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Good Evening Honored Guests, Esteemed Authors, and Literary Friends, Welcome to the 2026 NYC Big Book Award and Independent Press Award Ceremony and Dinner! Tonight, we gather to celebrate a rare kind of magic. While the world outside moves at a frantic pace, everyone in this room knows the slow burn: the years of research, the late-night edits, and the courage it takes to put a piece of your soul into print. Whether you traveled from across the river or across an ocean, you are here because you refused to let a story go untold. Authors across the globe join us tonight, including those residing in Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. This evening is a unique collision of worlds. Those recognized were “Big Five” authors and bold independent voices. Books independently published and those by Berrett-Koehler, Central Avenue / Simon & Schuster; Forbes Books; NYU Press; Oxford University Press; Wiley and others. Titles included “What is My Legacy?” by Martin Luther King III, et al.; The Cooking Lab’s “Modernist Bread at Home” by Nathan Myhrvold; and “Wild Fox Ridge” by Xue Mo. Despite different paths, you share a common bond: excellence. Tonight, we don’t just celebrate books; we celebrate the tenacity of the spirit and the enduring power of a great story. So, let’s raise a glass to the awardees and every dreamer who dared to hit “publish.” Thank you for giving us new worlds to inhabit. Let the celebration begin! With admiration and gratitude,
Gabby Olczak 2
2026 Independent Press Award Winners Animals/Pets A Land Filled With Horses By Robyn Rominger
Health & Fitness Adjusted Reality: Supercharge Your Whole-Being for Optimal Living and Longevity By Dr. Sherry McAllister
Autobiography STAY THIRSTY: A Serial Entrepreneur’s Tale of Success & Failure By Mark Haertzen
Hispanic/Latin: Nonfiction My Life: Can You Believe It! By Gladys Martines (Laurel Anne Hill accepting)
Biography: General Mikhail Gorbachev - How he changed our lives By Bettina Schaefer (Felix Schaefer accepting)
Holiday Christmas in a Jugular Vein By David Benjamin
Book Cover Design-Childrens Georgia’s No-Nonsense Nose By Carla Crane Osborne
Horror Do Not Resuscitate By Scott Eveloff MD
Business: Motivational Climb Greater Heights By Tony Jeton Selimi
How-to Climb Greater Heights By Tony Jeton Selimi
Childrens-Educational In Grenada, what do you see? By Michelle Hood-Julien
Humor Hunting the Red Fox By W. Kenneth Tyler, Jr.
Childrens-Educational Series Nurse Florence® Childrens Educational Series By Michael Dow, RN, MS
Juvenile Fiction Search for the Missing Spices By Rannah Gray with Madelyn and Katherine Tom
Childrens-Inspirational Old Crabby Turtle By C.L. Olsen
Middle Grade The Central Park Irregulars By Paul Cicchini
Christian: Nonfiction Restore Me! But Privately Please By Dr. Susan Agbenoto
Military Fiction Arctic Red By James Bultema
Contemporary Novel A Place For People Like Us By Danila Botha
Military Nonfiction Avoiding Muddy Foxholes: A Story of an American Bombardier By Jim Loveless
Crime Fiction Invaders of the Heartland By James Bultema
Mind, Body, Spirit Star People’s Wisdom: Messages Beyond the Stars for Human Awakening By Victoria Basil
Erotica A Widow’s Wish By Caytlyn Brooke
New Fiction (First-time published) Where You Come From Is Gone By Christopher Johnston
Fantasy Menilmonea: The Cycle of the Titans - Book One By David Catuhe
Personal Growth A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Life By Laura Muirhead
Finance Beginner’s Guide to Growing Wealth and Investing: Planting Seeds & Growing Riches By Dr. Stacker
Picture Books-Ages 4-8 Oh No! My Hedgehog is Gone By Pearl G. Alimo, Meghan K. Alimo
General Fiction Ghosts of the Past: The Search For A Lost WWII Art Collection Worth Killing For By Mark Downer
Poetry: Human Identity & Connection She/Her By Ellen Hernandez
Gift Books So Much to Drool About: Lessons for Living Large By Barbara Stone
Psychiatry/Psychology Restrained: a journey through psychosis as a doctor and the search for compassionate care By Maria Ingstrom
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Reference Transitioning Your Federal Resume to Private Industry By Kathryn Troutman
Travel An Apartment in Paris By David Benjamin Women’s Issues Latina Madrina: Stories, Lessons, and Hard Truths From A Brown Latina In Tech By Julissa S. Germosén
Self-help: General 9 Habits of Happy Retirees By Sarah Barry Spirituality Accept Who You Are: And Witness Your Reality Transform By Natasha Sumner
Women’s Fiction Not Yours to Keep By Zelly Ruskin
2026 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorites Anthology The Book of Lost Innocence By Glenn Taylor
Inspiration Dear G-d: A Conversation with G-d, While on the Road to Recovery By Nancy W.
