NYC Big Book Award 2023 Announcement

INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD and NYC BIG BOOK AWARD P R E S E N T

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Volume 2, Issue 7

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CONGRATULATIONS 3

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We thank this past year’s publishers and authors who participated in the NYC Big Book Award® and extend our congratulations to the 2023 Winners & Distinguished Favorites The impressive roster of international and domestic entries resulted in a record

from Blackstone Publishing, Berrett-Koehler, Beyond Words, Casemate,

year for book award winners in major categories. The competition draws a

Cinnabar Moth Publishing, Citrine Publishing, Four Way Books, Fantagraphics,

diverse and high-quality pool of authors and publishers. The NYC Big Book

Greenleaf Book Group Press, Ideapress, Inner Traditions, Kogan Page, Ooligan

Award boasts a worldwide entry pool from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North

Press, Riverhead Books, Rutgers University Press, She Writes Press, Story

America. This year, cities such as Ann Arbor, Denver, Edinburgh, London, Los

Monsters Press, Teacher Created Materials, The Wild Rose Press and the White

Angeles, Melbourne, Miami Beach, New Delhi, New York, Ottawa, Princeton,

House Historical Association.

San Francisco, San Juan, Singapore, and Winnipeg were represented. Winners were recognized from Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England,

“Our team is honored to highlight the excellence and achievements of a diverse

Germany, India, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, and the United States.

array of authors and publishers,” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak. “Their work represents a commitment to excellence. It is our mission and privilege to

Journalists, well established authors, small and large presses, and first time

continue to showcase their work in an international stage.”

independent authors participated in remarkable numbers. Awardees hailed

To view the list of winners, visit https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2023winners and distinguished favorites: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2023distinguishedfavorites YouTube Channel http://youtube.com/c/IndependentPressAwardSpringNYCBigBookAwardFall • Author Interviews: www.TheGabTalks.com Join us for Spring 2024, https://www.independentpressaward.com/ • Follow us on Twitter @GabbyBookAwards

Join us every fall for the NYC Big Book Award.

Book submissions are welcomed from independent authors, publishers, and big press.

WHO CAN ENTER the NYC Big Book Award?

Any publisher or author can enter.

WHAT CAN BE SUBMITTED? All publication dates within the past three years are recommended and accepted.

WHEN CAN I ENTER? We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two months, with two hard deadlines: (1) October 2023 to March 30, 2024 (2) April 1, 2024 to August 30, 2024

Full details, see NYCBigBookAward.com • Enter the 2024 NYC Big Book Awards Today!

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to the Winners & Distinguished Favorites of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award ®

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This May Be Difficult to Read

by Claire N. Rubman, PhD

IT’S TIME TO REINVENT READING! Reading is the linchpin of all future learning. It’s time to disrupt an educational paradigm that hasn’t shifted in 50 years.

• One in five college freshmen has to take a remedial reading class.

• 42 million American adults can’t follow the directions on a can of soup.

Not your son or daughter? Are you sure?

You taught your child the letters and sounds.

Maybe your child can even say the words aloud, but can your child comprehend the printed word?

Is your child caught in this silent failure chain? How do you know?

Learn what “the science of reading” can actually do for your child!

B uy t h e bo o k n ow o n

Learn more at www.difficulttoread.com ISBN: 9798987086117

Scan here to view on Amazon.com

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

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hat an exciting year!

Every year’s competition brings excellent authors, famous and not; a wealth of diversity; and the same categories approached from very different perspectives. This year’s competition included a Pulitzer Prize winning title and, apparently, the judges didn’t even know it when the book was submitted…just another reason why I so love the NYC Big Book Award.

Inside this issue, you’ll see the full list of this year’s winners and distinguished favorites. I hope you find some favorites including A Long Time Dead, A Joe Turner Mystery by T.L. Bequette, which was honored in the Crime Fiction category, and recently interviewed by the president of the NYC Big Book Award on www.

TheGABTALKS.com. You can read an excerpt of that discussion on page 6. In addition, the fall line up is brimming with exceptional authors from an array of categories, and we’ll be featuring a number of them in our December issue.

Some books are very personal. My mother-in-law asked me “Ted, would you know if I was having a stroke,” and honestly said I wouldn’t. A month later, my uncle had a stroke. According to the CDC, almost 800,000 people in the United States have strokes yearly, and 75% for the first time. With World Stroke Day approaching, which raises awareness every year on October 29, I thought it appropriate to request an article not only to be aware of this common life-threatening condition, but to understand the people who have suffered it. I choose Terence Ang, author of Emerging From The Dark: Stroke… The Untold Stories, who has suffered a stroke, and dedicated his life to the cause. Please read his story on page 25.

Enrich your life. Look through the pages of this announcement issue: be inspired, buy a few books, and write a few reviews. The authors will thank you, and your life will be better for it.

Until next month…

Ted Olczak 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

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NYC Big Book Award Announcement Listings & Ads

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GAB TALKS Interview: T.L. Bequette

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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 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/

To submit your book, visit our websites: Spring 2024 https://www.independentpressaward.com/ 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)

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

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T.L.

Bequette Author: LONG TIME DEAD

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.L. Bequette, aka Todd, is a criminal defense attorney and author. Bequette’s debut novel, Good Looking, the first novel in the Joe Turner Mystery series, received the 2022 Independent Press Award in Crime Fiction. Long Time Dead, the most recent novel in the Joe Turner Mystery Series was released mid August and is now a recipient of a 2023 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite. Todd has been a criminal defense attorney for the past thirty years. The majority of his practice involves defending accused murderers. Todd has earned degrees from the University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School. He serves annually on faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic. He is passionate about prison reform, the unbalanced jury selection process, and is a champion of those who have received unduly harsh prison sentences.

GABBY:

Has there been any one influence or great inspirational moment in your life that sparked your idea and led you to take the leap from attorney to author?

TODD:

I wouldn’t say one moment. I’ve always liked to write creatively, and I think I realized over the course of my long legal career that being a lawyer slowly but surely saps creativity from you. I realized that creativity was on the wane and I needed to change that.

GABBY:

Todd, let’s give our listeners a little background about the Joe Turner Mystery series. In book one, Good Looking, we are introduced to protagonist Joe Turner. Book two, Blood Perfect is a prequel of sorts, focusing on the young Joe Turner.

Long Time Dead which was recently released is book three.

What is the prevalent theme of the series?

TODD:

Good Looking, asks us how far each of us will go to protect the ones we love. I think the theme of the series is there’s a great deal of focus on what it’s like to be accused and facing life in prison. I don’t know that because it’s never happened to me, but I have a pretty good idea having looked through the bars of custody at people who are really, really desperate and who are facing a lifetime behind bars. I like to think that the series provides a pretty good look at what that’s like for inmates and also for the defense attorneys who are charged with defending them.

GABBY:

Tell us about the third installment in the series, Long Time Dead. You wrote this book a little bit differently than the other two.

TODD:

It is different. I don’t know whether I’m sort of tired of Joe Turner, but the protagonist is not Joe Turner. He took a backseat in this one. www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Joe is involved but the protagonist is Joe’s boyhood friend who happens to be accused of murder. He becomes a fugitive and leaves the country. Joe gets involved later when the FBI is pursuing a cold case, closing in on Joe’s friend. Joe picks up the scent and helps free his boyhood friend.

at something a little bit more substantial, maybe literary fiction.

Listen to the entire interview on www.TheGabTalks. com. Learn more about T.L. Bequette at tlbequette.com.

Long Time Dead and the Joe Turner Mystery series can GABBY: be purchased on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com or Apple What are the most compelling characteristics of these Books. stories that draw the reader in?

TODD:

Well, I think that I try to build suspense for one. It’s a real art to be able to do that throughout the course of a story.

I’m hopefully getting better at that as I write. Also, in each of the stories, there’s a real old fashioned mystery with lots of potential suspects and lots of red herrings and twists and turns.

To listen to the full interview or to learn more, please visit

GABBY:

What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced writing the series, particularly as an independent author?

TODD:

I have to say that not not getting published initially was very trying.

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As the rejections started rolling in it was very difficult to not be affected by that. I was not exposed at all to the business of publishing. What I have learned over the years now that I’ve been doing this is that unfortunately, there are lots and lots of really talented writers, many no doubt much more talented than I that weren’t ever lucky enough to get published. So by far my biggest challenge has been that before I was lucky enough to get published was to hang in there and keep writing because I love to write.

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Is that a big piece of advice that you could offer aspiring authors to just keep writing, Keep trying?

TODD:

No question. My advice would be to keep writing because you love to write, not for any sort of end game. Also when someone criticizes your writing, you know, you can toss your notepad down and throw a pen on the computer screen and get mad about it. But after you do that, go back and look at what the criticism was, because usually it makes some sense.

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Your debut novel, Good Looking, was published in 2021.

Then you came out with your second novel, and now you’re third. You’re on a roll. What’s next?

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I have a couple other stories in the hopper. Lately I’ve been sort of noodling around with the idea of trying my hand www.IndependentPressAward.com

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WINNER in Action/Adventure In the Lair of Legends

by David Buzan Distinguished Favorite in Action/Adventure Aboard Blackbeard’s Queen

by Robin Reams Last Star Standing

by Spaulding Taylor REBELLIOUS SON: A Spy Devils Thriller

by Joe Goldberg The Spy Devils

by Joe Goldberg WINNER in Addiction and Recovery And She Came Tumbling Down: Breaking the Bonds of Alcohol and Creating a Life of Freedom

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

by Blue Andrews Resilience - Based on a True Story of Robert J. Moore

by Robert J. Moore WINNER in African American Fiction Still Waters

by Jenna Caldwell WINNER in African American Nonfiction These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated, One Woman’s Story

by Donna Marie Hayes Distinguished Favorite in African American Nonfiction Climbing Together: America’s Journey for Racial Equality

by Michael Smith Leavitt

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WINNER in Aging Chronological Order: The Fine Print for a Large Life

by Jill B. Yesko, Laurean Kile WINNER in Anthology Million Dollar Identity: Experts, CEOs, and Entrepreneurs Share How to Build, Monetize, and Scale Your Market Authority, Profit, and Influence for 7+ Figure Success

by Jamie Wolf, Myron Golden PhD, Victoria Kennedy, Dan Ashburn, Eric Beer, Ryan Stewman, et al

