American Book Fest

The 24th Annual "Best Book" Awards
Presented by American Book Fest™

Page Contents

Welcome Letter
Entry Fees & Deadline
Submission Checklist
Entry Form: Downloadable in Word or PDF
Payment Options
Official 2027 Categories

Welcome to The 2027 "Best Book" Awards!
Sponsored by American Book Fest based in Los Angeles & Phoenix

Over our 24-year history, thousands of self-published and indie authors have leveraged the promotional power of their Best Book Award to increase online recognition, enhance their title’s credibility, and garner more attention in the crowded book buying marketplace.

When we started out in 2003, there were only a handful of book awards online. Now? There are thousands of contests, some of which pop up and fade out in a year's time. A history of solid results is extremely important when considering entering an award program, and for two decades, the Best Book Awards have delivered.

Who has won a prestigious Best Book Award over our 24-year history? Some of the biggest names in the industry! Pope Francis, George Saunders, Vanessa Williams, Kitty Kelley, Anne Geddes, Daymond John, Mark Nepo and many others. Click on our Award Laureate page for an expanded list.

The publishing industry is rapidly evolving. A printed book is no longer just a printed book.

Fiction and non-fiction books have the potential to be turned into interactive e-books, television and movie programs, documentaries, reality-based programming, video games, graphic novels, web series, live workshops, and so much more.

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, we have the unique advantage of gaining access to both the publishing and entertainment industries like no other book award program currently operating.

You’ve put tremendous time and energy into your work. By winning a Best Book Award, you permanently build your credibility as an established author!

Enter Your 2022–2027 Titles! Open to all English books/e-books with an ISBN or ASIN and published 2022 through 2027. Pre-pub copies are welcome.

Entry Fee: $77 per title/per category

E-mail Submission Now Available! Details below & on page 2 of your entry form.

2010–2021 titles are welcome in our sister program, The 2027 American Legacy Book Awards!

We Pick Winners! Many titles that have placed in our award program have gone on to place in other contests geared toward the independent press. View the 2025 Best Book Awards Press Release. View the Full Results of the 2025 Competition.

Social Media Exposure on our American Book Fest Facebook Page! Our Facebook pages have over 130,000 book lovers!

A History of Excellence! Over the last 24 years, we have featured over twenty thousand books from mainstream, indie, and self-publishers. We will continue to promote books to the national and international book-buying public! View the Best Book Archives (2004–2024)

WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY RECEIVE:

AmericanBookFest.com Exposure: The winning title in each category will receive a ten-month featured book listing that includes the color book cover, winning title/category and a hyperlink to the title's page on Amazon.com.

Results Announced on American Book Fest's Social Media Pages (130,000+ Fans/Friends)

Promote Your Title as an Award-Winning Book: As a winner or finalist, you will have the right to highlight your award on your book cover, website, and marketing material. Award stickers & premium certificates will be available for purchase for all winners & finalists in each category.

High-Res Digital Logos: Unlike other award programs, our digital logos are free to use on your book cover, website, social media, and marketing material.

Marketing Tips & Ideas to Promote Your Award: The announcement e-mail includes links and ideas for you to maximize the impact of your award. It’s time to think outside the box and make your book relevant again!

It’s an exciting new frontier in publishing, and The "Best Book" Awards are at the forefront of the revolution!

We welcome your questions, comments, and ideas! Simply e-mail us.

American Book Fest Team

"Book awards do count in marketing and in positioning as a recognized 'go-to' expert. The Best Book Awards are always on my recommended list for authors who create quality books to enter. I’ve found that the support from the Best Book Awards for winners, both on its websites and with press releases, is exceptional and far beyond what most other awards do."

—Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, CEO of AuthorU.org

"The Best Book Awards has a ten year track record of honoring and promoting books to the national and international community. The contest covers books from all sections of the publishing industry—mainstream, independent, & self-published."

—The San Francisco Book Review

“I've been very remiss in not writing earlier to tell you how much STRONG RAIN FALLING winning the 2013 Best Book Award for Mystery/Suspense means to me, this was truly among the great highlights of my literary year and, in fact, of my entire career. I don't have to tell you that there are very few awards indeed that recognize popular and commercial fiction and I'm sure I'm joined by far more writers and readers alike in saluting you and your team for paying attention to all genres and themes across the spheres of both fiction and non-fiction.”

