MANHATTAN BOOK AWARDS™
A Year-Round Literary Awards Program for Authors of All Genres
Submissions Open Year-Round
Recognize excellence. Build credibility. Elevate your book.
About the Manhattan Book Awards™
The Manhattan Book Awards™ is a year-round literary recognition program honoring exceptional books across all genres. The program is operated by Manhattan Book Group, a prestigious hybrid publisher and a division of MindStir Media.
Manhattan Book Group is known for its commitment to editorial excellence, transparency, and author success. Jon Stojan, a contributor to USA Today, has referred to Manhattan Book Group as the “top independent book publisher in New York City.” That same standard of professionalism and literary quality guides every evaluation within the Manhattan Book Awards program.
Designed for today’s authors—whether self-published, hybrid-published, or traditionally published—the program offers flexibility, fairness, and meaningful recognition without restrictive deadlines. Each book is evaluated on its individual merit, not ranked against other submissions.
Why a Year-Round Awards Program?
Publishing schedules don’t follow rigid calendars—so neither do we.
✔ Submit when your book is ready
✔ No single annual deadline
✔ Recognition awarded throughout the year
✔ Fair, merit-based evaluation
Who Can Submit
The Manhattan Book Awards™ is open to authors worldwide.
Eligible submissions must meet the following criteria:
- Fiction and nonfiction titles in all genres
- Books must be written and published in English
- Print and ebook accepted
- Self-published, hybrid-published, and traditionally published books
- New releases and previously published titles
How the Evaluation Works
Each book is reviewed independently using a standardized evaluation rubric that considers:
- Writing quality and clarity
- Originality and creativity
- Structure and organization
- Editing and production quality
- Overall reader impact
Books are not ranked against one another. Each submission is evaluated on its own merits to determine award eligibility.
Evaluation Timelines & Entry Options
Once payment and all required submission materials are received, the book enters the review queue.
Standard Evaluation
- 💲 400.00 per title
- ⏱ Estimated turnaround: 6–8 weeks
Expedited Evaluation
- 💲 650.00 per title
- ⏱ Estimated turnaround: 2–4 weeks
- Priority placement in the review queue with the same evaluation standards
For administrative purposes, MindStir Media handles all billing and payment processing related to Manhattan Book Awards™ submissions.
All timelines are estimates and may vary slightly depending on submission volume.
Award Distinctions
Based on evaluation scores, books may receive one of the following honors:
🏅 Gold Award
🥈 Silver Award
🥉 Bronze Award
There is no limit to the number of books that may receive recognition in a given evaluation period.
What Award Recipients Receive
Awarded authors receive:
- An official digital Manhattan Book Awards™ certificate suitable for printing and online display
- Award seal/badge for book covers, websites, and marketing materials
- A press release announcement published on NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliate websites (among 200+ other sites)
- Rights to reference the award in author bios, press materials, and listings
Award Categories
We recognize excellence across a wide range of genres, including but not limited to:
- Literary Fiction
- Commercial & Genre Fiction
- Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Romance
- Poetry
- Memoir & Biography
- Self-Help & Personal Development
- Business & Leadership
- Children’s & Young Adult
- Specialty & Niche Topics
Submission Process
- Click the “Buy Now” button below that aligns with your desired evaluation tier (Standard or Expedited).
- After payment, submit your book as a PDF or EPUB to info@mindstirmedia.com AND include your book description in the body of that same email
- Use the subject line: “Manhattan Book Award Entry”
- The PDF or EPUB must be sent from the same email address used for payment
- We will reply to your email within APPROXIMATELY 1-2 BUSINESS days to confirm
- The entrant will be notified by email of the final decision
(Once payment and the submission are confirmed, your book will enter the review queue and be evaluated according to the selected submission tier timeline.)
