IPNE Book Marketing, Educational, & Networking Events

Independent Publishers of New England participates in several major cooperative book-marketing events on behalf of members, and a number of smaller ones. Many of these are in-person and/or hybrid events! Please see more on the "Big Three" New England co-op events and click here for exhibit curation checklist.

Click the link below to switch between
List View and Calendar View.

Upcoming events

    • 01 Feb 2024
    • 20 Apr 2024
    • Online Registration
    Register

    11th Annual IPNE Book Awards

    READ THIS PAGE BEFORE REGISTERING

    Submission period: February 1 to April 20

    Have you published a new book in 2022 or 2023? Or are you on the cusp of wrapping one up now?* 

    If so, we are looking for you! And you just might be looking for us. Placing as a finalist with a respected book award, or winning it, can help you reach new audiences and markets. It also delivers a satisfying cap to all the hard work that goes into putting out a fine book. 

    What do we offer?

    Quality and increased visibility. Taking high marks in this awards program is all about the quality of the work, and we celebrate that quality. Winners and finalists receive a digital certificate, a digital seal for the ebook cover, and a quote-worthy paragraph of judging praise. They are showcased on the IPNE website. And they are honored at the online awards ceremony, for an evening spent in celebration of these fine books — a high point for the year's events. IPNE will also be sending out press releases to select organizations and media.

    We care about helping books reach their intended audiences. About recognizing authors who've achieved excellence. About highlighting those books for readers. 

    How it works

    We accept print books only.

    You needn't be a member of IPNE to submit a book. You needn't live in New England to submit a book.

    Your book can be author-published, hybrid-published, or traditionally published via small press, independent press, university press, or academic press. You or your publisher can enter it. 

    This year’s focus: books with a publication date of 2022, 2023, or early 2024.* Submissions close April 20.

    (* This year also, the legacy series swivels to nonfiction. Details below.) 

    To submit a book, register the book’s details (author, publisher, publication date, page count, and so on, as specified in the form), pay the fee ($65), and then mail four print copies to the address you’ll receive with confirmation of registration. 

    We’ll match your book with three qualified judges drawn from our panel of literary scholars, authors, librarians, developmental editors, booksellers, and other qualified reviewers vetted and selected for this process. 

    Each book competes within its category, and also for the top prize as Book of the Year. The judging wraps up in late fall. The online awards announcement ceremony follows in January, on the third Saturday. Mark your calendars! 

    The legacy series continues! This year, with nonfiction

    This year, the legacy series will feature nonfiction backlist titles. If you have a nonfiction book published (even if this is not a first, but a subsequent, edition) from 2010 through 2020, you may submit this work as a work of legacy nonfiction. 

    If the book was published previously, this new version must represent a bona fide new or substantially revised edition. Not a reprint, a rerelease, or a republish. What constitutes a new or revised edition? Enough of a change to the contents so that it's not quite the same book. Typically, this means significant rewriting and/or restructuring, new material added, outdated material removed, and so on. The book will also carry a new ISBN.

    The categories 

    Our judges look at books in the following categories: 

    • Informational nonfiction
    • Narrative nonfiction 
    • Genre fiction
    • Literary fiction
    • The Rest of the Stories fiction (see below)
    • Poetry
    • YA fiction or nonfiction 
    • Children's books (MG fiction, MG nonfiction, picture books)

    New fiction category  

    "The Rest of the Stories" is our working title for this new awards category that helps give all novels and short stories a more equal footing. Because fiction isn't all about, delightful as these two are, genre or literary. There are whole other worlds out there, summoned up most beautifully on the page. Books that combine or cross genres in ways that extend beyond what's typical (general, aka mainstream, fiction). Books that seem to have no genre at all, which just means they read like everyday life, really its own "genre" (contemporary fiction). Books with, as is sometimes said, "literary feel, but market appeal" (upmarket fiction). 

    These varieties can be difficult to pin down and the market categories certainly aren't hard and fast. But "The Rest of the Stories" (or whatever we'll call it) awards category enables books not strictly either genre or literary to find a competitive edge. 

    Category descriptions

    Before registering a book, review your intended category in this set of detailed category descriptions

    Judging criteria

    Our judges look at the whole book: the quality of the writing, the quality of the information or story, the quality of the presentation. 

    _________________________________________________________ 

    Here's what to have ready for registration 


    Any major players on the project (designer, illustrator, editors), publisher info, publication date, ISBN. Page count, word count. The book description from the back cover. Your book's Amazon URL and any other URLs you'd like to include. Other collateral, if you would like. (No book reviews, please!) Info on any potentially sensitive themes. And a high-res image of your book's front cover.

