To be eligible, books:
- Must contain some clear Toronto content (this may be reflected in the themes, settings, subjects, etc.), but authors do not necessarily have to reside in Toronto
- Must be published between May 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025
- Must be published in English
- Should be accessible to an adult and/or children general reading audience, i.e. not written for a specialized or academic audience
- Can be either fiction and non-fiction.
Please note, there are no separate categories. Novels, short story collections, books of poetry, books on history, politics and social issues, biographies, books about sports, children’s and young adult books, graphic novels and photographic collections are judged together. Ebooks and digital formats are encouraged.
Not eligible:
- Textbooks, self-published works, hybrid-publishing and ghostwritten works
- Reprinted material.
- Publish books based on an editorial selection process.
- Be committed to a sustained book publishing program, consisting of titles by a variety of authors. Self-published books are not eligible.
- Pay royalties or financially compensate the author, illustrator or translator for any submitted title.
- Publish no more than 25 per cent each year of works by owners, family or employees of the publishing house.
- Publishers must guarantee their author’s participation in at least two of three official Toronto Book Awards events.
- Publishers must include a brief description of how/why the book is evocative of Toronto.
- There are no entry forms to complete.
- Submit six copies of the book you consider eligible, along with your name, address, phone number and email address to the submission contact below.
- Submission must include a brief description of how/why the book is evocative of Toronto.
Send your submission to:
Christopher Jones
Cultural Development Officer
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen St. W.
East Tower, 9th floor
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