Audiobooks Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny By Jeremy Clift, Narrated by Gabrielle Gumbs-Gordon
Inspiration My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels: In Control, Being Controlled, Out of Control! By Tom LeNoble
Book Cover Design-Childrens Old Crabby Turtle By C.L. Olsen
Military Fiction I, Monster By Clifton Wilcox
Career Backstage Grace: A Guide to Serving with Excellence, Poise and Heart By Yolanda Simmons
New Nonfiction Dancing on My Own Two Feet: A New Life One Step at a Time By Jenn Todling
Career Federal Resume Guidebook, 8th Edition By Kathryn Troutman
Parenting & Family The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie Parenting on Purpose Parent Guide By Dr. Sherrie E. Poitier-Liscombe
Childrens-Fiction Island Eats: Grenada Foodie Tour Edition By Rosana John-Mitchell, Michelle Hood-Julien
Picture Books-Ages 4-8 Birdie’s Picnic Party: A Tasty Take on Food Safety By Jessica McAnelly
Childrens-Fiction Georgia’s No-Nonsense Nose By Carla Crane Osborne
Poetry: Human Identity & Connection Barefoot Poetess By Paris Rosemont
Childrens-Inspirational The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie 9 Kindness By Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe
Poetry: The Natural & Creative World Colorscapes By Lee Woodman
Christian: Nonfiction Wisdom of an Elder: Weekly Devotionals to Help You Reach Heaven By Larry Scanlan
Poetry: Time, Transition & Spiritual Evolution P.E.A.C.E.: Progressive Evolution And Conscious Expansion By Yolanda Simmons
Cross Genre The Secret War of 1834 By B. B. LeClere Epic Fantasy Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I By Michaela Riley
Poetry: Time, Transition & Spiritual Evolution The Weeping Degree: How Astrology Saved Me From Suicide By Kelly Watt
Horror Hidden in the Shadows By A.D. Vancise
Science Fiction: Cosmic Expansionism Veil of Dawn’s Promise By Joe Sarkic
Horror Harvest of Eyes By Clifton Wilcox
Science Fiction: Cosmic Expansionism Space Vault: The Seed Eclipse By Jeremy Clift
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Science Fiction: Existential & Social Resilience R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens: We Are One By Claudia Daher
Teen Shadow By Craig Ford Teen The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie Teen Life Series: Divorce & The New Family By Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe
Self-help: Motivational Custodial Battle: Chronicles of an Immigrant Mother By Sheetal Ohri
Thriller Blinding White By Szilvia Sandberg
Self-help: Spiritual Queen Code: The Book By Laura Muirhead
Thriller Last of the Autumn Rain By Diana Louise Webb
Self-help: Spiritual Too Strong For Your Own Good: Success With Soul By Anette DeMattio
Young Adult Fiction Cool’s Last Stand By Clifton Wilcox
Short Stories Teach Me How to Die. A Novella and Other Stories By Lisa Monde
Young Adult Fiction The Case Against Jasper By Clifton Wilcox
Techno-thriller Hazardous Lies By Stephen J. Wallace
2025 NYC Big Book Award Winners Action/Adventure The Child Riddler By Angela Greenman
Cookbook-General Modernist Bread at Home By Nathan Myhrvold
Addiction & Recovery Soaring to New Lows: Confessions of a Rock Star Wife’s Hilarious Road to Ruin and Redemption By Margaux Dunbar Hession
Cultural Heritage The Soul of War: Ukraine – Where Every Step Tells Their Story By Ivona Olofsson
Audiobook-Fiction Dracula: Finding of a Shadow. A play By Lisa Monde
Fantasy Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I By Michaela Riley
Arts & Entertainment Y’all (Not) Gon’ Make Me Lose My Mind: Notes from a Hip-Hop Unicorn & Suicide Survivor By Emilia A. Ottoo
General Fiction Walking on Nathan’s Grave: A Tale Traversing Heaven and Hell By R. Luce
Biography Mikhail Gorbachev - How he changed our lives By Bettina Schaefer (Felix Schaefer accepting)
Horror Hidden in the Shadows By A.D. Vancise
Chick Lit The Gift By C. D’Angelo
Judaism The Book of Izzy By Ben Gonshor
Childrens-Educational Series Nurse Florence® for the Visually Impaired By Michael Dow, RN, MS
Leadership Climb Greater Heights By Tony Jeton Selimi
Childrens-Fiction Old Crabby Turtle By C.L. Olsen
Middle Grade The Birth of Agent Big Butt: Butt of Steel, Heart of Gold By Amy Winfield
Childrens-Motivational Words By Katherine Davis-Gibbon
Nature Uplift By Jessica Mann
Christian Restore Me! But Privately Please By Dr. Susan Agbenoto
Philosophy Understanding Time and Eternity By Vasile Ghiuta
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