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There are a lot of award badges in the book world. Some are familiar. Some are niche. The B.R.A.G. Medallion is one that’s worth understanding, because while it may look like a small gold seal on a cover, it represents a very specific – and reader-focused – standard within independent publishing. And The Potion Experiment is now a B.R.A.G. Medallion honouree.
What is the B.R.A.G. Medallion?
The Medallion is awarded by indieBRAG (Book Readers Appreciation Group), an organisation dedicated to recognising high-quality self-published books.
At its core, indieBRAG exists to solve a growing problem in publishing: there are more independently published books than ever before, and readers don’t always have a clear way to identify which ones have been professionally written, edited and produced. Organisations like indieBRAG sit in the space between abundance and curation.
By highlighting books that meet a consistent standard, the Medallion helps readers navigate a crowded landscape with more confidence. It is designed to act as a filter, to let readers know that a book has been through a rigorous review process and meets a recognised industry standard.
How books are selected
Unlike many awards, the Medallion is not decided by a single judge or a small internal panel. Instead, books are evaluated by a large group of readers from around the world. Each submission is read and assessed across key areas, including:
- Plot and structure
- Character development
- Writing quality
- Editing and presentation
- Overall reading experience
To receive the Medallion, a book must receive unanimous approval from multiple readers. The book needs to resonate consistently across different readers, which is particularly important in a global, independent market.
The standard behind the B.R.A.G. Medallion
The question guiding the process is simple: Would you recommend this book to someone else?
That question sits at the heart of the Medallion standard. It’s not about trend, popularity or marketing reach. It’s about whether the book delivers a reading experience that feels complete, considered and worth sharing. Because of this, only a small percentage of submitted books are awarded the Medallion. This selectivity is what gives the Medallion its value as a marker of quality within self-publishing.
The B.R.A.G. Medallion and The Potion Experiment
For The Potion Experiment, becoming a B.R.A.G. Medallion honouree means the book has been independently evaluated and recommended by multiple readers. It places the book within a catalogue of independently published works that have met the same criteria.
The Medallion is, ultimately, a reader-driven benchmark. It reflects whether a book stands up to being read, assessed and recommended. In a publishing landscape that continues to grow, that kind of marker is important – for readers looking for their next book, and for stories finding their place within a wider world.