§ The Rulebook
Contents
§ 01
The Book Club Prize is open to independently published books, including self-published titles and books published by small or independent presses and hybrid publishers. Titles published by the Big Five publishing groups or their imprints are not eligible. Books must be published in English, and authors or publishers must own or control the rights necessary to enter.
Books must meet the genre requirements for the cycle entered. Authors may submit more than one eligible title, with a separate submission required for each book. A Book Club Prize winner may not be entered again in a future cycle. Books that do not win may be submitted to a future cycle if they meet that cycle's eligibility requirements.
Employees, contractors, and immediate family members associated with DartFrog Books or Bookclubs.com are not eligible.
§ 02
Every submission is reviewed for two possible outcomes from a single $75 entry — there is nothing extra to choose or pay for.
Book Club Prize winner — one book per season receives the complete Great Indie Reads promotional package: placement on the Bookclubs.com Great Indie Reads page for 4 months of sustained exposure to 200,000+ book clubs and 1.4 million readers, and featured placement in an email to their 700,000+ subscribers.
Indie Discoveries pick — during judging, we may also select entries for promotion through our curated recommendation program, Indie Discoveries. This is an evergreen promotion to our 3,050-member group.
§ 03
Each book is entered into the season during which it is submitted:
| Season | Submissions | Winner named | Promotion begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | Apr 20 | May 1 |
| Spring | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | Jul 20 | Aug 1 |
| Summer ← Now open | Jul 1 – Sep 30 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| Fall | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | Jan 20 | Feb 1 |
§ 04
Submissions must include a complete book file (PDF or EPUB) and a cover image.
The book must be available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or another major online retailer at the time of submission — or listed for pre-order with a release date within the season's window.
No page or word count limit, and no genre restriction.
Submissions are only finalized once payment is processed via Stripe.
§ 05
Books are evaluated using the same standards applied to titles considered for DartFrog's Great Indie Reads program. The evaluation considers the book as a whole, with particular attention to:
| Criterion | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Writing Quality | Strength of the writing, structure, and overall craft |
| Reader Engagement | The book's ability to capture and sustain reader interest |
| Discussion Potential | Themes, characters, ideas, or choices that invite conversation |
| Originality | Strength and distinctiveness of the voice, premise, or approach |
| Professional Presentation | Quality of editing, formatting, cover design, and overall production |
No single factor determines the outcome. The goal is to identify outstanding books with strong potential to engage readers and generate meaningful conversation.
§ 06
One winning book per season receives the full Great Indie Reads promotional package. There is no cash prize — the award is promotional reach. Additional outstanding entries may be selected for promotion through DartFrog's Indie Discoveries program.
§ 07
The entry fee is a flat $75 per book. Fees are non-refundable. Books submitted in more than one season must pay the flat fee for each submission.
§ 08
The Book Club Prize and Great Indie Reads provide two different paths to the same Bookclubs.com promotional opportunity. The Prize is a quarterly competition with a $75 entry fee and no additional fee for the winner. Great Indie Reads accepts submissions year-round at no cost, with a $2,250 program fee only if a book is accepted and the author chooses to participate.
| Book Club Prize | Great Indie Reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | $75 upfront | Only if selected |
| Selection process | Quarterly competitions | Rolling evaluation |
| If selected | Wins the complete Great Indie Reads promotional package | Invited to participate in the complete Great Indie Reads promotional package |
| Reach | 200K+ book clubs | Bookclubs.com platform |