ELIGIBILITY
- Authors must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
- The author must have paid all costs associated with the production of the book
- All entries must be available for purchase in physical form (ebook-only publications not eligible)
- The book must be copyrighted within the last six years and the author must retain all rights
ENTRY FEE
- $125 plus GST per fiction, non-fiction and children’s book entry (Paypal or cheque made payable to Vivalogue Publishing)
- The fee is refundable only in the case of the entry being ruled ineligible
BOOKS SUBMITTED
- One copy of each book entered to the competition must be mailed to:
Unit 16067, 617 Belmont Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z8, Canada - Copies submitted cannot be returned to the author
EVALUATIONS
- Members of Canadian Authors Association selection panel review all books submitted and provide a detailed written evaluation for the author. These valuable evaluations/reviews are one of the key benefits of participating in the WIBAs, and the cost is included in the submission fee
- The opinions and recommendations contained in the evaluations are the professional opinions of the judges and are deemed to have been solicited by the author
- All content in this evaluation is confidential and will not be disclosed by the WIBA administrators to any third party without the prior permission of the submitting author
- The author has the right to use any or all of the evaluation for personal or promotional purposes
FAQs
What qualifies as non-fiction?
The Non-Fiction category is intended to recognize literary treatment of factual material. Creative non-fiction that uses imagined dialogue or description to enhance a true story is eligible. Manuals and catalogues intended to provide factual information only are not eligible as the judges would have no basis to assess the literary merit of the submission. If you require further clarification, contact us.
My book is young adult fiction. Will it be judged in the fiction or children’s category?
Young adult fiction is judged in the fiction category. Books intended for an under-13 audience will be judged in the children’s category. If you require further clarification, contact us.
Is my book eligible if I received grant funding?
Yes, as long as your grant was not specifically intended to cover the costs of publication. If you received grant funding after your book was published, or if your grant was awarded for research purposes, your book is eligible. If you received grant funding in order to pay for printing or other publication costs, your book is not eligible as you did not assume the financial risk normally associated with independent publishing.
What about hybrid publishing?
In general, these book ARE eligible, but the Awards Committee will make a determination on a case-by-case basis.
How are entries evaluated by the Selection Committee?
The Selection Committee assesses each book based on its design and production values, and on the quality of the writing, based on the substantial opening and closing sections of each book. All shortlisted books are read in full.
AWARD SPONSORS
The Writers’ Union of Canada is the national organization of professionally published authors. Now over 2,100 members strong, the Union was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers.
AWARD ADMINISTRATORS
The Canadian Authors Association offers aspiring, emerging, and professional writers opportunities and resources to hone their writing and business skills, network with others, and thrive in a community of like-minded professionals. The BC chapter select the finalists in each category.
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.