Features Welcome to Award Season! 2024 Thriller Awards Now Open for Submissions

2024 THRILLER AWARDS
NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!

International Thriller Writers is pleased to announce its
2024 Thriller Awards are open for submissions.

BEST HARDCOVER NOVEL:
This award honors the best hardcover thriller of the year.

BEST FIRST NOVEL:
This award honors the best debut thriller of the year. Eligibility covers an author’s first novel, whether under the author’s name or a pseudonym, regardless of publication format. All first novels (except for YA) must be entered in the Best First Novel category.

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVEL:
This award honors the best paperback original thriller of the year.

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL:
This award honors the best young adult thriller of the year, aimed at ages 12–18. This includes first novels.

BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL:
This award honors the best e-book original thriller of the year.

BEST SHORT STORY:
This award honors the best short story thriller of the year.

BEST AUDIOBOOK:
This award honors the best audiobook thriller of the year.

**SUBMISSION DEADLINE**

Works published on or before May 30, 2023
must be submitted by July 31, 2023

Works published on or before August 31, 2023
must be submitted by October 31, 2023

Works published on or after September 1, 2023
must be submitted by December 31, 2023

No submissions will be accepted after December 31, 2023 

RULES OF ELIGIBILITY

(Please check our FAQs for detailed answers to your eligibility questions)

Eligibility Period: All works must be published in the English language for the first time between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Eligible Novels: All novels first published in English by an ITW Recognized Publisher or from an ITW Active Member.

Eligible Short Stories: All short stories under 35,000 words and first published in English by an ITW Recognized Publisher or from an ITW Active Member. Original publication or a copy of the story published is admissible, provided it is accompanied by proof of publication (i.e., the publication’s copyright page/notice).

Eligible Audiobooks: All audiobooks first published in English by an ITW Recognized Publisher or from an ITW Active Member, which have not been submitted to the Thriller Awards in any other format (print or e-book) in a previous year.

Submission Deadlines: Works published on or before May 30, 2023 must be submitted by July 31, 2023. Works published on or before August 31, 2023 must be submitted by October 31, 2023. Works published on or after September 1, 2023 must be submitted by December 31, 2023. No submissions will be accepted after December 31, 2023.

Works may be submitted by either the publisher or the author. To avoid duplicate submissions, an author should confirm with their publisher that their work has not already been submitted. If a work is not submitted by the deadline date of December 31, 2023, that work will be disqualified.

Other Eligibility Requirements: With the exception of audiobooks, each work must be submitted to only one category. ITW will accept up to three eligible works per author (for example, an author may submit one novel and two short stories, if all three were published in 2023).

Please note the following category-specific requirements:

• Novels first published in hardcover must be submitted to Best Hardcover (except for first novels).
• Novels first published in paperback must be submitted to Best Paperback Original (except for first novels).
• All first novels must be submitted to the Best First Novel (except for young adult novels). Any author who has previously published a novel in any format is ineligible to submit to Best First Novel.
• All young adult novels, including YA novels that are also first novels, must be submitted to Best Young Adult.
• E-books sold principally in e-book format with only incidental print copies available (such as POD) and that are not distributed in brick-and-mortar stores are eligible for the E-Book Original category.
• A novel may be submitted to both Best Audiobook and one other category, provided both submissions meet all eligibility requirements. An audiobook is not eligible if it the book was submitted to the Thriller Awards in any format in a previous year.

Frequently Asked Questions:  For other eligibility or submission questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK

To submit a novel, short story, or audiobook for consideration, please fill out the entry form available on the ITW website. Once your submission is received, your entry will be reviewed for eligibility and assigned to the appropriate judging panel.

Please note that novels and short stories must be submitted in .pdf format. Audiobooks must be submitted via Audible link only. If you have questions about eligibility requirement or the submission guidelines, please check our FAQs.