The Heart of Humanity Award celebrates stories and non-fiction works that uplift humanity by highlighting the best of human spirit, resilience, and compassion. These works inspire readers through tales of personal triumph, collective achievements, and the enduring power of hope and kindness. Whether through compelling narratives of overcoming adversity, insightful explorations of cultural and social issues, or heartfelt accounts of personal growth and transformation, these books serve as beacons of light in a complex world.

The Heart of Humanity award aims to encourage authors to continue creating works that not only entertain but also elevate and enrich the human experience, fostering a more empathetic and connected global community.

• Eligibility: To ensure the Heart of Humanity award recognizes truly impactful and uplifting literature, the following eligibility criteria must be met:
• Publication Date: The book must have been published within the last three years.
• Language: Submissions must be in English or have an English translation available.
• Author: The author can be of any nationality but must submit a book that contributes positively to the global understanding and appreciation of humanity.
• Genre: Eligible genres include literary fiction, non-fiction, self-help, children’s books, young adult fiction, historical fiction, inspirational fiction, memoir, biography, poetry, science fiction, fantasy, mystery/thriller, romance, graphic novels/comics, health and wellness, environmental writing, cultural and social issues, spirituality and religion, educational/academic, art and creativity, human rights and social justice, travel and exploration, mental health and wellbeing, multicultural and diversity, parenting and family, women’s empowerment, community and relationships, overcoming adversity, leadership and business ethics, philanthropy and charity, adventure and survival, positive aging, alternative medicine, and diet and nutrition.
• Originality: The work must be original and not plagiarized. Reprints or new editions of previously published works are not eligible.
• Positive Impact: The content of the book must align with the mission of uplifting humanity, promoting empathy, understanding, and positive change.
• Submission Format: Both digital and print copies are acceptable, but specific submission guidelines must be followed as outlined on the official award website.
• Entry Fee: There may be an entry fee to cover administrative costs. Details will be provided on the submission portal.

Award Categories: $75 entry fee per book per category. A single book may be entered in multiple categories, increasing the potential for you to win.

• Adventure and Survival
• Alternative Medicine
• Art and Creativity
• Biography
• Children's Books
• Community and Relationships
• Cultural and Social Issues
• Diet and Nutrition
• Educational/Academic
• Environmental Writing
• Fantasy
• Health and Wellness
• Historical Fiction
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• Inspirational Fiction
• Leadership and Business Ethics
• Literary Fiction
• Memoir
• Men’s Empowerment
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Multicultural and Diversity
• Mystery/Thriller
• Non-Fiction
• Overcoming Adversity
• Parenting and Family
• Philanthropy and Charity
• Poetry
• Positive Aging
• Science Fiction
• Self-Help and Personal Growth
• Spirituality and Religion
• Travel and Exploration
• Women's Empowerment
• Women's Empowerment

Submission Guidelines for the Heart of Humanity Award

• Online Submission Portal: Authors, promotors, and publishers, can submit their works through the official Heart of Humanity Award submission portal on our website.
• Submission Period: Submissions will be accepted from October 1 to March 1. Awards will be issued in May of each year.
• Confirmation Email: Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation email with your submission details.

Requirements

Format:

• Digital Copies: Preferred format is PDF. Ensure the file is high quality and legible.
• Printed Copies: If submitting printed copies, send three copies of the book to our mailing address. Ensure they are securely packaged to avoid damage in transit

Accompanying Materials:

• Author Bio: A brief biography of the author (up to 300 words).
• Book Summary: A summary of the book (up to 500 words).
• Cover Letter: A cover letter outlining the book's alignment with the Heart of Humanity Award's mission and how it uplifts humanity.
• Publication Date: Proof of publication date (e.g., ISBN page, publisher’s confirmation)

Submission Deadlines:

Opening Date: Submissions open on October 1, 2024

Closing Date: Submissions close on March 1, 2025

Late Submissions: Late submissions will not be accepted. Ensure your submission is complete and received by the deadline.

Entry Fee:

• An entry fee of  $75 per category is required for each submission. Payment can be made via the submission portal using a credit card or PayPal.

Eligibility:

• Books must be published within the last three years.
• Submissions must be in English or have an English translation available.
• Authors of any nationality are eligible.

