2011 Rainbow Awards: Awards Guidelines

[reviews_and_ramblings]

ELIGIBILITY

- The book must be published between September 2010 and August 2011 (both months included).
- Self-published books are eligible (print on demand publishers, like Lulu.com and Smashwords, are included in the "self-published" umbrella).
- Ebook editions of previously published print books are not eligible. First time print book editions of previously published ebooks are eligible. A book that has been republished by a different publisher after its initial publication is not eligible. A book that was previously self-published by the author, and then republished by a publisher after its initial publication is eligible.

 

SUBMISSION PROCESS

- Books submitted for consideration will be accepted between March 15 and September 15. Winners will be announced in December.
- A book can be submitted only by its author or by its publisher. Submit a book in the category most appropriate: please indicate Gender (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual/Transgender) and Genre (Coming of Age / Young Adult, Contemporary General Fiction, Contemporary Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery / Thriller, Paranormal / Horror, Sci-Fic / Futuristic, Non Fiction).
- The commision can include some books at their own expenses, if they are eligible, especially in those categories with not enough submissions.
- Books are submitted in electronic version (PDFs); exceptions will be considered (please contact me). Submitting the ebook, authors/publishers agree for its distribution with the only purpose of being read by the commission (from 3 to 5 judges). It's recommended but not mandatory, that the PDF file has some kind of protection, like a specific disclaimer or similar.
- No submission fees required.
- Books (PDF format) have to be sent to the following address: elisa(dot)rolle(at)libero(dot)it

CATEGORIES

- A book can be submitted in only one category. Debut Fiction is the only category allowing a "double" submission, in its own specific category, plus the Debut Fiction one.
- If a category receives fewer than five (5) submissions, the category will not be active in this awards cycle. The submitted books will be reassigned to another category if appropriate.
- Gender Category: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual/Transgender
- Genre Category: Coming of Age / Young Adult, Contemporary General Fiction, Contemporary Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery / Thriller, Paranormal / Horror, Sci-Fic / Futuristic, Non Fiction
- Special Category: Debut Fiction. First time print book editions of previously published authors only in ebooks is Debut Fiction. A book that was previously self-published by the author, and then republished by a publisher after its initial publication is Debut Fiction. Debut Fiction is considered the first book in print or ebook of more of 41.000 words published as standalone.
- Length Category: Novel of more than 41,000 Words. Novellas and Short Stories will be considered only on the following conditions: Novellas (between 18,000 and 41,000 Words) only in Collection of 2 or more collected together; Short Stories (<18,000 Words) only in Collection of 4 or more collected together. A single submission has to be of more than 41.000 Words. Exception will be considered if a single category will have not enough submissions.

JURY

- Judges will start to read books in May; reading period will finish in November (included).
- Each judge will read a minimum of 5 books. Authors/Publishers/Editors will not read books in categories where a their own book is submitted.
- Each book will be judge using 4 different criteria: Plot Development, Setting Development, Characters Development and Writing Style. From 1 to 10 points for each criteria.
- Judges will receive only the ebooks they have to read. (PDF files)
- Judges will have to indicate what categories they are not comfortable to read.
- To be a judge, please contact me; Authors/Publishers/Editors/Reviewers/Readers are welcomed, if I don't know you (you are not in my friends list, we are not on the same groups,...), please provide an introduction and some sort of reference for being eligible to judge a LGBT themed book.

Permission to repost granted (and welcomed)

For submissions or questions, please contact the LJ owner at the address you find in the profile, or leave a comment and I will send you a PM

 

Comments

[sidhe-woman.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Thank you, Elisa! Glad to see this *g*. I have a couple of books if I retain the nerve. Will there also be a Cover Award category, as one of my covers is just stunning.

[yachay.livejournal.com]

reposted. I did reply to your email about this a while back, right? I can't find it, so I hope I did :)

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I know we've emailed back & forth about this, but -- again, PLEASE -- don't forget PLOT! Characters can be great, writing style lovely, but if there's no PLOT there is NO STORY.

[vorvolaka.livejournal.com]

So, I may live to regret this if life takes over, but I'm willing to be a jury member if you're still looking for some.

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

did you find that you had enough people on the jury panel? I'd love to take part if you have room....

[edenwinters.livejournal.com]

Whoo-hoo! Reposted! Love me some Rainbow Boy! Mine is framed and sitting on my dresser.

[ashek-thordin.livejournal.com]

Hey, Elisa!

I just wanted to comment to ask if there is a BDSM category for the awards. If there isn't, maybe that could be included in next year's awards? BDSM stories are difficult to classify and exceedingly difficult to compare to other, non-BDSM stories. ^_^

I ask because I'd love to submit my novel, Catalyst, but I'm not sure where it would fit and be compared to similar works.

Yay for these awards, though! I look forward to seeing how it all pans out!

~K. Piet

[rj-scott.livejournal.com]

I would love to be on the jury again Elisa...

X

[amproof.livejournal.com]

Hi, can you give a n00b some clarification?

Rules say to only submit in one category. No problem1

But then it says in the 2nd paragraph "please indicate gender and genre". However, reading below that paragraph, it lists gender and genre as separate categories, which means if I have a gender book, I shouldn't mention the genre, doesn't it? So I'm confused about what you want. If I enter a book under the other category, length, do I mention gender and genre at all?

Would it be possible to see a sample entry to clear my confusion?

[suebrownstories.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of questions. I only have one novella, not two. Presumably that means I can't submit.

Also I have two novels and honestly I'm not sure what category to put them in - contemporary romance or contemporary erotica. What is the difference?

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Can an anthology editor submit a book as well as the publisher?
Thanks!