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Print and audiobooks can be submitted by: • Independent publishers • University presses • Hybrid publishers • Association presses • Self-published authors If you are a big five publishing house, you must submit your books to our fall competition, NYCBigBookAward.com, which has a separate committee and entry fee. Outside of the big five publishing houses, any publisher or author may submit to both competitions, IndependentPressAward.com (every spring); and NYCBigBookAward.com (every fall). See webpages for complete details.
WHEN CAN I ENTER the Independent Press Award? We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two and a half months, with two hard deadlines: (1) March 2024 to August 30, 2024; (2) September 1, 2024 to December 30, 2024 All entries must be postmarked no later than December 30, 2024. This final deadline will not be extended. What if I miss the deadline? Enter our fall program NYCBigBookAward.com as we take books until August 30th. ENTRY FEE $125 per title/per category, plus $75 for any additional category
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS Decide which books (copyright date within the past three years is recommended but not required) to enter into this year’s competition. 2 Calculate the total entry fee. Choose which categories, https://www.independentpressaward.com/categories, to enter each book into. You may enter a book into as many categories as you’d like. The fee for the first category is $125. Any additional book categories for that same book is $75 per category. • SINGLE BOOK, MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: One who enters “Book One” in Children’s Educational and Book Cover Design Childrens category, the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200. 1
Educational and Book Cover Design Childrens category, the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200, and “Book Two” in Mystery and New Fiction (first-time published), the entry fee is $125 + $75 = $200, so $200 + 200 = $400 in total book entry fees. 3 Download a form from this page, OR submit the entry form online on this page, https://www.independentpressaward.com/online-entry-form-1 Complete form 4 Duplicate each Entry Label if you are entering multiple categories. For print books, a copy of the completed Entry Label must be placed inside the front cover of every book submitted. Up to four physical copies for entry into four or more categories. Audiobooks, a single copy of the completed Entry Label must be submitted along with either an Audible gift code or Authors’ Direct code. IF SUBMITTING ONLINE and sending a book directly from Amazon.com or other retailer/printer, NO PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED to accompany the book(s). 5 Pay via PayPal button on the website or mail a check, along with your books and printed entry form, and ship to:
INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD 63 Clinton Road Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 USA
www.IndependentPressAward.com www.IndependentPressAward.com
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER Forget gatekeepers and slush piles – the literary stage is now open to all. Democratization has taken hold of the publishing industry. Aspiring authors no longer need to navigate byzantine publishing pathways – today, anyone with a story can unleash their voice. Indie books have shaken up the literary world, igniting a reader revolution fueled by self-published gems. Their boldness and ingenuity are redefining storytelling itself. Supplied with more education, skilled help, and expert advice, the independently published book is a far cry from its predecessor in feel, look, design, and quality, yet with the same wit, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit at its core. Take for example, Dow Creative Enterprises who has turned the medical field upside down. Never in my days during the early 1990s at Publishers Weekly would those books ever be accepted, and here, two years ago, Michael Dow submitted his Nurse Florence® Series to the Independent Press Award. Upon winning the Independent Press Award and gaining recognition for his work, it has amplified and heartened his publishing mission. Today, I am happy to report that the Harvard University Online Bookstore now carries his titles. Like a rogue wave breaching the shoreline, indie books are flooding the literary scene, their self-published brilliance washing away old paradigms and refreshing the way we experience stories. Indie authors are carving their own path in the literary jungle. Their self-published treasures are enchanting readers and rewriting the rules of storytelling. No gatekeepers, no limitations – indie authors, fueled by creative freedom, are breaking into the hearts of readers with self-published masterpieces. They’re the new faces of storytelling, changing the game one captivating page at a time, leaving readers breathless with their boldness. We have a selection of these indie books in the following pages. I strongly encourage you to buy and fill your shelves with these treasures. Be inspired, be active, and join us on your own publishing adventure at this year’s BookCAMP 2024, https://www.ipabookcamp.com/. I hope to see you there. Read and be great,
Ted Olczak Publisher
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Call for Nominations: “40 Under 40 in Publishing” Entry Details for the 2025 Independent Press Award Publisher’s Letter NYC Big Book Award: GAB TALKS with Irv Arenberg, author of Love and Murder: The Last Days of Vincent van Gogh NYC Big Book Award: GAB TALKS with Arwinder Kaur, author of Living While Human Harvard Embraces Award-Winning Nurse Florence® Series to Boost Kids’ Health Literacy NYC Big Book Award: GAB TALKS with Tony Jeton Selimi, author of A Path to Excellence Subscribe to BookCAMP magazine Publishing Services Directory Call for 2024 NYC Big Book Award Entries
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: 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) Spring 2025:
https://www.independentpressaward.com/ To advertise, please contact Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com, or visit our website, https://www.independentpressaward.com/ advertise The magazine Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award Present is published eight times per year and has been issued the following ISSNs by the U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: Format: Online Format: ISSN 2836-9157; and the Print Format: ISSN 2836-9149. Any questions or comments, please contact the Publisher Ted Olczak at Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or Ted@PrintedWordReviews.com. www.IndependentPressAward.com
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Irv Kaufman Dr.