WINNER in Autobiography

The Clever Wife: A Kyrgyz Folktale

by Rukhsana Khan

Living While Human

by Arwinder Kaur

Distinguished Favorite in Book Interior Design Fiction

WINNER in Biography: Historical

Ichiro and the Great Mountain

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Einstein: The Man and His Mind

by Gary S. Berger, Michael DiRuggiero, Hanoch Gutfreund (Foreword)

WINNER in Business - General

Distinguished Favorite in Biography: Historical Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladeshce in Bangladeshce in Bangladesh

by Muhammad Rahim

WINNER in Arts & Entertainment Love And Murder The Final Days of Vincent van Gogh

by Dr. Irv Arenberg

WINNER in Book Cover DesignChildrens Picture Books

Distinguished Favorite in Arts & Entertainment

Zen & The Ten Oxherding Pictures

by Demi

LOST AND FOUND Assemblage artists of Northern California

by Spencer Brewer and Esther Siegel

Distinguished Favorite in Book Cover Design-Childrens Picture Books Little Bear: An Inuit Folktale

by Dawn Casey

Ramayana Through Ikebana

by Simran Sadana & Meena Iyer

Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace

by Phil Simon Distinguished Favorite in Business - General Activate Brand Purpose: How to Harness the Power of Movements to Transform Your Company

by Scott Goodson and Chip Walker Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World

by Jessica Bantom Sustainability is for Everyone: Beginning Steps to Creating a Sustainability Program for Your Business

by Lael Giebel Sweating Together: How Peloton Built A Billion Dollar Venture and Created Community in a Digital World

by David J Miller

The Beatle Who Vanished

by Jim Berkenstadt

Pudgy Possum the Brave - How Pudgy Got His Name

by Kathy S. Elasky

WINNER in Audiobook Nonfiction

WINNER in Book Cover Design-Fiction

Negotiation Simplified: A Framework and Process for Understanding and Improving Negotiating Results

by Jim Reiman

Charlie’s Encore

by J. Ronald M. York Distinguished Favorite in Book Cover Design-Fiction

The Answer is a Question: The Missing Superpower that Changes Everything and Will Transform Your Impact as a Manager and Leader

by Laura Ashley-Timms & Dominic Ashley-Timms

Distinguished Favorite in Audiobook Nonfiction

The Time Travelers

by Richard C Brusca

Distinguished Favorite in Business-Entrepreneurship

A Crisis Is A Terrible Thing to Waste

by Kelly Sullivan Walden

WINNER in Book Cover DesignNonfiction

A Bridge Not Too Far, Where Creativity Meets Innovation

by Deepak Ohri

Of Dirt and Wildflowers, A Memoir: On Growing the Courage to Bloom

by Kylee J. Marshall

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

by Minette Norman

WINNER in Book Interior Design Fiction

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Action/Adventure In the Lair of Legends David Buzan

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Veteran Jolon Winterhawk escorts a gold train through Oregon’s Cascade Mountains during the Civil War. He survives an ambush and must now deliver the gold alone.

Balloons from the Army Balloon Corps are dispatched to find the train, but they plan to steal it. Now, Winterhawk must battle them and a horrifying creature lurking in the woods.

ISBN: 978-1685132507 • $21.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores davidbuzan.com/

Autobiography Living While Human Arwinder Kaur A micro-autobiography and a call for sustainable living and preserving nature. Kaur narrates her life as an immigrant from India, her travels, and her rejection of mainstream living. She also argues that humans are not as smart as we think and that a simple, accessible answer solves many of the problems we face.

The book is intriguing and thought-provoking, and Kaur’s passion for healing our dying world is evident.

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ISBN: 978-0228851325 • $19.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores arwinderkaurauthor.com/

B i o g r a p h y: H i s t o r i ca l Khuda Buksh: The Pioneer of Life Insurance in Bangladesh Muhammad Rahim

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Khuda Buksh, the pioneer of life insurance in Bangladesh, was a visionary leader who dedicated his life to promoting the importance of life insurance in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, even during political unrest.

He overcame religious and cultural prejudices against the industry and trained and motivated thousands of salesmen during his career. Buksh’s innovative leadership and sales style helped to penetrate nearly every part of society and establish life insurance as a critical part of the economy. His legacy continues to inspire and guide professionals in the insurance industry today.This book provides a vivid portrait of political and social changes in the Indian subcontinent during a critical period in its history, and demonstrates how the life insurance industry played a significant role in shaping the region.

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ISBN: 978-1637108758 • $24.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores https://amzn.to/46slviN

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Ma Possum’s pouch is getting crowded. Her babies are getting cranky. Someone needs to do something! With little wiggle room left in Ma’s cozy pouch, who will be brave enough to make the first move? Find out in Pudgy Possum the Brave: How Pudge Got His Name! The second book in the Pudgy Possum series, children’s literature author Kathy S. Elasky writes and illustrates an endearing tale every child will love.

ISBN: 978-0578428673 • $19.99 www.penguinbookshop.com/book/9780578428673 www.IndependentPressAward.com

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C h i l d r e n s : E d u cat i o n a l S e r i es

WINNER in BusinessEntrepreneurship & Small Business

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book Series Michael Dow, RN, MS, MHA, MSM

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Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations

by Josh Bersin Distinguished Favorite in Business-Entrepreneurship & Small Business

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The Nurse Florence® Coloring Book Series is a fun way for kids and parents to learn new things together. Books in the series have won individual awards as well as best Children’s Educational Series. The Nurse Florence® Coloring Book Series provides high quality medical information, promoting health and science, in easy to understand format.

By introducing young kids to correct terminology and science concepts at an early age, Dow feels we can help increase our children’s health literacy level as well as help to prepare them for courses and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

$11.99 Available on Amazon and nurseflorence.org

Childrens: Animals & Pets Please Love Me Like I love You Written by Kip Ullrich Fechner, Illustrated by Janis Ullrich Dillion AWARD

In this adorable book, dogs of all breeds ask children to “Please love me like I love you.” Each dog has a message about how children can show their love in a kind and gentle way. For example, one dog says, “Don’t pull my ears. That hurts! Oh My!” and the facing page shows the three dogs sweetly looking and saying, “Your voice is so special to me like a sweet lullaby.” The book also includes a feature where children can find a heart on every page. This is a fun way for children to interact with the book and learn about kindness and compassion.

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The illustrations are all in original watercolor and are sure to delight.

ISBN: 978-1733421508 • $9.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop.org and online bookstores www.petkindnesspress.com Available as a large spiral bound book (13” x 13”) for group reading available in addition to the child size book (9” x 9”).

Childrens: Animals & Pets Things that bite in the Night Deborah Tant T

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This children’s picture book is a bedtime story about the adventure of Riley the dog and his brother Monty-moo, two Australian Labradoodles. Riley lives in the Australian, Queensland, hinterland where he and Monty Moe meet not your everyday suburban animals during a night walk that they were advised by their grandmother not to do.

This would suit children from the ages of two to eight years old with beautiful illustrations. The book is about an exciting adventure and an effective way to introduce why listening is important along with the beautiful habit of reading that brings fun and joy to your children at bedtime.

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ISBN: 978-0645811605 • $12.98 Available on Amazon https://amzn.to/3PicstG www.IndependentPressAward.com

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

by Dorine Rivers, PhD, PMP Twentieth Century Boys: How One Family Business Survived and Thrived

by Andrea Clark Watson Winner Takes All - Case Studies in how Online Marketplaces are creating Modern Monopolies

by Shirish Nadkarni

Distinguished Favorite in Career Finding Your Way in Science: How to Combine Character, Compassion and Productivity in Your Research Career

by Lem Moyé Level Up - From Unseen to Sought After

by Shirin Danesh MEN-IN-THE-MIDDLE: Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority

by Kori Reed Winning in Your Own Court: 10 Laws for a Successful Career without Burning Out or Selling Out

by Dena Lefkowitz WINNER in Caregiving

WINNER in Business-Motivational

Raging Currents: Mental Illness and Family

by Nanette J. Davis, Ph.D.

Finding Your Brand True North

by Lauren Clemett

Distinguished Favorite in Caregiving

Distinguished Favorite in Business-Motivational

I Didn’t See It Coming: Scenes of Love, Loss and Lewy Body Dementia

by Mary Lou Falcone

Preparing for Battle: How to Overcome Life’s Challenges, Unlock Your Full Potential, and Build a Successful Business

by Chad Price The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully be Being More Human

by Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn’t Feel Like It Should . . . and What to Do About It

by Laura Gassner Otting WINNER in Career The 5-Day Job Search: Proven Strategies To Answering Tough Interview Questions & Getting Multiple Job Offers

by Annie Margarita Yang

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WINNER in Chapter Books In Search of Sparkle: A Faerie Fairy Tale

by Donna E. Lane WINNER in Chick-Lit The Corey Effect

by Casey Dembowski Distinguished Favorite in ChickLit The Visitor

by C. D’Angelo WINNER in Childrens-Educational Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: How Do Our Fingernails Grow?

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

Childrens: Animals & Pets Tara The Dolphin T

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Come on an adventure with Tara The Dolphin and learn how she helps the world follow the golden rule! Tara is a magical dolphin with healing powers who helps people learn that dolphins and animals have feelings.

You will absolutely enjoy the beautiful and heartfelt messages.

About the Author/Illustrator: This wonderful book is written by Shreya Kumar Pradhan, an aspiring new artist and writer with a passion for art, fiction/fantasy, and protecting animals. This book has inspired other children and teens to write and share their stories.

ISBN: 979-8449636287 • $11.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop.org and online bookstores https://amzn.to/3PW300z

Childrens-Humor Pebble the Penguin

by Ankit Pradhan, Illustrated by Shreya Pradhan Join Pebble, a baby penguin who loves to laugh, and his big sister Peanut, for a day of fun and adventure in the Antarctic!

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Read along with cute and clever jokes about penguins from Pebble as he goes through his day.

About the Author: Ankit Pradhan is a 3rd grade student who loves to tell jokes and play with his siblings and friends. He and his sister, Shreya, came up with this lovable story of Pebble and his sister Peanut and the jokes that you’ll be sure to enjoy!

ISBN: 979-8363656781 • $9.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop.org and online bookstores https://amzn.to/3PEB0Ns

Cynthia Kern OBrien,

author of Marky the Magnificent Fairy

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Marky the Magnificent Fairy follows a young fairy who is teased for looking different and teaches acceptance and compassion.

with special needs children.

This story is written with the intent of eliciting back and forth discussions with children at home or in the classroom.

