Firstly, we think this Award is the only independent book award run be an independently published author. It is also the only independent book award which is not 'in it for the cash' and the only independent book award judged by schools and groups of readers who love to read, and not by anonymous so-called experts. Secondly, this Award is not the front for a dodgy vanity press which plans to sell you lots of stuff. You will not be charged for the certificate or asked to buy dodgy stickers for the cover of your winning book and I will not be trying to sell you a bogus editorial service, a licensing fee or promising to publish the winners' books if you pay me a ton of cash. If you win, you win. Finally, the entry fee is there to cover the costs of the Award, not to fill the pockets of the organisers.



Frankly, I'm not expecting any complaints from the postman. Probably a hundred or so in total (last year we got a hundred and four). If we get much over a hundred, we will probably stop there and concentrate on judging those books properly. With many of the independent book awards, finding the winners is just an afterthought, the coffee and cheese. But with The Wishing Shelf Awards, judging is everything, the cock-a-leekie soup, the veal chops, even the glazed apple tart. I want this Award to find the very best independently published books. I want this Award to be where the 'big boy' publishers go when they want to find the next bestseller.



The teachers and the children in their class. A vital part of the school curriculum for English is for children to master the ability to be critical of a book. Similar to the judging in The Red House Book Awards, this Award will give the children participating the opportunity to dissect and assess a text. Everybody in the Reading Groups. But they love discussing books (and drinking tea and scoffing chocolate cake) so it's hardly work!



We will begin sending out the feedback in March after the finalists are announced. At the same time, we will send you a catchy quote plus we will post comments on Amazon.co.uk and Goodreads for you (Note - we will check with you first). It will take approx 5 months (March - July) to do this (the feedback is very comprehensive approx. 500 - 1200 words) so don't rush us; we will get to you.