by Bethany Kaczmarec

The Parable Award

If you missed the announcement about the Realm Award and the Genre Awards check them out.

The Parable Award is different—it’s all about the visual effect.



The Parable recognizes the best-designed cover on a speculative fiction book directed to the Christian or family-friendly market. The award carries a cash prize, and the winner also receives a plaque and certificate for their work.

Both authors and cover-designers wield the power to enter the books.

Have you read a book this year solely because of its cover? We’re after fantastic artwork that lures readers in and gets them to crack the book open. If a cover design immediately comes to mind, get in touch with the author and encourage them to enter!

In round one, a panel of three graphic artists will narrow the field to five semi-finalists.

Then those five covers will be judged by a panel of illustration and cover design experts based on typography, quality of illustration, and overall effect.

The Parable Award winner will be announced at the 2016 Realm Makers Conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Here are the guidelines, just to recap:

  • The contest opens January 1st and will remain open for three weeks. Enter from January 1 through January 21, 2016.
  • Entry fee is $25.
  • The book must be in a speculative genre (sci-fi, fantasy, or any of their numerous subgenres)
  • The book must either be family friendly or marketed to a Christian audience.
  • Only books published between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 are eligible. Yes—traditionally published and indie published! And you can enter an eBook or a printed book edition.

Who judges a book by its cover?

We do. May the best cover win.

 

Get to know the amazing Bethany!

bethanyBethany Kaczmarek, a 2015 ACFW Editor of the Year finalist, is a fan of gripping Story. She makes sure every thread is woven consistently throughout a manuscript—whatever the genre. She points out ways to deepen and enrich the layers so the theme is vivid. And she’s great at helping to develop compelling subplots and secondary characters if sequels are on the horizon. As a card-carrying grammar nerd, Bethany believes an author’s voice comes from knowing the rules well enough to break them with flair. Though she takes editing seriously, she believes a healthy dose of humor can make the revision process fun. A member of the Christian Editor Connection and the Christian PEN, her goal is to help hard-working writers sound like gifted writers. She’s one of the Editor Sisters at A Little Red Ink. You can check out their blog at www.alittleredink.com