Who Can Submit?

The NDI Spiritual Book Awards are designed to honour non-fiction books that contribute to spiritual transformation, healing, awakening, consciousness expansion, and humanity’s remembrance of Love.

To keep the awards clear, fair, and transparent, all entries must meet the eligibility requirements below.

Eligible Publication Years

For the 2026/2027 NDI Spiritual Book Awards, eligible books must have been published between January 2016 and December 2026.

Books published outside of this period are not eligible for the 2026/2027 awards cycle.

Accepted Book Formats

Entries may be submitted in the following formats:

• Paperback
• Hardcover
• Ebook

Digital review copies will be requested for judging purposes.

Language Requirement

All submitted books must be published in English.

Division Eligibility

The NDI Book Awards are divided into two separate divisions:

1. NDI Published Books Division: For books published by the Near-Death Institute (NDI).
2. Open Published Books Division: For books published independently, traditionally, through a hybrid publisher, small press, or another publishing company.

To preserve transparency and fairness, books published by NDI may not be entered into the Open Published Books Division.

Books published outside of NDI may not be entered into the NDI Published Books Division.

Each book must be entered into the correct division at the time of submission to avoid disqualification.

Published Books Only

The NDI Spiritual Book Awards are open to published books only.

Unpublished manuscripts, works in progress, draft manuscripts, and incomplete books are not eligible for entry.

A book must be available to readers in at least one published format by the final submission deadline.

Anthology Entries

Anthologies are eligible for submission.

For anthology entries, the submitted work will be judged as a complete book, including its overall theme, structure, editorial quality, contribution, presentation, and reader impact.

NDI Anthologies

For NDI-published anthologies, individual contributors may also be considered for specific recognition, such as Best Co-Author Contribution, where that category is offered.

Individual co-author recognition is based on the strength, clarity, authenticity, and impact of the contributor’s chapter or section, as well as its alignment with the overall theme of the book.

Multiple Category Entries

A book may be entered into more than one category if it is a strong fit for each selected category.

Each category entry must be submitted according to the official entry process, and additional category fees may apply.

NDI reserves the right to move a book to a more appropriate category if the selected category does not accurately reflect the book’s content.

Rights and Permissions

By submitting a book, the entrant confirms that they have the legal right to enter the work into the NDI Spiritual Book Awards.

Entrants also confirm that they have the necessary rights and permissions for the submitted content, including the book text, cover design, illustrations, images, and any other material included in the book.

Copyright remains with the author, publisher, or rightful copyright holder. Submission to the NDI Spiritual Book Awards does not transfer ownership of the book, manuscript, cover, or intellectual property to NDI.

By entering, the entrant grants NDI permission to use the book title, author name, cover image, category entered, finalist status, winner status, and approved author/book information for awards-related publicity, including website features, social media posts, email announcements, certificates, press releases, and promotional materials.

Judging and Final Decisions

All eligible entries will be judged according to the official NDI Spiritual Book Awards judging criteria.

Judges are not asked to verify or invalidate an author’s spiritual, near-death, afterlife, intuitive, or transformative experience. Books are judged on quality, clarity, integrity, reader impact, category fit, presentation, and transformational contribution.

Legal, eligibility, rights, privacy, payment, and administrative issues are handled by NDI admin before judging. Judges are responsible only for evaluating the quality, impact, category fit, and presentation of the book.

Judging decisions are final.

Entry does not guarantee finalist or winner status.

Disqualification

NDI reserves the right to disqualify an entry if:

• The book is entered into the wrong division and cannot be corrected.
• The entrant does not have the right to submit the book.
• The book is unpublished, incomplete, or outside the eligible publication period.
• Required information, payment, or review materials are not received by the deadline.
• The submission contains false, misleading, or incomplete information.
• The book or entry violates the official award terms and conditions.

Entry Fees

Entry fees, where applicable, are non-refundable.

Payment of an entry fee does not guarantee selection as a finalist or winner.

Privacy and Submitted Materials

Personal information and submitted materials will be used only for the administration, judging, and promotion of the NDI Spiritual Book Awards.

Submitted book files are provided for judging and administrative purposes only and will not be sold, distributed, reproduced, or shared outside the awards process except where required for judging, administration, or agreed promotional use.

Final Note

The NDI Book Awards exist to honor meaningful and transformational books. Each entry is reviewed with respect for the author’s message, spiritual journey, creative work, and contribution to readers.

These Terms and Conditions apply to all entries submitted to the NDI Spiritual Book Awards. By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions.

The NDI Spiritual Book Awards are a merit-based book awards program. Entries are reviewed and judged according to the official award criteria, category requirements, and judging process. Entry does not guarantee selection as a finalist, winner, honorable mention, or special recognition recipient.

1. Award Organizer

The NDI Spiritual Book Awards are organized by the Near-Death Institute, referred to in these Terms and Conditions as “NDI,” “we,” “us,” or “our.”

The person or organization submitting a book is referred to as the “entrant,” “you,” or “your.”

