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How BCA Compares

More Than a Listing.

Most book awards charge $89 or more and give you a listing if you don't win.
BCA promotes every entry — win or lose.

Award

Entry Fee

If You Don't Win

Bedside Reading BCA

Best Value

$89

Newsletter features, social posts, 4 custom promo images, and inclusion in our international voting campaign.

IPPY Awards

$95+

Listing only.

Foreword INDIES

$89

Listing only.

IBPA Benjamin Franklin

$185

Listing only.

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Why BCA

You're not buying a contest.
You're buying two months of promotion.

A different kind of book award.

Most book award entry fees buy you a logo if you win, and nothing if you don't.

BCA is built differently. The moment you submit, your cover enters our promotional engine — newsletter features, social media posts, custom graphics you can share, and inclusion in an international voting campaign.

3,000+

Voters last year

60+

Countries reached

$7,200+

In prize value

Win or lose, your book gets seen.

Win, and you also receive placement in our luxury hotel program, our digital library, and our Author Spotlight series — a package valued at over $7,200.

At $89, that's less than most book award entries — and you're getting promotion no other contest offers.

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A Global Audience

From 60 Countries, One Conversation.

Where last year's voters came from.

Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Bosnia & Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Finland France Germany Guatemala Honduras Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Lithuania Mali Mexico Mongolia Mozambique Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Saudi Arabia Serbia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Turkey UAE United Kingdom Uruguay USA Vietnam

Questions?

[email protected]

Win or Lose

What You Get If You Don't Win

Every cover earns promotion. Every author leaves with reach.

Included With Every Entry

The BCA Promotional Package

Featured whether you win or not.

01

Newsletter feature to 7,000+ subscribers

04

Custom promo images, ready to share

04+

Social media posts across our channels

60+

Countries reached through the voting campaign

Categories

Seven Categories.
Most Genres Welcome.

Seven competition categories

Fiction, non-fiction, children's books, and more

Open to traditionally published, indie, and small-press titles

Eligibility

2023 — 2027
Publishing Window.

Books published between 2023 and 2027

Titles scheduled for publication in 2027 are eligible

One cover per entry; multiple entries welcome

A Note on Content We don't accept books that are political, religious, or sexually explicit in nature (think Fifty Shades of Grey-level content). Everything else is welcome.

The Prize Package

Winners Take Home $7,200+

In promotional value across three tiers.

Total Value $7,250+

01

$3,900

Value

Hotel Program Placement

Your physical book is placed in one of our luxury hotel partners' guest programs. Winner provides 50+ copies.

02

$2,500

Value

Digital Library & Author Spotlight

Your ebook or audiobook offered as a complimentary guest amenity through our hotel partners, plus a dedicated author spotlight feature.

03

$850

Value

Newsletter & Social Promotion

Featured placement across our newsletters and social channels — reaching thousands of engaged readers, hotel partners, and industry contacts.

Prizes are promotional service packages and are not redeemable for cash.

​What past winners say:

Jane and her team featured my book in their newsletter and brought me to their event at The Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria — free. I'm so appreciative of their dedication to books and authors." 
— Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today bestselling author, The Sound of Wings
"
"The placement in their newsletters and media — Luxury Magazines, Publishers Weekly, Facebook, Instagram — exposed my series to a whole new upper-echelon market. This exposure included luxury hotels, which added additional awareness and sales. If you want your title to stand heads above the others, I highly recommend adding Bedside Reading to your marketing plan." 
— Robert Scott Thayer, award-winning author, Kobee Manatee series

"I've found new readers through the programs they offer winners. I love it so much I've entered a new book cover for the third year in a row." 
— Kelly Elliott, Fearless Enough
​
"Just the added visibility from other voters was worth the price. Having our book win, with the cover in social media and magazine ads, was pure bonus. It's always nice to be able to say 'award-winning.'" 
— Terrel Dean, Award-winning author, Dance-It-Out series

The Process

How It Works

Four simple steps from entry to announcement.

