Contests 💵 £2,600

Rubery Book Award

Rubery Book Award

📅 31 Mar 2026 🌐 Online 🏷️ Paid
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📌 About the Event

The Rubery Book Award is a highly respected, ethical, and prestigious international prize seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors, and small presses. It aims to level the playing field by judging works purely on execution, originality, and impact, regardless of the marketing budget behind them. By entering, you aren’t just joining a contest; you are submitting your work to a panel of expert readers and judges who specialize in your specific genre from poetry and children’s literature to gritty thrillers and deep dive non fiction.

ℹ️ Event Details

  • Category: Arts and Culture / Language and Humanities / Academic
  • Organizer: Rubery Book Award
  • Resident Judge: Dr. Paul McDonald (Author and Academic)
  • Eligibility: Books must be self-published or published by an independent press (no “Big 5” traditional publishers).
  • Fest Type: Annual Award
  • Edition: 16th Year (Founded in 2010)
  • Effort Level: Medium (Requires sending a physical copy or eBook)
  • Submission Type: Online Form + One copy of the book (Print or eBook)

📅 Important Dates

  • Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Postmarked by this date)
  • Results or Winners Announced: July 2026
  • Mode: Hybrid (Online entry; Physical/Digital book submission)
  • Venue: Virtual

🏆 Highlights and Prize Details

  • Prize Pool: Approx. £2,600 (~$3,600 USD)
  • Book of the Year: £2,000 (Approx. $2,760 USD)
  • Category Winners: £200 each (Across various categories like Fiction, Poetry, YA, etc.)
  • Certificates & Awards: Every winner receives a glass plaque and a professional write up/review.

🎯 What You Will Do

  • Classify your work: The award pairs your book with a reader who has a specialist interest in your genre (Fiction, Non fiction, Poetry, etc.).
  • Submit your entry: Fill out the online form and pay the fee corresponding to your country.
  • Send your book: Provide one copy of your book. If sending a physical copy from abroad, ensure custom forms are marked correctly to avoid returns.
  • Ebook Option: If you cannot send a physical book, you can upload a PDF, Word, or ePub file via the entry form.

📦 How to Register

  • Check the Fee: UK (£45), USA ($70), Europe (€60), Canada ($90), India/International ($70 USD).
  • Fill the Form: Complete the online registration on the Rubery Book Award official site.
  • Payment: Pay via PayPal or credit card through the portal.
  • Shipping: Post your book to the UK address provided in the confirmation (do not use “Signed For” services as they delay processing).