Minnesota libraries are looking for the state's best self-published books in adult fiction and young adult fiction through the Minnesota Author Project.
The 2018 contest kicked off on April 1, and submissions will be accepted through June 30. A panel of Minnesota librarians, educators, and booksellers will judge the submissions. The winners in each category of the contest will receive:
- A $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by the Minnesota Library Foundation and BiblioLabs.
- A write-up in the December print edition of Library Journal.
- Recognition at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference in Seattle.
- Inclusion in Indie Minnesota, a statewide digital collection of local independent authors, and exposure through Popup Picks, a mobile media curation service.
- The chance to promote your book through Minnesota's public libraries.
Data from 2016 showed that 20 percent of the book market is composed of indie authors. The creation of the Minnesota Author Project combined with MN Writes MN Reads (a suite of resources for writers to use to self-publish their work) gives libraries a chance to encourage new work from this growing group.
Each book submitted to the contest must be:
- Self-published
- In the genre of young adult fiction or adult fiction
- Written by a Minnesota resident
- Available in either PDF or ePUB format
Submit your work by visiting the Minnesota Author Project website (ePUB or PDF format required). Submissions are due by June 30. If your work is not currently published in an ePUB or PDF format, you can check out free self-publishing resources through MN Writes MN Reads.
The contest is being organized by MN Writes MN Reads in partnership with Library Journal and the Minnesota Library Foundation.