Wanted:

Talented, Undiscovered, Self-Published Illinois Author

In this statewide contest, librarians judge self-published fiction by Illinois authors to select and promote a winner.

Join us at the ILA Annual Conference in Tinley Park on October 10, 2017, from 1:30 - 2:30 pm, for "This is What a Self-Published Author Looks Like."

Meet STBF 2017 winner Daniel Rosenberg and 2015 winner Michael Peck.

We invite all self-published authors to attend. We will be taking photos of self-published authors for inclusion in This is What a Self-Published Author Looks Like. If you are an Illinois author and you would like to attend this presentation, please email soontobefamousinfo@gmail.com to receive special entry to the conference for this presentation.

Details For Librarians »Details for AuthorsDownload Flyer »

Welcome to the Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Project! Authors must be nominated by an Illinois library (public, academic, school, or special) and must reside in Illinois. Sponsored works must be self-published works in an adult fiction genre. This exciting, library-driven initiative is entering its fourth year and just keeps getting better. Thanks to our new partnership with BiblioBoards, and our ongoing partnership with RAILS and ILA, potential benefits to winning authors now include:
  • Statewide recognition by libraries as the top self-published book
  • $1,000 cash prize
  • Announcement of winner and finalists at Gail Borden Public Library event
  • Promotion and royalties through sales in the Indie Rock Stars module, alongside indie bestselling superstars
  • Print book sales to Illinois libraries
  • Inclusion in Popup Picks, a mobile media curation service offered by Reaching Across Illinois Library System, for three months
  • Book review in Library Journal
  • Book tour of Illinois libraries
  • Use the apply/nominate links to begin the nomination process!