Golden Poppy Awards
The members of CALIBA present The Golden Poppy Book Awards to recognize the most distinguished books written by writers and artists who make California their home.
The members of CALIBA present The Golden Poppy Book Awards to recognize the most distinguished books written by writers and artists who make California their home.
The Golden Poppies are given for books published in the following categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Glenn Goldman Award: California Lifestyle, Glenn Goldman Award: Cooking, Mystery, Romance, Poetry, Octavia E Butler Award: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Children's Nonfiction, Mirrors & Windows: Excellence in Children's Literature and the Martin Cruz Smith Award: Emerging Diverse Voices.
2025 Golden Poppy Awards Submissions
CALIBA presents the 2025 Golden Poppy Awards in recognition of the most distinguished books written and illustrated by creators who have made California their home.
Committees for each category are made up of booksellers throughout the state tasked with developing a final ballot of five top titles that California booksellers will vote upon.
Eligibility:
The author/illustrator must live in California during the writing/illustrating process but does not need to be a resident at the time of publication/consideration.
In the non-fiction categories, work primarily focused on the State of California written by non-residents will be considered. The non-fiction committee will have final approval of these submissions.
Books by authors who have won in the same category within the last two years would not be eligible for a Golden Poppy in the current year.
Eligible Titles Must:
- Have a publication date between November 1, 2024-November 15th, 2025
- Be available for resale through traditional wholesale channels, fully returnable, and at standard industry discounts.
2025 Timeline for Submissions:
Beginning March 28th, publishers are welcome to complete the submission form for eligible titles. Once the CALIBA office verifies eligibility, they will provide publishers with committee lists. Review copies should be submitted as early as possible upon receipt of committee lists.
We suggest that publishers send review copies:
- Winter/Spring titles by April 30th.
- Summer titles by July 30th
- Fall titles by September 15th
Final submission forms must be processed by September 22, 2025. The office will not process submissions after this date. Judges are not obligated to consider review copies that arrive after October 6th.
In the event of a dispute regarding eligibility, CALIBA will decide whether a book is eligible, and its decision will be binding.
2025 Finalists and Winners Announcements:
The shortlist of titles for the ballot will be announced in November 2025. Bookseller voting will take place January 1-11, 2026. Winners will be announced in late January.
SUBMIT YOUR TITLES NOW
Cost for Submissions:
General cost for submission: $60
Cost for California-based publisher submission: $30
While most of our awards are balloted, we have two juried prizes that celebrate diversity which will be awarded by their respective committees. (Martin Cruz Smith Award: Emerging Diverse Voices and Mirrors & Windows: Excellence in Children's Literature). There is no charge for submitting for these categories.