Love and Murder: The Final Days of Vincent van Gogh AUTHOR OF:
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r. Irvin Kaufman is the author of Love and Murder: The Final Days of Vincent van Gogh, winner of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award in Arts and Entertainment. In Love and Murder we get a glimpse into the mysterious life and death of Vincent van Gogh. A retired ear surgeon, Irv has unveiled many misconceptions about van Gogh beginning with his cover story in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, during the 100th anniversary of van Gogh’s death. Irv has studied van Gogh’s life and death for more than thirty years with the goal to debunk the myth that his death was a suicide. The critically acclaimed Love and Murder: is Book Two of the Trilogy. Book One is KILLING VINCENT: THE MAN, THE MYTH, AND THE MURDER. Book Three is THE DAY VINCENT VAN GOGH WAS MURDERED. Irv joins us live from Arizona.
so passionate about investigating this cold case? IRV: Everybody finds something about Vincent to really connect with. I use my medical background to try to unravel some of the mysteries. When I wrote that article for JAMA (July 1990, 100th anniversary of van Gogh’s death), I never believed that Vincent committed suicide. I was still very busy as a surgeon and I never really followed up. I kept reading, but I wasn’t proactively trying to do what I had done in the last five years. The movie Loving Vincent came out. It was pretty obvious that Vincent couldn’t possibly have shot himself at the angle that was recorded. I knew I had to pursue that and correct another misunderstanding. GABBY: In book one of your trilogy: Killing Vincent The Man, The Myth and the Murder you say that suicide is untenable. What’s the most profound piece of forensic evidence that you uncovered that disproves this theory of suicide?
GABBY: A widely accepted myth is that van Gogh suffered from epilepsy. How did your career as an ear surgeon play an instrumental role in altering the artist’s diagnosis?
IRV: Vincent didn’t have a gun. The myth was perpetuated as a cover up for a murder. If you go back to the actual evidence that was available, which is very limited, by the way, there’s no police report, there is no crime scene. It’s all hearsay. There’s no hard evidence anywhere that Vincent actually committed suicide. A colleague of mine did a study going through all his letters to look at the suicidal ideation to see if they could profile him as a candidate for suicide.
IRV: When I was a student, I read about Vincent’s letters and his attacks that were thought to be epilepsy. However, he wrote in his own handwriting that his attacks were fatigue and vertigo. When I became an ear doctor my special area of interest and expertise was Meniere’s disease. So the medical world has accepted that he had an inner ear problem which adversely affected him quite a bit. If you read his letters, one very pronounced, said he was so afraid of another attack that was going to forever eliminate his ability to paint.
