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Industry Guide to the Southern Book Prize

2025 Southern Book Prize Winners Announced!

The Southern Book Prize (SBP) recognizes great books of Southern origin. Eligible books must be set in the South or by a Southern author and published within the previous calendar year.

SIBA booksellers nominate Southern Book Prize finalists, and winners are chosen by the popular vote of SIBA booksellers and their customers. The Southern Book Prize a true "readers' choice" award and one of the most well-known awards for Southern literature.

The Southern Book Prize

Books eligible for nomination must be:

  • Set in the South and/or the author must be Southern (preferably both!).
  • Published within the previous calendar year.
  • Available at industry standard distribution terms.
  • Listed on Indiebound.org.

SIBA booksellers nominate Southern Book Prize titles through Edelweiss+ reviews and our online nomination form. A list of finalists is compiled from eligible books that receive the most nominations. Finalists are announced on November 1. Bookstores and their customers vote on the finalists between November 1 and February 1. The winners are announced on Valentine's Day, February 14.

Marketing Support from SIBA

Each stage of the Southern Book Prize process receives extensive coverage in SIBA's reader-targeted The Southern Bookseller Review newsletter, and in SIBA's social media accounts. Southern Book Prize finalists and winners are also prominently featured on The Southern Bookseller Review website. Stores are encouraged to do in-store displays and to engage their customers in the voting process using the hashtag #VoiceYourChoice

SIBA Bookstores receive downloadable materials for in-store display.

The Southern Book Prize Calendar:
  • October 1: Nominations close
  • November 1: Finalists announced
  • November 1 - February 1: Booksellers and readers vote on finalists
  • February 14: Winners announced!