Writing Marky has been a very It is about diversity, inclusion, emotional journey. The book has bullying, disabilities, kindness, always been about a Fairy who could courage, believing in yourself, not fly because she had a small self-love, confidence, acceptance, wing, but she could still do so many positivity, and compassion. No other things. matter what age you are.

However, it began to evolve into much more as I started talking to teachers, doctors, families, and others who work with and/or live

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I am deeply honored to win the NYC Big Book Award on behalf of all the Marky’s out there waiting to live out their Hopes and Dreams!

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A Teen Mom, An Abusive Husband, An Unlikely Refuge Teen mom, Talitha Joy Dahlen fights to provide a life rich in love and integrity for her two sons, but can she let go of past hurts to trust a guide she cannot see?

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Satan Unmasked: A Spiritual and Theological Evolution of Satan Satan Unmasked examines passages of scriptures concerning Satan and the origins of how he evolved into doctrines and belief systems, taking on many different forms as the embodiment of evil. In Christianity, Satan has developed into God’s adversary, a fallen angel. However, in Psalms and the Book of Job, Satan is likened to a prosecuting attorney in the Heavenly Court.

A bookish girl with a wry sense of humor, Talitha survives enormous loss and hardship at a tender age. She is drawn into teen marriage to a man who isn’t an outright villain, but he’s not the hero Talitha perceives him to be either.

Buddy seems more concerned with getting rich than wholeheartedly loving his children. And he’s not afraid to break the law to get what he wants.

Satan Unmasked is Book One of a four-part series concerning doctrines that have crept into our theology.

Book Two, Spirits Unveiled, examines angelic beings and the spiritual realm, followed

by Books Three and Four regarding salvation, tithing, the role of women, generational issues, etc. Read the entire series Unmasking the Unseen to examine doctrines that have evolved.

Miss Ella, a blind woman from war-torn Liberia—extends Talitha and her sons an invitation that could lead to safe haven—if Buddy doesn’t find them first. Rise on Eagle’s Wings is the hopeful story of a young mother’s tenacity, the ever-changing definition of family, and the redemptive power of community. Set in America’s Heartland during the final decade of the twentieth century, contemporary voices intertwine with those of a pre-internet generation.

ISBN: 978-1737402015 • $22.52

ISBN: 978-1649499202 • $16.99

Available on Amazon. tekoamanning.com

Available on Amazon. loiskennis.net

“I want my readers to use their imagination when reading my story.

Let’s Tour the World: A Globe Adventure is a picture book with colorful illustrations that allow young readers to visualize the many wonderful parts of the world. It has simple rhyming patterns from line to line and is a story that young readers can sit and read on their own as they approach the first and second grades. They can learn to explore the globe and plan a summer vacation with their family.”

Theresa Lynn,

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Dancing Devi

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Cate and the Garden Bandits

by Betsy Coffeen, Ruthann Meyer

Distinguished Favorite in Childrens-Motivational

My Hollow Home

by Leanne Murner

My Safe Place

by Brittney Brackett

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: Why Do We Lose Our Teeth?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Our Environment’s Friends

by Phil Riggs

Zoey Wonders Why

by Nadia Khan

Distinguished Favorite in Childrens-Educational

WINNER in Childrens-Humor

WINNER in Childrens-Religion

How To Make Your Sock Talk: A Beginner’s Guide To Ventriloquism

by Jimmy Vee

Pebble the Penguin

by Ankit Kumar Pradhan

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: How Do We Grow?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: Why and How Do We Sneeze?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: How Do We Grow?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: Why Do We Have to Drink Water?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: How Do We Keep Our Balance?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: How Does Our Spine Work?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: Tell Me About the Systems of the Human Body.

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: What Does Our Thyroid Do?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS Nurse Florence® Coloring Book: Why and How Do We Breathe?

by Michael Dow, RN, MS

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Distinguished Favorite in Childrens-Humor

Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times

by Pam Gittleman

Roosevelt Banks and the Attic of Doom

by Laurie Calkhoven

WINNER in Childrens-Environmental

WINNER in ChildrensInspirational

The ForestGirls, with the World Always

by Written by Sissel Waage // Illustrated by Ana-Maria Cosma

The Brave Little Parrot

by Rafe Martin

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Zen & The Ten Oxherding Pictures

by Demi WINNER in Childrens: Animals & Pets Please Love Me Like I love You

by Kip Ullrich Fechner Distinguished Favorite in Childrens: Animals & Pets Poppy’s Playful Party

by Madelyn Simon and Michael Sherman

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C o f f e e Ta b l e B o o k Valter of Salt Lake City Elaine Bapis Valter’s: A Coffee Table Book is a visually stunning and inspiring collection of over 100 photographs that capture the essence of Valter’s culinary journey. The book chronicles Valter’s 50+ years of travels. Valter’s photographs capture the beauty of the region’s food, culture, and people.

Featuring over 50 recipes are accompanied by Valter’s own stories and insights of the dishes and the people who make them. Valter’s is a must-have for anyone who loves food, travel, or Italy. It is a book that will change the way you see food, cooking, and life.

ISBN: 978-1732918603 • $49.99 Available on valterofslc.com

Cross Genre Rotten Fruit in an Unkempt Garden: A Memoir in Poetry and Prose

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In the main, this is my effort to celebrate outsiders and outcasts who worked to reclaim their true Selves, the ones that polite society stole from them. I’ve taken some poetic license with parts of the timeframe and some events, but my intersections with the individuals described here are all as accurate as can be, supported in large part by notebooks of essays and poetry written during that time.

ISBN: 979-8768644727 • $12.99 Available at Amazon. https://amzn.to/3EUzK3O

C u lt u r a l H e r i ta g e My Place Among Them J Stanion Found alive after the massacre at Wounded Knee, twelve-year-old John Iron Horse is determined not to end up like so many others of his people. Then he learns the motto of the school he’s required to attend: “Kill the Indian, save the man.”

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Carter Heath teaches in the government-run educational system and knows there’s more to his position than what’s happening in his classroom. He’ll soon learn that, in bureaucracy, politics, money, and ulterior motives are always intertwined.

Can the bond between an extraordinary student and a dedicated teacher survive in a world that pits red man against white?

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Tara the Dolphin

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Da r k Fa n tasy Black Wing Sky Kaylin McFarren

Things that bite in the Night

by Deborah Tant

When Lucifer’s soldiers captured his brother, the Seven-Star General of the Archangel Army of Heaven, Samara Daemonium thought it was a turning point in the war.

Victory for Hell was on the horizon, as was her peaceful future with her Cambion soulmate, Damian Hunter. But now a deadly new threat has emerged. Fire-breathing dragons are emerging from Bulwark lead by Vetis Kidadl – a black-hearted villain who is determined to destroy Nexus and all its inhabitants in a catastrophic war.

WINNER in Childrens: Nonfiction AWARD 2

Kids Play at the White House!

by Jonathan Pliska

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In this epic fourth installment in the Gehenna series, Nexus’s fate and the future of every living creature on the planet rests solely on her shoulders. Can she defeat the Black Dragon, rescue her son, return to Middle Earth, and find the happiness she so richly deserves? Or will Lucifer and his daughter Lucinda destroy Samara’s only chance for peace, love and happiness?

ISBN: 979-8855615944 • $13.95 Amazon.com, Powells.com, Barnes & Noble.com kaylinmcfarren.com/

WINNER in Christian Fiction Rise on Eagles’ Wings

by Lois Kennis Distinguished Favorite in Christian Fiction

Death & Dying / Grief / Inspirational

Shadow Of The Mountain

by Robin Reams

A Sky of Infinite Blue: A Japanese Immigrant’s Search for Home and Self

WINNER in Contemporary Novel Joint Venture

by Carol Rhees Distinguished Favorite in Contemporary Novel The Stalwarts

by Soni Shalini WINNER in Cookbook: lnternational LOVE Peace & Vegetables: Receipes for Conscious Living

by Marcela Benson WINNER in Cookbook: Regional Valter of Salt Lake City

by Elaine Bapis WINNER in Cookbooks: General

Kyomi O’Connor

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by Jason Porterfield

ISBN: 978-1647422271 • $17.95 Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org kyomioconnor.com

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Because of You, I Lost Everything!

by Jim H. Darnell, Jr. O My God: An Un-Becoming Journey

by Celia McBride

Take reading into the 21st century and reinvent the reading process. See how a child thinks and reads. Engage in the fun, interactive examples, read the anecdotal evidence and participate in the research studies to experience reading as your child does.

Satan Unmasked: A Spiritual and Theological Evolution of Satan

by Tekoa Manning

Learn about brain development and the 5 comprehension skills that 5, 4 and even 3-year-olds should be focusing on instead of fixating on letters, sounds and rote memorization.

Let’s use our understanding of the human brain to transform your home into a developmentally appropriate ecosystem and make reading part of your household’s daily routine.

ISBN: 979-8987086117 • $19.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores difficulttoread.com • facebook.com/claire.rubman/

The Way of the Shepherd: Living a Life of Surrender

by Donna E. Lane

WINNER in Crime Fiction Man on the Run

by Charles Salzberg Distinguished Favorite in Crime Fiction A Long Time Dead, A Joe Turner Mystery

by T.L. Bequette Dead Shot

by David Benjamin The Shakespeare Killer

by Douglas J. Wood WINNER in Cross Genre

WINNER in Coffee Table Book

Secrets In The Mirror

by Leslie Kain

Valter of Salt Lake City

by Elaine Bapis

Distinguished Favorite in Cross Genre

WINNER in Comics and Graphic Novels

Let It Bleed

by Nicole Nesca

Hashman

by Alex Grand & Joshua S. Berman

Life Interrupted, Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide

by Dr Manu Dua, Foreword and Epilogue by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar

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The Mental Fight Of Your Life

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The White House Family Cookbook

by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, Virginia Aronson , et al.

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The Climate Pandemic: How Climate Disruption Threatens Human Survival

by Dennis Meredith

Environment BATTLEGROUND GEOSTRESS: How to Recognize and Fight the Silent Killert Robert Egby Dowser’s Notebook: The War of the Unknowing

Distinguished Favorite in Environment

Artists Under Fire: The BDS War against Celebrities, Jews, and Israel

by Lana Melman

BATTLEGROUND GEOSTRESS: How to Recognize and Fight the Silent Killer

by Robert Egby

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COOL: Women Leaders Reversing Global Warming

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Endeavor’s Run

by Tobin Marks

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Birth of the Fae: A Fae is Done book five Prophecies, broken hearts, secrets, and scars. Bodies delivered on the wings of butterflies.

