Ebobea Book Awards
FAQS
Judging and Voting FAQs
We value transparency and want to address common questions about our judging and voting processes. Below are answers to frequently asked questions to help authors, publishers, and readers understand how the Ebobea Book Awards operate.
General Questions
Q: Who are the judges, and how are they selected?
A: Our 25 judges are experienced professionals, including authors, editors, librarians, and literary critics, chosen for their expertise and diversity of perspectives. They are nominated by past winners, industry partners, and our advisory board. To prevent bias, judge identities remain confidential, but their qualifications are shared on our About Us page. Judges must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from evaluating books they are connected to.
Q: How do you ensure fairness in judging?
A: Judges follow a standardized scoring rubric based on literary quality (40%), originality (30%), impact (20%), and presentation (10%). Scores are aggregated anonymously to prevent individual bias. Our administrative team oversees the process, and external auditors review results to ensure compliance with our ethics policy.
Q: Can books in any language really be judged fairly?
A: Yes. Our diverse judging panel includes multilingual members and experts in various literary traditions. For books in languages not all judges can read, we provide professional translation summaries or engage bilingual judges to ensure fair evaluation. The focus remains on universal literary qualities like storytelling and impact.
Voting Questions
Q: How do voting packages work?
A: Voting packages allow readers to support their favorite shortlisted books by purchasing a set number of votes (e.g., 3 votes for $1.00, up to 1,000 votes for $199.99). Voters can distribute their votes across one or multiple books in any category. The process is secure and accessible via our voting platform on www.ebobea.com.
Q: Why are there voting packages instead of free voting?
A: Voting packages help cover administrative costs, such as platform maintenance, fraud detection, and prize pools, while keeping entry free for authors. The tiered structure ensures accessibility for casual voters ($1.00 for 3 votes) while allowing enthusiastic supporters to contribute more. Revenue allocation is detailed in our Financial Transparency Report.Q: Do voting packages give an unfair advantage to some books?A: No. Public voting accounts for only 40% of the final score, with judges’ scores (60%) providing a robust counterbalance. Our fraud detection system flags suspicious voting patterns (e.g., bulk purchases from a single source), and such votes are disqualified. We also cap the impact of votes to prevent any single voter or group from dominating results.
Q: What safeguards are in place to prevent vote tampering?
A: Our voting platform uses encryption, IP tracking, and behavioral analysis to detect and block bots, duplicate accounts, or fraudulent activity. All votes are verified before being counted. If tampering is suspected, our team investigates and may reject votes, as outlined in our Terms of Voting. We also publish a summary of vote counts and verification steps after winners are announced.
Q: Can authors or publishers buy votes for their own books?
A: Authors and publishers may purchase voting packages like any voter, but they are subject to the same safeguards. Excessive or suspicious voting by parties connected to a book triggers a review, and such votes may be disqualified. We encourage authors to promote their shortlisted books to readers organically rather than purchasing votes directly.
Submission and Outcome Questions
Q: Why is there no entry fee?A: We believe financial barriers should not prevent talented authors from being recognized. By eliminating entry fees, we make the awards accessible to all, especially independent and underrepresented authors. Voting package revenue and sponsorships sustain the awards.
Q: How are winners notified, and what do they receive?
A: Winners and finalists are notified via email and announced publicly on our website and social media. Winners receive a free trophy, a digital award seal, and promotional features. Finalists receive a certificate and recognition. Additional prizes, such as cash awards, are announced before the shortlist phase.
Q: What happens if a book doesn’t meet eligibility criteria?
A: Submissions are screened for eligibility before judging. If a book is found ineligible (e.g., unpublished or missing an ISBN), the submitter is notified via email with an explanation. We encourage resubmission in future cycles if eligibility issues are resolved.
Q: Can I appeal a judging or voting decision?
A: Judging decisions are final, as they are based on a rigorous, multi-judge process. However, if you believe there was a procedural error (e.g., a submission was overlooked), you can contact global@ebobea.com within 14 days of the winner announcement. Voting disputes are reviewed if evidence of tampering or system errors is provided.
Q: How can I trust that the Ebobea Book Awards are legitimate?
A: We are committed to transparency and fairness. We publish detailed guidelines, share judge qualifications, use audited processes, and report voting and financial summaries. We align with industry standards set by organizations like the Alliance of Independent Authors and welcome feedback to improve. Our mission to advance equity and literary excellence guides every decision.