— Jon Land, Bestselling Author of over 25 Novels

“My deepest thanks go to the Best Book Awards for naming Impossible Odds their 2013 choice for Best Autobiography/Memoir, and that gratitude is shared by Jess and Erik. I only had to sweat through writing the book; they had to live the story.”

— Anthony Flacco, New York Times Bestselling Author

“I want to personally thank you for your wonderful 2013 Best Book awards! You do a great service for all of us independent publishers and authors who are constantly the ‘Davids’ in trying to win attention for our hard-fought books against the Goliaths of the publishing industry.”

— Carew Papritz, King Northern, Inc.

“As a most humbled and honored recipient of several 2011 International Book Awards and 2011 Best Book Awards, I wanted to take the opportunity to personally and professionally thank you for recognizing and celebrating some of the world’s topmost mainstream and independent authors and publishing companies. It is evident that both award enterprises embrace the hard work and achievements of worldwide authors and publishing companies and are fully committed to propelling them to aim high and succeed with excellence. Thank you wholeheartedly for helping the writing industry in general and myself in particular expand our professional horizons and foster exponential growth as highly recognized and most deserving achievers in the field of writing.”
—Michele Wright, Ph.D., Author, DEAR SUCCESS SEEKER: Wisdom from Outstanding Women, Atria/Simon & Schuster

ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINE

$89 — $77 per title/per category (Expires September 30, 2026)

(Example: One book in two categories equals $154.00)

Winners and Finalists will be announced nationally in mid-November 2027.
Open to all English books/e-books with an ISBN or ASIN and published 2022 through 2027.
Pre-pub copies are welcome.
2010–2021 titles are welcome in our sister program, The 2027 American Legacy Book Awards!
E-mail Submission Now Available! Details below & on page 2 of your entry form.
Galley copies are welcome.
Final Entry Deadline: August 31, 2027
All entry fees must be paid in U.S. Dollars (“USD” must be pre-printed on all international checks or money orders)
All entered books must be a human-written/illustrated original work that is copyrighted by the author. (A.I. Policy)
All sales are final. All books will be donated or recycled after the competition.
Questions? E-mail Us

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

(This list is on page 2 of your entry form as well)

Submitting Via E-mail:

Process your entry fee online.
E-mail “bba@amerbookfest.com” a copy of your filled out entry form as well as a PDF copy of your book.
Include your e-mail address that was used to process your entry fee payment online (bottom of page one of the entry form).
If your PDF is too large to send via e-mail, we recommend using WeTransfer.com (a free service).
“AMERBOOKFES” or “AMERICANBOOKFEST” will appear on your credit card statement.

Submitting Via Snail Mail:

ONE copy of your book per category entered (Galley copies are welcome).
A completed Page One Entry Form for each title (You keep Page Two for your records.)
A check or money order (payable in U.S. Dollars; “USD” must be pre-printed on all international checks or money orders) for the entry fees, payable to “ABF” or “American Book Fest.”
If paying online, include a copy of your payment confirmation e-mail or the e-mail address you used to place the order.
“AMERBOOKFES” or “AMERICANBOOKFEST” will appear on your credit card statement.

“Thank you for this. I am so proud of my Best Book Award wins. And what a boon they are for marketing!”
—Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Author/Publisher, 2011 Winner, The Frugal Book Promoter

"This is so exciting! To compete alongside industry giants, Simon & Schuster, St. Martin’s Press, Random House, Penguin, Harper Collins (just to name a few), and still become an award winning finalist is not only wonderful but validating. It's been a great experience for both my illustrator/husband and myself and reinforces for us that our story touches the reader and appeals to experts in children's book publishing. Glitter and Dart came to life for me and I hope that they do the same for the children who will join in their adventures. Thank you to all the judges for this recognition.”
—Sherry K. Brubaker, Author, 2011 Finalist, Cup of Glitter, Gilded Magic Publishing

"I wanted to thank you for your prestigious award. In the four months since winning The Best Book Awards - 2009 Best Book (History - Media / Entertainment), my paperback has been added to the prestigious libraries of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Writers Guild Foundation; is now being sold at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills; is now available at Barnes & Noble and Costco stores in Hollywood and will be promoted during the 2010 Turner Classic Movies Film Festival! I appreciate the press received from your tremendous organization!"
—Manny Pacheco, Award-winning Author, Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History