01

Submit Your Cover

By December 30, 2026

Fill out the entry form, upload your cover, and pay the $89 entry fee — or $158 for two entries.

02

Receive Your Promotional Package

Within 7 days

You'll receive four custom promotional images to post and share across your channels.

03

Voting Opens

December 31, 2026

We promote every entry through our international voting campaign — newsletters, social media, our website, and an international polling partner. Your readers, followers, family, and friends can vote. One vote per person.

04

Winners Announced

January 16, 2027

Winners are contacted directly by email and featured across our channels and prize partners.

Frequently Asked

Questions, Answered

Everything you'd want to know before entering.

How much does it cost to enter?

$89 per cover.

Can I enter more than one book?

Yes. Each cover is a separate entry.

Are publishers welcome to submit multiple titles?

Yes — and we offer bulk pricing for publishers entering five or more titles. Contact [email protected] to discuss.

Is my book eligible?

Books published between 2023 and 2027 across most genres.

We don't accept political, religious, or sexually explicit content.

Who votes?

Anyone — readers, authors, publishers, your followers, your family. Last year drew 3,000+ voters from 60+ countries.

How are winners chosen?

Primarily by vote count. In the event of a tie or any eligibility question, the final decision rests with Bedside Reading.

Will I get something even if I don't win?

Yes. Every entrant receives four custom promotional images, newsletter features, social media coverage, and inclusion in our international voting campaign.

What does the entry get me, concretely?

Four custom promotional graphics (typically $200+ from a designer)

Featured placement in our newsletter (7,000+ subscribers, multiple sends across two months)

Social media features across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Inclusion in our international voting campaign

A chance at $7,200+ in prizes

Can my cover designer enter on my behalf?

Either you or your designer can submit, but the entry fee applies per cover.

Designers: we love working with you — get in touch about referral partnerships.

What's the deadline?

Submissions close December 30, 2026.

Voting runs December 31, 2026 – January 14, 2027.

Winners announced January 16, 2027.

Still Have Questions?

We're happy to help.

[email protected]

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All entries will be promoted in our newsletter (several times for two months). 

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Past Winners

Discover the stunning designs that stole the spotlight!

Previous Winners Had A Blast!

“With the exceptional honor of winning the book cover award, Jane and her team featured my book in their newsletter and allowed me to participate at their event at The Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria for free! I’m so appreciative for their dedication to books and authors. Jane is surely a great connection to have!” - Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today bestselling author of The Sound of Wings

"Being a Bedside Reading Book Cover winner has truly been a wonderful experience. I've found new readers through the programs they offer winners and have been so honored to have my book featured as one of the winners! I love it so much I've entered a new book cover for the third year in a row!" -​ Kelly Elliot, Fearless Enough

“As a winner in the first annual Bedside Reading Book Cover Awards many non-traditional marketing strategies opened up for me. The book placement in their newsletters and media (Luxury Magazines, Publishers Weekly, Facebook & Instagram), exposed my series to a while new upper echelon market. This exposure included luxury hotels, which added additional awareness and sales. If you want your title to stand heads above the others, I highly recommend adding Bedside Reading to your marketing plan. Their professionalism is second to none. You won’t be disappointed.”
​- Robert Scott Thayer, award-winning author, Kobee Manatee series

"The book-cover contest was a great experience. Just being the added visibility from other voters was worth the price. It was also nice having an excuse to ask friends and family to support our book with minimal effort. Having Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon win, with the cover in social media and magazine ads was pure bonus. It’s always nice to be able to say ‘award-winning’ and display the attractive gold winner’s seal. The idea to show captive hotel audiences books is genius. Jane and Erin go the extra mile by sending materials that highlight our books. They spontaneous share our books on social media, and it’s always fun to see the beautiful mockups they create. Working with them has been delightful, and I hope to partner up again in the future." - Terrel Dean, award-winning author, Dance-It-Out series

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Previous Winners appeared in Bedside Reading Magazine

Placement in our luxury hotel program and digital library program

Placement in our Hamptons hotel program

Social Media placement and newsletter placements