Birth of the Fae: A Fae is Done book five

by Danielle M. Orsino

After Queen Aurora’s execution, the Court of Light falls into political unrest. The riots continue as new Queen Sekhmet takes her place on the throne and puts her long-planned agenda into action. Meanwhile, King Jarvok attempts to remedy his heartache but ends up divulging suspicions he has held close for centuries instead.

The Redemption of Jarek

by Dylan Madeley

Alliances shift as dark mysteries bubble to the surface, but a prophecy reading brings a ray of hope. Unfortunately for others, it foretells certain doom. The Oracles speak of a future child who will unite the Fae courts and bring karmic retribution. Unlikely heroes will be forced together by fate, while unexpected enemies are revealed.

WINNER in Finance Crypto Decrypted: Debunking Myths, Understanding Breakthroughs, and Building Foundations for Digital Asset Investing

by Jake Ryan, James Diorio WINNER in Fine Arts

There are Fae in both courts who have plenty to hide. Some would kill to keep their secrets. Some are willing to die for them.

ISBN: 978-1644506592 • $19.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.birthofthefae.com

America’s Collection: The Art and Architecture of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the U.S. Department of State

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WINNER in Friendship

Being stuffed in the backseat of your parent’s car with your siblings is similar to being cramped in your mom’s pouch. Having to share isn’t always easy. As children read about Pudgy, they will find out that trying something new doesn’t always work out the way we had hoped. Being brave can lead to amazing adventures. Being kind can help us gain wonderful new friends. And sometimes we need to listen to the advice those friends give us. (Coming in next year’s book.) But most of all I hope that children learn just like Pudgy, they are special just because of who they are and loving yourself is the best thing you can do.

Canvas of Healing

by Suzette Welling WINNER in General Fiction Trust

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Egby also describes the “Theodosian Wall,” a 1,700-year-old phenomenon that curbs people’s thinking in the fight against Geopathic Stress. He argues that it’s time for governments and people in high places to lead the way in bringing down the wall and protecting the public.

WINNER in Cultural Heritage My Place Among Them

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Friendship

General Fiction Crossing Lake Pontchartrain

Canvas of Healing

Arthur Byrd

Suzette Welling

“You unlost yet?” A New Orleans clairvoyant asks a Mississippi man as a new friendship explores old uncertainties about his missing father. Yearning to shake off his stalled life of divorce and a tossed writing dream, Larry is tired of squandering life’s potential. But a yoga instructor, an iron sculptor, and a philosophical maintenance worker inspire him with a potent mix of shared creativity and human affection. Learning to Chop Wood Carry Water may give Larry a second chance to discover what gives a life true meaning.

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Megan Hart has it all . . . a lakefront house, standing midday tennis dates with a crew of see-and-be-seen ladies of status in Lakeland, and an enviable husband.

But in the depths of Megan’s seemingly perfect life, tragedy strikes with the sudden death of her beloved Blake, unveiling a hidden world of secrets—a web of lies that unravels everything Megan thought she knew.

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There, in grief, Megan encounters Sam, an enigmatic figure. As their connection deepens, Megan senses there is more to Sam. Yet as their friendship begins to blossom, Megan stumbles upon her former husband’s secret in the flesh: Tabitha.

ISBN: 978-1663246073 • $20.00 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.arthurbyrdbooks.com

While embarking on a journey of self-discovery and the chaos of her newfound reality, Megan must grapple with confronting her darkest demons and incorporating tools into her life to paint a brighter future—under the guidance of unexpected friendships and the power of vulnerability. Will Megan crumble as she uncovers the truths that lie hidden in the past? Or will she find her path back to healing, with the strength to paint a brighter future one brushstroke at a time?

Lois Kennis

ISBN: 979-8396278905 • $10.99

Author of Rise on Eagles’ Wings

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and author website suzettewellingart.com

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Distinguished Favorite in Hispanic/Latin

The Lioness of Leiden

by Robert Loewen

A Seventh Sense

by Steve Jam

Cuba, your children cry! Cuba, tus hijos lloran!

by Otto H. Iglesias

WINNER in History: World

Crossing Lake Pontchartrain

by Arthur Byrd Into the Attic

by Ellen Sherman The Judges

by Eric J. Matluck The Shady Oaks Division

by L. M. Coppa This Time Tomorrow: A Novel

by Emma Straub

WINNER in Historical Fiction The Bereaved

by Julia Park Tracey Distinguished Favorite in Historical Fiction

1000 Shillings: Shillings and Farthings (Dreipölker) from Swedish-Occupied Riga in Livonia and Elbing and Their Counterfeits From Suceava (1000 Shillings Vol. 1)

by Torben Hoomann WINNER in Horror

An Enemy Like Me

by Teri M Brown

River of Ashes

by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

Day of Days: September 11, 2001

by Frank Napolitano

Distinguished Favorite in Horror

Sincerity is a Goddess: A Dramatic and Romantic Comedy of Ancient Rome

by Adam Alexander Haviaras

Digger

by Arjay Lewis

WINNER in Grief The Gift of Ben: Loving Through Imperfection

by Lindsey Rogers-Seitz WINNER in Hispanic/Latin Bring the Light

by Annette Montez Kolda www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Here’s what I most want readers to get out of Rise on Eagles’ Wings...

No matter how broken you are or how desperate your situation, regardless of age or identity, your life has value. Keep seeking. Don’t give up. Never allow another human being to totally control your life.

Only God deserves that honor. Life isn’t about luck, it’s about finding hope--and passing that hope along.

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Storykeeper

by Daniel A. Smith

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Requiem For A Queen

by Kaylin McFarren

WINNER in How-To Course Creation Simplified: The 6-Phase System To Profitable Online Courses

by Jimmy Naraine Distinguished Favorite in HowTo The Non-Obvious Guide to Better Presentations: How to Present Like a Pro (Virtually or in Person)

by Jacqueline Farrington WINNER in Humor Pure Cosmos Club

by Matthew Binder Distinguished Favorite in Humor Just River

by Sara B. Fraser Sun City, A Hilariously Addictive Story of Rebellion

by Matthew Minson

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GENERAL FICTION The Shady Oaks Division

Storykeeper Daniel A. Smith

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After decades of service, Jill retired and moved to a sleepy suburb. However, her lethal instincts, which made her one of the most sought-after government assets, made it difficult for her to adjust to the quiet life. Her past kept coming back to haunt her, making it hard for her to settle down and enjoy her retirement.

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Three surviving 16th-century journals from the expedition provide a detailed account of the complex array of twelve different nations that they encountered. Each nation had its own beliefs, language, and interconnected villages, with capital towns comparable in size to European cities of the time. The Spanish brought with them a host of deadly old-world diseases, a powerful new religion, and war.

The Shady Oaks Division follows Jill as she struggles to fit into her new role. Her paranoia, fueled by her sharp instincts, threatens to ruin everything. But is it just paranoia? Or are they forgetting that her training and expertise are what made her their number-one asset?

Jackson, the agent assigned to Jill, is tasked with keeping her from disturbing the picturesque town she’s moved into. His own colorful past allows him to connect with her, and he works tirelessly to keep her on track. But will it be enough, or will it complicate matters further?

No other Europeans ventured into this land until French explorers arrived 130 years later. They found no trace of the people or the towns that the Spanish had so vividly described. The only hope that the stories of these lost nations will ever be heard again lies with one unlikely Storykeeper.

ISBN: 979-8887470252 • $18.95

ISBN: 978-1466212978 • $14.96

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores lmcoppa.com

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.danielasmith.org/books-2/

Nadia Davis

Author of Home Is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption

On June 18, 1541, Hernando de Soto and his army of 350 conquistadors became the first Europeans to cross the Mississippi River. They spent the next year and a half conquering the nations in the fertile floodplains of eastern Arkansas.

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What and where I love reading: I absolutely love reading books from the heart about someone’s personal journey, as well as, books that empower others, i.e.

Braving Strong, Brené Brown, Yesterday I Cried, Iyanla Vanzant, and Untamed, Glennon Doyle

What being awarded for your work by the NYC Big Book Award means, and what you most want readers to get out of your book: Receiving the NYC Big Book Award is a HUGE honor and says that when WE honor our true selves and truths, we also help others heal. When we share loudly others don’t have to suffer in silence alone. My hope is that readers find a roadmap back to the home within them, freedom from their minds, and a source of love, warmth, and wisdom enabling them to shine and find true health and happiness.

Historical Fiction Sincerity is a Goddess: A Dramatic and Romantic Comedy of Ancient Rome Adam Alexander Haviaras Mortals perform a never-ending show for the Gods, and Felix Modestus, leader of the renowned Etrurian Players, feels their immortal eyes rest upon him at last.

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Felix is summoned by a mysterious goddess who demands that he put on a play unlike any seen before.

To do so, he must recruit his two estranged best friends, Rufio Pagano and Clara Probita, to help him with the production. Rufio and Clara once shared Felix’s dream of theatrical greatness, but they left him to achieve that dream on his own. When each of them receives a mysterious letter from Felix pleading for their help, a world of long-buried feelings is brought to the surface.

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This is the first book in The Etrurian Players series. It is a heartwarming story of friendship and love that takes you on a bawdy and hilarious journey through the world of ancient Rome.

ISBN: 978-1988309477 • $25.99 Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover editions on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and most online bookstores. eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/books/sincerity-is-a-goddess/

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H i s t o ry: Wo r l d 1000 Shillings: Shillings and Farthings (Dreipölker) from Swedish-Occupied Riga in Livonia and Elbing and Their Counterfeits From Suceava (1000 Shillings Vol. 1)

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Torben Hoomann When Gustav II Adolf and his troops began to conquer parts of Livonia at the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War and successfully took Riga in 1621, no one yet knew whether the Swedes would hold the territory permanently or whether Poland would recapture the land they had lost. But they stayed. The many events of this epoch up to the transfer of rule to Russia in 1710 profoundly shaped the country. Be it the rather prosperous times under Queen Christina, the shilling catastrophe triggered by the production of incredibly large quantities of counterfeit copper shillings in Wallachia or the relentless hardship of repeated plague outbreaks - the intertwining of politics, economics and higher fate had also a very clear impact on small circulating coins. 1000 Shillings Vol. 1 provides a detailed examination of the incredible variety of shillings and farthings (dreipölker) as the smallest nominals of coinage in the region. Not only a number of previously undescribed coin varieties are presented, but also observations resulting from the comparison of the coins are combined with historical events. Methodically, a new estimation method for determining quantities of coins produced at the time and a universally applicable structuring system for coins developed new from scratch are provided - it is all substantiated by a fourdigit number of detailed photos and illustrations.

