2024 Independent Press Award Announcement

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WHO CAN ENTER?

Print and audiobooks can be submitted by: • Independent publishers • University presses • Hybrid publishers • Association presses • Self-published authors If you are a big five publishing house, you must submit your books to our fall competition, NYCBigBookAward.com, which has a separate committee and entry fee.

Outside of the big five publishing houses, any publisher or author may submit to both competitions, IndependentPressAward.com (every spring); and NYCBigBookAward.com (every fall). See webpages for complete details.

WHEN CAN I ENTER the Independent Press Award?

We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two and a half months, with two hard deadlines: (1) March 2024 to August 30, 2024; (2) September 1, 2024 to December 30, 2024 All entries must be postmarked no later than December 30, 2024. This final deadline will not be extended.

What if I miss the deadline? Enter our fall program NYCBigBookAward.com as we take books until August 30th.

ENTRY FEE $125 per title/per category, plus $75 for any additional category

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS Decide which books (copyright date within the past three years is recommended but not required) to enter into this year’s competition.

2 Calculate the total entry fee.

Choose which categories, https://www.independentpressaward.com/categories, to enter each book into. You may enter a book into as many categories as you’d like. The fee for the first category is $125. Any additional book categories for that same book is $75 per category.

• SINGLE BOOK, MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Childrens category, the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200.

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Educational and Book Cover Design Childrens category, the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200, and “Book Two” in Mystery and New Fiction (first-time published), the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200, so $200 + 200 = $400 in total book entry fees.

3 Download a form from this page, OR submit the entry form online on this page, https://www.independentpressaward.com/online-entry-form-1 Complete form 4 Duplicate each Entry Label if you are entering multiple categories.

For print books, a copy of the completed Entry Label must be placed inside the front cover of every book submitted. Up to four physical copies for entry into four or more categories.

Audiobooks, a single copy of the completed Entry Label must be submitted along with either an Audible gift code or Authors’ Direct code.

IF SUBMITTING ONLINE and sending a book directly from Amazon.com or other retailer/printer, NO PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED to accompany the book(s).

5 Pay via PayPal button on the website or mail a check, along with your books and printed entry form, and ship to:

INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD 63 Clinton Road Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 USA www.IndependentPressAward.com

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER Welcome readers!

What an amazing list of awardwinning books this season.

As in years past, the 2024 Independent Press Award saw participation from authors and publishers across the globe, including those residing in Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, India, Kenya, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and The Netherlands. Quite impressive!

The breadth of book topics is even more impressive. Did you know what a Keenager is? Have you ever heard of E nâtamukw miyeyimuwin? What about Perestroika? Take a deep dive into this list, you’ll find a treasure trove of knowledge, promising hours of enjoyment.

To better get to know the people behind the books, I asked the authors to submit their stories. In the coming pages, you’ll get to know these incredible authors better. From rejection letters (one had over 300!) to writing ‘by accident’, you will find that our award-winning authors each found a different way to the realization of their book. I hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired me.

Publishing for me is a mix of creativity and business. BookCAMP 2024 on June 23 - 25, 2024 is a three-day event to cover marketing, publicity, booksellers & library markets, writer circles, literary agents, and even how to make your book available to the big box stores such as Target and Costco. Please visit https://www.independentpressaward. com/ipabookcamp for more details and to reserve your seat. I look forward to your joining us.

Until next time, keep on reading!

Ted Olczak Publisher

To submit your book, visit our websites: Fall 2024: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/ (More consumer focused; different judging; allows for all authors and publishers to participate; announced in the fall of every year) or Spring 2025:

https://www.independentpressaward.com/

To advertise, please contact Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com, or visit our website, https://www.independentpressaward.com/advertise www.IndependentPressAward.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Call for entries for the Independent Press Award 3 IPA BookCAMP 2024 4 Publisher’s Letter 6 & 7 Tong Ge, author of The House Filler 6 - 26 Independent Press Award 2024 Winners & Distinguished Favorites Listings & Ads 8 Tracee Dunblazier, author of Your Crystal Allies: The 12 Best Gems and Minerals for Giving Love, Receiving Comfort, and Connecting with the Cosmos; and Transformative Grief: An Ancient Ritual of Healing for Modern Times 9 João Cerqueira, author of Perestroika: Eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth 11 Ray Schoenke, author of Fat Girl Sings: Discovering, Embracing, and Leveraging Racial Identity on the Football Field, in Business, and in Life 13 Caytlyn Brooke, author of Among the Hunted 15 Eugina Jordan, author of UNLIMITED: The Seventeen Proven Laws for Success in a Workplace Not Designed for You 17 Donna Hayes, author of These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated: One Woman’s Story 19 Richard C. Brusca, author of The Time Travelers 19 Muhammad Obaidur Rahim, author of Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh 21 Hadley Vega, author of JUNKYARD BOYS 21 Bruce Miller, author of Beware the Ides of March: A Novel Based on Psychic Readings 23 Shane Svorec, author of Broken Little Believer: Finding Purpose in All the Pretty Painful Pieces 23 Deborah Tant, author of The Life of Riley Book Series 25 Heather Leigh Strom, author of K9 Spirit Guides: the Healing Power of Man’s Best Friend

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.

The magazine Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award Present is published eight times per year and has been issued the following ISSNs by the U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: Format: Online Format: ISSN 2836-9157; and the Print Format: ISSN 2836-9149. Any questions or comments, please contact the Publisher Ted Olczak at Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews. com.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who provides us credit may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper without permission in writing from the publisher. To submit your book for review, send to: Printed Word Reviews, 63 Clinton Rd, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028. Allow 8 - 12 weeks.

Unpaid reviews are not guaranteed. More details available on our website at https:// printedwordreviews.com/ The magazine Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award Present is published eight times per year and has been issued the following ISSNs by the U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: Format: Online Format: ISSN 2836-9157; and the Print Format: ISSN 2836-9149.

Any questions or comments, please contact the Publisher Ted Olczak at Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com. www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Tong Ge The House Filler

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WINNER NEW FICTION

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ince junior high, my aspiration has been to become a writer. As I approached University, my desire was to pursue either a major in Chinese literature or journalism. However, my parents vehemently opposed this choice due to the historical persecution of writers in China. In their generation, being a writer or journalist was perceived as a risky occupation. Consequently, I was compelled to study finance and banking.

Upon coming to Canada as an international student for my master’s degree, I found myself following a predetermined path, delving into Agricultural Economics in graduate school. Post-graduation, I entered Canada’s financial industry, where I’ve remained until now.

Twenty years ago, I made the decision to transform my family story into books and began learning how to write fiction in English. After my 10 AM to 9 PM work hours, I dedicated my evenings to writing until the wee hours, a period I fondly refer to as my happy time.

Although my first book was published last October, I couldn’t quit my day job due to financial constraints. Currently, I continue to balance my roles as a part-time writer and a financial advisor. While my life as an author hasn’t undergone significant changes, I now allocate time to promote my book amidst the demands of my day and night jobs.

Action/Adventure

Animals-Pets

WINNER

WINNER

BIOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL

Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh • INDEPENDENT 24 PR ES 20 S

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Khuda Buksh, the Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh, is the story of a wizard of life insurance who believes passionately in a cause and dedicates his life to it. Buksh chose to serve humanity by sparking a movement in life insurance from 1935-1973 in three countries India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—even during political unrest. Buksh remains a celebrated figure who transformed the Bangladeshi life insurance industry after calling off his time at EFU.

This biography explores his legacy and the impact on South Asian development.

ISBN: 978-1637108758 • $24.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://khudabukshlegacy.com/

Bo o k C ov er Des i g n - N o n f i ct ion Of Dirt and Wildflowers: A Memoir on Growing the Courage to Bloom Kylee J. Marshall Poetic and laced with imagery, Of Dirt and Wildflowers: A Memoir on Growing the Courage to Bloom reminds us that life is less about the dirt in which we were planted and more about the space we take up as we grow. Part poem, part recipe for joy, and part inspiration, this memoir teaches how we can grow in every season of our lives.

ISBN: 979-8218106539 • $17.95

A NEW GAME

by A.M. Adair DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Aboard Blackbeard’s Queen

by Robin Reams

Addiction and Recovery

K9 Spirit Guides: The Healing Power of Man’s Best Friend

by Heather Leigh Strom

Anthology WINNER

Fault Zone: Detachment

by Kate Adams, Editor-in-Chief

WINNER

Choosing Life: One man’s journey through alcoholism and depression to wellness and selfdiscovery

by Blue Andrews DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Plans He Has For Me

by Rose Ann Forte

Aging/Midlife WINNER

Keenagers: Telling a New Story about Aging

by Corinne Auman

Book availability on Amazon, Barnes & Noble; Audio on: Audible, iTunes www.kyleemarshall.com 6

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Living With Demons

by Sasha Kielman; Thomas Jackson; Tucker Struyk; Tim Jeffreys; Jane Nightshade; Die Booth; Kathryn Malcolm; Lindsay Mansfield; Eve Morton; Francis Verelle

Audiobook: Fiction WINNER

A River Divided

by George Paxinos DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Griffin

by S.M. West

www.nycbigbookaward.com

My father: He was a university professor and a scientist. Despite his academic background, he had a deep appreciation for Chinese ancient literature. Fondly, he used to read stories from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and narrate tales from One Thousand and One Nights by memory to me. This occurred during the tumultuous period of the Cultural Revolution in China, when such banned books were deemed as insidious poisons to one’s mind.

As an immigrant to Canada with English as my second language and contending with a long-term disability, it took me two decades to complete the China China trilogy. The House Filler stands as the inaugural book in the trilogy.

The China China trilogy unfolds as a poignant family saga spanning the tumultuous period from the early 1900s to the late 1980s. Set against the backdrop of war, famine, and political oppression, three generations of Chinese women tenaciously pursue independence, freedom, and happiness.

In the trilogy’s second installment, The Pinioned Bird, the narrative delves into the story of the family’s second generation.

Due to the sensitivity of these materials, the stories had to be shared in hushed tones by the flickering light of a candle, ensuring that our neighbors remained unaware. The stakes were high during this time, and the forbidden nature of these narratives meant that if discovered, our entire family would face severe consequences.

Lu Xun, born Zhou Shuren in 1881, was a pivotal figure in early 20th-century Chinese literature, renowned for his contributions to the May Fourth Movement. As a prominent writer, essayist, and literary critic, Lu Xun played a crucial role in modernizing Chinese literature and challenging traditional Confucian values. His influential works, such as The True Story of Ah Q and Diary of a Madman, sharply criticized the social and political issues of his time, making him a leading voice in cultural reform. Beyond his fiction, Lu Xun’s essays tackled broader topics, advocating for cultural revolution and social change. His dedication to literary realism and addressing societal problems through literature left a lasting impact, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in the modernization of Chinese literature and intellectual thought until his death in 1936.

