Audiobook Narrator Award FAQS

Q: What are the submission deadlines for the Audiobook Narrator Awards?
A: Submission deadlines for audiobooks are the same as they are for genre categories. Please note: The publication date refers to the release date of the audiobook, not the release date of the source material.

Q: My book originally published years ago, but the audiobook was just recorded and released this year. Can I enter it in this awards cycle?
A: Yes! Because this is an award for the audiobook narrator’s performance, any new performance of a title is eligible for an award.

Q: I am the author of a WLW book that is nominated for the Audiobook Narrator Award. If it wins, do I get the award?
A: No, the narrator will receive the award. This award is for the narrator’s performance, not for the book being performed. You can still win genre categories, Debut Novel (if eligible), and Ann Bannon Popular Choice, but this award is for the narrator.

Q: I recorded the audiobook for my own book. Am I eligible to win the Audiobook Narrator Award?
A: Absolutely! An author who narrates their own book is eligible.

Q: What files do I need to nominate a book?
A: If you own the rights to the performance, you should submit a single mp3 or mp4 file inclusive of the entire book. If the file size is greater than 5GB, please contact the Awards Administrators for special instructions.

If the rights are held by Audible Studios, GCLS will collect the files directly from them. Please note: Audible Studios is a publishing arm of Audible; just because a book is available on Audible does not mean Audible Studios owns the rights. Please be certain of who the rights holder is before nominating a book.

If the rights are held by Tantor Audio and you have the file already, you can upload it at time of nomination. If you don’t have the file, you can email Cassandra McNeil at cmcneil@tantor.com and request audiobook files. Cassandra will send the files to our GCLS DropBox.

All nominations, regardless of the rights holder, also require a high-resolution image of the book cover. This can be an image of the audiobook cover or of the eBook cover.

Q: How do I determine the rights holder for my audiobook?
A: The easiest way is to check out Audible.com and locate your audiobook. The publisher will be listed prominently. (Pro tip: this is also a great way to determine the exact release date of your audiobook!)

Q: Is there a genre restriction for the Audiobook Narrator Award?
A: No! Any genre—fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, etc.—is eligible as long as it includes significant themes, characters, situations, or other content about women or sapphically aligned nonbinary people who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to women or sapphically aligned nonbinary people.

Q: Is there a length restriction for the Audiobook Narrator Award?
A: The source material for all entries must have a minimum of 40,000 words.

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