ISBN: 978-3347682238 • $100.00 Available on Amazon. www.amazon.com.be/-/en/Torben-Hoomann/dp/3347682238

Inspiration Emerging From the Dark: Stroke...The Untold Stories Terence Ang

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What can you gain after losing so much?

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WINNER in Inspiration

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A Sky of Infinite Blue- A Japanese Immigrant’s Search for Home and Self

by Kyomi O’Connor Distinguished Favorite in Inspiration

Taming the Dragon: My Memoir of Coming Out, Addiction, and Awakening

by Gary Tubbs

Emerging From the Dark

by Terence Ang WINNER in Jewish Literature

Boy Wander - A Coming of Age Memoir

by Jobert E. Abueva

Dineh

by Ida Maze, translated by Yermiyahu Ahron Taub

Maeve Rising: Coming Out Trans in Corporate America

by Maeve DuVally

WINNER in Leadership

Profiles in Gay Courage: Leatherfolk, Arts, and Ideas

by Jack Fritscher

Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership

by Michael Kurland Distinguished Favorite in Leadership

Savannah Cannon,

Leadership with a Servant’s Heart: Leading in Your Workplace

by Wayne Johnson, Kevin and Daphne Parsekian Leading Through Inflation: And Recession and Stagflation

by Ram Charan and Geri Willigan The Souls of Queer Folk

by Joel A. Davis Brown

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by Jane Ward In the Land of the Feathered Serpent

by Richard C Brusca Lester Lies Down

by James Ladd Thomas

WINNER in Legal Thriller Not My Ruckus

by Chad Musick

WINNER in LGBTQ Fiction

The Girl in the Water

by Joseph Howse

Complexities of Love

by M.A. Quigley

Winter’s Reckoning, a novel

by Adele Holmes, MD

Distinguished Favorite in LGBTQ Fiction

WINNER in Marketing & Public Relations

CLUBBED THREE: Darkness and Light

by Robert A. Karl

Using Behavioral Science in Marketing: Drive Customer Action and Loyalty by Prompting Instinctive Responses

by Nancy Harhut

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I wrote Corporal Cannon to help myself cope with the guilt and nightmares of what occurred in the desert so many years ago. I hope that readers will peak into a world very few people have known while also seeing how their experiences are reflected in mine. Perhaps the readers can gain a perspective that causes them to take pause about the world around them. There are multiple heavy topics that Corporal Cannon covers and I hope the people it resonates with find peace.

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Grace Under Pressure: Leading Through Change and Crisis

by John Baldoni

Extreme Vetting: A Thriller

by Roxana Arama

author of Corporal Cannon

Distinguished Favorite in LGBTQ Non-fiction

Nathaniel’s Last Move

by J. Ronald M. York

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J e w i s h L i t e r at u r e Dineh : An Autobiographical Novel Ida Maze, translated by Yermiyahu Ahron Taub Dineh is a pastorale laced with beauty and sorrow and a bildungsroman told from the point of view of a young girl. Ida Maze’s heroine, living in what is now Belarus, is fueled by her hunger for learning, connection to family and community, and love of the natural world. Maze interweaves Dineh’s story with portraits of others as she unflinchingly examines the lives of women, class stratification, thwarted romance, violence, and the perils of childbirth. Propelling the novel forward are the tightening noose of tsarist anti-Semitism, the increasing restrictions on Jewish economic survival, and the rising tide of revolutionary movements. Taken as a whole, Dineh provides a haunting portrait of rural and village Jewish life in White Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Read an earlier version of the chapters “A Newborn Little Soul” and “Dineh” in Jewish Fiction.net.

ISBN: 978-1734387292 • $18.95 Purchase Dineh: an Autobiographical Novel from the Yiddish Book Center Store, Indiebound, or Amazon. www.yiddishbookcenter.org/dineh-autobiographical-novel-reading-resources

LGBTQ Fiction CLUBBED THREE: Darkness and Light Robert A. Karl

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The final book in the CLUBBED trilogy explores how people adapt to changing situations. Joey and Henry, the owners of Club Sanctuary, experience changes to their relationship, moving their focus to a smaller tribe and navigating new rules. New voices bring new perspectives to the narrative as the LGBTQ community continues its fight for acceptance and equality, while the HIV/AIDS pandemic wreaks havoc. Both the main characters and the community enter into darkness, but will any of them emerge into the light? The CLUBBED series is a story of hope, courage, joy, and optimism, even in the midst of overwhelming struggles.

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The author writes with vulnerability and courage, and he shares his experiences with a refreshing lack of selfjudgment. Boy Wander is a powerful reminder that it is possible to find happiness and acceptance, even in the face of adversity.

The book is also timely, as it comes at a time when the world is becoming more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. However, there is still much work to be done, and Boy Wander provides inspiration to those who are struggling to reconcile family values and societal expectations with being true to themselves.

ISBN: 978-1955826273 • $23.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.jobertabueva.net www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Do you suffer from dry eyes?

Did you know you can prevent dry eye disease?

Do you want to discover the treatment options available?

Then this is the book for you. Look no further!

Shilpi Pradhan

Jack Fritscher, the founding editor-in-chief of Drummer magazine in San Francisco and curator of the Drummer Archives since 1977, is an award-winning author of 20 books. His work is popular with readers and researchers, including memoirs of his bicoastal lover Robert Mapplethorpe, his friend Larry Townsend, and his “gentleman caller” Tennessee Williams.

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Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop.org and online bookstores www.eyedoctormd.org

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You may be surprised at what you discover about dry eye and how this book could help you treat your dry eye or prevent you from having dry eye disease for less than the price of a bottle of artificial tears.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores

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•The seven most common symptoms of dry eye disease.

•The three major medical conditions that can affect dry eye disease.

•The one thing you could be doing which are making your eyes worse.

•The seven most important aspects of the dry eye exam performed by eye doctors.

•And much more!

ISBN: 978-1890834616 • $24.95

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When you read this book, you’ll discover:

His latest book, Profiles, is a holistic gay history written by a New Journalist who lived the life. In essays, interviews, and photos, Fritscher’s masterful writing sheds new light on authentic leatherfolk founders, icons, and superstars who are often under-reported by gatekeepers of gay-history timelines. These include AIDS poet Thom Gunn, race-sex-and-gender photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Society of Janus founder Cynthia Slater, Mineshaft manager Wally Wallace, godfather of gay writing Samuel Steward, young Provincetown playwright Tennessee Williams, filmmaker Wakefield Poole’s art director Ed Parente, Old Reliable Video hustler-art photographer David Hurles, leather fashion designer Rob of Amsterdam, and the filmmakers of the 1975 classic Born to Raise Hell, Terry LeGrand and Roger Earl.

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Assemblage: The Art and Science of Brand Transformation

by Emmanuel Probst

Adverse Effects (The Memory Thieves series, Book 1) (Memory Thieves Series, 1)

by Joel Shulkin

I Got It From Here: A Memoir of Awakening to the Power Within

by Francesca Miracola

Molly Shipton, Secret Actress

by Sheri Graubert

Competing on Thought Leadership

by Robert Buday Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause

by Becky Robinson

Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery

by Linda Murphy Marshall Matilda’s Triumph: A Memoir

by Richard Moss

An Inch from Oblivion

by Sam Polakoff Catching Cold Vol 2 - Redemption

by Lem Moyé Catching Cold Vol 3 - Judgment

by Lem Moyé

WINNER in Medical Goodbye, Dry Eye!

by Shilpi Pradhan WINNER in Medical Mystery / Thriller WARM AND DEAD (Dr. Zack Winston Series, a medical conspiracy thriller Book 2)

by Mike Krentz

www.IndependentPressAward.com

Catching Cold: Vol 1 Breakthrough: Hearts Must First Break to Strengthen

by Lem Moyé

Rudy Doesn’t Like Roger: A Tale of Adventure and Friendship

by Monica Zane

The Home for Friendless Children

by C.L. Olsen

The Day the Towers Fell

by Heather E. Schwartz

The Reluctant Doctor

by Dr Balesh Jindal

WINNER in Military Fiction

Transister: Raising My Twins in a Gender Bender World

by Kate Brookes

Toxic Effects

by Joel Shulkin

Relatively Normal Secrets

by C.W. Allen

Before the Snow Flies

by John Wemlinger Distinguished Favorite in Military Fiction

WINNER in Middle Grade

WINNER in Memoir

Facing the Beast Within: the Anxiety of Cameron Poole

by Mark Cheverton

Home Is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption

by Nadia Davis

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Answering Lincoln’s Call: War in America

by T.W. Harvey

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The story of the author’s mother’s encounter with a devastating stroke and her physician-son’s struggle with the acceptance that he could not save her. The narrative uniquely weaves two stories: the gripping saga of a family devastated by illness intertwined with compelling episodes of that same family’s turbulent past, learning about its tormented but undaunted mother, a lioness raising her five sons as a single parent in the Bronx.

In Answering Lincoln’s Call, T.W. Harvey gives us an illustration. Based on letters written by his own forefathers, Harvey provides us a window to peek into the past and see what motivated these brave boys. In doing so, he depicts not only some of the fierce fighting that took place in the early days of the war but also of the very souls of the boys who fought in them.

-Dr. Larry P. Arnn, PhD, President, Hillsdale College

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Abandoned on a remote mountain in eastern Pennsylvania by his father at age five, and discarded at an orphanage by his mother a few years later, this is the remarkable true story of one boy’s impenetrable resilience and courageous hope; holding onto his dreams in the face of heartbreaking loss, loneliness, and betrayal.

Little Robbie Olsen, his two brothers, sister, and mother would be saved from starvation by the kindness of the Mennonite family that farmed the hills far below.

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Answering Lincoln’s Call: War in America is a true story originally told in the same 180 letters written by my great-grandfather Lieutenant Thomas S. Armstrong about his experiences in the Civil War that were the basis for Seeing the Elephant.

Available on Amazon. www.richardmossmd.com

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ISBN: 978-1880292860 • $18.95

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Later at an orphanage, called The Home for Friendless Children, Rob learns to survive and navigate, befriending the nearly mute janitor who lives in the orphanage basement, and the boy with one eye. Overhearing a whispered secret, his life is changed. Against nearly impossible odds, and armed with nothing more than blind will, a deep love of adventure and insatiable curiosity, he goes on to find meaning and joy, success, and finally, a place of belonging in the world. Gritty, brave, determined, and incredibly human in his climb out of a tough childhood, Rob holds humor and love of family throughout his remarkable journey.

https://www.independentpressaward.com/membership

ISBN: 979-8521787425 • $13.95 Available on Amazon https://amzn.to/3Pr5Itx

memoir Home Is Within You: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption Nadia Davis Winner of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award in both Memoir and New Nonfiction AWARD 2

Dear Son, I’m going to tell you a story, the most difficult one to share.

