Awesome Indies Book Awards (AIBA) operates as a volunteer-led initiative supported by members of the independent writing and publishing community.
Standard Submission Allowance
Authors may submit one book for assessment per calendar year. This helps ensure that all submissions are managed fairly, given the limited availability of volunteer assessors.
Assessor Contribution and Priority
Authors and community members who choose to contribute as volunteer assessors play an important role in supporting AIBA’s operations.
Applicants must first meet AIBA’s eligibility criteria for assessors before they can participate in the assessment process.
As a gesture of appreciation:
- Contributors may be given priority in the assessment queue, and/or
- May be granted additional submission opportunities, depending on the level and consistency of their contribution
Participation as an assessor is entirely voluntary and is not required in order to submit a book.
Independence and Fairness
All assessments remain:
- Independent
- Unbiased
- Based solely on AIBA’s assessment criteria
Contributing as an assessor does not guarantee approval of any submitted work.
Conflict of Interest
Assessors must not evaluate any submission where a personal, professional, or financial relationship with the author exists. All conflicts of interest must be declared.
Quality of Contributions
Only complete and good-faith assessments will be recognised for the purposes of priority or additional submission opportunities.
Purpose of This Policy
This approach allows AIBA to:
- Maintain a fair and sustainable system
- Encourage community participation
- Continue offering free submissions without compromising standards
AIBA is sustained through voluntary contribution, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to recognising quality independent publishing.
To apply to become an AIBA assessor, click here.
