In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how series authors can pursue awards for both individual books and their complete body of work.
Hannah Jacobson
If you write in a series, you already know that publishing is a long game. Each new book deepens your world, expands your readership, and adds another layer to the story you're building. Your award opportunities grow right along with it.
Series authors have access to two distinct types of recognition: awards for individual titles, and awards that honor a complete series. Understanding how both work gives you a clear, ongoing path to earning accolades at every stage of your publishing journey.
Each book can stand on its own
Being part of a series does not limit a book's eligibility for awards. Book awards almost universally evaluate books as individual works, judged on their own merits. Whether you're submitting your debut book or the fourth installment in an ongoing series, that book can be entered as a standalone title in any award for which it is otherwise eligible.
This means that with every new release, you have a fresh set of award opportunities to pursue. You don't need to wait until your series is complete, and you don't need to hold back earlier titles while you write the later ones.
Each book is its own award-worthy work.
Series awards: a milestone worth working toward
Some awards are designed specifically to recognize a complete body of work. These series awards evaluate the arc of your storytelling across multiple books, which is a meaningful and distinct kind of recognition.
Many series awards require a minimum number of published books before you can submit. Two or three is a common threshold, although requirements vary by program. Knowing this early lets you factor series award eligibility into your publishing plans as your catalog grows.
How individual recognition builds your series
A win for one book doesn't just shine a spotlight on that title. It shines a spotlight on you as an author, and on the world you're creating.
When you earn recognition for one book, you have something exciting to share with your audience. Readers who discover your work through an award-winning title are primed to explore the rest of the series. An accolade earned for a single title can be woven into your marketing in a way that draws readers into the full body of work you're building. For guidance on putting that recognition to work, this earlier piece on leveraging book awards is a helpful place to start.
Beyond standard award categories, there are also specialty awards that recognize books specifically as part of a series. Book Award Pro tracks Special Awards in our system, including series categories for eligible books.
Recognition at every stage
Whether you're on your first book or your fifth, there are award opportunities available to you right now. Series authors are in a unique position. Every title you publish is both a standalone achievement and a building block in something larger. Awards can honor both of those things, and the recognition you earn along the way is all part of the same story.
The series you're building deserves to be celebrated at every step. If you haven't yet explored what awards are available for your books, now is a great time to start.
About Hannah Jacobson, ALLi Awards & Story Marketing Adviser
Hannah Jacobson is the founder of Book Award Pro: the company that leads the industry in helping authors find the perfect reviews and awards for their books.
Book Award Pro is the industry expert on accolades, operating the world's largest database of legitimate reviews and awards. Every year, authors spanning 6 continents win thousands of new awards, receive valuable reviews, and market their books in one easy-to-use platform.
Book Award Pro has been a trusted ALLi Partner Member since 2020. Hannah is the ALLi advisor for awards and story marketing, and contributes to ALLi resources including the Book Award & Contest Ratings page, Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors guidebook, and the Ultimate Guide to Winning Book Awards.
Begin your award-winning journey for free or connect with Hannah and Book Award Pro on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
Find out more
For more information on applying for book awards that are open to indie authors, you can purchase our short guide, available in multiple formats on our bookstore: Book Prizes & Awards for Indie Authors.
Members enjoy free access to the ebook.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.
