How to Achieve Award-Winning Status and The Christian Indie Award Winners
by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga
We should all try to become an award-winning author through entering our books in book contests. There is nothing like sitting in the audience of an award ceremony and hearing your name called. The thrill of stepping up on stage and receiving a trophy is exhilarating. But first you have to enter your book into award contests.
Tips to Become an Award-Winning Author
Nominations for the 2024 Christian Indie Awards opened April 1 for books published in 2022 and 2023 at ChristianAward.com. Use the discount code CIPA2021 to receive $10 off the contest fee. Enter your books into several contests until you win. After winning, add the award emblem to your book cover. The emblem alone increases your book sales. Also add the award-winning designation to the first line of your Amazon book description as seen here. This should boost book sales.
On social media, post about how your book won. Include photos of the event, book cover, and the award emblem. Denise Branco’s gift book, Rabbit at the Sliding Door, won over ten book awards in the past year. Denise posted each award on her social media pages. She is creating a bookmark with all the award-emblem logos on it. Now that’s marketing!
It is best to enter your book into smaller contest categories like gift, business/finance, and Christian education. Since fewer books are entered into this category, it is less competitive and easier to win. Avoid larger categories such as Christian living and memoir. I did not know this in 2018 when I entered 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydratesinto the Christian Living category of the Selah awards and won first place. I am amazed that it is still a #1 Amazon best seller today.
To summarize the tips to achieve award-winning status:
Enter your books into several contests (in smaller contest categories) until you win. After winning, add the award emblem to your book cover.Add the award-winning designation to the first line of your Amazon book description.On social media, post about how your book won. Create bookmarks with the award emblem.If you would like additional tips, check out the blog Book Marketing through Contests.
Christian Indie Award Winners
Christian Indie Publishing Association is excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Christian Indie Awards. You can find their books listed here. The Christian Indie Awards has honored indie authors and small publishers since 2008 for their contribution to Christian life. The 2023 winners in each of the twenty-one categories include:
Category
Place
Title
Author/Publisher
Anthology
1st
Keeping Christmas: Volume One
Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig, Olivia Talbott, Kathleen J. Robison, Denise L. Barela, Marguerite Martin Gray, Naomi Craig / Celebrate Lit Publishing
Bible Study
1st
Nobody Sees This You: How to Live as a Spirit in the Unseen Realm
Paul Renfroe / Paradigm Lighthouse
Bible Study
2nd
She - Volume 3: Delighting in the Examples of the Women of the Bible
Delight Thyself Design Ministries
Bible Study
3rd
Bible Briefs: God’s Will, Unraveling the Mystery
L. G. Westlake / Elk Lake Publishing
Business Finance
1st
How to Be a Great Investor: Investment Techniques for Christians
R. Richard Everett / Intelligent Design Press
Business Finance
2nd
Worship Songs and the Law
Stephen R. Cass / Songs4God.net Media
Children’s Picture Books
1st
Our God is Bigger Than That
Michelle Medlock Adams, Eva Marie Everson / End Game Press
Children’s Picture Books
2nd (Tied)
Mr. Winter
Peter Andriet / WestBow Press
Children’s Picture Books
2nd
(Tied)
Sunday Morning Chaos
Kristen Schroder / Good & True Media
Children’s Picture Books
3rd
Do Your Best, Tess
Janet Morris Grimes / Elk Lake Publishing
Children’s 8-12
1st
(Tied)
A Bellwether Christmas
Laurel Guillen / Fidelis Publishing
Children’s 8-12
1st
(Tied)
No Bones About It
Annette O'Hare / Elk Lake Publishing
Children’s 8-12
2nd
Into the Great Marinara
Nicolas C. Day / Elk Lake Publishing
Children’s 8-12
3rd
I Want a Water Buffalo for Christmas
Judy DuCharme / Ambassador International
Christian Education
1st
Voting Christian Values
Steve Feazel / Vision Word
Christian Education
2nd
Speaking for God: How to Preach and Speak with Power, Passion and Purpose
Pam Barnett / Springs of Water Publications
Christian Education
3rd
The 5 Steps to Get Your Songs Heard
Stephen Robert Cass / Songs4God.net Media
Christian Living
1st
Oh God, Why Can’t I Stop?
