Writers and publishers, the Realm award, the primer speculative fiction award, is in progress. Well, more accurately, the submission process is in progress.

The Realm Makers organization is currently accepting submissions, and the judging will begin shortly after the cutoff deadline. Here’s what the Realm Makers web site says about the award:

Realm Makers is excited to announce that submissions open January 1st for the annual Realm Awards, created to recognize the most excellent fantasy, science fiction, horror, supernatural/paranormal, or debut novels written by Christian authors for adult or young adult audiences in the previous calendar year.

New this year, both publishers and authors can submit their books into the contest. However, every author submitted by a publisher must respond affirmatively to our statement of faith. We will send a separate form to any authors who need to complete their publishers submission acknowledging our statement of faith.

Books must be published in 2018, either traditionally or self-published. They must be 60,000+ words, unless they are young adult which can be 50,000+ words. The entry fee is $35, and the author must be willing to sign our Statement of Faith. Submissions will be accepted for three weeks, until Jan 21st at midnight EST.

When the scores are in from the second-round judges, the top scorer in each of the five categories will win the Realm Award for that category. And the top five scorers overall, regardless of category will move on to compete for Book of the Year.

Did you catch that date? Submissions will be accepted until midnight (Eastern time), January 21. That’s in one week, folks. One week!

Unfortunately, I could not find the Realm Makers statement of faith online. There is a contact page and I’m sure anyone interested in reading the statement to help decide if they can sign off, will receive a copy in a timely fashion. But don’t delay!

Another award which I’m guessing has the same deadline is The Parable Award. This is for best cover, 2018:

Submissions open January 1st.

Realm Makers exists to encourage Christians in all areas of speculative arts. The Parable Award is for excellence in cover design. Authors OR artists may submit entries.

To qualify, books must be in the genre of fantasy, science fiction, horror, or related subgenre, created for a Christian author’s book, published in 2018, either traditionally or self-published. The cover must be in good taste, as defined by a Christian worldview. Fee per entry is $25.

Of course there’s one more award sponsored by Realm Makers: The Alliance Award. This is one readers select and will begin a little later, which gives us all time to read more speculative books:

Submissions open March 1st.

Readers have their say in what speculative fiction novels they loved the most from 2018.

Only READERS can nominate books into the contest. Anyone submitting nominations may choose up to three books.

Books must be in the genre of fantasy, science fiction, horror, or related subgenre, published in 2018, either traditionally or self-published. They must be 60,000+ words, unless they are young adult which can be 50,000+ words.

There is no entry fee for this award. The winner of the Alliance Award will receive a certificate of recognition.

The key here is to start reading now! If you have a favorite author or a favorite speculative genre, be sure to read any books that came out in 2018 so you can participate in the nominating process.

I don’t know about you, but I love book awards season, which always starts with this submission/nominating process. But I’ve yet to hear of a book win an award without first being submitted or nominated.

Why not consider nudging a writer you know whose book you love, to consider entering this contest? Why not make a decision to read the books that are eligible for the Alliance Award, so you can be part of the nominating process.

Now is the time to act.