Hillerman Prize Mystery Contest

Hillerman PrizeThe Tony Hillerman Prize competition is open to any professional or non-professional writer who has never been the author of a published mystery. Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story, with the emphasis on the solution rather than the details of the crime. Stories must take place in the Southwest.

Entry Fee: None noted.

Deadline: All entries must be received or postmarked no later than June 1.

Prizes: The prize winner is awarded a contract with St. Martin’s Press for publication of the novel and $10,000.

For more information, please visit their website.


Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.

Last Book Standing – January 2015 Edition

last book standing logoHappy New Year, everyone. Today we’re giving you a chance to win a free IU Featured Book Basic ad, and get some input on your book at the same time.

LAST BOOK STANDING is like a cross between Last Comic Standing and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Not really. Just kidding. Mostly.

Here’s how it works: Authors will post an Amazon link to ONE of their books in the comments section below. (One book per author, please! Multiple entries will be deleted.) We will turn that link into a pretty book cover. Then, books will fight to the death. Kidding.

Next, the books will begin elimination rounds. They will be distributed to the IU Vetting Committee and judged per our vetting process as follows:

  • Round 1 – covers.
  • Round 2 – amazon author pages.
  • Round 3 – categories.
  • Round 4 – book descriptions.
  • Round 5 – look inside – formatting/too much front matter.
  • Round 6 – look inside WRITING.

Authors whose books do not make it to the Final Round (Round 7) will receive a private email telling them at which point their book was eliminated, why, and because we are so swell, we will include a link to an IU post that will help them fix the problem.

Final Round – throw down steel cage match – audience voting. Books that make it through all six rounds will be featured in a post where the Indies Unlimited audience will vote for which book they think should win a free Featured Book Basic ad on Indies Unlimited. Don’t worry, each book that makes it to the Final Round will be invited to participate in our standard free features. But only one can win the ad.

Entries will be accepted for one week. After that, commenting will be closed. Please, entries only in the comment section. No discourse or critiquing. Thank you.


Fine print: Minions and their families, offspring, spawn, or other relations are not eligible. Books that have already been advertised or featured on Indies Unlimited during 2014 are not eligible and will be removed if they are posted. Don’t forget, Indies Unlimited does not feature books that are primarily religious, political, or erotic in nature. Books of those themes will be removed from the competition if they are entered. We will attempt to respond to all entries as quickly as possible. Please do not get butthurt if your book doesn’t go as far as you were hoping it would. We are just trying to help. The old adage goes, “Don’t ask a question if you don’t want the answer,” so if you don’t think you can handle constructive input, do not enter this contest.

New from Indies Unlimited – Last Book Standing

last book standing logoWell good day, everyone. Here at Indies Unlimited Laboratories, we are always looking for new and better ways to help you. That’s right, it’s all about you. And your books. So, we’re introducing a chance for you to win a free IU Featured Book Basic ad, and get some input on your book at the same time! See? Everyone’s a winner! (Except for Brooks, of course, since she’ll be doing most of the work.)

LAST BOOK STANDING is like a cross between Last Comic Standing and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Not really. Just kidding. Mostly.

Here’s how it works: Authors will post an Amazon link to ONE of their books in the comments section. (One book per author, please! Multiple entries will be deleted.) We will turn that link into a pretty book cover. Then, books will fight to the death. Kidding.

Next, the books will begin elimination rounds. They will be distributed to the IU Vetting Committee and judged per our vetting process as follows:

  • Round 1 – covers.
  • Round 2 – amazon author pages.
  • Round 3 – categories.
  • Round 4 – book descriptions.
  • Round 5 – look inside – formatting/too much front matter.
  • Round 6 – look inside WRITING.

Any author whose book does not make it to the Final Round will receive a private email telling them at which round their book was eliminated, why, and because we are so swell, we will include a link to an IU post that will help them fix the problem.

Final Round – throw down steel cage match – audience voting. Books that make it through all six rounds will be featured in a post where the Indies Unlimited audience will vote for which book they think should win a free Featured Book Basic ad on Indies Unlimited.

EVERYONE IS A WINNER in the Last Book Standing. So spiffy up your covers and your book descriptions – make sure your book’s categories are correct and all the other particulars are in order. Come December, your book could be a star!


Fine print: Indies Unlimited is not responsible for any injury incurred by anyone at any time and especially not for getting overly excited by this awesome opportunity! Minions and their families, offspring, spawn, or other relations are not eligible. Books that have already been advertised or featured on Indies Unlimited during 2014 are not eligible. Those books already know how awesome they are. This offer is void where prohibited. Don’t forget, Indies Unlimited does not feature books that are primarily religious, political, or erotic in nature. Books of those themes will be removed from the competition if they are entered. Vetting does not have to be completed by any date in particular because, you know, we have the right to be capricious, but we will attempt to respond to all entries as quickly as possible. Please do not get butthurt if your book doesn’t go as far as you were hoping it would. We are just trying to help. The old adage goes, “Don’t ask a question if you don’t want the answer,” so if you don’t think you can handle constructive input, do not enter this contest. This contest may cause itching and other types of dermatitis, and has been known to increase mental capacities. The prize of one Featured Book Basic has a value of $15 USD and cannot be traded for food stamps, coupons, or farm animals. And we thank you.

2013 Lyra E-book Awards

Looking for the best in independent fiction, the 2013 Lyra Awards are open to e-books independently published in 2013.

Prizes: $1000 (Overall winner). Category winners will be promoted on the Bookstores Without Borders website.

Entry fee: $40

Deadline is December 31, 2013. For more information, please visit their website.


Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.