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The Midwest Book Awards, now in its 33rd year, is organized by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, a vibrant professional association that serves the publishing communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

MiPA aims to create an inclusive publishing community that shares educational resources, fosters networking connections, increases the quality of independent publishing coming out of the Midwest, and helps its member publishers grow. MiPA is also a regional affiliate of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

MiPA founders organized the first Midwest Book Awards in 1989, and today the Midwest Book Awards is one of the longest running literary recognition programs in the country. Judges for the prestigious literary program are booksellers, university staff and librarians who are subject matter experts and collectively hail from each of MiPA’s twelve states. Finalists and winners are celebrated in a virtual gala, and winners receive exclusive perks and promotional benefits, including the opportunity to participate in our Virtual Reading Series. The books recognized by the Midwest Book Awards are also available for purchase at MiPA’s affiliate shop at Bookshop.org, which directly supports independent booksellers.