Tong Ge

“As the belt slowly widens, no remorse I feel. For her alone, I weather a visage so surreal.” Song Dynasty, Liu Yong

Audiobook: Nonfiction

Biography: Historical

WINNER

WINNER

Negotiation Simplified

by Jim Reiman

Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh

by Muhammad Obaidur Rahim

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

On Constance

by Karin Konoval

The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform the Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within

by Minette Norman

Biography: General

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Apprentice of Buchenwald

by Oren Schneider

Book Cover Design-Childrens WINNER

AntonTon

by Irena Stanic Rasin, Grigor Vitez

WINNER

Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons

by Katie Anderson

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Girl and the Lock on Her Heart

by Lauren Lee

SPENCER MacCALLUM Memories-Mystique-Mata Ortiz

by Charmayne Samuelson

Gona’s Halloween Hunt

by Carla Crane Osborne

Book Cover Design-Fiction WINNER

Charlie’s Encore

by J. Ronald M. York www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Tracee Dunblazier Transformative Grief:

Your Crystal Allies:

WINNER

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An Ancient Ritual of Healing for Modern Times

SELF-HELP: SPIRITUALITY

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he Idea for writing a book came to me one night, through a dream. In the dream I was staying in a beautiful, old, very ornate hotel just across from the Taj Mahal. Someone came to the door of my room to alert me to a phone call from my publisher, which I needed to take at the front desk. The voice on the other line called me Jane Overland, and the two of us began to go over important book details...and I woke up. I hadn’t considered writing a book but was intrigued with the idea; and voilà, fifteen years later I published my first two books.

In the same motion as publishing that first book, I began a hybrid publishing company that specializes in spiritual healing tools for the 21st Century. Today our ten books and oracle decks have won over 35 literature awards, and

WINNER

GRIEF: NONFICTION

I deeply enjoy the writing and creative process and love to work with others. Publishing has opened many new dimensions of knowledge and experience, cultivating skills I never dreamed I would have. All because of a dream.

My mother and her integrity, and my father’s legacy had a deep impact on my life. (After his death when I was 12, I was deeply impacted by images of him, his impact on so many people, and my memories of his spirituality.

Before being a storyteller, I am an empath and a spiritualist and have had the privilege of speaking with many spirits on the other side. Too

Around our Swimming Pool - Book 2 Series: The Life of Riley Deborah Tant Independent Press NYC Award for Children’s Books in the category of Pets and Animals.

When summer comes and the days are hot, Riley and Sam are off to the pool like a shot. Running, jumping, diving for sticks, It’s the best time ever, for those two kids.

But on the sidelines are Buddy and Monty-Moo, For some reason, swimming is a little taboo.

They would love to jump in like Riley and Sam, But are way too scared without being held by their Mam.

ISBN: 978-0645811650 • $16.50 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://poweredbyabove.com

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has a forthcoming wisdom deck, “Oracle of the InBetween”, releasing at the end of the year.

C H I L D R E N S : AN I M AL S / PE TS

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The 12 Best Gems and Minerals for Giving Love, Receiving Comfort, and Connecting with the Cosmos

monthly (only $5 per month) or annually ($50 per year)

a. Four issues of BookCamp Magazine included at NO CHARGE with an annual membership. b. BONUS: Want to find the right Master of Fine Arts program?, Learn more about Small Press and Fall Trade Book Fairs? (AUGUST 2024 special supplement) c. Full access to our Publishing Professionals database. You will find literary agents, designers, distributors, editors, marketers, printers, publicity firms, publishers, other publishing professionals. d. Sign up now & receive an ADDITIONAL BONUSES as we add them throughout the year! (Outside of the United States /International digital magazine only).

numerous to mention, there are so many lives that have impacted my own, and I am grateful for all the ancestors who came before me and defied the odds, spoke their truth, and sometimes set aside their profound trauma to endure the life they’d been given. To have known just a bit of their stories and courage continues to be an inspiration to me to continue on.

I’m grateful to my Editor and good friend Stephen Miller, and all the friends and family who have supported me along the way.

Spiritual tools that have become game changers for those who suffer.

Thank you Independent Press Award for all you do.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Free Spirits: A novel of free love,

WINNER

Book Cover Design

The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor: How to Reach Financial Freedom with Fewer Rental Properties

by Chad Carson

WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

faith, and frauds in 1860s New York

by Mary Hutchings Reed

The Roots That Clutch

by Beth Ann Hooper DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World

by Jessica Bantom

Book Interior Design: Nonfiction WINNER

A Gift from the Heart, Johnny Carrabba

by Johnny Carrabba

Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Brain to Bank: How to Get Your Idea Out of Your Head and Cash In

by Dorine Rivers, PhD, PMP

Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs

by Gloria D’Anna, Zachary A. Collier Design & Grow : The six-step method to reach your creative business potential, grow profits and get your design time back

by Artemis Doupa INCEPTION MINDSET: The Contextual Art and Science of Leading in a Permanently Complex World

by Robert Radi, Ph.D.

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João Cerqueira Perestroika: Eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth

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was lucky enough to inherit my father’s book collection with hundreds of books including all of the classics. From The Canterbury Tales to Don Quixote, all the major titles were there. At eighteen I read East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Another important book was Pär Lagerkvist’s The Dwarf, the protagonist of which was incapable of feeling anything else for humanity other than hatred and contempt, which also fascinated me. At that time, I also read Cosmos

by Carl Sagan, which taught me to understand the universe; I learned that the stars and I were made of the same stuff – this idea is in The Tragedy of Fidel Castro - and that many of them, although still visible, may no longer exist.

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These are the books that initiated me into adulthood.

WINNER

WORLD LITERATURE

I then read two remarkable works: 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the dystopian prophecies of which are, for some, now coming true. Years later I rediscovered Orwell when I wrote Art and Literature in the Spanish Civil War. Orwell fought against Fascism, but in the end the Communists

wanted to kill him too. Homage to Catalonia describes this tragic experience that leads to books such as 1984 and Animal Farm.

It was through Portuguese writers – Camões, Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago, Lobo Antunes - that I learned to write. Hence my belief that form – that is, command of language – is as or more important than content.

My favorite writers are Marcel Proust, Pär Largerkvist, Mikhail Bulgakov, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Phillip Roth, Paul Auster, W. G. Sebald, Italo Calvino, Henrique Vila-Matas, José Saramago and Lobo Antunes.

I was born and live in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.

I completed a PhD in Art History at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Porto. I teach at the Escola Superior de Educação de Viana. I have written nine books, published in eight countries and I have won five literary prizes in the United States and one prize in Italy.

CHILDRENS: INSPIRATIONAL/MOTIVATIONAL

A Different Kind of Boy-A story about inclusion and making friends Michael Simones A Different Kind of Boy is an introduction for children entering the school-age years on celebrating who they are as an individual and finding others like you in order to make friends--especially when other children are sending negative social messages. This is a “teachable moment” book for the home, school and after-school programs meant to initiate discussion on inclusion, anti-bullying and friendships.

When Michael starts school, he discovers that he does not enjoy the same things as the other boys, like playing ball. Some of his classmates bully him for being different. Can Michael overcome the bullying and find a friend like him? Michael takes the reader on a journey during his early school-age years on how he overcame bullying and turned his attention from isolation to making friends.

ISBN: Softcover 979-8987731000 • $11.70 ISBN: Hardcover 979-8987731017 • $40.66 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers

Join us this summer,

BookCAMP June 23-25

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CHILDRENS: INSPIRATIONAL/MOTIVATIONAL

Aaron the Different: A Story of Courage, Belonging, and Acceptance Etty Burk

Eight-year-old Aaron lives in a country called Premium on the planet Astron, but unlike his tall, perfectly purple family and friends, Aaron is round, small and green. His classmates tease him and won’t play with him because he’s different from all the other Premiums. Why won’t they accept him for who he is? His only friends are the sunmoonies and myrtledockers, strange and wonderful creatures who live in the forest and teach him the secrets of the mysterious underground caves and tunnels.

This uplifting and beautifully illustrated story is a catalyst for important discussions with children and adults about respect, kindness, and acceptance. We all possess unique skills and talents and have the power to make real positive change. Author Etty Burk, an organizational psychologist who works with teams and organizations, delivers a powerful lesson for people of all ages about diversity and inclusion in Aaron’s story. We can all help people feel they are safe, welcome, and truly belong.

ISBN: 978-1955985826 • $16.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://ettyburk.com/

Real Estate Rookie: 90 Days to Your First Investment

by Ashley Kehr

In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey

by Justin Dauer

Business: General

Career

WINNER Reinvent: Navigating Business Transformation in a Hyperdigital Era

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

by Faisal Hoque

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Be a Better Team by Friday: A Playbook for High-Performance Business Leaders

by Justin Follin with David Butlein Greenspan

The 5-Day Job Search: Proven Strategies To Answering Tough Interview Questions & Getting Multiple Job Offers

by Annie Margarita Yang

Negotiation Simplified

by Jim Reiman

Chick-Lit

Business: Motivational

CRIME FICTION

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The Dead Certain Doubt: An Ed Earl Burch Novel Revenge, Guilt, Redemption & Gunsmoke Ed Earl Burch, a cashiered Dallas murder cop, is a private detective facing the relentless onslaught of age, bad choices, guilt and regret. Smart, tough, profane and reckless, he’s a survivor who relies on his own guts and savvy and expects no help or salvation from anybody.

But he’s also a man who longs for the clarity and sense of higher calling he felt when he carried a homicide detective’s gold shield. He seeks redemption and a chance to make amends to a dying old woman he abandoned decades ago when she needed him most.

When he sees her again, she has the same request -- save her granddaughter from the vicious outlaws on her trail and bring her home for a final goodbye. Easier said than done because the granddaughter is a hardened hustler and gunrunner, hellbent on avenging a lover who got chopped up and stuffed into a barbecue smoker by cartel gunsels and a rival smuggler.

ISBN: 978-0998329451 • $14.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://www.amazon.com/author/jimnesbitt CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE / FAMILY / LIFE

Revolutionary Marriage: How to Have a Marriage that Changes the World Dr. Mark DeYoung Dr. DeYoung set out to write a book for Christian couples that was radically different from most published works.