By 21st century criteria, using the last 70 days of his life, we had no suicidal evidence, no proclivity to commit suicide. We did the forensic testing. I bought the same model gun that was alleged to be used to kill Vincent. They found a gun in a field some 56 years later, coincidentally, and very questionably right at the time when MGM was in Paris shooting a movie in 1953. Very suspicious. There’s no proof that this was the gun that was used to kill Vincent or Vincent killed himself. I can dispute that part of it, too, to the nth degree.
That might have been one of the things that drove him to paint a canvas a day in fear of losing that ability to paint. GABBY: You referred to his death, a presumed suicide or the myth of the presumed suicide as the biggest cold case in the annals of the art world. You’ve made it your mission to depart from this narrative. Why are you www.IndependentPressAward.com
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In your award winning book, Love and Murder: The Last Deeds of Vincent van Gogh you refer to Vincent’s death as a dastardly murder, a nefarious cover up. Why do you believe it was a murder?
Listen to the entire interview on https://www.thegabtalks.com/. To learn more about Dr. Irv Kaufman Arenberg and van Gogh Trilogy visit the Killing Vincent Project at https://killingvincent.com/.
IRV: Forensically. In the evidence of the wound that was described, there is no description of a black powder bullet ring around the entry wound. This was the day of black powder. Smokeless bullets didn’t really come in for a few years. That was the key piece of forensic evidence any police officer would have back in that day to determine whether someone shot himself, was shot close, or shot from far away.
To listen to the full interview or to learn more, please visit
Once you eliminate the possibility that there wasn’t a powder burn, then someone shot him from a greater distance and several feet away. GABBY: The dark and romantic legend of van Gogh is that he was a tortured artist who contemplated suicide. A great story. You believe he was misunderstood. Give us a real glimpse into who van Gogh really was.
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IRV: In my first book I characterized him as having Asperger’s syndrome. He wasn’t crazy, just brilliant. He was somewhat tortured because people didn’t understand him and he couldn’t really relate to people. That’s a characteristic of Asperger’s. It’s interesting because now Elon Musk has Asperger’s and he’s a poster boy for the syndrome. GABBY: What questions about his death do you believe still remain unanswered? IRV: I tried to try to go after a lot of things like the mental illness, the suicide probe. Without an autopsy, without a bullet, the kind of wound that was described, could just as easily have been a knife wound or an ice pick. That certainly changes the dynamic of van Gogh’s death. GABBY: Why do you contend that Vincent was murdered? IRV: Vincent was in love with Marguerite (Dr. Gachet’s daughter), who he met on the first day when he got out of the asylum. It was not promoted by the people who actually wrote about Vincent’s life and his brother’s after his death. It was an honor killing to preserve Marguerite’s honor. GABBY: So tell us about the Killing Vincent Project. IRV: The Killing Vincent Project is what you’ve seen me do over 30, 40 years. It is trying to get rid of all the untruths and bring together the truth about Vincent’s life. www.IndependentPressAward.com
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Childrens Fiction Bliss and Her Friends
Astrology
Bernadette Wells and Carl Baker
Sun Signs, Houses & Healing: Build Resilience & Transform Your Life Through Astrology
Bliss and her Friends is about a girl named Bliss who is learning the value of old and new friendships. This book also helps parents talk and ask questions to their children about their feelings, and when they encounter new and old friends.
Carmen Turner-Schott Once you have your birth chart-which you can easily acquire online using your time and place of birth-Carmen Turner-Schott helps you fully understand your sun sign, providing everything from self-care affirmations to optimal strategies for healing and transformation. This well-organized book lets you quickly jump between specific signs and houses, making it easy to look up information for yourself and your loved ones.
Softcover: 978-1665532259 E-Book: 987-1665532266 Softcover-$20.99. E-Book-$5.99 Retail/Distributor Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble; IngramSpark www.blissandherfriends.com
ISBN: 978-0738771304 • $16.99 Available on all online stores and from Llewellyn Worldwide. www.carmenturnerschott.com
Cookbooks: General AND Book Interior Design-Nonfiction Dinner is Done: Simple Weeknight Recipes from Smart in the Kitchen
Business AWARD 2
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Negotiation Simplified
Dinner is Done: Simple Weeknight Meals from Smart in the Kitchen is a gorgeous 240-page hardcover cookbook with weeknight dinner recipes, tested and written for the busy home cook.The recipes are pared down and simple, without hard-to-find ingredients, such as Rotisserie Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Vegetable Bolognese Rigatoni and Blackened Redfish Tacos.