2. Entry Submission

All entries must be submitted through the official entry process provided by NDI.

Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all required information, files, links, payment, and permissions are submitted correctly and by the relevant deadline.

NDI is not responsible for entries that are incomplete, late, incorrectly submitted, sent to the wrong email address, affected by technical issues, or missing required information.

NDI may contact entrants to request clarification, additional information, corrected files, or missing materials. Failure to provide requested materials by the stated deadline may result in disqualification.

3. Entry Fees

Entry fees, where applicable, must be paid in full before an entry is confirmed for judging.

Entry fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether the book is selected as a finalist, winner, honorable mention, or special recognition recipient.

Payment of an entry fee does not guarantee any award result.

Additional fees may apply for extra category entries, optional written feedback, physical certificates, trophies, seals, shipping, or other optional add-ons, where offered.

4. Judging Process

Eligible entries will be reviewed according to the official NDI Spiritual Book Awards judging criteria.

Judging may include evaluation of the following:

• Category fit
• Spiritual or transformational impact
• Writing quality and clarity
• Originality and depth
• Structure and flow
• Authenticity and integrity of voice
• Reader value and practical takeaway
• Editing, design, and presentation
• Overall contribution to the category

Judges are not asked to verify, prove, or disprove an author’s spiritual, near-death, afterlife, intuitive, consciousness-based, healing, or transformative experience. Books are judged on the quality, clarity, integrity, reader impact, category fit, presentation, and transformational contribution of the work.

Legal, eligibility, rights, privacy, payment, and administrative issues are handled by NDI admin before judging. Judges are responsible only for evaluating the quality, impact, category fit, and presentation of the book.

Judging decisions are final. NDI is not required to provide individual scores, rankings, judge names, judge comments, or detailed explanations for award decisions unless optional feedback is specifically offered and purchased.

5. Conflict of Interest

NDI aims to maintain a fair and transparent judging process.

Judges should not judge a book where they have a direct conflict of interest, including but not limited to situations where they:

• Edited the book
• Published the book
• Coached the author on the book
• Contributed to the book
• Have a close personal, family, employment, or business relationship with the author
• Have a direct financial interest in the success of the book

Where a conflict of interest is identified, NDI may reassign the entry to another judge or take any other reasonable step to protect the integrity of the judging process.

6. Finalists, Winners, and Recognition

NDI may recognize books as finalists, winners, honorable mentions, special recognition recipients, or other award levels depending on the category and judging outcome.

NDI is not required to select a winner in every category if the entries in that category do not meet the expected standard.

NDI may create additional special recognition awards at its discretion.

Award titles, badges, certificates, and recognition may only be used by the relevant author, publisher, or authorized representative for the book and category for which the recognition was granted.

Entrants may not claim to have won an NDI Book Award unless they have been officially notified by NDI.

7. Publicity and Promotional Use

By entering the NDI Book Awards, the entrant grants NDI permission to use the following for awards-related administration, judging, publicity, and promotion:

• Author name
• Book title
• Publisher name
• Book cover image
• Book description
• Category entered
• Finalist status
• Winner status
• Honorable mention or special recognition status
• Author photo and biography, where provided
• Publicly submitted or approved quotes, links, and promotional details

This permission allows NDI to feature entrants, finalists, and winners on the NDI website, email newsletters, social media platforms, press releases, certificates, award graphics, interviews, videos, promotional materials, and other awards-related communications.

8. Intellectual Property and Copyright

Copyright and intellectual property rights remain with the author, publisher, illustrator, designer, or rightful copyright holder.

Submission to the NDI Spiritual Book Awards does not transfer ownership of the book or any related intellectual property to NDI.

By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms that they have the legal right to submit the book and that, to the best of their knowledge, the submitted material does not infringe the rights of any third party.

The entrant is responsible for ensuring that all text, images, illustrations, cover artwork, design elements, quotes, photographs, music, narration, and other materials included in the book or submitted with the entry have been used with the necessary rights, licenses, releases, or permissions.

NDI is not responsible for copyright, trademark, privacy, defamation, licensing, or rights disputes arising from submitted works.

9. Submitted Files and Review Copies

Submitted book files, digital review copies, PDFs, EPUBs, links, and related materials are provided for awards administration and judging purposes.

NDI may share submitted materials with authorized judges, reviewers, administrators, and service providers involved in the awards process.

Submitted materials will not be sold, publicly distributed, or reproduced in full by NDI.

NDI may retain copies of submitted materials for administrative, record-keeping, legal, judging, or archival purposes.

10. Privacy and Personal Information

NDI collects and processes personal information for the purpose of administering, judging, communicating about, promoting, and managing the NDI Book Awards.

This may include names, email addresses, payment information, author biographies, photographs, book details, submission files, judging records, and communication history.

By entering, the entrant consents to NDI collecting, storing, processing, and using the submitted information for awards-related purposes.

NDI will take reasonable steps to protect personal information and submitted materials from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.