    Some of this information is important for the end game, should your book place or win. Some of it is so that we can better match your book to judges who best represent your target audience. Those are the reviewers you want. And some of it is so that we don't give your book to anyone who's worked on it. That would be a Bad, Bad Thing.
    _________________________________________________________


    How to register and submit your book 

    1. Review the info on this page. Feel free to raise any questions you have with the awards coordinator.
    2. Have your book details and contact info (as outlined just above) handy before you begin.
    3. Click the Register button, above left, to begin the registration process. You will fill out a form with the details you have ready.
    4. Finish the registration process by submitting your payment online.
    5. Look for and open the email confirming registration. The mailing address for your books is included.
    6. Mail four copies of your print book to that address. 


    Questions?

    Reach out to the IPNE book awards coordinator.


    Notices

    Depending on the number of submissions for a category, IPNE reserves the right to combine, divide, or otherwise modify the award categories. In the event that categories are added, consolidated, or eliminated, submission(s) will be judged in the categories most relevant. All entries will be held to basic publishing standards with respect to length and legibility. Entries that clearly violate such standards will be disqualified.

    The book awards are coordinated and managed by a volunteer committee. All judging is undertaken by an independent panel of professionals. IPNE's board of directors has no visibility into, nor is it directly involved with, any of the details or proceedings. The awards coordinator acts as liaison to the board around all things awards.


    © 2024 Independent Publishers of New England / All rights reserved

    • 17 Apr 2024
    • 12:00 PM
    • Zoom - see event description
    • 20
    Register

    IPNE Metro Boston Publishers Meetup

    Join us on Weds. 4/17 at 12 pm Eastern Time via Zoom for our monthly meetup. All are welcome!


    After a round-robin of introductions, we'll have presentations and Q&A on a topic "to be named later." Let us know if you'd like to give a presentation at this or a future meeting. 

    The recording and notes from the March meeting on literary translation will be posted on the IPNE Member Academy shortly.

    DETAILS:
    • Though unlikely, the standing Zoom link could change, so your RSVP is recommended, so we can give you a shout if necessary.
    • Metro Boston Meetups are on third Wednesdays of each month at 12 noon on even numbered months (Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct , Dec); and at 7 pm on odd months (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov). 
    • All IPNE regional group meetings are free and open to all; membership is not required. Regional Groups coordinator is Board VP Charlotte Pierce
    10.1.1
    10.1.1
    10.1.1
    • 13 May 2024
    • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Click Zoom link in description
    • 19
    Register

    IPNE Vermont Publishers Meetup

    Monday, 12 Feb 2024, 1-2 PM Eastern Time

    • Click HERE to join the Zoom meeting (registration optional) or follow the link in the red box to register if you wish to RSVP (recommended).

    After a topic presentation, we'll have introductions and an interactive discussion of publishing topics. Bring your book projects and ideas for future discussion topics!

    This meeting and all IPNE regional groups meetings are open to all. An RSVP is recommended, but not required. We hope that you will consider joining IPNE for the full range of member benefits. If you are a member, we invite you to use #IPNEMember hashtag on social media for the chance to win books and publishing services.

    The Vermont Regional Group meets every 3 months on the second Monday at 1 pm Eastern Time. For more information about the group, email group coordinator Lynn Levine, Heartwood Press, or talktous@ipne.org. Folks outside of Vermont are more than welcome! Standing Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98544705628 - please RSVP to catch any last-minute changes.

    Subscribe and join the lively discussion on our Vermont Google Group!

    • 21 Jun 2024
    • 23 Jun 2024
    • Woodstock, VT
    • 20

    Bookstock Literary Festival

    Town Green in Woodstock, VT
    June 21-23, 2024

    • Exhibit registration begins May 1
    • IPNE exhibit day is Sat. 6/22

    Vermont’s annual “Bookstock: The Green Mountain Festival of Words” — held in historic Woodstock — attracts a large summer crowd. Expect vacationers eager for fresh summer reads or perhaps something for those fall days to come.

    Bookstock features plenty of browsing-friendly exhibition tables for publishers and others involved in books and bookselling, along with appearances by authors. Live outdoor music completes the picture, for the perfect summer event.

    The festival runs for three days at various venues around town. Three large tents on the Village Green house the book exhibits. IPNE has secured a table for members to promote and sell their own books on Saturday, June 22. Please stop by to say hello to show coordinators Michael DeSanto and Eddie Vincent  and browse our members' books!

    • 01 Oct 2024
    • 04 Oct 2024
    • Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI
    • 30

    New England Independent
    Booksellers Association (NEIBA)

    NEIBA Conference 2024
    IPNE Exhibit Registration Will Open 2 months in advance

    Who do we love? Independent bookstores - and they love us right back! But you need to get to know them to forge mutually beneficial relationships.

    New England is a hotbed of indie bookstores, and they're experiencing a revival, thanks to the efforts of their loyal customers, bookseller members, and the staff of NEIBA. At IPNE, we know many of these booksellers and engage with them throughout the year. 