Jim Reiman Negotiations may be complex; negotiating is not! Creating options and choosing which to pursue (and how to pursue them) is what distinguishes the skilled and effective negotiator from the less successful one. Written by a practitioner for the practitioner, Negotiation Simplified sets out a framework and a thought process which, if followed, will yield better results.
ISBN: 979-8986802008 •$39.95
ISBN: 978-1645439578•$24.95
Available on Amazon, https://amzn.to/3RkHsKm www.smartinthekitchenschool.com/dinner-is-done www.smartinthekitchenschool.com www.smartinthekitchen.com
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and online booksellers www.NegotiationSimplifiedBook.com
Business - General Crime Fiction
The Answer is a Question: The Missing Superpower that Changes Everything and Will Transform Your Impact as a Manager and Leader
Prison Shadows Kathryn Den Houter Clifford Ratz, a small-town drug dealer, carries the burdens of others and the weight of his own dysfunction. It is a psychological suspense novel that takes the reader to prison with a final endgame of family betrayal and ultimate sacrifice.
Laura Ashley-Timms & Dominic Ashley-Timms For Managers and Leaders everywhere! Read this Amazon bestseller and discover the missing superpower that changes everything and will transform your impact as a manager and leader.
ISBN: 978-1954786950 • $14.95
ISBN: 978-0117093911 •$25.95 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble www.TheAnswerIsaQuestion.com
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1954786956 www.kathryndenhouter.com
Submit your book to: https://www.independentpressaward.com/ www.IndependentPressAward.com
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Cross Genre Life Interrupted, Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide Dr Manu Dua, Foreword and Epilogue by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar This is a book that my brother wrote in his last days. A reflection on life as he faced mortality at age 34. He believed that the human mind, body and soul have a remarkable capacity to heal. We are more powerful than we can imagine.
ISBN: 978-1736058718 • $8.99 Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any bookstore worldwide. parulduamakkar.com/book/
Cross Genre Plague of Flies: Revolt of the Spirits, 1846 Laurel Anne Hill In 1846 Alta California, Catalina Delgado daydreams about her future: roping cattle, marrying Angelo Ortega and raising children. But now, invaders from the United States—the Bear Flaggers—have declared war against Mexico, her country. Bear Flaggers have imprisoned one close friend of her family and murdered others. What fate might befall her parents, grandfather and younger brothers? And what about her best friend, a Costanoan servant girl? How can Catalina, only sixteen, help protect all those she loves? The spirits provide Catalina with answers, but not ones she wants. Plus she fears the strange spirit man who rides a black Andalusian stallion through the sky. For the sake of all she holds dear, Catalina must risk her reputation as a chaste young woman, her future with Angelo, her life and her very soul. When hopes and dreams clash with cold reality, Catalina finds the fortitude to accomplish what only she can do.
ISBN:978-1949534207 • $18.95 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores www.laurelannehill.com/plague-of-flies/
Death & Dying / Grief / Inspirational A Sky of Infinite Blue: A Japanese Immigrant’s Search for Home and Self Kyomi O’Connor
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Kaur
Arwinder
AUTHOR OF:
Living While Human
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rwinder Kaur’s debut novel, Living While Human, is the winner of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award in Autobiography. Arwinder’s travels and life experiences thrust her into a meaningful existence filled with social and ecological activism. A graduate of SFU, Arwinder has been a social worker for more than thirty years, specializing in child welfare. She is also passionate about art, music and tennis. Arwinder resides in Vancouver, British Columbia with her genius dog, Monty.