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As a young Latina and Native American lawyer and former wife of California’s attorney general and treasurer, Nadia Davis has long been subjected to public scrutiny. In this powerful homage to finding one’s worth in the face of mental health struggles, addiction, and public shaming, Davis shares her remarkable story. She reveals the depths of the darkness she went through, while gracefully offering transformational healing and an end to the choking grasp of shame.

Lyrical and captivating, Home Is Within You recounts the author’s experience of trauma and addiction amid a highly publicized abusive relationship. Davis is brutally honest about her experiences and generous in revealing the paths she found to wholeness through spiritual advocacy, healthy co-parenting, and a dedication to preventing generational trauma.

Home Is Within You shares one woman’s courageous journey to recovery as a mother and as a woman, and her narrative is a defense of privacy, parenthood, and autonomy.

ISBN: 978-1954854949 • $18.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.Nadia-Davis.com

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Military Nonfiction Corporal Cannon

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Not even old enough to drink, Corporal Savannah Cannon is a U.S. Marine deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.

As a tactical data networking specialist, she is sent to a Regimental Combat Team where women are not allowed to repair communications.

Cannon finds herself in a combat zone, ostracized from family, friends, and even her fellow Marines as the men are told to avoid her. The connections she makes are born from trauma and desperation and the choices she makes will echo throughout many lives.

Corporal Cannon is not the story of a heroine; it is the hard-hitting account of just one of the flawed individuals who make up the U.S.’ fighting forces. Mistakes in the battlefield can have dire consequences. Reflecting on her time in service, the author weaves a story of past and present, and the healing that can come with admitting our mistakes and moving past them.

ISBN: 978-1636241661 • $21.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores corporal-cannon.com

M i l i ta ry N o n f i ct i o n So Costly a Sacrifice

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In the spring of 1944, four telegrams arrived at a farmhouse in rural Utah. Each one brought devastating news to the mother of the household, who fainted each time.

Seventy years later, Army veteran Mark Hutson discovered a World War II service flag in a dusty cabinet at an auction. This discovery inspired him to collect other service flags and tell the stories behind them. One night, he came across the name Borgstrom, a family of immigrants who had sent five sons to war.

The Borgstroms were private people, but Hutson was determined to learn their story.

After years of research, Hutson used Gunda Borgstrom’s own words, as well as correspondence from military commanders and President Roosevelt, to piece together the Borgstroms’ story. In his book, “So Costly a Sacrifice,” Hutson tells the true story of one family’s enormous sacrifice during World War II.

ISBN: 978-1639883011 • $18.24 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores

Multicultural Nonfiction Modest in the West: An Untainted Journey of Wearing Hijab Hadiatou Wann T

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A deep look at the personal and professional challenges of wearing the hijab while living in the Western world, Modest in the West uncovers the spiritual journey of a girl born a Muslim who grew up not abiding by Islamic practices. While working for one of the largest companies in the United States and most influential in the world, Hadiatou Wann learns to fully embrace her Islamic identity, but could that make her a victim of Islamophobia or help her forge a relationship with nonMuslim co-workers grounded on mutual respect? Islam being the fastest growing religion, non-Muslims and Muslims are bound to come into contact. But can they see eye-to-eye? Here in these pages is a rare look behind the hijab and the woman wearing it.

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WINNER in Military Nonfiction Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History

by Robin Bartlett Distinguished Favorite in Military Nonfiction Corporal Cannon

by Savannah Cannon SACRIFICE: The Green Berets, A Fateful Ambush, And a Gold Start Widow’s Fight for the Truth

by Michelle Black So Costly a Sacrifice

by Mark Hutson WINNER in Mind, Body, Spirit The Alchemical Search for the Unified Field

by R.E. Kretz

A Sky of Infinite Blue- A Japanese Immigrant’s Search for Home and Self

by Kyomi O’Connor Distinguished Favorite in Multicultural Nonfiction Modest in the West: An Untainted Journey of Wearing Hijab

by Hadiatou Wann WINNER in Music The Guitar Decoder Ring: Featuring SIGIL - the New Language of Guitar

by Asher Black & Barry Gilman WINNER in Mystery Death by Saxophone

by Debbie Burke

WINNER in Motivational The Big Thing Effect: How to Transform Your Life Forever

by Jeff Patterson Distinguished Favorite in Motivational School Dropout, Chimney Sweep, Investment Banker: The Art of Pursuing Goals That Seem Unattainable at First Glance

by Kevin Schwarzinger WINNER in Multicultural Fiction

Distinguished Favorite in Mystery Copper Waters - A New Zealand Cottage Mystery

by Marlene M. Bell Diversion, a Mark Rollins Adventure

by Tom Collins Dragony Rising

by Michael Stephen Daigle Gracie & Zeus Live the Dream

by Elizabeth Roderick

Lock Up

by Joe Klingler

WINNER in Nature

Distinguished Favorite in Multicultural Fiction

A Year of Moons

by Joseph Bruchac

FLEE (NomaD Thriller Series)

by Joe Klingler Holy Parrot

by Angel A

WINNER in New Fiction Extreme Vetting: A Thriller

by Roxana Arama

Secrets in the Wind

by Rumki Chowdhury

Distinguished Favorite in New Fiction She Lies Still

by Cassidy Choi

ISBN: 979-8987359006 • $17.65 Available on Ingram at a 53% discount. The book is also available on Amazon,

Small Town Empire

by Mary E. McDonald

Barnes & Noble, Audible, Spotify, and other major online retailers.

https://amzn.to/455tjpm www.IndependentPressAward.com

WINNER in Multicultural Nonfiction

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The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book One, The Sleepwalker

by Brian James Gage

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Dragony Rising, the fifth Frank Nagler mystery, is the most complex story in the series. An explosion that levels part of downtown Ironton, N.J. is not even the most horrific event that Detective Frank Nagler must confront. As he peels away the layers of the actions taken by the shadowy organization called the Dragony, Nagler ponders not just his own past, but a future that threatens the existence of Ironton itself.

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Personal Finance James Harris Harris will guide you through the most important trading information, methods, personal tips, useful tools, and a very user-friendly way that’ll put you on the fast track to success. Learn the proven principles, methods, and tactics of modern price action, from theory to practice.

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This complete guide will take the guesswork out, and learn directly from other traders. This will not only improve your trading success but also save you time and, most importantly, money.

Understand the fundamentals of stock investing, find out how to read stock charts, learn how to execute winning trades, discover real-life examples, take a deep dive into proven step-by-step trading methods and tactics, and learn what trading mistakes you need to avoid like the plague.

Never before has one information-packed guide on stock investing and trading covered so much ground in such an exciting, impactful, and clear-cut way.

Living the High Life

by Tina Larsson

Distinguished Favorite in Personal Growth

WINNER in Paranormal Mystery / Thriller

Michael Stephen Daigle

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WINNER in Novellas

Lincoln and Rachmaninoff Walk Into a Bar

by Cherie Magnus

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Tales of the Profitable Trader

by James Harris

WINNER in Personal Growth A Path to Excellence

by Tony Jeton Selimi

Distinguished Favorite in Novellas

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WINNER in Personal Finance

Untethered: Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Ground

by Laura Whitfield

The Islander

by David W. Berner

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The Helping Babies Sleep Method; The Art and Science of Teaching Your Baby to Sleep

by Dr. Sarah Mitchell

Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door: 50 American Chefs Chart Today’s Food Culture Terrific Toddlers!

by Emmanuel Laroche and Elizabeth by Judy Schumacher Falkner WINNER in Performing Arts Of Dirt and Wildflowers, A Memoir: On Growing the Courage Don’t Miss This: A Decade of to Bloom Eccentric Performing Arts

by Kylee J. Marshall

by Jim R Moore

THE SCAMMER: How I eluded a scammer who wanted to turn me into a Cash-cow

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The Buddha and the Bee: Biking through America’s Forgotten Roadways on a Journey of Discovery

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Beware the Ides of March: A Novel Based on Psychic Readings

by Bruce Miller

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ISBN: 979-8987391310 • $47.00 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores smartuncle.com

ONLY HUMAN - Guide to our internal Human Operating System and Achieving a Better Life

by Norbert Soski Reclamation: The Evolution of a Hot Mess

by Dr. Lona Cook WINNER in Philosophy Letters of Frithjof Schuon: Reflections on the Perennial Philosophy

by Edited by Michael Oren Fitzgerald

Distinguished Favorite in Paranormal Mystery / Thriller www.IndependentPressAward.com

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Personal Growth

Picture Books - Ages 4-8 Let’s Tour the World: A Globe Adventure

Tony Jeton Selimi

Theresa Lynn

Become the master of your destiny with this blueprint for achieving your true potential.

Imagine spinning the globe and finding yourself in many wonderful places around the world. A family is making plans for a summer trip. A young boy grabs his globe and gives it a spin. He realizes this is not just an ordinary globe. As it spins and glows, he is whisked away to many fun and exciting places. He is on a journey to find ideas for summer vacation.

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Selimi reveals a proven path to achieving the highest levels of personal and professional excellence. Selimi went from living homeless and penniless as a victim of civil war, to becoming a self-made millionaire and internationally recognised authority on emotional intelligence and maximising human potential.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.theresalynnbooks.com

Picture Books - All Ages

Built on his critically acclaimed The Octagon of Excellence Method, this book breaks down Selimi’s 30 years of experience into an easy-to-digest blueprint, challenging you to step beyond your limits and become the master of your destiny.

Inside, you’ll discover: • The Eight Essential Components of Human Excellence • How to Go Beyond Your Perceived Limits To Face Your Doubts, Excuses and Fears Head On • A Step-By-Step Path To Address Challenges Mindfully, Overcome Distractions and Sharpen Your Focus • The Exact Actions to Take to Break Free From the Internal Barriers That Are Preventing You From Achieving Your Full Potential

Marky the Magnificent Fairy Cynthia Kern OBrien Believing in yourself isn’t always easy. Marky learns that firsthand when the other woodland fairies make fun of her. They laugh at her one small wing and say mean things about her fiery-red hair, her glasses and her freckles. It is hurtful, but through Marky’s determination, she helps them understand that everyone has exceptional qualities. Some are visible. Some are invisible. Through her kindness, Marky teaches her friends about self-love, confidence, acceptance, positivity and compassion. She reminds them they are magnificent. Readers of all ages learn to believe in themselves and the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness.