Submission Address for Printed Copies: 

• Heart of Humanity Award Submissions
  1335 Paseo del Pueblo Sur - 268
  Taos, NM 87574

Important Notes

Review Process

1. All submissions will be reviewed by our panel of judges. The decision of the judges is final.
2. Notification: Shortlisted authors will be notified by April 15, 2025, and winners will be announced on May 5, 2025.
3. Rights: By submitting, you grant us the right to use excerpts from your book for promotional purposes related to the award
4. Due to the high cost of international shipping, we may not be able to send physical awards to winners residing outside the United States. Instead, digital award emblems will be provided. We will make every effort to ensure that international winners receive their trophies, but please note that some countries may impose customs fees on the recipient. These fees are beyond our control, and we are unable to reimburse any customs charges.
5. All rights to your book remain with you. The Heart of Humanity Book Award® is a competition, not a publishing agreement. By entering, you are not signing a publishing contract.
6. Multiple entries are allowed Each book must be submitted separately with its corresponding entry fee. Entry fees are non-refundable.
7. All judges involved in the contest will remain anonymous, without exception. Additionally, we maintain strict confidentiality regarding entrant information, which will not be shared with any third party.
8. The number of books entered in the contest and the identities of those who entered will remain confidential, except for the announcement of winners.
9. The only person who will be notified is whomever submitted the winning book. We do not provide non-winning authors with feedback, judging notes, or information on how their books ranked. The Heart of Humanity Book Award® is a competition, and we encourage authors to continue developing their craft independently.
10. The Heart of Humanity Book Award® opens for submissions on January 1st each year, with a submission deadline of August 15th.
11. Entries will be judged based on various writing elements, including storytelling ability, reader engagement, pacing, character development, dialogue, narrative voice, grammar, and punctuation.
12. Only one winner will be announced per category. We do not offer finalist awards or honorable mentions—only one winner is recognized in each category.
13. If an entry is submitted without payment, it will be deleted within 24 hours and will not be considered for judging.
14. Winners will be announced #################
15. We reserve the right to move a book to a more appropriate category without prior notice if we feel it has been entered incorrectly.
16. If a winner cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts, we reserve the right to disqualify the winner and potentially award the title to another author in the category. No refunds will be issued. We will make two attempts via email, and the author has ten days to respond.
17. Entrants are encouraged to add our email address to their contacts to avoid communication issues. After submission, you will receive an email with details of your submission.
18. All entries must be original work.
19. If we receive a high number of entries in a category, we may split that category and award a winner in each subcategory. Conversely, if no entries in a category meet our award criteria, we reserve the right not to award a winner in that category.
20. It is your responsibility to submit the best version of your book. Once judging begins, no updated versions will be accepted.
21. By entering, you grant us the right to use your likeness, pseudonym, book cover, description, and any other relevant information for promotional purposes if your book wins.
22. Keep a record of your entries. Duplicate submissions in the same category and year will not be refunded once judging begins. It is your responsibility to avoid duplicate entries.
23. All book files are kept confidential, accessible only to our judges, and deleted upon completion of the contest. We do not share entrant information with third parties.
24. Entering the Heart of Humanity Book Award® does not guarantee a win.
25. For books with multiple authors, such as anthologies, a digital award emblem will be provided instead of a physical trophy. The emblem will be given to the person who submitted the entry.
26. Only one physical trophy is awarded to each winner. The trophy will be presented during one of our Gala events. In the event the recipient is unable to attend the Gala, arrangements will be made to ship it to the recipient. There may be additional fees for shipping outside the United States.
27. Marketing companies or representatives of authors, illustrators, or cover designers should note that awards will only be sent directly to the winner, with no exceptions. All contact and shipping information must be provided by the winning author, cover designer, or illustrator.
28. In the Cover Design and Illustration contests, if an author submits the entry but is not the designer or illustrator, the author will receive the trophy if the entry wins. However, the designer or illustrator's professional name will be listed on our website and the trophy, as the award recognizes their work.
29. Due to international customs regulations, we cannot guarantee the delivery of packages outside the United States.
30. We reserve the right to change the design, size, or engraving of the trophy without prior notice.
31. We do not award books that promote erotica, hate speech, inflammatory language, or bias against any group, religion, political party, gender, or race.
32. The judging process begins shortly after entry, and entry fees are non-refundable once judging has started. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure their book qualifies for the contest.
33. The Heart of Humanity Book Award® is based in the United States, and entry fees are in U.S. Dollars. If you are outside the U.S., your fee may vary due to currency conversion.
34. We reserve the right to modify these terms without prior notice.
35. The use of our trademarks, including the Heart of Humanity Book Award®, is prohibited without authorization. The use of our winner emblems and logos is also restricted unless authorized in writing.
36. By entering, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Heart of Humanity Book Award® and its affiliates from any claims or liabilities arising from your participation in the contest.
37. By submitting an entry, you agree to all terms and conditions outlined above, and you acknowledge that entry fees are non-refundable for any reason.
38. For any questions or further information, please contact us at [contact email] or visit our FAQ page on the submission portal.