GABBY: As you mentioned before: school, marriage, children. You’ve said in your book that individuals often become lost or trapped in a life before they can learn what their destiny is. What are some tiny steps individuals can take to make that happen? ARWI: Many children who don’t have anyone in their life helping them and guiding them. What I did as a youngster is consciously look for people that lived a meaningful life. As a youngster, if you feel that there are things that aren’t quite right, that you’re not really sure what direction you should take, there are fundamental questions in my book that we should all ask ourselves.
GABBY: Describe the movement “Sea of Change” and what it means. ARWI: There are certain key aspects of this book that I think people are reconnecting to on a very deep level with what is going on in the planet right now. We quietly separate ourselves from what’s going on in the world, and we need to start making the planet our absolute priority because it is something that involves all of us and our attention. I’m hoping that people will become motivated on a personal level. There are so many things disconnecting people right now and dividing people right now, but we have become completely distracted from the real threat that we are really facing, and that is total extinction.
GABBY: If you could come up with one message, that would really communicate the importance of Living While Human, what would it be? ARWI: I think the most important message from my book might be that we need to start living conscious lives. We can all take small steps together as a global community, not just one person. Listen to the entire interview at GAB TALKS here: https://www. independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks/living-while-human; and learn more about Arwinder Kaur and Living While Human on her website here: https://arwinderkaurauthor.com/.
GABBY: You refer to a “compass”. Why is it a critical component of life connecting with each other, helping us live truly happy, healthy lives, particularly for young adults. ARWI: I think part of my journey as a young person was when I traveled around the world at such a young age. I learned very important lessons at 14 and 16 years of age. I think what was very, very important then, it’s that I had the benefit of an experience that was outside of the North American life that I had.
To listen to the full interview or to learn more, please visit
It allowed me to tap into the struggle that everyday people are going through. I realized that there are ways that we need to simplify our life. A lot of that has to do with people not really having a sense of hierarchy. What is important, what should we be focusing on?
www.TheGABTALKS.com
We need a set of principles that guide us and navigate the world that we live in. The compass of their soul tells them how to do the right thing and what the right thing it really is. www.IndependentPressAward.com
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education Hoarding / Organization
The Art of Being a School Counselor Nancy Regas
I’m Right Here: 10 Ways to Get Help for Hoarding and Chronic Disorganization
Multi-award winning. Are you thinking about school counseling as a profession or just starting as a school counselor? Okay, maybe you’re already an established school counselor; congratulations! However, are you feeling stuck, lost, or frustrated in your present position? If you answer yes to either question, this book is definitely for you. Enjoy your journey towards a personal and professional reawakening!
Jill B. Yesko When chronic disorganization or hoarding behavior seriously impacts the quality of our lives or the lives of people we care about, compassionate, professional intervention can help. This book methodically outlines the resources available to those experiencing extreme organizing challenges with their environments.
HINT: If you are an administrator, this book will help you understand the role of a counselor; correctly utilizing your counseling staff will increase the effectiveness of your school. If you are a teacher, this book will help you comprehend the multiple roles of counselors and guide you in working collaboratively with them. Enjoy your journey towards becoming the best educator possible! Finally, parents, you can use this book too! It will help you understand what it takes for your son/daughter [in middle school or high school] to be a successful student. When you grasp that, your guidance will become more impactful.
ISBN: 978-1951591700 • $16.95 Available on Amazon www.imrightherebook.com
ISBN: 978-1647422271 • $17.95
General Fiction
Available on Outskirts Press, Amazon http://bit.ly/3iPyAzs
The Shady Oaks Division L. M. Coppa
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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.
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
Otto H. Iglesias After forty-six years of not knowing my own Cuban heritage, I set out to learn the stories of the Iglesias family and to see the island of Cuba through the tear-filled eyes of my parents. I yearned to experience first-hand the Cuba of my parents’ memories and to immerse myself in the sights and sounds of that tropical paradise.
