Minnesota Author Project and Communities Create 2024 Contests

The Minnesota Author Project is an annual contest that encourages strong relationships between indie authors, local libraries, and readers by identifying and promoting the best indie Adult and Young Adult Fiction ebooks Minnesota has to offer.

Submissions for the 2024 contest are being accepted April 1 - May 31, 2024., opens a new window

  • $2,000 each in adult and young adult categories. Prizes sponsored by the Minnesota Library Foundation and BiblioLabs.
  • Honors at the Minnesota Library Association conference.
  • Opportunities to promote your book(s) at Minnesota public libraries.
  • Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal, opens a new window.
  • Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select, opens a new window collection (ePUB format required for eligibility)
  • If available, print copies of your book will be purchased and made available for checkout through Minnesota’s public libraries.
  • Inclusion and promotion in Indie Minnesota, opens a new window, a digital collection of local authors available on BiblioBoard Library (Winners and Finalists).

Each book that is submitted to the contest must be:

  • Indie-published
  • In an adult fiction or young adult fiction genre
  • Written by a Minnesota resident
  • Available in either ePUB (strongly encouraged) or PDF file
  • Multiple submissions are welcome

Communities Create Annual Contest

The Communities Create category seeks creative written work by Minnesota organizations and communities. 

Submissions for the 2024 contest are being accepted April 1 - May 31, 2024., opens a new window

Each winning organization/group will receive:

  • $2,000 cash prize
  • Honors at the 2024 Minnesota Library Conference
  • Honorary plaque
  • Printing of the winning work
  • Opportunity to have the winning work available throughout the state in the Indie Minnesota, opens a new window collection on BiblioBoard Library
  • Media promotion throughout Minnesota

Each work that is submitted to the contest must be:

  • Created by a Minnesota-based organization or group
    • Nonprofits, libraries, schools, writers groups, historical societies, etc. are all eligible
    • One member may submit on behalf of their organization
    • There are no genre or creation/publication date restrictions
  • recommended minimum length of 10,000 words or 20 pages
  • Available in either ePUB (strongly recommended) or PDF format

In addition to being evaluated on quality, judges will also consider the role libraries have played in supporting the organization or the creation of the work being submitted.


Indie Author Project Annual Contest

You may also be interested in the Indie Author Project Annual Contest.

The Indie Author Project Annual Contest is looking to find the best indie-published book in seven genres:

  • Mystery/Thrillers
  • Romance
  • SciFi/Fantasy
  • Historical Fiction
  • General/Contemporary Fiction
  • Memoir
  • Young Adult

Submit your work April 1 - May 31, 2024, for your chance to win $2,500 and other amazing prizes! Find out more about how you can participate at Indie Author Project Annual Contest, opens a new window.