About the NYC Big Book Award; Winners & Favorites

NYC Big Book Award was borne out of the Independent Press Award when a number of the big publishers that Ted Olczak had worked with complained about not being able to submit their books, and get the same kind of marketing, promotion and exposure that was being done over at the Independent Press Award.  

Olczak saw this as an opportunity to make big publishers ‘put their money where their mouth is’ and freely allow them to compete directly with books worldwide including the independents.

In addition to leveling the playing field, the more cosmopolitan cache and historical significance of New York City became the inspiration for the award program.

The oxymoron of fragmented yet small cohesive groups assembled into the NYC Big Book Award. Collectively, we have individually met with thousands of publishers, distributors, and authors face to face, and have seen their lists of published work for years.  We have actually worked with the large publishing houses, discovered worthy independent presses and authors publishing for years without much notice, and were able to bring to a larger book buying audience in our other roles.  As with the Independent Press Award, we have crisscrossed the nation (and in some cases even the globe) where we found many individual books that were well worth promoting, and may have never found their audience as quickly as they did without our help.

The NYC Big Book Award applies a number of criteria in judging a book, and some are more subjective than others in its interpretation.  We draw upon our relationships of literally thousands of contacts that like us have a vast knowledge of the marketplace, and the diversity and breath of publishing to give a framework to the decision-making process.  Judging is done by committee and point system.  We make every effort to bring a fairness and high standard to every book we judge, hence why we have known industry leaders advise us in the awards.  The names and contact information of judges will not be made public to respect their privacy, but feel free to LinkedIn with us, as we open our contacts for all to see.  We recognize that some books have outstanding qualities in every category but we may limit the number of books that are designated “Winner.”  There can only be one winner, and once chosen, the committee’s job is complete.

IF for any reason another title is in the running, a petition is made.  A case must be presented to the group to understand why such a title should be recognized. It may be subject matter, the specifics about the author, or any reason a case can be made to distinguish the title.  The committee is under NO obligation to award anything more than a winner.  The Distinguished Favorite moniker was created to recognize and give these books their just deserve. The notable category of “Distinguished Favorite” allows these books to be recognized.

Books that are recognized as Distinguished Favorite are so competitive in many ways that the difference between the Winner and Distinguished Favorite books can be small.

The bottom line is that being recognized as a Distinguished Favorite is a high honor and something about which any author can and should be justifiably proud.

Readers recognize that Distinguished Favorite books are worthy of their attention and their book-buying dollars.

All submitted books, except the winners, are donated to veterans groups, Boy Scouts of America book drives and the local libraries in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Newark, New Jersey.