ENTRY FORM

Please fill out an entry form for each title entered, print out and include the completed form with your submission. Be sure to review the "Submission Checklist" on each entry form. Questions? E-mail Us

2027 Entry Form

2026 Entry Form

“The award stickers definitely help sales. I'm very excited about this and impressed with the full list of winner/finalists. It clearly shows your judges go by quality versus name. I will for sure enter again with next book.”
—Tara L. Masih, 2010 Award Finalist

“Costco recently picked up Greg Park's fantasy adventure series and they are selling a lot of Veil of Darkness (Best Book Winner) and Cleansing Hunt (Best Book Finalist). They've found that when the award stickers are on the books, they sell even better.”
—Chantilly Park, Publisher 2009 Winner and Finalist

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Please include a check or money order with your entry submission payable to "ABF" or "American Book Fest". "USD" must be pre-printed on the check or money order.

You can also securely process your entry fee at the link below.

“AMERBOOKFES” or “AMERICANBOOKFEST” will appear on your credit card statement.

Questions? E-mail Us

OFFICAL CATEGORIES: 2027 BEST BOOK AWARDS

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LEGACY CATEGORIES FOR OLDER TITLES!
*For books published 2010-2021 with an ISBN or ASIN

NEW AWARD PROGRAM FOR OLDER TITLES!
Looking for more award opportunities and expanded categories for your older titles?
Click Here to learn more about the 2027 American Legacy Book Awards

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2027 OFFICIAL CATEGORIES FOR THE BEST BOOK AWARDS
*For books published 2022-2027 with an ISBN or ASIN

Animals/Pets – General

Animals/Pets – Narrative Nonfiction

Anthologies – Nonfiction

Art

Autobiography/Memoirs – General
Autobiography/Memoirs – Healing/Health/Recovery
Autobiography/Memoirs – Historical
Autobiography/Memoirs – Inspirational/Motivational
Autobiography/Memoirs – Personal/Family
Autobiography/Memoirs – Professional/Business
Autobiography/Memoirs – Resilience/Grief/Trauma

Best Cover Design – Fiction
Best Cover Design – Nonfiction
Best Interior Design / Illustrations
Best New Fiction
Best New Non-Fiction

Business – General
Business – Careers
Business – Entrepreneurship & Small Business
Business – Management & Leadership
Business – Marketing & Public Relations
Business – Motivational
Business – Personal Finance/Investing
Business – Reference
Business – Technology

Children’s Educational
Children's Fiction
Children's Mind/Body/Spirit
Children's Nonfiction
Children's Novelty & Gift Book
Children’s Picture Book – Hardcover Fiction
Children’s Picture Book – Hardcover Nonfiction
Children’s Picture Book – Softcover Fiction
Children’s Picture Book – Softcover Nonfiction
Children's Religious

Cookbooks – General

Current Events

Education/Academic

Fiction – Adventure: General
Fiction – Adventure: Epic
Fiction – Adventure: Historical
Fiction – Adventure: War & Military
Fiction – Anthologies: Fiction
Fiction – African American Fiction

Fiction – Christian Inspirational
Fiction – Coming of Age
Fiction – Cross Genre
Fiction – Family Saga

Fiction – Fantasy: General
Fiction – Fantasy: Epic/High Fantasy
Fiction – Fantasy: Historical

Fiction – General Fiction
Fiction – Historical
Fiction – Holidays

Fiction – Horror: General
Fiction – Horror: Occult
Fiction – Horror: Psychological
Fiction – Horror: Paranormal/Supernatural

Fiction – Humor/Comedy/Satire
Fiction – Inspirational
Fiction – Juvenile (Ages 6-9)
Fiction – LGBTQ+
Fiction – Literary
Fiction – Military
Fiction – Multicultural

Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: General
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Cozy Mysteries ("Cozies")
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Hard-Boiled/Crime
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Historical
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Multi-Cultural & Diverse
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Procedurals
Fiction – Mystery/Suspense: Romantic Suspense

Fiction – New Age
Fiction – Novella (17,500 to 40,000 words)
Fiction – Pre-Teen (Ages 10-12)
Fiction – Religious

Fiction – Romance: General
Fiction – Romance: Erotica
Fiction – Romance: Historical
Fiction – Romance: Paranormal/Supernatural
Fiction – Romance: Romantic Comedy

