Starting this year, the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association are merging their book awards to create the Heartland Booksellers Award. The name mirrors the name of the two associations' joint fall show, the Heartland Fall Forum.
As the associations put it, "Celebrating our book awards as one industry force amplifies the impact of the award for booksellers, publishers, authors, and consumers, as 12 states and 300 bookstores throughout the Greater Midwest celebrate the same set of exemplary titles."
Winners will be announced the week of June 29 and be honored at the Heartland Fall Forum. Even if the fall show takes place online only, the awards will maintain their usual schedule, with an online celebration.