“This book is intended to present a revolutionary, countercultural model of marriage...What I propose here will confront both secular and current Christian views of marriage. The task is large, and the work between spouses will be difficult. Because of this, the approach must be radical...” - Dr. Mark DeYoung “Mark does an excellent job framing marriage in the category of vocation and removes it from the romanticized, self-actualization pinnacle often framed by religious and contemporary cultures.” - Dr. David Fraze

WINNER

Going on Offense: A Leader’s Playbook for Perpetual Innovation

by Behnam Tabrizi

WINNER

The Palace at Dusk: A Novel

by Angela Terry

Childrens: Animals-Pets WINNER

Please Love Me Like I Love You

by Kip Ullrich Fechner

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Life Quality Projects: Learning from the Best in Business, the Arts, and Sports to Go from Ordinary to Extraordinary

by Juan Manuel Navarro Colin More Than Representation: The Cheat Codes to Own Your Seat at the Table

by Raven Jemison The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform the Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within

by Minette Norman The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully

by Being More Human

by Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman

Cancer WINNER

Living: Inspiration from a Father with Cancer

by Jeff Stewart

ISBN: 978-0991131181 • $14.95 Available on Amazon.com and author’s website. https://deyoungconsulting.com/revolutionary-marriage-book/

My University of the World: Adventures of an International Film & Media Maker

by Neill McKee

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DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Around our Swimming Pool Book 2 - Series: The Life of Riley

by Deborah Tant

Childrens: Educational WINNER

Marco the Great and the History of Numberville

by SK Bennett

Childrens: Educational Series WINNER

Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Lungs.

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Nose?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence®, Tell Me About the Stomach.

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence®, What are Emotions?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS www.nycbigbookaward.com

Ray Schoenke

Fat Girl Sings: Discovering, Embracing, and Leveraging Racial Identity on the Football Field, in Business, and in Life Historically in Hawaii, one’s life journey is passed on orally, and since I am fundamentally a Hawaiian storyteller, I transcribed my life story into a memoir. In Fat Girl Sings, I felt I should share how I overcame bullying as a child, how bullying contributed to the development of my warrior mentality, and how I faced the complex issues that are inherently associated with being a warrior, which I still face today in my personal life. I have shared with many people my encounters with racism and my struggle to discover and embrace my racial identity as a Polynesian man, and I was encouraged by many people to share my story.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE MEMOIR

the many endorsers who supported my efforts to reach an audience with my story. I also want to thank everyone who reads my book and thus validates its existence and, in turn, mine.

My book, in Fat Girl Sings, describes almost an entire life that has been an exercise in both endings and beginnings, undoing and doing, undertaking and overcoming, taking leave and arriving, and, hopefully, becoming a better version of myself and contributing something to society along the way. I especially intend for Fat Girl Sings to provide inspiration and guidance to young athletes, especially young Polynesian athletes, and to point out the need for support when caring for a terminally ill family member. I also wanted to share the euphoria that comes with fully embracing one’s racial identity. I especially felt this when as an adult, I had the opportunity to steer a historic Hawaiian sailing canoe over the same waves that had been navigated by my ancestors. This moment especially allowed me to actually connect fully with my Hawaiian heritage, and it is my hope that my personal experiences can inspire others even when self-realization doesn’t come until late in life.

I was coached by three NFL Hall of Fame coaches, Lombardi, Allen, and Landry, each of whom influenced me both negatively and positively.

My long-time friend, Joe Reeder, former United States Under Secretary of the Army and renowned attorney, is an example of everything I admire in a man. He exemplifies strength and leadership, a thoughtful, solution-oriented process for tackling conflict, and a high level of integrity, kindness, and empathy toward his fellow man. He can tackle an opponent with the same warrior mentality with which I tackled my defensive opponents on the NFL football field. He embodies the true spirit of friendship, and I consider myself fortunate to be one of his close friends. I would like to thank the Independent Press Award for recognizing my story, further enabling me to share it with an audience I may otherwise not have I want to thank my wife, Savana. Without her editorial expertise, support, reached. and patience, this book would never have been published. I want to thank

Nurse Florence®, What is AgeRelated Macular Degeneration?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence®, What is Clubfoot?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence®, What is Pneumonia?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Magical Adventures of Quizzle and Pinky Palm

by Teresa Mae Waterland

Who Wants to be Friends With a Dragon?

by Linda Drattell and Eve Marie Little

Childrens: Grief

Nurse Florence®, Why Do I Need to Eat Vitamin A?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

WINNER

Nurse Florence®, Why Do I Need to Eat Vitamin C?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Childrens: Holiday

Nurse Florence®, Why Do We Have a Belly Button?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Childrens: Fiction

Aunty Jane Knits Up A Storm

by Steve Wolfson

WINNER

Gona’s Halloween Hunt

by Carla Crane Osborne DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

A Christmas Legend: The Polar Penguins

by Aaron James Sutch

WINNER

Searching for Polaris

by Ryan Hartford www.IndependentPressAward.com

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CROSS GENRE / POETRY

The Road to Continental Heart: Befriending, and Defending, the Spirit of North America Steven Dale Davison The Road to Continental Heart is a meditation on the landscapes of North America expressed in images crafted through the camera’s lens and the poet’s pen, an extended love poem for the land we inhabit, an appeal for a vibrant culture of place, and a celebration of friendship. Continental Heart is a hybrid book of essays, letters, photographs and poems written for an artist friend who walked across the country with a group of environmental activists. For each week of his nine-month walk, the poet researched the upcoming leg of the walk—its geology and geography, its creatures and features, its social and natural history, its First Nation inhabitants—and sent a poem crafted from the research to the week’s mail drop city.

ISBN: 978-1633375987 • $49.99 Available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble and from the author https://www.stevendavison.com/the-road-to-continental-heart/

I Have Questions, Lots and Lots of Questions: A True Story of Christmas

by David Lane The Christmas I Almost Scared Santa Away

by Craig M. Porter Rollins

Childrens: Humor WINNER

Pebble the Penguin

by Ankit Kumar Pradhan

Childrens: Inspirational/ Motivational WINNER

My Safe Place

by Brittney Brackett

education The Art of Being a School Counselor

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Nancy Regas Multi-award winning. Are you thinking about school counseling as a profession or just starting as a school counselor? Okay, maybe you’re already an established school counselor; congratulations! However, are you feeling stuck, lost, or frustrated in your present position?

If you answer yes to either question, this book is definitely for you. Enjoy your journey towards a personal and professional reawakening!

HINT: If you are an administrator, this book will help you understand the role of a counselor; correctly utilizing your counseling staff will increase the effectiveness of your school. If you are a teacher, this book will help you comprehend the multiple roles of counselors and guide you in working collaboratively with them. Enjoy your journey towards becoming the best educator possible! Finally, parents, you can use this book too! It will help you understand what it takes for your son/daughter [in middle school or high school] to be a successful student.

When you grasp that, your guidance will become more impactful.

ISBN: 978-1647422271 • $17.95 Available on Outskirts Press, Amazon http://bit.ly/3iPyAzs

A Different Kind of Boy-A story about inclusion and making friends

by Michael Simones

California Sister Gloria Mattioni

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Moral dilemmas crash into fierce, sisterly love in this novel, winner of twelve literary awards.

Claire Waters, an Italian mystery writer living in Los Angeles, rushes to Italy after her older sister’s devastating brainhemorrhage, determined to restore her health-or help her die with dignity. But Claire will face a dilemma impossible to solve: would her non-verbal sister want to go on struggling, damaged as she is, or end her suffering? How can anybody know what’s best for others?

“Gloria Mattioni crafts an engrossing, emotional story of love tested by distance, experience, and health crisis...Highly recommended reading for women who look for emotionally charged stories of love, independence, and control.”

–Midwest Book Review by D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer

ISBN: 978-1639883998 • $17.99

The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie

by Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe

Childrens: Religion Nonfiction WINNER

Saint Patrick the Forgiver

by Ned Bustard

Christian WINNER

The Quest for Family

by Jessica Clancy DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

All Battles End at Sunset

by Jared Acuña

Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted

by Lori Ann Wood

Christian Fiction

Tara the Dolphin

by Shreya Pradhan

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Aaron the Different -- A Story of Courage, Belonging, and Acceptance

by Etty Burk

Coffee-table Book

Everybody Loves Grace: A True Story of Grace’s Adventure to Pennsylvania

by Katy McQuaid

Childrens: Nonfiction FICTION

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

WINNER

Billie the Brain

by Dr. John Hutton & Dr. Ryan Moore; Illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Our Environment’s Friends

by Phil Riggs

Childrens: Religion Fiction WINNER

Murder at Penwood Manor

by Antony Barone Kolenc

Walter: The Homeless Man

by Tekoa Manning

WINNER

Exploring Wine Regions California Central Coast

by Michael C. Higgins, PhD DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

We Were The Ramchargers: Inside Drag Racing’s Legendary Team, Second Edition

by David Rockwell

Comics and Graphic Novels WINNER

Hashman

by Alex Grand & Joshua S. Berman DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

S.T.E.A.M. Chronicles: Book One: Night Watchers, Nocturnal Creatures of North America

by Conrad J. Storad

Available to the trade via Ingram; retails on Amazon.com, Bookshop.org and online bookstores. https://www.gloriamattioni.com/ www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Caytlyn Brooke Among the Hunted

A reader once described my writing as “brutally elegant” and I try to live up to that with every sentence.

Among the Hunted highlights sexual assault survivor’s voices and because of this, I was told fantasy fans would not want to read it. For this book to not only have found steadfast fans, but to also have won an award in a fantasy category, cements the faith I have in myself and the belief that everyone should be allowed to tell their own story. Thank you Independent Press Award for this opportunity.

Cookbooks: General

Cross Genre

WINNER

WINNER

Fish off the Block

by Pamela Gelsomini

Crime Fiction WINNER

Helena P. Schrader

The Road to Continental Heart: Befriending, and Defending, the Spirit of North America

by Steven Dale Davison

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Paddling with Spirits - A Solo Kayak Journey

by Irene Skyriver

Black and Blue

by Frank F Weber

Gillespie Field Groove A Rolly Waters Mystery

by Corey Lynn Fayman Dead Shot

by David Benjamin The Shakespeare Killer

by Douglas J. Wood www.IndependentPressAward.com

URBAN FANTASY

“Moral Fibre” tells the story of a man once branded a coward who returns to continue the fight against fascism. Given a second chance, Flying Officer Kit Moran, now a qualified bomber pilot, forms a new crew and together they join the other men of RAF Bomber Command in taking the war to Hitler. In a tribute to those who fought for freedom, Schrader covers the many faces of courage and grief — and the price of survival.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Paddling with Spirits - A Solo Kayak Journey

by Irene Skyriver

WINNER

Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot’s Story

A Gift from the Heart, Johnny Carrabba

by Johnny Carrabba

The Dead Certain Doubt: An Ed Earl Burch Novel

by Jim Nesbitt

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DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Too Many Eggs

by Mimi Smith-Dvorak

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My husband, Daniel has been nothing but incredible these past thirteen years. He’s always there for me to bounce ideas off of, choreograph fight scenes, and relay the obvious word I’m searching for when my brain comes up empty. He tells everyone about my books and shares his pride in me and my writing journey. Although he may not understand why I stay up until 1 a.m. rewriting one sentence, he’s there encouraging me with a pot of tea to keep going.