Personal information may be shared with authorized members of the NDI team, judges, administrators, payment processors, website providers, email platforms, design providers, or other service providers where necessary for the awards process.

Entrants may contact NDI to request access to, correction of, or deletion of their personal information, subject to any legal, administrative, contractual, or record-keeping requirements.

11. Accuracy of Information

Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all information submitted is accurate, complete, and not misleading.

NDI is not responsible for errors in certificates, finalist listings, winner listings, press releases, social media posts, or website features that result from incorrect information submitted by the entrant.

If an entrant notices an error, they should notify NDI as soon as possible.

12. Disqualification

NDI reserves the right to disqualify an entry at any stage if:

• The book does not meet the eligibility requirements.
• The book is entered into the wrong division and cannot be corrected.
• Required information, files, permissions, or payment are not received by the deadline.
• The entrant does not have the right to submit the book.
• The entry contains false, misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information.
• The book is unpublished, incomplete, or outside the eligible publication period.
• The entrant attempts to influence, pressure, harass, or improperly contact judges.
• The entrant misuses NDI badges, certificates, seals, or award titles.
• The entry violates these Terms and Conditions or the official award rules.

NDI reasonably believes that accepting or continuing the entry may create legal, ethical, reputational, or administrative risk.

Disqualification does not entitle the entrant to a refund.

13. Use of Award Badges, Certificates, and Seals

Finalists and winners may use official NDI award badges, certificates, and seals only in connection with the recognized book, category, and award year.

Award badges, certificates, and seals may not be altered in a misleading way.

Entrants may not use NDI award branding to suggest endorsement of other books, services, businesses, courses, coaching programs, products, or unrelated offerings without written permission from NDI.

NDI reserves the right to request correction or removal of any misleading, inaccurate, or unauthorized use of NDI award materials.

14. Optional Feedback

NDI may offer optional written feedback as an add-on service.

Where feedback is offered, it is intended to provide general impressions based on the judging criteria. It is not a full editorial review, manuscript assessment, legal review, theological review, spiritual verification, or publishing consultation.

Feedback is subjective and reflects the reviewer’s opinion. It does not guarantee future award success, publishing success, sales, reviews, media attention, or reader response.

15. Awards Ceremony and Announcements

NDI may announce finalists and winners through its website, email list, social media platforms, video events, livestreams, online ceremonies, press releases, or other communication channels.

NDI may change announcement dates, ceremony dates, event formats, or promotional plans where reasonably necessary.

Entrants are responsible for checking their email and official NDI communications for updates.

16. Prizes and Benefits

Award benefits may include digital badges, certificates, website listings, social media features, press release templates, interviews, promotional opportunities, or other forms of recognition.

Specific benefits may vary by category, division, award year, or recognition level.

NDI reserves the right to substitute, amend, or remove award benefits where necessary.

17. No Guarantee of Results

NDI makes no guarantee that entering, becoming a finalist, winning, or receiving recognition will result in book sales, media coverage, publishing opportunities, reviews, rankings, income, spiritual community recognition, speaking invitations, or business growth.

Any promotional benefit depends on many factors outside NDI’s control.

18. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, NDI will not be liable for any loss, damage, claim, cost, expense, or disappointment arising from participation in the NDI Book Awards, including but not limited to:

• Failure to be selected as a finalist or winner
• Technical issues affecting entry submission
• Lost, corrupted, unreadable, delayed, or incomplete files
• Errors in submitted information
• Judging outcomes
• Category changes
• Event changes or cancellations
• Public reaction to a book, author, finalist, or winner announcement
• Rights disputes related to submitted materials
• Unauthorized use of an entrant’s own submitted materials by third parties outside NDI’s reasonable control

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.

19. Changes, Postponement, or Cancellation

NDI reserves the right to update the rules, adjust deadlines, modify categories, change the judging process, postpone announcements, cancel categories, or cancel the awards program if necessary.

Where possible, NDI will communicate significant changes through the official awards page or by email.

If the awards program is cancelled before judging begins, NDI may decide, at its discretion, whether refunds, credits, or alternative arrangements will be offered.

20. Communication

Official communication about entries will usually be sent by email.

Entrants are responsible for providing a correct email address and checking their inbox, spam, promotions, and junk folders.

NDI is not responsible for missed communications due to incorrect contact details, email filtering, full inboxes, or failure to check messages.

21. Merit-Based Award

The NDI Book Awards are judged on merit according to the official judging criteria.

Winners are not selected by random draw, lottery, chance, public raffle, or prize draw.

Public voting may be used for a separate Readers’ Choice or Community Choice category if NDI chooses to offer one. If such a category is offered, the rules for that category will be stated separately.

22. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting an entry to the NDI Book Awards, the entrant confirms that:

• They have read and understood these Terms and Conditions.
• They meet the eligibility requirements.
• They have the right to submit the book.
• They accept the judging process.
• They understand that entry does not guarantee finalist or winner status.
• They consent to the use of submitted information and materials for awards-related administration, judging, and publicity.
• They agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.