The contest will be open for entries until July 1st or when 300 titles have been entered, whichever comes first.
If 250+ titles are not gathered by July 1st the contest will be deferred for a year.
So far we have:
The rules are:
i) No book that was entered in a previous SPFBO can be reentered into SPFBO3.
ii) The book must be #1 in a series or a stand-alone.
iii) The book must actually be self-published by the start date, not something you're considering self-publishing in future.
iv) It must be a fantasy book. (If you say it's fantasy then it is. But if it isn't really it won't get far.)
v) Multiple books can be accepted from the same author, subject to rule (ii).
vi) No anthologies.
vii) No short stories.
Not a rule, an observation: It doesn't matter how long your book has been published, Ten years? Fine.
The bloggers who will consider the entries, and the duties they have volunteered for are given HERE.
The winner will receive the prestigious Selfie Award but the true prize is the publicity of being the winner, plus the bonus of being reviewed on the blogs of 10 highly respected fantasy bloggers.
Frankly you can't buy better publicity than that. The winning book will have been selected as the best from a field of 250+ self-published works.
And of course last year's winner got a major publishing contract within days of his victory. Which is nice.
All you have to do is email me the electronic manuscript ready for kindle/PC reading or (if one exists) the link to the FREE version on Amazon. You're welcome to include a cover letter, blurb, synopsis etc as you would for an agent - but it's not compulsory. These guys are bloggers, they're used to making up their mind by starting to read and seeing if they feel any compulsion to continue.
Email me at empire_of_thorns@yahoo.co.uk with the SUBJECT: Book Contest
Hi Mark. Does the slash in "kindle/PC reading" represent an "and" or an "or?" Is a .mobi file sufficient, or would you like (for instance) a Word Doc as well? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's an "and" and an "or" :)
Delete.mobi is good, .mobi & Word is great, just Word might get a later request for a .mobi
Excellent. Thank you!
DeleteWhat about a self-published novel that was previously published by a small press and the rights reverted to the author?
ReplyDeleteIf it is currently self-published then it's eligible.
DeleteIs a novella acceptable?
ReplyDeleteMy feeling is that the shorter it is the less well it will do. But I guess you can send in a novella.
DeleteHi Mark,
ReplyDeleteI have a few authors I beta read for that are self-published and could benefit from your contest. However, while their stories include magic and alternate realities or made up worlds, their stories would be akin to "The Hunger Games" or "Divergent". Is that considered fantasy still or more science fiction and not eligible?
Magic = fantasy :)
DeleteWhich blogs are participating this year?
ReplyDeleteIf, in the post, you click on the word HERE in the line:
Delete>The bloggers who will consider the entries, and the duties they have volunteered for are given HERE.
You will find out!
Are KDP Select novels allowed?
ReplyDeleteI can't see why they wouldn't be...
DeleteWeird question. My book is published by a small indie publisher, but I'm the co-owner of the company. Would that count as self-published?
ReplyDeleteTricky one. If the only books they publish are yours, then sure. Otherwise probably not, but if we're struggling to hit our target near July then ask again :)
DeleteCheers Mark, this is an awesome opportunity!
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
ReplyDeleteWill we get a confirmation that our submission came through?
it will appear on a list in due course - email is pretty reliable these days, don't worry about it :)
DeleteI've got a novella (just shy of a full length novel) that I put out through my own publishing company. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteIf you're the only person that company publishes, then certainly.
DeleteIf not then you are in a theological grey area! I would then say "no" but be prepared to reconsider if we are short of entries near the end of the call.
Why is Tim Marquitz listed for his book published through Ragnarok, then?
DeleteBecause he didn't ask these questions & verification is down to the bloggers :)
DeleteSame rule applies though. If we fill up I will give that place to a book that is more obviously self-published.
Because Influx is self-published at current and has been for about a year and a half. It seems I missed removing references to Ragnarok on the product page. I've since corrected that. - Tim Marquitz
DeleteI just sent my manuscript, it's an epic fantasy 99,000 word novel in mobi format. I'm very excited and hope the judges enjoy my book!
ReplyDeleteI have a series of standalone fantasy novels set in the same world that don't need to be read in order or even read the others to understand. Would it be alright to enter the "second" book in the series given that it is technically a standalone?
ReplyDeleteIt's the same answer I gave regarding "fantasy". If you say it's a "standalone" then is it. But if it really isn't it won't go far.
