Christian Book Award program adds Audio category; submissions accepted September 1-30
While most book publishing categories and formats are showing slow or no growth, there is one segment that is surpassing all others in year-to-year growth: downloaded audio books. According to AAP’s Statshot Annual for 2018, audio experienced an astounding 28.8 percent year-over-year growth from 2016 to 2017. Since 2013, audio has grown by 146.2 percent.
In light of this significant development in our industry, ECPA is excited to announce that Audio is being introduced as a new category for the Christian Book Award® program. ECPA has been working closely with experts in the audio book industry to establish best practices for the way audio books are submitted, judged, and awarded.
“After more than a year of working with our Bestsellers Committee and consulting with audio leaders like Michele Cobb, executive director of the Audio Publishers Association, we are confident that this category will enhance and add value to the Christian Book Award® program,” said Cindy Carter, ECPA’s recognition and resources manager.
Any ECPA member publisher is eligible to submit titles to the new audio Christian book category. The guidelines for submissions and an explanation of the judging elements can be found here.
The submission period for all Christian Book Award categories is September 1-30, 2018, for books, Bibles, and audio books published from October 2017 to October 2018.
Submission categories are:
- Audio (NEW)
- Bibles
- Bible Reference works
- Bible Study
- Ministry Resources
- Biography & Memoir
- Christian Living
- Faith & Culture
- Devotion & Gift
- Children (ages 0-8)
- Young People’s Literature (ages 9-16 non-fiction)
- New Author
Winners in all 12 categories will be announced at the Christian Book Award® celebration event, being held Tuesday, April 30 at ECPA’s Leadership Summit in Chicago.
For more information and to see last year’s winners: CHRISTIANBOOKAWARDS.com