We are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2018 Book of the Year Awards. Winners will be determined December 1, 2018, and celebrated at a ceremony at The Book Cellar in Chicago's Lincoln Square on Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Good luck to all of our finalists!

INDIE FICTION:
Chuckerman Makes a Movie by Francie Arenson Dickman
Safe Inside by Lee Kingsmill

INDIE NONFICTION:
Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change, and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago by Linda Gartz
Doin' the Cruise by Mitch Michaels and Ken Churilla

TRADITIONAL FICTION:
Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller
Sabrina by Nick Dmaso
Poison Girls by Chery L. Reed

TRADITIONAL NONFICTION:
Tinkers to Evers to Chance by David Rapp
The Boys of Fairy Town by Jim Elledge
All the Dreams We've Dreamed by Rus Bradburd

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2018 BOOK OF THE YEARS AWARD ARE CLOSED

We look forward to reading your submission to the 2018 Book of the Year Awards! Submissions will be accepted June 1, 2018 through August 1, 2018. Entries postmarked after August 1, 2018 will be disqualified.
Winners will be honored at a ceremony at The Book Cellar on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

Download and print the PDF entry form. It will give you all the pertinent details and the mailing address. Complete the form and send it with your book (one entry per person) and a check for the entry fee (CWA members: $15.00, Non-members: $25.00). If you prefer to pay by PayPal, click below, and include a copy of your receipt with your entry.

Member/Non-Member Options (Pick One)

Members $15.00 USDNon-Members $25.00 USD

Download Entry Form

The Book of the Year Contest Guidelines

The contest is open to members and non-members. Submissions open on June 1st and close on August 1st. Entries must have a publication date between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 (date of first publication). We accept only hard copies (paperback or hardbound books) which must be mailed with an entry form and postmarked by August 1st to qualify. Download the entry form for the address.
Digital books are not accepted.

Winners will be chosen in four categories:

Traditional Fiction

Published by the “Big 5”, independent publishers or small presses that do not charge the author a publishing fee.

Indie Fiction

Self-published, print-on-demand, or published by a house that charges the author a publishing fee.

Traditional Nonfiction

Published by the “Big 5”, independent publishers or small presses that do not charge the author a publishing fee.

Indie Nonfiction

Self-published, print-on-demand, or published by a house that charges the author a publishing fee 

Winners will receive a cash prize of $250, an engraved award, a $50 gift card to The Book Cellar, Book of the Year stickers for their books and publication of first chapter in CWA’s Write City Magazine.