    We invite you to come and be a part of it all at our cooperative exhibit at next year's show, featuring events like educational panels, a vast exhibit hall where you can meet upwards of 500 bookstore buyers, agents, publishers, distributors, designers, and other professionals in the industry.

    Due to an application snafu, IPNE won't be at the 2023 conference, but we'll definitely see you there in 2024!

    • 20 Oct 2024
    • 22 Oct 2024
    • Portland, ME
    • 30

    New England Library Association

    Portland, ME, October 20-22, 2024

    IPNE Exhibit Registration Open Aug. 14-Oct. 6


    Showcase your titles to the folks who know & love books best - librarians!

    We love librarians! And they love indie publishers. This is one of our favorite book shows - and it shows! Join us at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, ME this year for what is sure to be another dynamic NELA conference!

    Since librarians delight in finding uncommon and regional books to meet their patrons' needs, they tend to be attracted to small presses. 

    The New England Library Association conference is the one show where you'll find the most regional librarians, staff, and trustees gathered together in one place. They're especially interested in books from New England authors and publishers and books with other connections to our region as well as general titles.

    The event begins Sunday, Oct. 20 with a reception, cocktail hour, and awards banquet; vendor hours for IPNE volunteers and exhibitors continue Oct. 21 and 22. Check out the link for good times to engage the estimated 600+ librarians attending the conference.

    Watch this space for updates on how you can make the most of the NELA Conference! Click here to reach the IPNEatNELA Coordinator

    IPNE@NELA Exhibit Deadlines

    • If you register by Oct. 6, 2023, we can feature your most recent title in the show catalog, along with your publishing company information.
    • You must be an IPNE member and be physically present to represent your books and the organization; or if you cannot attend, we offer a catalog-only exhibit option.
    • Update the information on your IPNE profile. Organization, address and book metadata must be accurate in order for you books to be included in the NELA catalog insert. A current profile is the member's responsibility.
    • Upload a high-resolution image of your company logo or book image to our Google Drive folder. (request access if needed).

    NEW: Exhibit Guidelines

    These new guidelines are designed to help IPNE more efficiently and effectively represent our members and our mission. 

    • MATERIALS: You may include 25  4 x 9" rack cards. We cannot accommodate other types of promo materials or displays.

    • BOOTH ETIQUETTE: Authors & publishers who are not on the event crew may not remain in the booth or alter the display in any way.

    • ELIGIBILITY: Major book shows like NEIBA, NELA, and BBF are open to IPNE vendor and publisher members and are curated. Click here for curation guidelines.

    • PAYMENT: Registration and payment is online only via credit card. 

    • PROFILE: Book data posted on your dddd must be -up-to-date and accurate or your books may not be included in the event catalog insert. Accuracy is the responsibility of the member.

    • QUESTIONS: Please read all instructions carefully, and ask any questions before registering!

    • 26 Oct 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Boston, MA (Copley Square)
    • 35

    New England's Premiere Bookselling Event!

    Copley Square, Boston Oct. 26

    Regstration open Aug. 14-Oct. 6 for this members-only coop marketing exhibit

    Everyone at IPNE is excited to represent your books at the Boston Book Festival (BBF)! What's even more terrific is that IPNE can represent small publishers and author-publishers that are not able to purchase their own table.

    Because the BBF is so well attended by a concentrated crowd of book lovers, it creates a special opportunity for independent publishers to interact with the public and attract new readers. And remember: space is limited, and this show will fill up fast.

    About the Boston Book Festival

    The Boston Book Festival is the largest literary event in New England. It takes place in Copley Square, Boston every October, with tent booths ringing the square and author and publisher events in the Boston Public Library and surrounding buildings. Well-known authors give readings and talks, and the mood is festive!

    PLEASE READ

    • IPNE's Boston Book Festival Exhibit is a curated, members only, in-person event. 

    • If you're not a member, please first join IPNE. Then complete our curation checklist (honor system) before registering.

    • When you register for members-only events, remember to use the email attached to your IPNE membership.

    • This is a cooperative exhibit; all registrants are expected to help set up, manage booth visitors, and break down the exhibit. Watch for a schedule & more details!
    • If you are unable to attend in person, feel free to delegate someone to represent you. IPNE can help you find a representative in the Boston area.
    • Registration for reserved book signings is separate. First register for the exhibit, then go back & register for the signing.
    • In order to have your book information included in the Boston Book Festival show catalog, please make sure your profile information is up-to-date for up to 3 titles.
    • After registration closes, you'll receive a form to upload your book metadata and 300dpi JPG front cover image for each title and/or your company logo.
    • Please watch your email for more details, including a signing schedule. Contact the coordinators if you have questions or need help with online registration. Good luck at the show!

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software