ISBN: 979-8887470252 • $18.95
ISBN: 978-1667816593 • $31.00
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online bookstores https://lmcoppa.com
Retail / distributor availability - Barnes and Noble, BookBaby, and Amazon
Historical Fiction
I n s p i r at i o n
Hidden Behind the Mist of Arrow Lakes
The Light in 9/11: Shocked by Kindness, Healed by Love
Lucia Mann An in-depth and extensive historical investigative novel by Lucia Mann. A daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Mann presents her own perspective and fearlessly shines a bright light onto uncomfortable dark corners of the human psyche.
Lisa Luckett The Light in 9/11: Shocked by Kindness, Healed by Love, is widow Lisa Luckett’s story of her inspiring journey that came from having an open mind, perseverance, and a different perspective to gain Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) instead of PTSG from the experience. What she discovered is how the healing power of kindness of strangers can make the world a better place.
While deeply rooted in historical analysis, the book is written in an accessible way as the author’s vulnerability reveals her inner strength and emanates authenticity. Hidden Behind the Mist of Arrow Lakes prompts a discussion about the long shadow of the Holocaust that stretches across generations. Lucia Mann’s words sound a powerful call to action, urging individuals, organizations, and nations to address the unresolved threads left in the wake of the profound historical tragedy.
ISBN: 978-1732197107 paperback • $14.99 ISBN: 978-1732197114 e-book • $1.99 Available at Amazon
ISBN:978-0985603977 • $18.95
Submit your book to: https://www.independentpressaward.com/
Available on Amazon www.luciamann.com/hidden-behind-the-mist-of-arrow-lakes/
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Lesbian Romance
Memoir
Biding Time
Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery
Lyn Gardner
Linda Murphy Marshall
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Time is relative. You’re born. You live, and you die, your lifespan predisposed by your species, your health, and your luck. But what if there were a species who colored outside the lines…like a vampire?
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After both her parents die, Linda Murphy Marshall, a multi-linguist and professional translator, returns to her midwestern childhood home, Ivy Lodge, to sort through a lifetime of belongings with her siblings. Room by room, she sifts through the objects in her parents’ house and uses her skills and perspective as a longtime professional translator to make sense of the events of her past—to “translate” her memories and her life. In the process, she sees things with new eyes. All of her parents’ things, everything having to do with their cherished hobbies, are housed in a home that, although it looks impressive from the outside, is anything but impressive inside; in short, she now realizes that much of it —even the house’s fancy name—was show.
Paperback: 979-8488569508 eBook: B09HP6245F $19.99 for paperback / $9.99 for eBook Available on Amazon www.lyngardnerauthor.com
978-1647423674 • $16.95 Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Independent Bookstores; Distributed by Ingram www.lindamurphymarshall.com
Literary Fiction Winter’s Reckoning, a novel
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In the dying Southern Appalachian town of Jamesville, 46-year-old Madeline Fairbanks has no use for ideas like “separation of the races” or “men as the superior sex.” challenges the status quo with her socially progressive views. She takes on a Black apprentice, Ren Morgan, and continues to practice herbalistic medicine despite threats from the KKK. When a new reverend arrives and begins preaching about racial segregation, Maddie must decide whether to bow to the KKK’s demands or fight to keep her home and protect the future of the people she loves, both Black and White.
Memoir Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops Allison Hong Merrill A powerful true story of a Taiwanese immigrant bride–– disowned by her father, abandoned by her American husband; homeless, penniless, and inarticulate in English––defies cultural expectations and creates her own destiny.
ISBN: 978-1647420871 • $17.95
ISBN: 978-1647421892 • $12.39
Available on Amazon. www.adeleholmes.com
Available on Amazon.com www.allisonhongmerrill.com
Literature Military Nonfiction / Vietnam War
The Roots That Clutch Published by Tower of Babel Communications and Publications
Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History
The Roots That Clutch tells the haunting true-story of how a young woman discovered through her PhD research on T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound that her grandmother had had an affair with the other great American Modernist, William Carlos Williams.