Other authors have always been my inspiration to pen my own stories and create new immersive worlds. Brian Jacques’s Redwall series were the first books that truly captured my imagination and began my love of reading. Madeline Miller is another author I admire. Her beautiful prose is hypnotic and I hope to one day be able to make readers feel the same array of emotions and become so lost in my words that they forget to come up for air like I did reading, Circe.

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y story began very rocky, let me tell you. With over 300 agent rejections and a failed attempt to self-publish through CreateSpace years ago, I was nervous I would never become an author. Then, with the introduction of social media and the serendipitous discovery of my publisher, I found the confidence to keep writing, keep putting myself and my books out there, until I was able to find readers who loved my stories! Now I travel all over the country, have appeared on TV to showcase my books, and am very involved with my community and libraries to help inspire future authors achieve their goals as well.

ISBN (paperback): 978-1735313924 • ISBN (ebook): 978-1735313993 Paperbook: $22.99 • Ebook: $11.49 Sold via all online platforms including amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google, Apple, Kobo and or from your local bookstore or direct from Itasca. https://crossseaspress.com/moral-fibre

LITERARY FICTION/GENERAL FICTION

CLEAR-CUTS Joshua S. Narins

Cultural and Social Issues

A raw, visceral, unflinching tale about the ties that bind coming unbound.

WINNER

In the ensuing seventy-two hours, a father’s legend, a family’s ancestral lore, and two brothers will all collide.

E nâtamukw miyeyimuwin: Residential School Recovery Stories of the James Bay Cree, Volume 1

by Ruth DyckFehderau

Set in the rough-hewn woods of northern Maine, Clear-Cuts, is a tense fast-paced New England narrative, piercing and resolute in tone, relentless and unwavering in storytelling.

ISBN: 979-8986427041 • $16.99

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Paperbacks: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org For Retailers: IngramSpark • E-Books: Amazon, Kobo, Nook www.joshuasnarinsauthor.com

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE MAGICAL REALISM / MYSTERY / HISPANIC FICTION

The Time Travelers

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Recounts the rise of the Aztec Empire, the founding of the first Mexico City (Tenochtitlan), its destruction at the hands of Hernán Cortés, and the building of modern Mexico City upon its ashes. The discovery of a magnificent Aztec object buried near Mexico City’s Zócalo leads to an astonishing incident in which time is disrupted and the past and present collide.

There are many ways to travel through time.

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Richard C. Brusca

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ISBN: 979-8366681919 • $12.95 paper $4.95 ebook Available on Amazon.com and selected bookstores www.featheredserpent.online MEMOIR / BIOGRAPHY / PERSONAL GROWTH

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Judie Dziezak

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Petals from Mars: A Memoir of Resilience and Triumph over Adversity From turbulence and heartbreak to grace, an inspiring memoir of a fiery battle for holding one’s power and standing firm when life demands submission. A moving story about refusing to be defined by one’s environment. Dziezak navigates enduring secret abuse from her mentally ill mother and how hard-earned treasures from that experience ripple into her success in male-dominated fields. Evoking hope, “Petals from Mars” unfolds a look at how difficulty can blossom into resilience, strength, and self-love.

ISBN: 978-1954920750 • $19.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://judiedziezak.com MEMOIR & AUTOBIOGRAPHY, NONFICTION

Humble Yet Fierce: My Life Behind the Curtain of the CIA Katy McQuaid Katy McQuaid, former deputy director of logistics in the CIA, brings her true-life stories of courage, faith, and adventure related to her thirty-two year journey in the secretive and often dangerous world of intelligence gathering. From the life-changing events in her first year of college to her remarkable career in the CIA, McQuaid shares that you don’t have to be loud to be strong.

ISBN: 979-8889269410 • $15.99 Retail / distributor availability: IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and www.katymcquaid.com MIDDLE READER / SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE

The Conspiracy Page, First Encounter Robin Landry The Conspiracy Page is an adventure that started out as an extra assignment to teach four middle school students the value of always being truthful, after they made up stories for their school website.

Their punishment ended up with a contact from a mysterious Commander X who needed the students’ help in rescuing an alien from the local Air Force Base.

The students are soon swept into a world too unbelievable for the truth.

ISBN: 978-195737497 • Kindle: $7.99, Paperback $14.95 Available on Amazon.com https://www.instagram.com/nummosoul/

Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World

by Jessica Bantom

Epic Fantasy WINNER

Stone & Sky

by Z.S. Diamanti

The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie 2 Tolerance

by Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe

Fantasy

Cultural Heritage

A Bargain with Darkness

by Peter Eliott

WINNER

My Place Among Them

by J. Stanion

Current Events WINNER

The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade

by Rohit Bhargava and Henry Coutinho-Mason

Death and Dying WINNER

The Transformational Nature of Grief: A Pocket Guide Embracing the Light of Your Soul

by Cara Hope Clark

Environment WINNER

The Codex of the Endangered Species Act, Volume II: The Next Fifty Years

by Edited by Lowell E. Baier, John F. Organ, and Christopher E. Segal The Codex of the Endangered Species Act: The First Fifty Years - Volume I

by Lowell E. Baier with Christopher E. Segal DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

BATTLEGROUND GEOSTRESS: How to Recognize and Fight the Silent Killer

by Robert Egby Ripple Effects: How To Save Yellowstone and America’s Most Iconic Wildlife Ecosystem

by Todd Wilkinson

WINNER

A Dream of Shadows

by Peter Eliott DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Shadow of the Scholar

by Kathryn Malcolm

Finance DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Pillars of Wealth: How to Make, Save, and Invest Your Money to Achieve Financial Freedom

by David Greene

Fine Arts WINNER

Stolen Moments / Momentos Robados

by Ernesto Atkinson

Friendship DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie Teen Life Series Bullying

by Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe

General Fiction WINNER

King of Nod

by Scott Fad DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Clear-Cuts

by Joshua S. Narins

Crossing Lake Pontchartrain

by Arthur Byrd Leave a Mark

by Gary MacKnight

The Arrival of the Electric Car

by Chris Johnston, Ed Sobey 14

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Eugina Jordan UNLIMITED: The Seventeen Proven Laws for Success in a Workplace Not Designed for You.

H

aving always penned various articles within my industry, I found myself compelled to write this book due to the glaring gap in leadership literature: it’s predominantly authored by and for men. Reflecting on my own experiences, I realized that existing advice often overlooked the unique challenges faced by those who don’t fit the traditional mold, like being the only woman in the room or navigating networking events dominated by activities like golfing or drinking.

Recognizing that the current system was largely shaped by white men who still predominantly occupy leadership positions, I sought to amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals who have achieved remarkable success in corporate America.

Through interviews and insights from these diverse perspectives, I aim to provide advice and guidance that truly resonate with those who understand the nuanced realities of breaking barriers in the workplace.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE LEADERSHIP

Gift Books WINNER

Exploring Wine Regions California Central Coast

by Michael C. Higgins, PhD DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Dog at the Tinsel Tree: Susie’s Story

by Denise Lee Branco

Women such as Michelle Obama, Indra Nooyi, and Carla Harris have significantly influenced me. As pioneers who broke barriers and stood as the first and often the only ones in their respective fields, they have demonstrated what is achievable. Their resilience, intelligence, and determination have

Witnessing Grief: Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective

by Holly Margl

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

California Sister

by Gloria Mattioni

Incident at San Miguel

by A. J. Sidransky

Grief: Nonfiction

Historical Fiction

WINNER

WINNER

Transformative Grief: An Ancient Ritual of Healing for Modern Times

by Tracee Dunblazier

Paul Alenous Kluge Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954 would tip scales everywhere.

France was desperate for a win. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh was betting on the support of the Soviets, the Chinese, and his own fire-eating army.Weeds of War is a story of common soldiers-privates with no authority-whose success was essential to the victory. On one side are the young zealots of the communist Vietminh who do not hesitate to throw themselves into suicidal wave assaults.

People like Private Nguyen.

WINNER

WINNER

UNLIMITED: The Seventeen Proven Laws for Success in a Workplace Not Designed for You is a candid, empowering guidebook navigating professional success amidst adversities.

Thank you!

Weeds of War: Those Who Bled at Dien Bien Phu

Hispanic/Latin

Grief: Fiction

I want to express my deepest gratitude to my husband for always believing in me and supporting me through the ups and downs. And to my son, you’re my sunshine on the darkest days; your love keeps me going. Huge thanks to the incredible team at Manuscripts for helping me navigate the journey of bringing this book into the world. And a special shoutout to Michelle Ferguson for being the inspiration behind this project; your encouragement meant everything.

MILITARY FICTION

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Time Travelers

by Richard C. Brusca

profoundly influenced my journey, showing me the potential to break boundaries and achieve success.

My mama has been the biggest influence on me and my inspiration. Growing up in communist Russia, she juggled everything as a single mom, working nonstop and sacrificing a ton for us. She always believed I deserved better, so she made sure I got a good education and then scraped together every penny to send me to Canada. What inspires me most about her is that she never let me lose hope, no matter how tough things got.

Then there are those who enlist in the Foreign Legion, which is teeming with Wehrmacht survivors-hard core, professional soldiers. Included is a troubled and naive Irish teen.

But war is not all blood and guts. There is room for humanity and sometimes even a little romance across enemy lines. For this is a world of strange bedfellows where patience and resilience prevail.The privates depicted here are fictional, but their experiences are from actual battles. This is how it really was, to live and die among the weeds.

ISBN: 978-1736684313 • $14.00 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and online booksellers

The Lioness of Leiden

by Robert Loewen

Join us this summer,

BookCAMP

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Free Spirits: A novel of free love, faith, and frauds in 1860s New York

by Mary Hutchings Reed

June 23-25

www.IndependentPressAward.com

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MYSTERY

PARROT SANCTUARY: A Witherston Murder Mystery

Shanghaied

by Jon Howe

Betty Jean Craige

The Covenant

by B.N. Rundell

Parrot Sanctuary is the story of kidnapping, parrot trafficking, cocaine trafficking, and murder—and the rescue of the wild-caught parrots transported in burlap sacks, crates, and tiny cages from Honduras through Mexico to north Georgia.

