The Whistler Independent Book Awards
Established in 2016 to recognize excellence in Canadian self-publishing, the Whistler Independent Book Awards have grown to be recognized as one of the leading literary prizes in the country, and the only Canadian awards exclusively for self-published authors.
As the Whistler Independent Books Awards enters our second decade, we are opening up the awards to make the contest more inclusive.
Here’s what is new:
- Competition now open to all self-published books in English, worldwide
- New lower entry fee
- New poetry category
- Published longlist so that even more authors can have their work recognized
- PDFs and ebooks accepted for the preliminary selection process
Here’s what remains the same:
- High standards—all submissions will continue to be evaluated on specified criteria tailored to each category
- Independent jurors—the Whistler Writing Society and named judges, widely respected in their genres
- Festival integration—finalists in each category are invited to attend the Whistler Writers Festival and are included in several festival events; the winners are announced at the festival’s headline event; opportunity to sell books
Jointly administered by the Whistler Writing Society and Vivalogue Publishing, the Whistler Independent Book Awards (WIBAs) provide independent authors with the opportunity to have their work recognized through a juried process typically reserved for trade-published titles. Shortlisted, finalist, and winning authors receive valuable written feedback from the jurors and/or judges.
The new, international Whistler Independent Book Awards closed for submissions on April 30, 2026. See Terms & FAQs for announcement dates.
WIBA 2026 Finalists Announced
The Whistler Independent Book Awards 2026 finalists! The best self-published fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's books.
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Awards Sponsor and Partners
The Whistler Independent Book Awards are sponsored by the Writers’ Union of Canada, the national organization of professionally published writers. TWUC was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers. Now over 2,800 members strong, TWUC advocates on behalf of writers’ collective interests and delivers value to members through advocacy, community, and information. TWUC believes in a thriving, diverse Canadian culture that values and supports writers.
The Whistler Writing Society was founded in 2001 and became a non-profit organization in 2005. Our group includes over 150 members living in the Sea to Sky corridor. From its inception, the group has promoted the literary arts, provided a forum for local writers to develop their craft within the community, and sponsored events such as the Whistler Writers Festival, the Whistler Writer in Residence Program and the Author in Schools Program.
Vivalogue Publishing was established in 2010 with branches in Canada and the United Kingdom. They have provided author services, including editing, design and production, to self-publishing authors. Vivalogue also provides publishing services for non-profits and groups to create fund- and awareness-raising books.