SCBWI Book Launch Award

The Book Launch Award provides authors or illustrators with $2,000 in funds to help the promotion of their newly published work and take the marketing strategy into their own creative hands. One to two grants of up to $2,000 each will be awarded annually.

SCBWI reserves the right not to confer this award in any given year.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN ON FEBRUARY 1st through FEBRUARY 28th 2023

Open February 1 through February 28, 2023.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

Eligibility: You must be a current SCBWI member. PAL members are eligible and must have a book with a publication date of 2022 or 2023.

• Money from the grant may be used to promote your book including (but not limited to):
  • Launch events
  • Speaking engagements and book tours
  • Curriculum materials
  • Advertising, posters, postcards, and other promotional marketing materials
  • Book trailers
  • Website development
  • Book donations to local schools and libraries
  • School visits
• Grants will be awarded based on:
  • Strong marketing and implementation plan
  • Demonstrated need (e.g. your publishing house is not dedicating a lot of marketing money for your book)
  • Quality and professionalism of your synopsis
• Winners must use the money in the first calendar year and provide SCBWI with documentation of grant money use.

TO APPLY

• Submit one PDF document which includes the following:
  • A cover letter with the name of your book, the publication date, and a short summary of the book.
  • A short artist statement explaining why you are applying for this grant
  • Your marketing plan. Include details of how the money would be used.
• Link to online submission portal HERE

FAQ 

Q. Are self-published authors eligible?

A. Yes. PAL members may apply.

Q. Can I apply for a book that has been published prior to the current year?

A. No, the award is to provide a big marketing push in the year when the book is launched.

Questions? Please email Sarah Diamond at sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy