So while researching an unrelated issue today, I stumbled across Outskirt Press’s Best Book of the Year Contest.
I confess up front to not being a fan of their business tactics, but my initial thought was that it was pretty cool that they would sponsor an internal contest for their authors. Putting some cash on the line to encourage their folks to raise the bar in production quality and all that.


Geesh, was I wrong.


“No promotion code is necessary. Simply order your publishing package and publish your book this year with a 2013 copyright date. The talented author of the best book we publish this year will earn $1,500 plus a lot of bragging rights!”


So Outskirt Press is sponsoring a Best Book of the Year Contest. The winner gets $1,500. The contest is open to any author who publishes through Outskirt Press. On the surface, this sounds like a pretty cool thing. There are lots of POD providers. On the surface, it looks pretty cool that Outskirt Press is putting their money on the line to award one of their authors. Sounds like a real commitment to helping authors produce quality work!


But then you go to their publishing packages. Createspace.com is free to use and will give you a free ISBN for use on Amazon.com. For $25, you also get distribution to other stores. Lulu.com is also free to use and has a low cost distribution package. Booklocker.com has a free DIY package with a nominal annual hosting fee.


The cheapest deal on Outskirt Press is their $199 “Emerald Package” which doesn’t provide an ISBN, distribution, or anything else. You only get one trim choice, and one “free” copy of your book. The only people who would get any value out of this option would be people who intend to buy copies to sell themselves. And if you are selling it yourself, you would probably get a better deal working with a local printer and buying books in bulk.


But still, maybe you don’t want to deal with a local printer or have the skill to set up your own print-ready files. It may be worth it to you to have someone else prepare the book for you for $199. That isn’t a lot of money, and you have a chance to win $1500.


Um, wait. I apologize. I didn’t read the fine print of the contest.


Oh boy. That’s a LOT of hoops to jump through.


”1. Every year we hand-select 2%-5% of the best books we published within the past year for official nomination to the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards. Your book must receive an Official Outskirts Press EVVY Nomination from us and you must accept the nomination, which includes the EVVY Nomination entry fee, the cost of the judge’s copies for your book, and the shipping/handling fee to complete your application on your behalf.”


So let me see if I understand this correctly. My book is not automatically entered in the Best Book of the Year contest. It has to be selected for entry into the EVVY Award FIRST to be considered. And if it is selected to be nominated, I HAVE TO PAY THE $75 entry fee?


”2. In addition to being a well-written book, Official Outskirts Press EVVY Award Nominations must be published under our Diamond or full-color Pearl package and must be in English.”


The Diamond package costs $999. The Pearl Package costs $1099. So I have to spend over $1000 for a chance to win $1500?


”3. Your book must win an EVVY Award to be considered a Best Book of the Year contender. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place EVVY Awards are awarded in a number of different categories, along with merit award-winners. EVVY-winning books are announced in the late spring/early summer at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association Awards Banquet in Denver.


So not only do I have to spend over a $1000 for a chance to win $1500, but I also have to win an EVVY first?


5. The ultimate Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award will be determined by the readers of SelfPublishingNews.com blog in an open, public vote. Yes, that means the three finalists hold their own fate in their hands. The Best Book of the Year Award is meant to demonstrate to agents, editors, and publishers that the author has the talent to excel at writing an award winning book and the tenacity to excel at marketing it. Being a finalist means you have the talent. Do you have the marketing tenacity to get the most votes for YOUR book in an open, public vote? Leverage your Twitter and Facebook accounts; email everyone you know and ask them to vote for your book. The voting will determine the most talented writer with the best author platform.


So I have to spend over $1000 and jump through all of these hoops, and the winner is going to be selected by virtue of a popularity contest that is easily manipulated by sock puppetry?


WTF???


And here is the kicker:


The $1,500 is credited to the author’s Outskirts Press shopping cart account within 30 days following the public voting that determines the award-winning book.


So Outskirt Press’s big contest involves me spending over $1000 for a chance to get an in-store credit for $1500. Color me unimpressed.