Enter the 2023 SCWC Notable Book Awards

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 26 (POSTMARKED)

** The 2023 SCWC Notable Book Awards are now open for submissions! The awards recognize outstanding fiction and nonfiction books from the previous year.

We can't wait to receive and consider your books! **

The SCWC Notable Book Awards recognize outstanding books published in the last calendar year. Winning books are selected based on their excellent writing, quality of workmanship, and inspiring message. The awards are sponsored by the Southern Christian Writers Conference, an organization founded in 1991 with the purpose of educating and encouraging writers of faith.

We recognize both traditionally and self-published books, and also recognize different genres.

Our categories for 2023 are:

~ Fiction (traditionally published)

~ Fiction (self-published)

~ Nonfiction (traditionally published)

~ Nonfiction (self-published)

~ Children's and Young Adult

~ Devotional

~ Ebook (any genre)

Three finalists in each category are announced by email to SCWC members, as well as in the SCWC Facebook group, here on the SCWC website, and in announcements via media outlets.

This year's top three finalists in each category will be announced on January 13, 2024, and winners will be announced at a special ceremony on February 9. All finalists and their families, as well as interested SCWC members, are invited to attend. Winners receive a cash prize and marketing kit to share their win with others.

Check out video from last year's awards ceremony on the SCWC Youtube channel HERE. (Note that the awards ceremony is held at the home of SCWC founders David and Joanne Sloan in Northport/Tuscaloosa, Alabama.)

The 2023 contest is now open for your submissions!

You can now submit your book/s to be considered for this year's award; the deadline for submissions is December 20, 2023 (postmarked). A $15 fee is required for reading and judging. Final selections are made by SCWC staff members, as well as professional authors, editors, and publishers in each category.

Rules you need to know:

1. Books entered must have been published in the calendar year 2023.

2. Both Christian and mainstream books are eligible (if they are not overtly Christian, they should provide an inspirational message and be written by a Christian author).

3. Authors can enter more than one book.

4. Books can be submitted by authors and/or publishers.

5. Books are judged on: writing quality, publishing quality, and message.

6. A copy of your book must be mailed to: SCWC, PO Box 3057, Hueytown AL 35023.

7. If you're submitting an ebook, email a link to the ebook or a PDF copy to scwritersconference@gmail.com

8. With each submission, include the following information

NAME:

CATEGORY ENTERING:

CONTACT INFORMATION (including email):

(Also include a $15 reading/submission fee per entry; submit to Venmo to @SCWC-Conference, by PayPal to scwritersconference@gmail.com, by credit or debit card (let us know and we'll invoice you), or include a check made out to SCWC with your mailed book.)

9. Three finalists in each category will be announced on January 13, 2024, and winners will be announced on Saturday, February 9, 2024. (The awards ceremony will be open to live attendance, and will also be broadcast live online.)

10. Finalists receive marketing information to promote their recognition; winners receive a cash prize and marketing kit to promote their win. Winners will also be promoted via SCWC promotional outlets.

11. DEADLINE: Submit your books by Dec. 20, 2023.

We're excited to offer this opportunity once again to recognize authors of faith who are sharing their stories via traditional and self-published avenues. And we're excited to share these works with the reading world; we want to get exceptional books into the hands of readers.

To learn more about last year's winners of the SCWC Notable Book Awards, read the article HERE in The Alabama Baptist newspaper.

The SCWC Notable Book Awards are one of many activities and events sponsored each year by the Southern Christian Writers Conference. Other events include the organization's flagship event--an annual conference held each June in Birmingham, Alabama--and regional workshops throughout the year. Virtual activities and events also take place in the SCWC Facebook group, which is an extremely active online community. 

(Pictured below:  Authors pose with their certificates following the announcement of the 2022 SCWC Notable Book Awards winners at the awards ceremony.

Southern Christian Writers Conference and TAB Media staff members get ready to welcome finalists to the 2021 Notable Book Awards ceremony.)

We look forward to receiving your submissions for the SCWC Notable Book Awards, and can't wait to recognize outstanding books from 2023!

Email us at scwritersconference@gmail.com if you have further questions about submitting to the contest.