The Gathering Room: A Tale of Nelly Butler

by Michelle E. Shores

In the course of events the reader meets Scarlet macaws, Hyacinth macaws, Blue and Gold macaws, an Indigo macaw, and a Yellow-headed amazon, all highly intelligent, all in need of sanctuary at Zoo Arroyo.

ISBN: 979-8886793338 • $18.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers www.bettyjeancraige.org

MOTIVATIONAL / NON-FICTION

Be the Weight Behind the Spear

The Map Colorist: A Novel

by Rebecca D’Harlingue

History: United States WINNER

The Codex of the Endangered Species Act: The First Fifty Years - Volume I

by Lowell E. Baier with Christopher E. Segal

Dr. Josh McConkey Be the Weight Behind the Spear outlines the leadership ethos of Dr. (Colonel) Josh “Blackjack” McConkey. With 20 years of working in the trenches of America’s emergency rooms, and with 22 years of military service, Dr. McConkey combines lessons of leadership and poignant examples to inspire Americans forward. From the battlefields of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom to the death and destruction of the American opioid crisis, Be the Weight Behind the Spear encourages a national dialogue on the importance of developing our youth into the future heroes and leaders America desperately needs. Be the Weight Behind the Spear is a call to action during a time when America is as divided – both generationally and politically – as it has ever been. Dr. McConkey’s motivational book emphasizes the critical strength of America’s teachers, families, coaches, mentors, and volunteers to shape America’s future – because

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

our national security depends on it.

How-to

ISBN: 979-8988172208 • $14.99 Availability at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Target www.weightbehindthespear.com/

Delaware from Railways to Freeways

by Dave Tabler

Horror WINNER

Solitarya

by Xan Bilal

WINNER

Hiring Veterans: How To Leverage Military Talent For Organizational Growth

by Matthew J. Louis

NEW ADULT FICTION / ROMANCE

Drops of Sunlight Kristy Lee At just twenty years old, May’s life has fallen apart. In an attempt to piece together its shattered remnants, she is spending her summer in the place she vowed she would never return: the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She must come face-to-face with the place she left behind and the boy whose heart she broke.

ISBN: 978-1739627737 • $9.95 Available on Amazon.com https://kristyleeauthor.com/kristyleeauthor/

Join us this summer,

BookCAMP

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Stop Screaming!: A Beginner’s Guide to Homemade Ice Cream

by Benjamin M. Weilert

Humor/Satire WINNER

A Very Innocent Man

by Edward Belfar DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Hey Sensei!: Funny and Sometimes Insightful Things That Happened at the Dojo

by Lawrence Kane & Kris Wilder

Inspiration WINNER

A Fraction Stronger

by Mark Berridge DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Road Unpaved - Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike

by Risa August 911 from your Soul

by Jeanine Thompson Emerging From the Dark: Stroke...The Untold Stories

by Terence Ang Stroke Mosaique: Shattered into a Thousand Fragments and Pieces Together by Love

by M.K. Gonzales The Home for Friendless Children

by C.L. Olsen The Zen of Dancing in the Rain: Becoming One with the Storm

by Aurita Maldonado

Judaism WINNER

FINDING HOME (Hungary, 1945)

by Dean Cycon DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Glassmaker’s Son: Looking for the World My Father Left Behind in Nazi Germany

by Peter Kupfer Incident at San Miguel

by A. J. Sidransky

Leadership WINNER

Leadership Mindset 2.0: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Reaching your Full Potential

by R. Michael Anderson DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Dare to Be Naive: How to Find Your True Self in a Noisy World

by Joshua Berry

June 23-25

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Donna Hayes

WINNER

AFRICAN AMERICAN NONFICTION

These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated: One Woman’s Story In my memoir, These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated: One Woman’s Story (Sibylline Press, October 2023), I share my “Cinderella” journey from the Jamaican West Indies countryside to becoming a managing director at an international investment bank, while residing on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I survived many traumas, including domestic abuse and was thriving until I became the victim of a devastating real estate scam that almost wiped out my life’s savings, orchestrated by someone I met on a dating website for individuals over 50 and subsequently dated for a year-and-a-half.

Seeking solace and healing, I joined a writing class, which allowed me to embark on a transformative journey. From this experience, emerged my book, These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated: One Woman’s Story, which now serves as a powerful tool to shed light on the connection between childhood traumas and the choices we make as adults. I am so grateful for the incredible opportunities that have come my way as an author, including appearances on The Tamron Hall Show, ABC, radio talk shows and numerous podcasts. It is through this platform and my coaching practice that I offer encouragement, motivation, and inspiration This was not the typical romance scam. He to others who are seeking to shed victimhood did not remain anonymous or hide behind and find empowerment. a computer screen. Instead, he seamlessly blended into my life. We spent all weekends One of the most influential individuals during together, introduced each other to our my journey to becoming an author is Joselin respective families, and he even had my initials Linder, my remarkable writing coach and tattooed on his chest, while pretending to build instructor at Gotham Writers. Her unwavering a life with me. Little did I know, he was patiently support, ingenious ideas, and expert counsel grooming me, waiting for the perfect moment have been instrumental in bringing my story to take advantage of my vulnerabilities and to life. trust to steal $177,000.

Very grateful for the honor of winning a 2023 NYC Big Book Award!

UNLIMITED: The Seventeen Proven Laws for Success in a Workplace Not Designed for You

by Eugina Jordan

Legal Thriller WINNER

Extreme Vetting: A Thriller

by Roxana Arama DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Empty Kayak

by Jodé Millman

WINNER

NEW FICTION

The Strange Story of Stanley Suspect

by JC Compton

The House Filler ER N

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The Culture of Burnout: Why Your Exhaustion is Not Your Fault

by Kristen Donnelly & Erin Hinson

LGBTQ Fiction

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INCEPTION MINDSET: The Contextual Art and Science of Leading in a Permanently Complex World

by Robert Radi, Ph.D.

Tong Ge A family saga set in China during the most tumultuous time of the twentieth century including the Japanese invasion, the civil war, and the Communist takeover.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Castro Street Blues: A Covid Comedy of Gay San Francisco

by Jack Fritscher

THE HOUSE FILLER is told through the experiences of Golden Phoenix, a woman who faces war, poverty, and political oppression as she fights for survival, freedom and happiness. After the untimely death of her husband, Golden Phoenix is determined to keep her family together. However, poverty forces her to make the heart-wrenching decision to give her teenage twins to the Red Army.

Off the Menu

by Alaina Erdell

LGBTQ Nonfiction The Queen of Gay Street

by Esther Mollica

During the upheaval of the Japanese invasion of her hometown, she is separated from her two young girls, and her remaining son leaves to fight with the Nationalist army. Golden Phoenix, along with her adopted son, remains to endure the horror and hardship of war. When the civil war ends with the Communists in power in 1949, one of her twins, who had joined the Communist Party, is wrongly accused of being a traitor and is sentenced to death. Golden Phoenix and her family must find a way to save her son’s life.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

THE HOUSE FILLER is a moving and powerful portrayal of one family’s struggle to survive in the face of an historical upheaval and political turmoil.

WINNER

Boy Wander - A Coming of Age Memoir

by Jobert E. Abueva

ISBN: 978-1553806981 • $22.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://ronsdalepress.com/the-house-filler/

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Tort Wars

by Roger N. Messer, J.D. www.IndependentPressAward.com

Dear Michael

by Adam Lieber

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DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

More Than Representation: The Cheat Codes to Own Your Seat at the Table

by Raven Jemison

NONFICTION/PARENTING & FAMILY/MENTAL HEALTH/ANIMAL LOVE

Emptying the Nest: Getting Better at Goodbyes

The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice

by Dr Joel A. Davis Brown

A memoir about reinventing yourself, learning how to handle loss, and emerging from depression. During her older daughter’s last year of high school, the family takes on an adventure of breeding their kind and gentle Portuguese Water Dog, Spray, and raising her ten puppies. They find loving homes for nine of the pups, and keep one, Ezzie. At the end of the year, Maggie, Morgan’s oldest, heads off for her own adventure at college. All these goodbyes don’t sit well with Morgan and she falls into a depression.

Literary Fiction

What she learns from climbing out of the depression is that life continually changes. Her dogs and children teach her lessons on living in the moment and embracing change, instead of running from it. Morgan’s identity shifts during the years after her kids leave the house.

WINNER

Into the Desert

by Xuemo

She discovers she’s more than a mother.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

A River Divided

by George Paxinos

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://www.bymorganbaker.com/book

Holy Parrot

by Angel A

PAR AN O R M AL M YST E RY/ T H R I LLE R

Blanchard Witches of Daihmler County

The Joy Divisions

by Scott Dimovitz

Micah House

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The Blanchards are your typical, close-knit southern family... who also just happen to wield magic. The road through life is never easy, but for three generations of witches living together in their ancestral home, things are getting more complicated. The Blanchard witches will need all of their skill, all of their love, and their indomitable family unity to face the challenges awaiting them. Welcome to Daihmler County, Alabama. Home of the Blanchards. Things are about to get a little strange.

The Promise of a Normal Life

by Rebecca Kaiser Gibson

Marriage WINNER

The Courage to Stay: How to Heal From an Affair and Save Your Marriage

by Kathy Nickerson PhD

ISBN: 979-8988729600 • $15.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers micahbhouse.wixsite.com/website

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Revolutionary Marriage: How to Have a Marriage that Changes the World

by Dr. Mark DeYoung

PARANORMAL ROMANCE / VISIONARY FICTION

The Mummy’s Gift Carolyn Radmanovich Her wings took the wind, lifting her toward the cerulean sky and the fluffy white clouds.

She was airborne and free—joy filled her being.

Medical Nonfiction WINNER

Private Practice Solution: Reclaiming Physician Autonomy and Restoring the Doctor-Patient Relationship

by Grace Torres-Hodges

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San Francisco, California, and Ecuador 1849. Set in the California Gold Rush era, two sisters with mystical powers become separated and must find each other by time traveling from the 21st century. Arsonists, a grizzly bear, and a missing sister besiege Angelica and her husband. A mummy’s curse befalls Heather and her lover, who land in the threatening jungles of Ecuador. After conferring with a shaman, they journey to return a sacred belt to the mummy at the top of a volcano in order to stop the lover’s curse. Each sister encounters romance, danger, and mystical insights through either shape-shifting or visions. Both women must tackle a common enemy driven by a thirst for vengeance.