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A must-read for anyone who dreams of creating a rewarding and meaningful personal, professional, and business life, A Path to Excellence™ will quickly become the key you need to realize your true vision of excellence.

ISBN: 979-8765229552 • $14.00 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores apathtoexcellence.com

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978-1589850156 • $15.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores storymonsters.com/store/marky-the-magnificent-fairy-tomo

WINNER in Picture Books - Ages 4-8

Marky the Magnificent Fairy

by Cynthia Kern OBrien

Distinguished Favorite in Poetry

The Clever Wife: A Kyrgyz Folktale

by Rukhsana Khan

Distinguished Favorite in Picture Books - All Ages

Broken Metronome

by Connie Post

Distinguished Favorite in Picture Books - Ages 4-8

Sophie Won’t Sleep

by Dr Danielle Camer

Fight or Flight

by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

Dancing Devi

by Priya Parikh

WINNER in Picture Books BILINGUAL

Hologlyphs II: Afterlight

by S K Yeatts

Edwin the Elephant’s First Night Alone

by Amanda Boyd

The Carousel King and the Space Mission

by Leticia Ordaz WINNER in Picture Books Preschool

More Poems About Money

by Daniel Wolff

Please Love Me Like I love You

by Kip Ullrich Fechner

Some Days The Bird

by Heather Bourbeau and Anne Casey

Let’s Tour the World: A Globe Adventure

by Theresa Lynn Little Bear: An Inuit Folktale

by Dawn Casey Poppy’s Favorite Friend Fiasco (Poppy the Toucan Series) Book 4 of 4

by Madelyn Simon and Michael Sherman WINNER in Picture Books - All Ages www.IndependentPressAward.com

Muse Found in a Colonized Body

by Yesenia Montilla

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Swallowing the Light

by John Schneider

NO! GO!

by Holly Schmidt

The Certain Body

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WINNER in Poetry The Unempty Spaces Between

by Louis Efron

The End of Horses

by Margot Taft Stever

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WINNER in Political Thriller The Next Witness

by Kirstyn Petras Distinguished Favorite in Political Thriller Betrayal

by Gary E. Smith To Hunt Men

by Gary E Smith Distinguished Favorite in PreTeen Fiction The Super Five

by Cyndi Marko WINNER in Pre-Teen Nonfiction Making a Mummy

by Dona Herweck Rice WINNER in Pregnancy and Childbirth The Helping Babies Sleep Method; The Art and Science of Teaching Your Baby to Sleep

by Dr. Sarah Mitchell www.nycbigbookaward.com

My Story Written by Terence Ang

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y journey after the stroke was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was a winding, often unpredictable path, one fraught with challenges and victories, as well as moments of despair and glimmers of hope. There were triumphs amidst trials, there was despondency countered by flickers of hope. The early phase proved the most arduous, each day a new set of obstacles to surmount. Even now, I’m still on that journey to find myself again. Some days just making it through feels like a big achievement.

Yet, even in the darkest moments, my family and friends stood by my side, unwavering in their support. Their love and encouragement became my bedrock, their belief in me helped me muster the strength to confront the challenges ahead. I discovered solace in the act of chronicling my journey, both through words and conversations, an avenue through which I could convey emotions I thought impossible after the stroke.

Writing became my source of joy, offering a means to articulate my experiences in a way I had never envisioned.

At the same time, I knew I wanted to explore more creative ways to help readers understand the everyday effects of stroke.

That’s when I got into creating illustrations to visually express the turbulence and triumphs of my post-stroke experience.

I wanted to show that determination could overcome any obstacle, even one as significant as the loss of motor skills in my dominant hand. It was a true test of determination, every scrawl, loop and line - it certainly wasn’t easy, and there were frustrating moments, but I refused to give up.

After publishing my book, A Cry in the Dark, I felt an inner calling to help others embrace their own narratives. As I embarked on a series of interviews with fellow stroke survivors, it opened my eyes to the incredible diversity of stories within my

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ISBN: 978-1961486546 • $11.99 Available on Amazon https://amzn.to/3t5P0bJ

Growing Up Is Hard To Do Part 1 Susan Marie Chapman

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“Remember that we are proud Manatees,” her mother tells her. “We are peaceful and kind to others.” Baby understands, but she still doesn’t understand why the other fish don’t want to play with her.

“One day,” her mother says, “you will meet your soul tribe.” Baby doesn’t know what a soul tribe is, but she hopes that it means she will find friends who will accept her for who she is.

Growing Up Is Hard To Do Part 2

by Susan Marie Chapman WINNER in Psychology Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities

by Dr. Rachel Altvater Distinguished Favorite in Psychology How to Unite Your Inner Lanterns

by Kenneth Rogers, Jr.

Mick & Moira & Brad: A Romantic Comedy

by Gerald Everett Jones Distinguished Favorite in Romantic Comedy Get A Room

by Casey Dembowski WINNER in Romantic Suspense The Truth (Book 1)

by D.F. Kennedy The Whole Truth (Book 2)

by D.F. Kennedy WINNER in Sales & Marketing

Will Baby meet her soul tribe today? She hopes so. She is tired of being alone.

WINNER in Religion Fiction

ISBN: 978-1736805657 • $14.95 Available on Amazon

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Grumpy the Iguana, Green Parrot, Mr. Squirrel, and Little Mouse are enjoying a picnic in the park. Little Mouse wanders over to the dock to look at the fish in the marina. To his surprise, he sees a whale! Or is it? He runs back to the picnic to tell his friends, but it turns out to be a young manatee named Baby. Growing Up Is Hard To Do, Part 2 is the continuation of Baby’s story. In this story, Baby is learning how to find her way in the world on her own.

ISBN: 978-1736805664 • $10.96 Available on Amazon

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Romantic Suspense The Truth (Book 1) DF Kennedy The Truth is a story about Dahlia, a woman who has been traumatized by her past. She writes a best-selling novel under a pen name, revealing details about her upbringing that many would prefer to stay buried. When she returns to London, she is not expecting to see Roland Hughes, the man who caused her so much pain.

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Revelation - A Novel

by Gary McCarragher Distinguished Favorite in Religion Fiction Lightning Butterflies!

by Jim H. Darnell, Jr. Schoolhouse Dogs Face Life

by Dawn Renee Darnell & Jim H. Darnell, Jr. WINNER in Religion Nonfiction Leadership with a Servant’s Heart: Leading in Your Workplace

by Wayne Johnson, Kevin and Daphne Parsekian Distinguished Favorite in Religion Nonfiction The Plans He Has For Me

by Rose Ann Forte The Plans He Has For Me

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Sell Yourself: How to Create, Live, and Sell a Powerful Personal Brand

by Dr. Cindy McGovern Distinguished Favorite in Sales & Marketing Succeed Without Selling

by Diane Helbig The Transparent Sales Leader: How The Power of Sincerity, Science & Structure Can Transform Your Sales Team’s Results

by Todd Caponi WINNER in Science Fiction Endeavor’s Run

by Tobin Marks Distinguished Favorite in Science Fiction Birthright of Scars: Rising

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WINNER in Romance

Confluence: A Person-Shaped Story

by Nyri A. Bakkalian

The Outcast

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The Empathy Academy

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Get Me Out of Here!

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by Jessica Ritchie

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A Machine Divine

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The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life

by D. Terrence Foster, MD

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Where Have I Been All My Life: How I Finally Grew Up After A Life of Putting Up, Giving Up and Shutting Up

by Lisa Benson

Distinguished Favorite in Suspense

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The Huntsman

by Judith Sanders

Sushi Tuesdays: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Resilience

by Charlotte Maya

Including these stories in Emerging From The Dark: Stroke… The Untold Stories was a deliberate choice. Every stroke survivor’s journey is unique, but I wanted readers to understand that they are not alone in their struggles. I greatly believe that reading about someone else’s experience can provide comfort and validation, and in these narratives, individuals bravely share their experiences - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. As much as they’re stories about stroke, they’re also about resilience and hope.

Secrets In The Mirror

by Leslie Kain

Sadly, two of the survivors, whom I now consider friends, have since passed away. It was a somber reality that hit me hard, but fuelled my determination to spread awareness about strokes.

Anyone can suffer a stroke, and I’m still trying to make peace with the fragility of life.

A lot of people think strokes are just something older people deal with but the truth is, they can hit at any age. It’s a common misconception that can catch people off guard.

Being in the know and ready can make a big difference, potentially minimizing the impact and recovery time.

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

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BOTHERATION: Part One: The Missing Link

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Intimate Inequalities: Millennials’ Romantic Relationships in Contemporary Times

by Cristen Dalessandro WINNER in Spirituality The Atheist and The Afterlife—An Autobiography : A true story of inspiration, transformation, and the pursuit of enlightenment

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Through my book, I hope fellow victims, as well as their caregivers and loved ones, can take comfort in the knowledge that they are not alone. The journey to recovery can be long and challenging, and caregivers play an integral role in providing emotional support, encouragement, and understanding. Patience and open communication are vital to both the survivor’s recovery and the caregiver’s well-being. And if you’ve recently experienced a stroke and are on your recovery journey, my advice is to show yourself extra kindness. Celebrate every small victory, no matter how minor it may seem. Seek the support and guidance of professionals, friends, and family. It may seem like there is little hope yet, but reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

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community. These stories, brimming with determination and hope, resonated deeply with me and culminated in my second book, Emerging From The Dark: Stroke…

The Untold Stories. They reflected my own path and the sometimes unsettling narratives that shed light on the multifaceted journey of such a life-altering event.

Distinguished Favorite in Teen

Burning Bright

by Michele Kwasniewski

Moving forward, I now feel ready to step into a new chapter of advocacy and empowerment. As I pen my next book on exercise and stroke rehabilitation, I look back on that transformative period of my life, enriched by the collective wisdom of experts and fellow survivors. Truly, it’s a battle that extends beyond the survivor to their families and communities. I hope to continue empowering survivors of stroke, and through this book, initiate discussions on how we can offer additional support and solidarity to individuals on their path to recovery.

Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys

by Benjamin Ryan Rising Star: Book One in the Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series

by Michele Kwasniewski

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Romantic Suspense

Self-help: General Where Have I Been All My Life?