Fiction – Science Fiction: General
Fiction – Science Fiction: Alien/Space
Fiction – Science Fiction: Cyberpunk
Fiction – Science Fiction: Parallel Universe/Alternative
Fiction – Science Fiction: Post-Apocalyptic

Fiction – Short Story
Fiction – Sports

Fiction – Thriller: General
Fiction – Thriller: Crime
Fiction – Thriller: Legal
Fiction – Thriller: Medical
Fiction – Thriller: Political
Fiction – Thriller: Psychological
Fiction – Thriller: Religious
Fiction – Thriller: Techno

Fiction – Visionary
Fiction – Western
Fiction – Women's Fiction
Fiction – Young Adult (Ages 13 & up)

Health – General
Health – Addiction & Recovery
Health – Aging/50+
Health – Alternative Medicine
Health – Cancer
Health – Death & Dying
Health – Diet & Exercise
Health – Psychology/Mental Health
Health – Women’s Health

History – General
History – Military
History – United States

Humor/Comedy/Satire

LGBTQ+ – Nonfiction

Multicultural – Nonfiction

New Age – Nonfiction

Nonfiction – General
Nonfiction – Creative
Nonfiction – Cross-Genre
Nonfiction – Inspirational
Nonfiction – Narrative

Parenting & Family

Performing Arts – Film, Theater, Dance, Music

Photography

Poetry – General
Poetry – Anthologies
Poetry – Contemporary
Poetry – Narrative
Poetry – Nature
Poetry – Religious

Religion – General
Religion – Christian Inspirational
Religion – Christianity
Religion – Eastern

Self-Help – General
Self-Help – Motivational
Self-Help – Relationships

Social Change

Spirituality – General
Spirituality – Inspirational

Sports

Travel – Guides & Essays

True Crime – Nonfiction

Young Adult – Nonfiction

Women’s Issues / Women’s Studies

Home / 2027 Best Book Awards / American Fiction Awards / Autobiography

Business / Careers / Entrepreneurship / Management / Marketing / Motivational / Personal Finance / Real Estate / Reference / Sales / Technology / Writing & Publishing

Children's Books / Educational / Fiction / Mind-Body-Spirit / Non-Fiction / Novelty & Gift / Picture Book Fiction / Picture Book: Non-Fiction / Children's Religious

Cookbooks

Fiction / African-American / Anthologies / Cross Genre / Fantasy & Sci Fi / Graphic Novels / Historical / Horror / Inspirational / LGBTQ / Literary / Multicultural / Mystery & Suspense / New Age / Novella/Novelette / Poetry / Religious / Romance / Short-Story / Thriller & Adventure / Visionary / Western / Women's Fiction / Young Adult

Health / Addiction / Aging / Alternative Medicine / Cancer / Death & Dying / Diet & Exercise / Medical Reference / Psychology & Mental Illness

Non-Fiction / Animals & Pets / Anthologies / Art / College Guides / Crafts & Hobbies

Creative / Cross-Genre / Current Events / Education / History / Home & Garden Humor / Inspirational / Law / LGBTQ / Multicultural / Narrative / New Age / Novelty & Gift / Performing Arts / Photography / Science / Social Change / Sports / True-Crime

Women's Issues / Young Adult

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2026 AFA Full Results

Autobiography

Business

Careers

Entrepreneurship

Management

Marketing

Motivational

Personal Finance

Real Estate

Reference

Sales

Technology

Writing & Publishing

Children's Books

Educational

Fiction

Mind/Body/Spirit

Non-Fiction

Novelty & Gift

Picture Book: Fiction

Picture Book: Non-Fic

Children's Religious

Cookbooks

General Fiction

African-American

Anthologies

Cross Genre

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Graphic Novels

Historical

Horror

Inspirational

LGBTQ

Literary

Multicultural

Mystery & Suspense

New Age

Novella/Novelette

Poetry

Religious

Romance

Short Story

Thriller & Adventure

Visionary

Western

Women's Fiction

Young Adult

Health

Addiction

Aging & 50

Alternative Medicine

Cancer

Death & Dying

Diet & Exercise

Medical Reference

Psychology & Mental

Non-Fiction Books

Animals & Pets

Anthologies: Non-Fic

Art

College Guides

Crafts & Hobbies

Creative Nonfiction