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DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Male Nurse Survival Guide

by Chris Lengle

ISBN: 979-8989102006 • $17.99 Available on Amazon.com https://carolynradmanovich.com/

www.IndependentPressAward.com

The Vaccine: A Medical Thriller

by Hassan Riaz DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Barren

by JJ Savaunt

The Human Trial

by Audrey Gale

Memoir WINNER

ISBN: 978-1645384816 • $16.99

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Medical Thriller WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Morgan Baker

AWARD

Goodbye, Dry Eye!

by Shilpi Pradhan

ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD

by David A. Jones DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Born Into Crisis

by Kenneth Nixon Jr

Broken Water: An Extraordinary True Story

by Barbara Lane Fat Girl Sings: Discovering, Embracing, and Leveraging Racial Identity on the Football Field, in Business, and in Life

by Ray Schoenke Here, Where Death Delights A Literary Memoir

by Mary Jumbelic, M.D. Humble Yet Fierce: My Life Behind the Curtain of the CIA

by Katy McQuaid Matilda’s Triumph

by Richard Moss, MD Whispers from the Valley of the Yak: A Memoir of Coming Full Circle

by Jacquelyn Lenox Tuxill

Men’s Health WINNER

How to Unite Your Inner Lanterns

by Kenneth Rogers, Jr.

The Masters of Medicine

by Andrew Lam 18

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The Time Travelers

WINNER

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Richard C. Brusca

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Borges, and Hermann Hesse.

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My writing in a sentence: “A creative blend of historical fiction, scientific facts, science speculation, and powerful characters whose stories hopefully make the reader a bit wiser while entertaining them.”

The book is the result of exhaustive research, it portrays a life insurance pioneer who was almost lost in history.

Thank you to my supportive wife, Wendy Moore, and my best writer friend, Jeff Hartman

The publication of this book was possible due to research materials provided by the Library of Congress, Washington D.C,. Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Center of Research Library, Chicago, IL and Princeton University Library, Princeton, NJ.

The Independent Press Award is doing a great service for writers and the writing industry. Keep up the good work.

Middle Grade WINNER

From Vicksburg to Bennett Place

by T.W. Harvey

Ruler Of The Seas

by Don Mazzella

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Weeds of War: Those Who Bled at Dien Bien Phu

by Paul Alenous Kluge

Molly Shipton, Secret Actress

by Sheri Graubert Schoolhouse Dogs: Face Life

by Dawn Renee Darnell The Conspiracy Page, First Encounter

by Robin Landry

Military Fiction WINNER

Sea of Red

by James Bultema DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

FLEE (NomaD Thriller Series)

by Joe Klingler www.IndependentPressAward.com

P E R S O N A L G R O W T H / PSYC HOLOGY/ B U S I N E S S D I V E R S I T Y & INC LUS ION

The Gift of Sensitivity: The Extraordinary Power of emotional engagement in life and work

Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot’s Story

by Helena P. Schrader

The Last Triceracorn (Book One)

by Vincent M. Miceli

Growing up, all I heard was the word “Insurance, insurance and insurance” uttered day and night by my father. Curiosity on the father’s professional life led me to research his life and work quarter century after his death. He became known as “Father of Insurance in Bangladesh.” My research work led me to become the author of my father’s biography.

My dad’s work and activities inspired me all my life. He was a caring, workaholic, humble person, a unique family and organization leader, helped people all his life but never interested in accumulating money and recognition.

Hermann Hesse, who wrote fiction that peered into the soul of humankind.

Jorge Luis Borges, who taught me that a truly good writer can write about anything.

(Not) Alone - 2nd Edition

by Tyler Wittkofsky

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Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh

From childhood, I was fascinated by the story of Abraham Lincoln. I read many books on the life of Abraham Lincoln. I still read books on his life.

My influences include John Steinbeck, Joseph Campbell, Robert Pirsig, Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Kurt Vonnegut, Jorge Luis

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

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WINNER BIOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL

HISPANIC/LATIN

Having published over 200 scientific papers and a dozen science books, I realized my creativity was being stifled. So I wrote my first novel. Then my second. Now working on my third. Much more fun than writing about science!

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Muhammad Obaidur Rahim

Elena V. Amber Sensitivity is the degree to which we sense and perceive the world. For too long we have seen it as a weakness, especially in business. Elena Amber demonstrates that it is the source of our most authentic strength, and our superpower for the future.

ISBN:978-1788605021 • $21.99

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Books-A-Million https://elenavamber.com/

Military Nonfiction

POETRY - LOVE, LIFE & FAMILY

WINNER

Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History

by Robin Bartlett

A LIFE in VERSE: These Thoughts Are a Part of Me Which I Must Now Set Free Natalie V Frazao A collection of poems inspired by life, love and family.

These verses are a journey that meanders through love, drama, trauma, life events, and the joys found in each and every moment. These thoughts are a part of me which I must now set free for the Universe to view…

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Beyond the Border

by Tae-hyok Kim and Nicole Kim Rogers Sacrifice: The Green Berets, A Fateful Ambush, And A Gold Star Widow’s Fight For the Truth

by Michelle Black 19

According to Tellwell editor: “Her poems are moving and thought-provoking” and “convey so much meaning in just a few verses.”

ISBN: 9781773705323 • $16.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers everywhere www.nycbigbookaward.com

Saigon Stories

by James De Francia PICTURE BOOKS - ALL AGES

Sophie Won’t Sleep

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Mind, Body, Spirit

It’s bedtime for Sophie sloth!

But she wants treetop adventures instead.

Will Sophie ever make it to bed?

WINNER

This gentle story follows a feisty main character who resists bedtime and then discovers that being stubborn can lead to problems. It provides an opportunity to discuss themes of independence, making decisions, rules and routines, and family relationships. The rich illustrations will also encourage an interest in learning

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by John Thomas Hoffman

about sloths and their rainforest environment.

ISBN: 978-0645243000 • $19.99 Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers worldwide. www.daniellecamer.com.au/sophiewontsleep

Moon Signs, Houses & Healing: Gain Emotional Strength & Resilience through Astrology

by Carmen Turner Schott DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Your Crystal Allies: The 12 Best Gems and Minerals for Giving Love, Receiving Comfort, and Connecting with the Cosmos

by Tracee Dunblazier

Motivational RELIGION: FICTION

A Journey Must Be Taken: Playlist

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H.L. Howard

WINNER

The Power of Conscious Connection: 4 Habits to Transform

Fate and destiny conspire toward happily ever after, featuring a would-be couple.

How You Live and Lead

With a booming career, yet unhappily married, Tauri is bewitched by the young girl, Libi. Libi confesses her love through a music playlist, but then leaves knowing Tauri’s goals will always stand in their way.

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Now divorced, Tauri enters the world of tarot reading for romantic guidance, which leads him back to Libi in more ways than one—and on numerous occasions. But are their destinies indeed interwoven? Or is fate having a good time forcing a romance when no-mance is the best path?

The truth lies in the stars in which the pair’s mistakes are never as big as their desire for each other.

ISBN: 979-8987097632 • $17.99

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://www.themelvilleverse.com/

by Talia Fox

Be the Weight Behind the Spear

by Dr. Josh McConkey

Multicultural Fiction WINNER

UMA: Champion of the Seven Dojo: A Modern Story of Tradition and Victory

by Kris Wilder and Lawrence Kane DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Science Fiction Birthright of Scars: Rising by Laurisa Brandt

by Laurisa Brandt

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“It made me ache, cheer, stress-eat, want to yell and cry.

A story that can elicit such strong feelings, evoke a sense of wonder, and touch on the familiar is one that is worth experiencing.” ~Tracey Barski

ISBN: 979-8986720708 • $17.99 Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and many independent and online bookseller www. laurisabrandt.com

Winkle and Aster

by Derek Corsaro

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

A Haunting at Linley, A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel

by Michelle Cox Missed Cue

by Lynn Slaughter PARROT SANCTUARY: A Witherston Murder Mystery

by Betty Jean Craige Rebels in Pisa

by Ken Tentarelli Where No One Will See

by Felicia Watson Witch Window: a Murder on Skis Mystery

by Phil Bayly

Nature WINNER

The Codex of the Endangered Species Act, Volume II: The Next Fifty Years

by Edited by Lowell E. Baier, John F. Organ, and Christopher E. Segal DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

BLURRED BOUNDARIES: PERSPECTIVES ON ROCK ART OF THE GREATER SOUTHWEST

by William Frej Tracks

by Ann Schaefer, Ryan Schaefer, John Schaefer and Tina Howell

New Adult Fiction WINNER

Music

Wild Asses of the Mojave Desert

by Lis Anna-Langston

WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Mystery

Sex, Drugs & Spiritual Enlightenment (but mostly the first two)

by Karuna Das

The Guitar Decoder Ring: Featuring SIGIL - The New Language of Guitar

by Asher Black

WINNER

Shitamachi Scam

by Michael Pronko

Drops of Sunlight

by Kristy Lee

New Fiction WINNER

The House Filler

by Tong Ge www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Bruce Miller

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Hadley Vega

PARANORMAL MYSTERY / THRILLER

Junkyard Boys

Bruce Miller is an accomplished professional with diverse interests and talents. As an attorney and businessman, he has achieved success in multiple career paths. However, Mr. Miller’s passion lies in continuous learning and sharing knowledge. He spends his days studying, writing, and exploring the ever-changing world around us.

The spark to write ignited in middle school with a short story contest. 1st place for my story, “Never Open A Red Door”, that absolutely no one in the world would remember but me. I wrote the story in a frenzy the night before the due date, in true procrastinator form. But as a youngster, I read more than a typical kid, which put me at an advantage. Dabbling in magazine and newspaper writing as an adult, I decided to take things a little further.

Mr. Miller is a prolific author, having written over 50 books in various genres. Several of his works have become bestsellers.

In addition to his literary works, Mr. Miller is also an active member of several professional organizations related to his interests. He belongs to the Australian Golf Media Association, the New Zealand Society of Authors, and membership in the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Writing, for me, was very necessary.

I was once fired most heinously from my laboratory job for a humor column I wrote for the newspaper. In their defense, the editor titled it “Are Vegas Brothels Like Iowa Labs? Don’t Bet On It.” It was written tongue-in-cheek, but my boss came unhinged. Lesson learned. Humor and writing is quite subjective. After a thorough investigation, my manager was fired for firing me.

With his extensive expertise, broad intellectual curiosity, and productive career, Mr. Bruce Miller exemplifies a lifelong dedication to personal and professional growth through learning, writing, and community engagement.

His most recent publication, the psychic mystery/thriller novel Beware the Ides of March: A Novel Based on Psychic Readings was honored with a 2023 NYC Big Book Distinguished Favorite award, recognizing its high quality and popularity among readers.

