Contest Rules
We accept all English eBooks, Audio Books, Manuscripts, and Published Novels (2009 - 2011) that fall into one of our 40 Genre Categories and that is an original work for which you own the applicable rights. Currently we do not accept short stories. You may mail a copy of your Book (Audio Book/eBook on CD) or attach an electronic version of it to the form below.

If you are entering a manuscript, it must be complete, edited, and properly formatted. Click here for our manuscript formatting guidelines.

Entry Fee is $85.00 USD to enter your work in one Genre Category. You may enter in up to 2 additional Genre Categories for a fee of $65.00 for each one. Your entry will be read by a different judge for each category you enter. All entries must be made online or postmarked by the contest deadline of June 1, 2011. If you can't pay online, you can send a check or money order payable to "Readers Favorite" to the address in the form below along with all the information required by the Entry Form. No refunds will be allowed after the contest deadline.

You may submit your entry electronically by uploading it using the Entry Form below (this includes digital versions of published works) with your online payment. If you are mailing in your payment you can still send us a digital copy of your entry by emailing it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with all the information requested in the Entry Form.

If you are sending a hard copy, please mail one copy of your submission FOR EACH CATEGORY YOU ENTER to the address in the Entry Form below. Please include a printed copy of both your PayPal receipt and our Entry From confirmation email. Entries will not be returned, and will instead be donated to local libraries and charities.

Finalists for each of our Genre Categories will be selected and announced on August 1, 2011. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2011.


How our Contest is judged
Our volunteer reviewers act as the first level of judges for our contest. Each book is given a Readers Favorite review and rated on structural components. This level is used to identify books with at least a 3 star rating. All contest entries will receive this review, and those with a 3 star rating or greater will be posted on our site and on Amazon (if applicable) when the contest is complete.

In the next level our Judges read about 30% of each qualifying book. Our Judges have extensive literary experience and use this sampling to determine the quality of the writing. One such judge is a best-selling author, three-time EPPIE award finalist, two-time former judge, and has been a professional editor for over twenty years.

Books entered into more than one category are read by multiple Judges. For instance, if someone enters their book in 3 categories (our maximum) then it will be read by three different Judges. The Judge's comments are added to the initial reviewer's comments and the Judges decide on finalists.

The finalists are announced and the Judges then read the entire book for each finalist. Finally, winners are chosen and announced.


What our Finalists and Winners receive
We provide winners with a digital award seal for future publications of their book, 500 award stickers to affix to current printed books, and an award certificate. Winners and finalists also receive their Judge's notes for marketing and educational purposes.

All winners and finalists will be featured on a 2011 Award Contest Winners page to be linked under the search box at the top left of every page on our site. In addition, we add your award level to your Readers Favorite review page for both winners and finalists.

Contest results will be advertised in a professional online Press Release which is placed into RSS feeds with more than 250,000 subscribers including bloggers, journalists and consumers. The release is also sent to more than 35,000 opt-in journalists including the Associated Press and top US newspapers like USA Today.

We also invite all our winners and finalists to an awards banquet in Las Vegas in November during the Vegas Valley Book Festival so authors can network.