EPIC Indie is a judge for the inaugural IBOR competition
Sometimes, all an author needs is another shot. Another opportunity to prove that their story deserves to be seen. That belief sits at the very heart of the inaugural IBOR competition, and it is exactly why EPIC Indie is proud to be announced as an official judge for the first ever IBOR.
IBOR exists to offer a second chance. It recognises that talent alone does not always determine outcomes in indie publishing. Timing, visibility, and simple luck can play an outsized role, particularly in highly competitive spaces. This is especially true for authors entering the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, where this year’s lottery system inevitably led to many strong books not making it into the competition proper.
That is where IBOR steps in. Designed as a redemption-focused competition, IBOR gives fantasy authors who missed out on SPFBO this year another route into the spotlight. While the structure and judging process differ, the underlying goal remains the same: to showcase high-quality indie fantasy and help deserving authors reach new readers.
The competition was created by Corey Ratliff, an indie author who himself missed out on getting into the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off due to the lottery system. Rather than letting that disappointment close a door, Corey chose to open another one. IBOR was born from a simple but powerful idea: books that miss out on SPFBO still deserve a chance to be seen, read, and championed.
EPIC Indie’s involvement as a judge reflects our commitment to championing independent authors and fairer access to visibility. Since our creation we have sought to help put eyes on indie fantasy and sci-fi books that are less well known and that deserve more attention. With years of experience supporting the indie community, we bring care to the judging process, ensuring that each entry is assessed on its own merits and will do our best to promote the entrants via interviews and shoutouts.
How does it work?
Fantasy authors who have attempted to enter the SPFBO but missed out due to the lottery system have another opportunity to enter the IBOR. We are going to be running this on a trust system, so please…have a care, and some verity.
On February 1st, the IBOR will kick off. The number of authors and books selected, at least for this first year, will depend on how many readers and reviewers we gain. Yes, I realize this is quite short notice to attempt such a competition, but we will do better next year. As such, for the IBOR I, we may not have many available.
Once the competition begins, each judge will be assigned 3 books, with none having the same books. This is a low-commitment competition for the readers who want to join us, so you essentially get 1 month per book. After 3 months, we will have each judge pick their top read to go onto round 2.
Round 2 will be the same as the first round, with each judge getting 3 new books out of the round 1 winners. After 3 months, each judge will select their top read to go onto round 3.
Round 3 will use a x/1000 rating system based on the following categories (each category is rated x/100):
Prose—plot & structure—characters—emotional depth—entertainment—book cover—overall satisfaction—recommendation factor—world building—and originality/creativity.
After one final month of the competition, the judges will crown the champion of IBOR!
Round one of IBOR officially begins on 1 February. For this first year, the number of participating authors and books will be shaped by the level of reader and reviewer support the competition attracts. As the community grows, so too will the opportunity for more authors to take part.
