What's Happening?
The American Booksellers Association (ABA) has announced the relaunch of its Indies Choice Book Awards, a literary prize program that has undergone several transformations since its inception in 1991.
Originally known as the American Booksellers Book of the Year, the awards were later rebranded as the Book Sense Book of the Year in 2000, and then as the Indies Choice Book Awards in 2009. The program was put on hold in 2019 following the cancellation of Book Expo in 2020. The relaunched awards will feature seven categories: adult fiction, adult nonfiction, picture book, middle grade, young adult, debut adult, and debut children’s book. Winners in each category will receive a $2,000 prize. Nominees will be selected by ABA member bookstores from titles included on the ABA’s Indies Next, Kids Indie Next, and Indies Introduce lists.
Why It's Important?
The relaunch of the Indies Choice Book Awards is significant for the independent bookselling community, as it provides a platform to recognize and celebrate outstanding literary works. This initiative can help boost the visibility of independent bookstores and the authors they support, potentially driving sales and fostering a stronger community of readers and writers. The awards also highlight the importance of diverse voices in literature, as the categories encompass a wide range of genres and age groups. By reviving this program, the ABA is reinforcing its commitment to promoting literary excellence and supporting the independent book industry, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including competition from online retailers and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