Til All These Things Be Done

by Suzanne Moyers

WINNER

Beyond the Border

by Tae-hyok Kim and Nicole Kim Rogers DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Backstage Pass: A Business Book That’s Far From Conventional

by Harvey Lee

Untethered: Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Ground

by Laura Whitfield What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting (Parenting Tales from the most Unqualified (Step)Mom Ever)

by Jyl CJ Barlow

Novella SELF-HELP: MOTIVATIONAL WINNER

Tranquility Bight

by Bahr Burr

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The Cheerleader’s Guide to the Workplace Melinda Carter Oakes The Cheerleader’s Guide to the Workplace is the self-help book for every person who wants or needs to know that someone is cheering for them!

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

BACK TO ONE: Take 3 Cinéma Vérité

by Antonia Gavrihel

This book aims to instill the courage, mindset, enthusiasm and sparkly fingers needed to make it through the workday and an entire career.

Forever & Always

by Cristian Carrington

This book is simply your personal pocket-sized workplace pep squad. It fills a gap in literature options by loving the reader right where they are. Its entire purpose is to say “You’ve got it together, baby! Do you ever!”

Naked Came the Detective

by Glendall C. Jackson III

Using cheer metaphors and personal anecdotes, the author leverages her experience as a Division 1 college cheerleader at Kansas State University and 20+ years of career experience at three of America’s top branded companies to provide self-improvement enthusiasts with a leg up in the workplace.

Paranormal Mystery/ Thriller

ISBN: 979-8218268428 • $12.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers

WINNER

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Cheerleaders-Guide/61550116273527/

The Cornbread Letters

by T.E. Lane

Join us this summer,

BookCAMP

Paranormal Romance WINNER

The Mummy’s Gift

by Carolyn Radmanovich www.IndependentPressAward.com

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YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

June 23-25

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SHORT STORIES

Music from a Strange Planet: Stories Barbara Black Barbara Black’s stirring debut brings readers the strange, the unexplained, and the magical in this collection of twenty-four genre-bending short stories. Taking a deep look into the psyche of the human soul, each story bends reality just a little to get to the heart of our greatest fears and deepest desires. An awkward child envisions herself as a darkling beetle; a solitary man falls in love with a porcupine; an insomniac dentist and a former acrobat find each other in the depths of night, and much more. Black is a skilled conjurer of inner worlds. With a masterfully crafted tone and a register that ranges from contemplative to comic, the immersive stories in this collection take readers on a journey that is sometimes heart-breaking, always humane, and utterly unforgettable.

ISBN: 978-1773860589 • $16.95

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers https://barbarablack.ca/

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RISING STAR Book One of THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART Michele Kwasniewski In the first book of THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series, RISING STAR, fifteen-year-old Dani Truehart is living a life that is not quite her own. Driven by her mother’s desire for fame and fortune, she has spent her childhood dutifully training for a career as a pop star. On the brink of discovery, doubts begin to creep into Dani’s mind as she questions her own desire for fame, and she wonders whether she can trust the motivations of the adults who are driving her forward.

Following a brilliant audition arranged by her vocal/dance coach and former ’80s pop icon Martin Fox, Dani is thrown full-force into the music industry. She leaves her friends, family and scheming mother behind to move with Martin, who has become her legal guardian, into the Malibu compound of her new manager, Jenner Redman. Jenner, the former swindling manager of Martin’s boy band, leverages what’s left of his depleted fortune to launch Dani’s career.

Isolated from her life at home and trying to stay apace with her demanding schedule, Dani struggles to keep in touch with those she loves, connect to her withholding mother and find her voice as an artist. With Martin and Jenner at odds over their rocky past and finding herself unprepared to handle the pressures of her future singing career, Dani’s debut album and future stardom are at risk of falling apart.

ISBN:978-1950544165 • $20.00 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers www.michelekwasniewski.com

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Outlaw’s Redemption

by T.K. Conklin

Philosophy WINNER

Parenting & Family

The Essence of philosophy

by Saul Silas Fathi

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Emptying the Nest: Getting Better at Goodbyes

by Morgan Baker

Clarity vs. Chaos: Sun Tzu’s Rules for Life and War

by Kris Wilder & Lawrence Kane

Parenting and Family

Photography

WINNER

WINNER

Performing Arts

Picture Books Preschool

Raising Owen: An ExtraOrdinary Memoir on Motherhood

by Suzanne Lezotte

WINNER

DON’T MISS THIS! A DECADE OF ECCENTRIC PERFORMING ARTS

by Jim R Moore DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Horror on the Stage

by Amnon Kabatchnik

Personal Finance WINNER

Financially Capable: A Friendly Guide to Building While-Health Wealth

by Matt Paradise

Personal Growth WINNER

Petals from Mars: A Memoir of Resilience and Triumph over Adversity

by Judie Dziezak

Food & Drink: Modernist Cuisine Photography

by Nathan Myhrvold

WINNER

NO! GO!

by Holly Schmidt DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Edwin the Elephant’s First Night Alone

by Amanda Boyd

Picture Books-Ages 4-8 WINNER

Let’s Tour the World: A Globe Adventure

by Theresa Lynn DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Grumpy And Green Parrot Find A New Home In Naples

by Susan Marie Chapman Grumpy Lost And Found In Naples

by Susan Marie Chapman

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

YOUNG ADULT FICTION/HISTORICAL

Aboard Blackbeard’s Queen Robin Reams

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The year is 1718 and Cooper has an important job to do as a ship’s cat. When Cooper finds himself on Captain Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, he must learn how to become a true pirate cat. Along the way, Cooper faces his greatest fears, fights for survival, and works hard F A

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to earn a place on Blackbeard’s pirate crew.

ISBN: 979-8987189603 • $15.95 Available at: Independent Bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram Spark https://www.amazon.com/author/books-by-robin-reams

www.IndependentPressAward.com

Broken, Brave and Bittersweet: Forging Fiercely Through Disability, Parenthood and Other Misadventures

by Chris Prange-Morgan MA, MSW Stop The Break: From Surviving to Thriving and Catching Fire in Life

by Janet Barrett

The Gift of Sensitivity: The Extraordinary Power of emotional engagement in life and work

by Elena V. Amber 22

Sneaky Snobby

by Jennifer Kvam

Picture Books-All Ages WINNER

AntonTon

by Irena Stanic Rasin, Grigor Vitez DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

My Dog Can’t Jump

by David Lane

Sophie Won’t Sleep

by Dr Danielle Camer www.nycbigbookaward.com

Shane Svorec

Deborah Tant

Broken Little Believer: Finding Purpose in All the Pretty Painful Pieces

The Life of Riley Book Series

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I have been writing all my life. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been curious about the world around me and fascinated by the power of human interaction.

I grew up being an observer of life and found that many magical moments were overlooked, and messy situations were often ignored. As I began to jot down my observations, I discovered that my strength was sharing snapshots of human stories (including mine) to bring others perspective, encouragement, and hope. My writing is all about connecting with others, seeing the bigger picture, and choosing to find the joy in life, even when it can be difficult. I published my first book shortly after the pandemic and was overwhelmed by the positive response.

Many readers wrote and shared how my book touched and inspired them - a proud and humbling experience.

is a good thing.

My dog Riley was the soul that most influenced me. He is cheeky, smart and very caring and very thoughtful for a dog of the other dogs we have at home.

I grew up reading or being read to from lots of authors about great characters, Pippy Longstocking was a favorite at one time, Edin Blyton we read as my Mum had all her books because they were neighbours when she was a kid and she was often at her house during WWII. Wind in the Willows.

More recently I love Julia Donaldson who has been my biggest influence during my most recent writing and illustrations process.

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The person who most influenced me was my grandmother. She was strong, kind, loving, and honest. She didn’t have much but made much from what she had. She was a hard worker who believed in doing the right thing. She was extremely loyal and would do anything for someone in need. She taught me to believe in myself and to never give up on my dreams. She was my biggest supporter.

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WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

INSPIRATION

Your Heart Can Hold the Whole Universe

by Rebecca Atanassova

WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

A LIFE in VERSE these thoughts are a part of me which I must now set free

by Natalie V Frazao Broken Metronome

by Connie Post Pulled Pork in Paris

by Athar C. Pavis Sonnets of Love and Joy

by Paul Buchheit The Ghosts of Gold: The poetry of Clem Stambaugh

by Clem Stambaugh www.IndependentPressAward.com

WOMEN’S FICTION

WINNER

Realms of my Soul III: A Golden Gift

by Lali A. Love

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

CHILDRENS: ANIMALS/PETS

Poetry - Nature & Spirit

Poetry - Love, Life & Family The Abduction

by Hélène Cardona, Maram AlMasri

After I retired from my long career in Information Technology, I decided to start writing. I have always had thoughts of lots of books that I should write since I was about 16 years old. I thought I would start with Children’s Picture books as it looked easy but it was a lot tricker than I expected, mainly because the audience was completely different to my usual audience in age but both honest and brutal, which

Love, Ruthie Bonnie MacDougall

A Woman’s Life on the Edge of the Sea - Four Decades of Poetry

by Irene Skyriver Fight or Flight

by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

Was the poet, William Wordsworth, right when he wrote “the child is the father of the man”? That is the question Jane Meyer asks Ruth Lucas in a letter. Best friends since high school, and now in their early thirties, Ruth and Jane keep in close touch through letters, phone calls, and when they can, visits.

When Ruth gets Jane’s letter with this question about Wordsworth’s line, she decides to review what stood out in her childhood and ask herself if those times informed and shaped the woman she became. This process takes her weeks and traverses early family memories, her college years, a job in Washington, her first lover, and other experiences on

HOLOGLYPHS II - Afterlight

by S. K. Yeatts

her way to becoming her own woman. Her answer to Jane’s question is Love, Ruthie.