DeleteCan't recommend this highly enough folks. The benefits are beyond listing, and it's FUN.
ReplyDeleteSelf-published only, correct? Not small press.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. "small" is too vague a word.
DeleteHello Mark! Two questions (just to be on the safe side) ... 1.) I have a self-published fantasy that was published back in 2009 (is that title still eligible?) 2.) I have a stand-alone set in a fantasy world I'd also like to enter (published in 2015) - should I include both books in the same email? Thanks for the opportunity!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes and yes.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteDoes it need to be published in 2017? Or are there date restrictions?
ReplyDeleteAny time, as long as it's in the past or the next two months.
DeleteMine will only be free for five days starting Sunday- I'm thinking a file would be better?
ReplyDeleteI just received two emails that this message was blocked? Should I send the link for the short term freebie, or a file? Thanks!
DeleteI don't expect it would get too far but... is Science Fantasy eligible?
ReplyDeleteIf you think it qualifies as fantasy send it in (see rule iv). My own books have robots and particle accelerators in, but everyone calls them fantasy.
DeleteOver 100 entries in 24 hours. You will not have any trouble hitting 300+
ReplyDeleteI have seen this competition hit many author Facebook groups over the last 24 hours. Glad to say, I'm in :)
My book was not finished in time for last year's competition, so I've been waiting for this for months.
I've got a friend who isn't very tech-savvy so I'm helping him publishing his really, really cool Epic Fantasy novels. I have a publishing company in Germany (my home country) where I publish only my own books. Would his books still be eligible?
ReplyDeleteIf your company is publishing 2 authors, you & him, then no. Every rule has a boundary at which it seems harsh, and it seems your friend has just tripped over it...
DeleteMy publishing company officially only publishes me. All I do is to help him publish his (I do the coding and help with cover art). Also I gave him a bunch of my ISBNs since he couldn't afford his own. He still publishes them through his own accounts.
DeleteIf the book doesn't declare itself to be published by your company then the only reason we're having this discussion is because you brought it up and it is of no consequence. If it does, then my answer stands.
DeleteOK. Thanks for clarifying.
ReplyDeleteI sent a book I co-authored with Steven Savile. It is an indie, although the audio version is under traditional contract with Audible. I hope that's all right. Big fan, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI read lots of hype about people "breaking the Internet". I think, though, that your post just excited the Internet. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun opportunity! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteCool contest, Mark. Thanks for the opportunity! :-D
ReplyDeleteHello Mark.
ReplyDeleteFirst question: Is pdf format ok?
Second: Does sending the book with a blurb / synopsis give any extra credit?
I should think PDF is fine, the blogger can always get back to you if not.
DeleteThere are no credits but there is always the chance a blurb will encourage the blogger to read longer than they might otherwise have and perhaps become hooked.
Hot damn, 219 entries in two days? This thing's going to fill up in a week!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mark,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be self-publishing another novel very soon, putting it up for pre-order in the next few days. I'm still writing and editing it, but am very close to finishing it. I'm assuming there's no way that I can enter SPFBO this year? (It's killing me that I didn't finish this book before SPFBO started!)
As it says, if it's published by the start date (July 1st) you're ok.
DeleteIs it acceptable to send you an almost finished, unedited manuscript and update it later? Your entries are getting very close to 300.
DeleteSorry, but I have to take what you send first. Otherwise 300 authors are emailing me corrections all year.
DeleteMarilyn, I was in your position last year. This year I was able to enter. Being an author is a long game. There is always next year.
DeleteThat's totally understandable. I'll wait until next year. Thanks so much for running this contest! It's awesome, both for the chance to have our work evaluated and for discovering new books to read. :)
ReplyDeleteEntered, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi, I sent in my entry some days ago, but I don't see it on the list you put up. My book should fulfill all the criteria. Can you let me know if it for some reason was rejected for entry? Just so I know. The title is The Eagle's Flight, by Daniel Olesen. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this list you refer to?
DeleteThe next page on this blog.
DeleteAh, I see my name on the list now. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for hosting this. It means a lot (to many, judging by how quickly people sign up).
DeleteLooks fun. Is there any interactive involvement apart from submission?
ReplyDeleteThe publication date for my first novel is in the last week of June. If you receive 300 entries before that date, then the contest will begin on that earlier date, not July 1? Should I just send it in and hope that the contest begins on July 1?
ReplyDelete