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- The contest is open to published ACFW members in good standing. An author can join ACFW at the time of entry by filling out a membership application and submitting the application along with the membership dues.
- Books must be written from a Christian worldview in any genre, and the publisher must: 1) not offer subsidy contracts in any form, 2) offer advances, AND 3) be a royalty-paying publisher.
- All contest entry information and appropriate fees must be received by the contest coordinator no later than March 31, 2009. Failure to meet the appropriate deadline shall result in disqualification, and the entry fee shall be forfeited. The author is responsible to make sure all materials (books, fees, and application) are submitted on time to the contest coordinator.
- All deadlines are final.
- Fee of $35.00 per title entered must be paid online via PayPal, credit card, money order, or check (online payments made through the ACFW website www.acfw.com/boty.shtml). If entering a title as both Debut Author and a genre category, this is considered two entries and two fees are required (for a total of $70 for that title).
- The author shall select the appropriate category for entering the work. However, the work shall be disqualified if the word count does not match the category requirement (see "Categories" below for established word count requirements).
- No single entry shall be entered in more than one category (with the exception of the Debut Author category, in which case the book may be entered in BOTH Debut Author and the entry's genre category).
- There is no limit to the number of eligible books an author may enter in each category.
- In any category, if fewer than seven (7) entries are received, the category shall be dissolved and the entry/entries added to the General Fiction category and judged therein. Exceptions:
- If fewer than seven (7) entries are received in the Short Contemporary Suspense category, the category will dissolve, and these shall be entered into the Short Contemporary category of the contest and judged therein.
- If fewer than seven (7) entries are received for the Mystery category, this category will dissolve, and these shall be entered into the Suspense category of the contest and judged therein.
- If fewer than seven (7) entries are received in either the Long Contemporary or the Long Contemporary Romance categories, the two categories will be combined.
- Books entered shall not be returned.
- Entrant shall understand and agree that all scores are final once returned from the judge and entered into the database. Scores are assessed by individual judges who score according to an established guideline/score sheet. There will be no discrepancy judging or altering of scores submitted (unless there has been a computational error in determining the final score). Score cards will not be returned to the entrant.
- Entry must be a work of original fictional narrative prose that is offered for sale to the general public through print media. The author must not participate financially in the production or distribution of the work.
- Entry must have an original copyright date (printed on copyright page) between January 2008 and December 2008.
- Books must be written from a Christian worldview in any genre, and the publisher must: 1) not offer subsidy contracts in any form, 2) offer advances, AND 3) be a royalty-paying publisher.
- Entry may NOT have previously been entered in the Book of the Year contest.
- Entry must be an English-language edition.
- Electronic and audio books may not be entered.
- THREE copies of the book must be submitted (unless entrant is a first-time author and eligible for the Debut Author category, then SIX are needed).
- All entrants are required to sign the Contestant's Agreement located on the entry form indicating their acceptance of terms.
- Contemporary Novella (between 15K and 35K)
- Debut Author (at least 50k)
- General Fiction
- Historical Novella (between 15K and 35K)
- Lits (includes chick-lit, mom-lit, lady-lit, lad-lit, etc.)
- Long Contemporary (70K+)
- Long Contemporary Romance (70K+)
- Long Historical (including all sub-genres)
- Mystery (judged in Suspense if fewer than 7 entries)
- Short Contemporary (Includes series/category, 45K-65K)
- Short Contemporary Suspense (Includes series/category & cozies, 45K-65K)
- Short Historical (45K-65K)
- Speculative (includes science fiction, fantasy, allegory, etc.)
- Suspense (includes thriller and romantic suspense,**excluding series/category suspense unless series word count exceeds 65K**)
- Women's Fiction
- Young Adult
- January 19, 2009 - Contest officially opens.
- March 31, 2009 - ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED (not post-marked) by the contest coordinator. Entries must have an entry form, entry fee, and three copies (or six if entering in the Debut Author category) of the entered book.
- April 15, 2009 - Books sent to judges.
- July 15, 2009 - Score cards due back to contest coordinator.
- August 01, 2009 - Finalists Announced. Score cards will not be returned to the entrant.
- September 2009 - Winners announced at the ACFW Conference Denver, CO.
- Winner in each category receives a plaque.
- Editors of all winning entries receive a certificate.
Click here to view the Book of the Year Frequently Asked Questions.
Payment can be made via PayPal, Credit Cart, Bank Account, or check.
Click here to make a payment.
E-mail Coordinator Ronie Kendig at boty@acfw.com.
Selections for Book of the Year are judged by ACFW members in each of the categories listed below and awarded in the fall at a ceremony during our Annual Conference.
BOTY TEMPLATE 5
| | A Passion Most Pure | Julie Lessman |
| | Sweet Caroline | Rachel Hauck |
| | Controlling Interest | Elizabeth White |
| | Symphony of Secrets | Sharon Hinck |
| | My Heart Remembers and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires | Kim Vogel Sawyer and Cathy Gohlke |
| | For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls | Nancy Mehl |
| | Stuck on You in A Connecticut Christmas anthology | Rhonda Gibson |
| | Broken Lullaby | Pamela Tracy |
| | Family Treasures | Kathryn Springer |
| | Family of the Heart | Dorothy Clark |
| | The Restorer’s Journey | Sharon Hinck |
| | Fossil Hunter | John B. Olson |
| | The Shape of Mercy | Susan Meissner |
| | The Big Picture | Jenny B. Jones |
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