Robin Bartlett More than 50 years after the Vietnam War, Bartlett’s vivid combat experiences are brought to light in a fastmoving, well-written, first-person narrative expressing the horror, fear, anguish, and sometimes illogical humor of that war. “For readers who want to learn what it was like for a twenty-two-year-old lieutenant to lead even younger Americans in combat, in miserable conditions, in a war no one understood, and where no one wanted to be the last man to die, there is no better place to begin than Vietnam Combat” (from review in On Point: The Journal of American Army History). AWARD 2
ISBN: 978-9082146882 • $15.00 Available through direct purchase from the publisher. www.therootsthatclutch.com
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Submit your book to: https://www.independentpressaward.com/ www.IndependentPressAward.com
2023 NYC Big Book Award Winner Military Nonfiction
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Poetry
Parenting & Family (Adoption)
SOULSCAPES
Parenting & Family (Adoption)
Lee Woodman
Ashley Berry
Soulscapes, the fifth volume in Lee Woodman’s “scapes” series, is an exploration of the way we reach to understand spirituality and soul in our lives and relations. The poems in this collection express Woodman’s dedication to considering both the scientific fact-based world and the magical, mysterious unknown as elements of an ever-growing faith in the oneness of the universe.
Waiting for Rainbows is the Berry family’s story of hope. What began as a struggle with infertility turned into a life-long lesson through loss and adoption.
ISBN: 978-1954233119 • $20.95
ISBN: 978-1962082204 • $14.95
Available on Amazon
Retail Availability: Shanti Arts, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound. www.poetleewoodman.com
Picture Books - All Ages
Self-help
Sophie Won’t Sleep
The Doctor’s Voice
Dr. Danielle Camer
Dr. Garbelli
It’s bedtime for Sophie sloth! But she wants treetop adventures instead. Will Sophie ever make it to bed?
The Doctor’s Voice is a must-read book for every doctor, medical student, and healthcare stakeholder which addresses the root causes of doctor burnout and exposes the detrimental effects not only on physicians, but also on the quality of healthcare provided. The book raises awareness about this important issue and sheds light on possible solutions.
This gentle story follows a feisty main character who resists bedtime and then discovers that being stubborn can lead to problems. It provides an opportunity to discuss themes of independence, making decisions, rules and routines, and family relationships. The rich illustrations will also encourage an interest in learning about sloths and their rainforest environment.
Paperback 978-1665730075 $10.85 (original price $11.99) Audiobook $9.99 (Audible $11.99/1 credit)
ISBN: 978-0645243000 • $19.99
Distributed worldwide by Archway Publishing via Ingram www.drgarbelli.com
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers worldwide. www.daniellecamer.com.au/sophiewontsleep
Small Books (Memoir)
Picture Books All Ages
Lessons from the Ledge : A Little Book about Big Stuff
KARA’S DREAMS Ritu Anand
Nancy Jo Nelson
Kara’s Dreams is about being resilient in the face of adversity and believing in oneself. “Hmm…If I just smile and believe all is well, all will be well,” thought Kara.
There is no manual for life, but this book contains honest lessons learned. Grievers especially will find universal ways to rise from the ashes of despair.
ISBN: 978-1734734027 • $12.95
ISBN: 978-1955088084 Ebook- $4.99 • Paperback- $14.99 •Hardback - $24.99 Available through Ingram and its partners, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all other major distributors worldwide. www.rituzastoryteller.com
Available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com www.Ledgelessons.com
Submit your book to: https://www.independentpressaward.com/ www.IndependentPressAward.com
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HARVARD Embraces Award-Winning
Nurse Florence®
to Boost Kids’ Health Literacy Exciting news! The multi-award-winning children’s health book series, Nurse Florence®, is now available at Harvard University’s Online Bookstore, further amplifying efforts toward global health promotion and literacy.
have received prestigious book awards, including the Independent Press Award as well as the NYC Big Book Award. Published every ten days by Dow Creative Enterprises, the series is steadily expanding, aiming to reach 500 titles in total. And to connect with a wider audience, several translations are available in Spanish and French. For more information about this award-winning series and to explore the collection, visit https://nurseflorence.org/.