How I Finally Grew Up After A Life of Putting Up, Giving Up and Shutting Up

The Whole Truth (Book 2) DF Kennedy AWARD 2023 E R W I N N

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by Bob, a man who has been abusing her for years.

Dahlia confronts Bob, but he goes missing shortly after.

Dahlia is the prime suspect in Bob’s disappearance, and her mother, Sylvia, is her only alibi. Dahlia tells her story of innocence, but the evidence against her is mounting.

Dahlia and Roland, her love interest, find themselves on vastly different and dangerous paths. They must find their way back to each other before facing darker and deeper threats.

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She was a star student and had big plans for her life. But by her mid-thirties, she had settled for mediocrity. One day, Lisa had a shocking wake-up call and realized that she had been conditioned to be a “good girl”.

As Lisa released her fear and pain, she began to reclaim her power. She left her toxic relationship and began to heal.

ISBN: 979-8986064338 • $14.99

Lisa’s story is a reminder that it is never too late to change your life. If you are feeling stuck, reach out for help and to reclaim your power.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.dfkennedy.com

ISBN: 978-0645569124 • $29.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores kmdbookstore.com/where-have-i-been-all-my-life/

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WINNER in Thriller

WINNER in Travelogue

Code Name: Juggernaut

by Sherman E Ross

Unlost: Roaming Through South America on a Spontaneous Journey

by Cory Mortensen

Distinguished Favorite in Thriller A Shot at Justice

by Karla M. Jay Dawn’s Web

by Patrick Shattuck Guidance to Death

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hope. Encouraged by friends to publish his story, I decided to be brave and send it out into the world.

One day last year, I received a phone call from a Catholic priest in Ohio who had been given my book by a nun friend. He asked my permission to use it as the first selection of his new Ohio Prison

Distinguished Favorite in True Crime A Blue Life: An Inside Look at Policing

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WINNER in Well-being Fulfilled. 52 Prescriptions for Healing, Health, and Happiness

by Dr. Bernadette Anderson WINNER in Western Fiction

Unlost: Roaming Through South America on a Spontaneous Journey

by Cory Mortensen

CLICK CLICK CLICK

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Distinguished Favorite in Travelogue

WINNER in Urban Fantasy The Palladium

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Hazelet’s Journal: Travel edition

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WINNER in Visionary Fiction No, You’re Crazy

by Jeff Beamish

WINNER in True Crime

Distinguished Favorite in Visionary Fiction

Behold the Monster: Confronting America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer

by Authored by Jillian Lauren, Foreword by Michael Connelly

Birth of the Fae: Locked out of Heaven

by Danielle M. Orsino

HARDLAND

by Ashley E. Sweeney Distinguished Favorite in Women’s Fiction A Hundred Days Till Tomorrow

by L.S Case Secrets in the Hollow

by Barbara Dullaghan The Perfect Revenge: The Dragonfly Rises

by WilD WINNER in Women’s Fiction Mother in Name Only

by Diana Kingsley

The Time Travelers

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After he witnesses a fiery car crash kill both his parents, Matthew “Matty” Weber is sent to live with his Grandma Debbie. Four years later, now sixteen, Matty swears to stop hiding behind his introverted behavior and forces himself to become socially and emotionally normal. He has a rough start when he mistakenly sits down at the lunch table of the high school’s elite. That day, he meets Samantha, the girl of his dreams, but also Mark, captain of the football team and general jerk. Even though Matty miraculously avoids getting beat up, his next hurdle is to ace the State Standardized School Tests. A worldwide cyber-attack quickly ends the examination. With academics on hold, Matty decides to approach Samantha but finds her an emotional mess. She seems scared and asks for his help and trust. Shockingly, Mark confronts him and asks for the same. Now, two socially backward high school students, Matty and his best friend Gabriel, set out to find a solution to the unusual requests from the popular crowd. They must fight against cyber terrorism, but can a worldwide event really be stopped by two teens?

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Elle Stockton This thrilling anthology of short stories is a killer.

Dark tales of villains snared in their own webs of deceit will keep you reading to find out what happens.

This collection includes A Crime Thriller, A Paranormal Romance, A Psychological Drama, An Occult Mystery, A Psychological Thriller, A Journey to Freedom, and A Reclamation of Justice.

Those who have it coming get it from their targets, ghosts, hungry alligators and the devil himself!

ISBN: 979-8390406946 • $13.95 Available on Amazon and www.ellestockton.com

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Book Club read. You see, two of my husband’s brothers spent years in prison for terrible crimes. One receiving a twenty-five-year sentence at 17 years old. I describe in the book how, upon release from prison, his brother went on to make a good life for himself as a truck driver, got married, and even volunteered for his local fire department.

The priest said the book meant so much to the prisoners – showing that your past does not have to define you. He even told me about

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one long-time inmate, who was terrified about being released and accepted in the world. He said my book gave him the courage that he could make it. The priest told me they cried together with hope.

So please write that story. You never know what may happen because of your brave words. Oh, and the book is now in five Michigan prison libraries as well!

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Thriller Guidance to Death Daniel V. Meier Jr. The night was cold and rainy, with low visibility. The perfect conditions for sabotage. All he had to do was disable the guidance system of the Amertec Electronics company jet, and no one would suspect him. No one would even think it was murder.

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Adams soon uncovered mounting evidence that the crash was no accident. He also learned that the victim had been involved in a bitter corporate rivalry. And then, another former Amertec employee was murdered. Adams was convinced that there was indeed foul play, and he was determined to find the killer.

ISBN: 978-1938573033 • $15.99 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstore judithsandersbooks.com

ISBN: 978-8886330022 • $18.20 Available at Amazon and danielmeierauthor.com

Visionary Fiction

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Birth of the Fae: Locked out of Heaven

Burning Bright

Danielle M. Orsino

Michele Kwasniewski

Ride on the backs of fire-breathing dragons with the Dark Fae and watch the Light Fae play in the shadows of primitive humanity as they build their magical world.

Abandoned by their creator, two factions of powerful angels remain on earth after the Great War with Lucifer. They struggle to comprehend their Creator’s plan while their angel wings, a symbol of their angelic lineage, slowly and painfully decay. With no hope of returning to the Shining Kingdom, two groups of angels denounce their angelic lineage and develop into separate factions - the Court of Light, led by Queen Aurora, a former Virtue Angel, and the Court of Dark, ruled by King Jarvok, a former Power Brigade Angel. The two monarchs have opposing views on how to govern their kin, but the one belief they agree on is that human worship equals power.

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by Ellen Taaffe WINNER in Writing and Publishing Spiritual Writing from Inspiration to Publication

by Deborah Levine Herman

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They are their own beings and masters of their own destiny. They are the Fae.

With her ego growing as fast has her fame and fortune, a string of platinum hits and her jealous mother desperate for a piece of her wealth, sixteen-year-old pop sensation Dani Truehart navigates the glamor and perils of stardom as scandal threatens to ruin her and everyone who helped make her a star.

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Elated when two of Hollywood’s hottest young actors, Kayla Spencer and Trey Connors, befriend her, Dani finds herself living life in the fast lane and recording her second album as she tours. Constantly dogged by the paparazzi, Dani basks in the adoration of The TrueHart Nation, her loyal super-fans who are ready to follow her around the world and go to war with anyone who dares dis their favorite pop star, whom they’ve dubbed “The Queen of Harts.”

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The Little Book of Confusables

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Culver City

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The Summer of Grace

by Karen Jones Time Story

by W.W Marplot

Deadly Setup

by Lynn Slaughter

Touch

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Visionary Fiction

Y o u n g A d u lt F i c t i o n

No, You’re Crazy

Deadly Setup

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Lynn Slaughter

When sixteen-year-old Ashlee Sutton’s home life falls apart, she is beset by a rare mental illness that makes her believe she’s clairvoyant. While most people scoff at her, she begins demonstrating an uncanny knack for sometimes predicting the future, using what could either be pure luck or something more remarkable. And when she helps her drug-addict father win enough casino cash to accidentally overdose, she becomes the target of violent people determined to exploit her, and she goes on the run. Ashlee reaches out to a distant relative, traumatized war journalist Mike Baker. Soon, at least in Ashlee’s eyes, they are both plunging dangerously into an existential rabbit hole where their core belief, that humanity and personal connections are a blight, will be put to the ultimate test. No, You’re Crazy is a multilayered novel that examines the many ways a family can wound and heal us. A page-turning thriller and a sensitive look at faith and neurodiversity, it ultimately dares to ask, Who gets to decide what’s real?

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Women’s Fiction

Young Adult Fiction

Secrets in the Hollow

Touch

Barbara Dullaghan

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Twenty-time award-winning coming-of-age fiction that explores life’s deeper meaning while also exposing a critical social issue affecting young males.

ISBN: 978-1960142702 • $14.95 Sign up for a chance to win a FREE copy at

ISBN: 978-0578860879 paperback • 978-0578995236 hardcover

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$15.95 paperback, $21.99 hardcover, $2.99 Kindle, $0.00 Kindle Unlimited

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Ingram barbaradullaghan.com

Available at IngramSpark, Amazon, other online retailers, or through the author. www.rebeccamiller-author.com

Writing and Publishing Spiritual Writing from Inspiration to Publication Deborah Levine Herman This book is an inspiring, motivating, and captivating look at the spiritual life and the falling to write. It is based on the premise that there are writers who write because they want to and those who write because they have to. Spiritual writers are drawn to the process by a sense of mission. However, the spiritual writer’s mission and the realities of publishing are often at odds. This unique book provides the nuts and bolts and do’s and don’ts of how to get published in this often misunderstood arena. This second edition is updated to include the digital world and the expanded opportunities this brings for nontraditional publishing.

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Just when things are looking bleak, Sam uncovers evidence that could clear her name. But the evidence also forces her to make a difficult decision: how far is she willing to go to protect her mother?

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores. jeffbeamish.com

AWARD

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When Sam’s mother announces her engagement to a man whose last wife died under suspicious circumstances, Sam tries to dissuade her. But her mother is convinced that this is her chance for a “happily ever after.”

Sam’s life implodes when her mother’s fiancé is found dead, and she is the prime suspect. With the help of her boyfriend’s father, an ex-homicide cop, Sam fights to prove her innocence.

ISBN: 978-1803412160 • $21.95

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Seventeen-year-old Sam has always tried to take care of her mother, as her father requested before he died. However, it is not an easy task, especially when her mother is impulsive and has a habit of making bad decisions.

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