LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2006) _ The 2006 DIY Book Festival has issued a call for entries for its fifth annual program celebrating the success of independent authors and publishers.

The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, photography, art, comics, 'zines, fan fiction, poetry and e-books published on or after Jan. 1, 2004.

All entries must be in English and have been self-published or issued by an independent publishing house that has published less than 50 works since the entry cut-off point. Please note that authors with iUniverse, Infinity Publishing and other print-on-demand outlets are eligible for the competition.

Our grand prize for the 2006 DIYBF Author of the Year is $1500 cash and a flight to Los Angeles for our gala awards ceremony.

Submitted works will be judged by a panel of publishing industry experts using the following criteria:

1) General excellence and the author's passion for telling a good story.

2) The unique use of guerilla marketing tactics to reach a wider audience. This includes innovative marketing, merchandising, publicity tactics and other unique methods of reaching an independent audience.

ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

1) General Non-fiction

2) General Fiction

3) Children's books

4) How-to

5) E-books (word or .pdf file acceptable)

6) Comics

7) 'zines

8) Photography

9) Fan Fiction

10) Poetry

11) Art

12) Teenage

13) Biography/Autobiography

14) Audio/spoken word

15) Best Published/Unpublished Short Story (all manuscripts welcome)

In addition to honoring the top selections in the above categories, The DIY Book Festival will award the following chosen from submissions:

1) DIY Author of the Year-Honors the outstanding book of the competition.

2) DIY Book Design of the Year - Honors outstanding and innovative design.

3) DIY Independent Publisher of the Year - Honors the top publisher based on materials displaying excellence in marketing and promotional materials, as determined by our judges.

FESTIVAL RULES: DIY Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

Deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on Sept. 25, 2006. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail shortly after the final entry deadline. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions at our meetings.

You can also enter the contest by phone by calling 323-665-8080 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific time. Please have your credit card handy.

Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We're sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.

Entry packages should include one copy of the book; any relevant marketing material; your official entry form or a copy; and the entry fee or receipt. Entries should be mailed to:

JM Northern Media LLC

attn: DIY Book Festival

7095 Hollywood Boulevard

Suite 864

Hollywood, CA 90028-0893

Phone: 323-665-8080

AWARDS: Winners of the 2006 DIY Book Festival will be honored at a gala ceremony held in October in Los Angeles. You do not need to be present to accept your award or accompanying prizes.

The 2006 DIY Book Festival is part of the DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books, which also produces the DIY Film Festival and the DIY Music Festival. The 2006 DIY Book Festival is sponsored by Final Draft Screenplay Software; Imagic; Westside Websites and the DIY Reporter.com.