Poetry - Political / Social

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers worldwide. https://bonniemacdougall.com/

ISBN: 979-8889102809 • $14.95

WINNER

Grief Touched the Sky at Night

by Gloria Mindock

Join us this summer,

BookCAMP

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

When Your Sky Runs Into Mine

by Rooja Mohassessy

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Political Thriller WINNER

Lock Up

by Joe Klingler DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

A Bridge to Home: A Piece of Baltimore

by L J Hippler A Bridge to Home: A Piece of Baltimore

by L J Hippler The Middle Generation: A Novel of John Quincy Adams and the Monroe Doctrine

by M. B. Zucker

Pregnancy & Childbirth WINNER

To Carry Wonder: A Memoir and Guide to Adventures in Pregnancy and Beyond

by Emese C. Parker

Psychology WINNER

Problem Solver, Maximizing Your Strengths To Make Better Decisions

by Cheryl Strauss Einhorn DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Learning to Feel: One Man’s Path of Reconnecting to the Heart of Emotions

by Kris Girrell

Public Relations WINNER

Do You Know What a Book Publicist Does? 3.0

by Claire McKinney

Race Relations WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Courtroom Dramas on the Stage

by Amnon Kabatchnik

WINNER

WINNER

The Secret

by Eve M. Riley

WINNER

Short Stories

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, SO I JUST SAID THANKS

by David Joseph

Bistro Nights

by David Benjamin

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Why Hearts Keep Secrets

by Mara Purl

Regional WINNER

City of Steel A Damascus Love Story

by Amber Wiser Thompson

Ripple Effects: How To Save Yellowstone and America’s Most Iconic Wildlife Ecosystem

by Todd Wilkinson

Griffin

by S.M. West

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Understanding Superhero Comic Books

by Alex Grand

Science Fiction

Religion: Fiction

Birthright of Scars: Rising

by Laurisa Brandt

WINNER

WINNER

A Journey Must Be Taken: Playlist

by H.L. Howard

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Religion: Nonfiction

Crew of Exiles

by Neal Holtschulte

Ares

by Jayson Adams

WINNER

Project Hemisphere (Antipodes Book 1)

by T.S. Simons

The Plans He Has For Me

by Rose Ann Forte

Romance

Self-help: General

WINNER

WINNER

Chase Cooper

by Lynn Eldridge

Sacred Celebrations: Designing Rituals to Navigate Life’s Milestone Transitions

by Elizabeth Barbour

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Acts of Confession

by NT Anderson

Reference

Your Crystal Allies: The 12 Best Gems and Minerals for Giving Love, Receiving Comfort, and Connecting to the Cosmos

by Tracee Dunblazier

WINNER

Be Human, Lead Human: How to Connect People and Performance

by Jennifer Nash

WINNER

www.IndependentPressAward.com

WINNER

Romantic Suspense

Relationships

Romantic Comedy

SAE International’s Dictionary for Automotive Engineers

by John Kershaw Ed D

Self-help: Spirituality

Black Wing Sky

by Kaylin McFarren

Business Law Essentials You Always Wanted To Know

by Vibrant Publishers, Komal Shah

Never

by Joel F. Johnson

WINNER

Romantic Fantasy

Self-help: Motivational WINNER

The Cheerleader’s Guide to the Workplace

by Melinda Carter Oakes

Love ad Lib

by Evie Alexander

Artifacts and Other Stories

by Ronna Wineberg

Deadly Geminis and Other Short Stories: Fictional tales on a ride of twists, turns and the unexpected

by Elle Stockton How Boys Learn

by Jeff Kirchick Music from a Strange Planet: Stories

by Barbara Black Swing Bridge: Stories

by Bronwyn Hughes (Author), Kat Sharp (Illustrator) The Inquisition and Other Stories

by Michael Tabor

Spirituality WINNER

The Afterlife Experience - How Our Association With Nature’s Elements Shapes the Outcome

by Bud Megargee DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Inner Trek, A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas

by Mohan Ranga Rao Inner Trek, A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas

by Mohan Ranga Rao Mescalito Riding His White Horse

by Mike Fiorito

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Losing My Breath

by J Rose Black

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W IN

K9 Spirit Guides: The Healing Power of Man’s Best Friend

• INDEPENDENT 24 PR ES 20 S

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Heather Leigh Strom

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WINNER ANIMALS-PETS

I experienced a spiritual awakening and part of this process was in sharing my life story. As I wrote K9 Spirit Guides: the Healing Power of Man’s Best Friend, the K9 spirit guides introduced themselves to me and channeled their messages through me for this book. This is a book for humanity, offering valuable messages and healing that we need in order to heal.

All the people in my story who made my life “hard” were instrumental in me becoming who I was meant to be. I am profoundly grateful for their dedication in their mission and the sacrifice it required.

All the channeling authors who tell true stories which seem like fiction such as Deborah Harkness and JK Rawling, and of course the legendary Dolores Cannon who was way ahead of her time!

My husband for being my constant rock even though none of this makes any sense to him.

I write what I am guided to share with humanity without hesitation or fear. My life was meant to be an example for others to identify with and use as a compass to find their own way to spiritual awakening.

Thank you very much Independent Press Award for this validation of my work and for the opportunity to share with even more people!

You Are Still Alive, Now Act Like It: Empower, Elevate, and Enlighten Your Consciousness

by Ray Catania

Sports WINNER

We Were The Ramchargers: Inside Drag Racing’s Legendary Team, Second Edition

by David Rockwell

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Daedalus Protocol

by Jeff Sheckter

TimeLock

by Howard Berk & Peter Berk

Teen WINNER

Suspense

RISING STAR Book One of THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART Series

by Michele Kwasniewski

WINNER

Thriller

Ripple Effect

by Amy Rivers DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Murder for Liar

by Verlin Darrow

Techno-thriller WINNER

Artificial Wisdom

by Thomas R. Weaver

www.IndependentPressAward.com

WINNER

The Huntsman

by Judith Sanders DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Betrayal

by Gary E Smith The File

by Gary Born

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Travel

Well-being

WINNER

WINNER

Exploring Wine Regions California Central Coast

by Michael C. Higgins, PhD

The 7 Secrets to Creating a Life You Love: A Practical Guide for Women in Leadership

by Monique de Maio

Fulfilled. 52 Prescriptions for Healing, Health, and Happiness

by Dr. Bernadette Anderson

Travelogue

Western Fiction

WINNER

WINNER

Tent for Seven: A Camping Adventure Gone South Out West

by Marty Ohlhaut and Grace Ly

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Owning Your Destiny: A Woman’s Guide to Harnessing the Power Within

by Duncan McLauren

A Rambling Man

by Robert Vaughan

World Literature WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

On Constance

by Karin Konoval

The Fairytale

by Debbie Mancuso Wandering in Japan: The Spirit of Tokyo, Kyoto and Beyond

by Editors: Linda Watanabe McFerrin and Laurie McAndish King

True Crime WINNER

Saint Bloodbath

by Frederick Douglass Reynolds

Outlaw’s Redemption

by T.K. Conklin

Perestroika: Eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth

by João Cerqueira

The Powell Expeditions

by Tim Piper

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Western Nonfiction WINNER

Raphael Pumpelly’s Arizona: The Frontier Adventures of a Young Mining Engineer

by C. Gilbert Storms

Urban Fantasy WINNER

Among the Hunted

by Caytlyn Brooke

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Every Other Weekend

by Margaret Klaw

WINNER

The Mummy’s Gift

by Carolyn Radmanovich DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Healing Book

by Dustin Grinnell

www.IndependentPressAward.com

Writing and Publishing

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

The Things He Could Have Been: Stories of BABE RUTH

by W. Nikola-Lisa

Young Adult Fiction

The French Lover’s Wife

by Janet Garber

Visionary Fiction

Good Morning, Hope: A True Story of Refugee Twin Sisters and Their Triumph over War, Poverty, and Heartbreak

by Argita Zalli and Detina Zalli

The Little Book of Confusables

by Sarah Townsend

Love, Ruthie

by Bonnie MacDougall

The Perfect Revenge: The Dragonfly Rises

by WilD

Arcanus

by Ali Eke

WINNER

Get Your Book Seen And Sold: The Essential Book Marketing Guide

by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette

What Eyes Can’t See

by Paulette Stout

The Location Shoot: A Novel

by Patricia Leavy

Young Adult Nonfiction

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

WINNER

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Wriding on MAX

by Steve Clark

Young Adult Nonfiction

Unlocking the Novella-in-Flash: from Blank Page to Finished Manuscript

by Michael Loveday

DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Gangsterland: A Tour Through the Dark Heart of Jazz-Age New York City

by David Pietrusza

Winkle and Aster

by Derek Corsaro

The Roots That Clutch

by Beth Ann Hooper

WINNER

Women’s Fiction

What It Cost Us: Stories of Pandemic & Protest in DC by multiple authors

WINNER

Red as Blood: A YA Romantic Suspense Mystery Novel

by Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE

Junkyard Boys

by Hadley Vega

Where the Grass Grows Blue

by Hope Gibbs

The Sordid Selection: A YA Cyberpunk Fantasy Romance series

by Jerri Chisholm

Women’s Issues WINNER

Unlocking Blackbeard’s Skeletons

by Robin Reams

How Money Works For Women: Take Control Or Lose It

by Sharon Lechter and Kim Scouller 26

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CALLING ALL PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS FROM ANYWHERE

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WHO CAN ENTER? Print and audiobooks can be submitted by: • • • • • •

independent publishers hybrid publishers self-published authors university presses association presses small, medium and big house presses

*including any of the big five publishing houses and their imprints

Outside of the big five publishing houses, any publisher or author may submit to both competitions, IndependentPressAward.com (every spring); and NYCBigBookAward.com (every fall).

See webpages for complete details.

WHEN CAN I ENTER the NYC Big Book Award?

We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two and a half months, with two hard deadlines: (1) September 1, 2023 to December 30, 2023 (2) March 1, 2024 to August 30, 2024 Final entries must be postmarked no later than August 30, 2024. This final deadline will not be extended.

What if I miss the deadline? Enter our spring program Independent Press Award as we take books until December 2024 for IndependentPressAward.com.

ENTRY FEE $99 per title/per category, plus $79 for any additional category

www.IndependentPressAward.com

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2023

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That’s right, no limitation on where the author is located or the topic of the book.

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2023 E R

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Submit your book on any subject for the 2024 NYC Big Book Award!

F A

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STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS 1. Decide which books or audiobooks (copyright date within the past three years is recommended to enter into this year’s competition.

2. Calculate the total entry fee.

Choose which categories, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/categories to enter each book into. You may enter a book into as many categories as you’d like. The fee for the first category is $99. Any additional book categories for that same book is $79 per category. SINGLE BOOK, MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Children’s category, the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178.

MULTIPLE BOOKS: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Children’s category, the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178, and “Book Two” in Mystery and New Fiction (first-time published), the entry fee is $99 + $79 = $178, so $178 + $178 = $356 in total book entry fees.

3. Download a form from this page, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/submitviamail OR submit the entry form online on this page, https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/submit-online Complete form 4. Duplicate each Entry Label if you are entering multiple categories.

For print books, a copy of the completed Entry Label must be placed inside the front cover of every book submitted. Up to four physical copies tor entry into four or more categories.

Audiobooks. a single copy of the completed Entry Label must be submitted along with either an Audible gift code or Authors’ Direct code. IF SUBMITTING ONLINE and sending a book directly from Amazon.com or other retailer/printer, NO PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED. 5. Pay via PayPal button on the website or mail a check, along with your books and printed entry form, and ship to: NYC BIG BOOK AWARD 63 Clinton Road Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 USA

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www.IndependentPressAward.com

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