NCPA Annual Publishing Awards
Since 1994 NCPA has honored the work of Northern California independent publishers and authors by presenting awards for overall excellence and quality book production, from cover illustration to interior design. Marketing materials are also eligible for awards. Past winners have successfully used their NCPA awards to increase bookstore and media interest, thus increasing sales.
“Putting that little gold foil award sticker on my books has certainly helped the books sell! Watch people as they browse: they pick up a book, look at the front and back cover, then either put it back (if it didn’t pique their interest) and walk away, or open it (if it did). Invariably, browsers notice the little sticker, raise their eyebrows, then open it to read more. The award is like a flag, telling them this book already passed muster with lots of other readers. It’s like an invitation from a trusted friend to come in and enjoy.”
– Dierdre Wolownick, Wordswrights International, winner in 1995, 1996 & 1997
2010 Awards
The following awards were announced at the NCPA Awards Banquet held on April 30, 2011.
Fiction
No awards
Non-Fiction
Gold: Longboards to Olympics by Mark McLaughlin
Honorable Mention: Your Life & Your Money by Scott Feher
Honorable Mention: Earn It: Empower Yourself for Love by Bob Quinlan
Honorable Mention: Savvy, Sassy and Bold after 50! by Vicki Ward
Poetry
Gold: Paper House by Jessie Carty
Honorable Mention: Breaking the Silence by Frances Kakugawa
Children's
Honorable Mention: Hatless by John Witt
Best Design/Layout/Cover
Gold: Hatless by John Witt
Silver: Right Now Is Perfect by Carol Ryan
Best Marketing/Media Package
Gold: Your LIfe & Your Money by Scott Feher
Past Awards
“Winning three NCPA awards was more valuable than gold stickers on my book covers. Media mention was useful but, for a speaker and bookseller, it has been dynamite promo to tell prospective buyers ‘This book received three major California publishing awards.’ In a speech, this usually gets a round of applause. In a selling situation, it often seals the deal.”
– Susan Maxwell Skinner, author of Carmichael, Americana on the Move
Click here to see the winners of NCPA awards from 1994 to 2009.
Awards FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about the NCPA Annual Awards
“The awards I received from NCPA were a great jump start to promoting my books. Thanks to NCPA I am an award-winning author, which gives me confidence and credibility when selling my books.”
– Stephen Burrows, Windmill Publishing
- What is the purpose of the annual NCPA Awards?
- The annual awards recognize NCPA members who publish or write outstanding books and supporting materials such as videos, CD-ROMs, audiotapes, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and brochures.
- Who can enter?
- Entrants must be a member of NCPA. Publishers may enter their books in all categories. Authors may enter their books in categories not related to book design or production.
- Who is the publisher?
- The publisher is the person or company who owns the ISBN.
- What are the awards categories?
- Please see the entry form or the rules form for this year’s categories.
- What books are eligible?
- Books published the previous calendar year may be entered. Revised editions are eligible. For all entries, the copyright date must match the publication year. To be considered “published,” copies of the book in its published form (not as an ARC) must have been on hand and available for sale to retail customers before December 31 and not have been available for sale earlier than January 1 of the publication year.
- Will every category or entry produce a winner?
- No. Entry into the contest does not guarantee that a book will be a winner. Neither does being the sole entry for a category. Books and materials are evaluated according to quality.
- Who judges the publications?
- Judges are drawn from NCPA’s membership, the community, and publishing professionals including local news media.
- What do winners receive?
- Winners receive certificates and labels which they may use on their book covers. Winners may use supplied label art in marketing and promotional materials. Past winners have successfully used their NCPA awards to obtain media interest and increase sales.
- How long has the NCPA awards program been in existence?
- The awards program began in 1994 and, as of 2008, NCPA has presented over 150 awards.
