright time frame. Send all volumes for judging but pay just one fee.)
  88. Book Series - Non-Fiction
    • (note: Book Series category submissions require at least two volumes, with one volume's copyright/release date falling within the 2021-2023 copyright time frame. Send all volumes for judging but pay just one fee.)
  89. Audiobook - Fiction*
  90. Audiobook - Non-Fiction*
  91. Audiobook - N-F - Personal
  92. Audiobook - N-F - Informational

 

*Please send Audiobook entries as gifts from your chosen platform (e.g. Audible, Libro, Kobo).  Send a gift link to us at digital @ jenkinsgroupinc.com. Please do not send actual files!

REGIONAL CATEGORIES

(Awards for “Best Fiction” and “Best Non-Fiction” in each region)

Northeast – ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY
Mid-Atlantic – PA, WV, VA, DE, MD, DC, NJ
Southeast – KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN
South – MS, LA, AR, TX, AL
Great Lakes – OH, MI, MN, IN, IL, WI
Plains – IA, MO, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND
West-Mountain – MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ, ID, NV
West-Pacific – CA, OR, WA, HI, AK
Canada–East – ON, QB, NF, NB, NS, PE, Nunavut
Canada-West – BC, AB, SK, MB, NW Territories, Yukon
Australia/New Zealand-Aotearoa/Pacific Rim
Europe

EBOOK CATEGORIES

E1.   Best Adult Fiction Ebook

E2.   Best Romance/Erotica Ebook

E3.   Best Mystery/Thriller Ebook

E4.   Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Ebook

E5.   Best Adult Non-Fiction Personal Ebook

E6.   Best Adult Non-Fiction Informational Ebook

E7.   Best Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction Ebook

E8.   Best Children’s Illustrated Ebook

E9.   Best Regional Ebook – Fiction

E10. Best Regional Ebook – Non-Fiction