Jason K. Ritchie / Stellar Communications Houston
Christian Living
2nd
An Unnatural Beauty: Rediscovering the Beauty of Holiness
M. Esther Lovejoy / Cross River Media
Christian Living
3rd
Living for His Glory
Kim S. Kinney
Devotional
1st
Day-votionsⓇ with Your Faithful Father: 90 Days with the One Who Wants to Meet All Your Needs
Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Devotional
2nd
(tied)
PURSUE Jesus, OBEY Jesus, LIVE for Jesus
Ann L. Knopp / Christian Faith Publishing
Devotional
2nd
(tied)
Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown
Christine Trimpe / Redemption Press
Devotional
3rd
The Plans He Has for Me
Rose Ann Forte / Ignite Press
General Fiction
1st
Deep End of the Lake
Carol Grace Stratton / Iron Stream Media
General Fiction
2nd
Tears in a Bottle: Hearts Crying Out for Hope
Cheryl Gerou
General Fiction
3rd
Summer Up!
Tom Leihbacher / Christian Faith Publishing
Gift
1st
Rabbit at the Sliding Door
Denise Lee Branco / Strolling Hills Publishing
Historical Fiction
1st
Pericope
Jeff Keene II / Wordcrafts Press
Historical Fiction
2nd
Saint Francis: Religion of Love
Lisa Monde
Historical Fiction
3rd
Mary - Mother of Grace and Mercy
Dan Willis
Memoir / Biography
1st (tied)
Savage Marriage: Triumph over Betrayal and Sexual Addiction
Phil & Priscilla Fretwell / Savage Marriage Ministries
Memoir / Biography
1st (tied)
My Promise to Alex
Jody Hudson
Memoir / Biography
2nd
Nettles and Roses: A Story of Resilience and Redemption
Judith Elaine Hankes, Ph.D. / As the Crow Flies Publishing
Memoir / Biography
3rd
God’s Rock and Roll Army
Leslie Turner / Encourage Publishing
Mystery / Suspense
1st
Stolen Blessing
Jim Sano
Mystery / Suspense
2nd
HIDDEN HUMANITY: A Trafficking Rescue Novel
D.I. Telbat / In Season Publications
Novella
1st
You are a Bird
Breezy Van Lit / Shimmer Tree Books
Novella
2nd
Awakened
T.E. Bradford / Elk Lake Publishing
Personal Growth
1st
The Path of Loneliness: Finding and Fostering Connection to God, Self, and One Another
Dr. Mark Mayfield / NavPress
Personal Growth
2nd
Knitted Faith
Karen E Chin / CLM Publishing
Personal Growth
3rd
Grow by Design: A 60-Day Devotional to Help Unlock your God-Given Potential
Jean Mpi / Kharis Publishing
Poetry
1st
Flying Free: Poems for Pilgrim Hearts
Ruth Fanshaw / Original Text Publications
Poetry
2nd
Curtains
John Anderson / Covenant Books
Relationships / Family
1st
The 6 Pillars of Intimacy: The Secret to an Extraordinary Marriage
Alisa DiLorenzo with Tony DiLorenzo
Relationships / Family
2nd
In My Father’s Wake: How an Anxious Boy Learned to Love a Difficult Dad
Dave Gibson
Romance
1st
Night Songs
Jennifer Sienes / Celebrate Lit Publishing
Romance
2nd
The Monarch Fields
Donnah M Cole
Romance
3rd
Love Reunited
Tara Taffera / Winged Publications
Speculative
1st
Forbidden
Gina Detwiler / Vinspire Publishing
Speculative
2nd
Beneath the Deep
Andrea Chatman / Elk Lake Publishing
Theology
1st
Torahism: Are Christians Required to Keep the Law of Moses? (2nd ed.)
R. L. Solberg
Theology
2nd
After Armageddon
John Tressel / Encourage Publishing
Young Adult
1st
Collapse: The Death of Friendship
Angela D Shelton / Two Oaks Publishing
Young Adult
2nd
The Stars in April
Peggy Wirgau / Iron Stream Media
Young Adult
3rd
Legends of the Donut Shop
Terry Overton
TWEETABLEHow to Achieve Award-Winning Status and The Christian Indie Award Winners By @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson (click to tweet)
Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS: Susan’s mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ. She has her RN and MBA degrees, as well as a master’s in health science. She is a CERTIFIED HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHwith the American Association of Christian Counselors. She published five books, the Selah award winner 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, CHRISTIAN STUDY GUIDE FOR 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, HEALTHY LIVING JOURNAL, SCRIPTURE YOGAa #1 Amazon best-selling yoga book, and YOGA FOR BEGINNERSwhich ranked #3. She published two sets of Christian Yoga Card Decks and two Christian Yoga DVDs that are available at CHRISTINAYOGA.COM. Her digital product HOW TO PREVENT, IMPROVE, AND REVERSE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA is a great resource. To learn more about Susan visit her website SUSANUNEAL.COM You can also connect with Susan on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.