Why Authors Choose the Manhattan Book Awards™
✔ Year-round submissions
✔ Transparent pricing and timelines
✔ Merit-based recognition
✔ Operated by an established New York–based hybrid publisher
✔ Awards you can confidently use in marketing
Manhattan Book Awards™ – Terms & Conditions
Last Updated: January 8, 2026
1. Eligibility
The Manhattan Book Awards™ is open to authors worldwide. To be eligible:
- The submitted work must be a book written and published in English
- The book must be publicly available in print or ebook format at the time of submission
- Self-published, hybrid-published, and traditionally published titles are accepted
Submissions that do not meet eligibility requirements may be disqualified without refund.
2. Submission Process
To complete a valid submission, entrants must follow the official submission process:
- Select an evaluation tier and submit payment using the designated “Buy Now” option
- After payment, submit the book as a PDF or EPUB to info@mindstirmedia.com
- The email subject line must read: “Manhattan Book Award Entry”
- The PDF or EPUB must be sent from the same email address used for payment
- Submission is considered complete only after the PDF has been received and verified
- The entrant will be notified by email of the final decision
Failure to follow these instructions may result in processing delays or disqualification without refund.
3. Evaluation Process & Timelines
All submissions are reviewed independently using a standardized evaluation rubric by qualified reviewers.
Evaluation timelines are based on the selected tier:
- Standard Evaluation ($400 per title):
Estimated turnaround time of 6–8 weeks - Expedited Evaluation ($650 per title):
Estimated turnaround time of 2–4 weeks
All timelines are estimates and may vary slightly based on submission volume. Evaluation decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
4. Fees & Payment Processing
All fees are charged per title.
- Payments are processed securely through Intuit
- “MINDSTIR MEDIA” will appear on your billing statement
- For administrative purposes, MindStir Media handles all billing and payment processing for Manhattan Book Awards submissions
5. No Refund Policy
All submission fees are non-refundable.
Due to the nature of editorial review, evaluation scheduling, and administrative processing, no refunds will be issued for any reason, including but not limited to:
- Failure to follow submission instructions
- Disqualification due to eligibility requirements
- Dissatisfaction with evaluation results
- Delays within the stated evaluation timeframe
By submitting payment, entrants acknowledge and agree to this no-refund policy.
6. Award Determination
Awards are granted based on evaluation scores. Not all submissions will receive an award. Multiple awards may be granted within the same category or evaluation period. Entrants will be notified by email of the final decision.
Award levels include:
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
Award Winners receive:
- An official digital Manhattan Book Awards™ certificate suitable for printing and online display
- Award seal/badge for book covers, websites, and marketing materials
- A press release announcement published on NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliate websites (among 200+ other sites); Manhattan Book Awards will write the press release and distribute it on behalf of the winning entrant
- Rights to reference the award in author bios, press materials, and listings
7. Rights & Promotional Use
By submitting an entry, participants grant the Manhattan Book Awards a non-exclusive right to:
- Display book covers, titles, author names, and excerpts
- Publicly announce award results, including but not limited to press releases
- Use submitted materials for promotional purposes related to the awards
All intellectual property rights remain with the author or rights holder.
8. Use of Award Recognition
Award recipients may reference their recognition in marketing materials, websites, book covers, and promotional content, provided all references are accurate and unaltered.
9. Disqualification & Revocation
The Manhattan Book Awards™ reserves the right to disqualify entries or revoke awards if false information, plagiarism, copyright infringement, or ethical violations are discovered.
10. Program Modifications
The Manhattan Book Awards™ reserves the right to modify categories, fees, evaluation criteria, timelines, or program structure at any time without prior notice.
11. Limitation of Liability
The Manhattan Book Awards™, Manhattan Book Group, and MindStir Media are not responsible for technical issues, lost submissions, email delivery failures, or delays caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control.
12. Acceptance of Terms
Submission of an entry and completion of payment constitutes full acceptance of these Terms & Conditions, including:
- The stated evaluation timelines
- The PDF or EPUB submission requirements
- Payment processing through Intuit
- The no-refund policy