These engaging books empower children with knowledge, tackling various diseases affecting families and answering general science questions about the body. Parents and children alike are raving about learning something new with each book they read together. Recognized for their excellence, all Nurse Florence titles published between 2020 and 2022, and many of the 2023 releases,
Michael
DOW:
From Veteran to Award-Winning Science Communicator for Kids
Our first encounter with Michael Dow, through the Independent Press Award, sparked a lasting interest. Dow, a man of diverse careers, is the mind behind the award-winning Nurse Florence® series – a testament to his firm belief that complex medical information can be made accessible and engaging for anyone, young or old.
he took on nursing as a third career, utilizing his GI Bill to earn a Master’s degree and become a registered nurse specializing in inpatient psychiatry. This rich tapestry of experiences informs his unique approach to science communication, evident in the success of the Nurse Florence® series. As Gabby Olczak, president of the Independent Press Award, aptly stated about her interview with Dow, “He truly embodies the spirit of independent publishing, using his platform to educate and inspire.” You can watch the full video interview at
Driven by a passion for health and science education, Dow’s series delves into a multitude of fascinating topics, using friendly language and relatable characters to empower children with knowledge. He firmly believes that early exposure to accurate scientific terminology and concepts fosters not only health literacy but also paves the way for future paths in STEM fields.
https://www.independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks/ nurse-florence%2C-i%27m-having-trouble-sleeping
Dow himself exemplifies a lifelong commitment to service and learning. After serving eight years in the US Air Force and another eight as an Army Wounded Warrior Advocate,
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Spirituality Soul Afterlife: Beyond the Near-Death Experience Bud Megargee Since the dawn of time human beings have asked the seemingly unanswerable question - what happens when we die? Few have taken the inquiry as far as award winning author Bud Megargee who explores, in detail, the mechanisms of what happens to our souls before, during and after life on earth. More than 30 years ago the University of California Press published an unusual manuscript by an Anthropology student Carlos Castaneda - “The Teaching of Don Juan”. Now with the same uniqueness and enthusiasm, award winning author Bud Megargeee has issued “Soul Afterlife - Beyond the Near-Death Experience” as part of his Soul Life series.
ISBN: 979-8665081217 •$14.95 paperback, $12.99 Audio, $3.00 Kindle Available on Amazon, Goodreads and Spotify/Audible www.budmegargee.com
teen Burning Bright Michele Kwasniewski 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.
JOIN
PWR’s MEMBERSHIP
ISBN: 978-1950544349 • $20.00
monthly (only $5 per month) or annually ($50 per year)
a. Four issues of BookCamp Magazine included at NO CHARGE with an annual membership. b. BONUS: Want to find the right Master of Fine Arts program?, Learn more about Small Press and Fall Trade Book Fairs? (AUGUST 2024 special supplement) c. Full access to our Publishing Professionals database. You will find literary agents, designers, distributors, editors, marketers, printers, publicity firms, publishers, other publishing professionals. d. Sign up now & receive an ADDITIONAL BONUSES as we add them throughout the year! (Outside of the United States /International digital magazine only).
Available at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Walmart www.michelekwasniewski.com
Science Fiction
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Birthright of Scars: Rising by Laurisa Brandt by Laurisa Brandt
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2023
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A provocative, gripping novel about a masked renegade fighting to protect his sister and save his people from state-sanctioned genocide. Falling love with his bounty hunter was never part of the plan... F A
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“It made me ache, cheer, stress-eat, want to yell and cry. A story that can elicit such strong feelings, evoke a sense of wonder, and touch on the familiar is one that is worth experiencing.” ~Tracey Barski
ISBN: 979-8986720708 • $17.99 Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and many independent and online bookseller www. laurisabrandt.com
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Tony Jeton Selimi AUTHOR OF:
A Path To Excellence
ony Jeton Selimi is a bestselling, award winning author of A Path To Excellence, Winner of the 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Personal Growth. Tony is an international leader in personal development, business coach, filmmaker and life strategist specializing in human behavior, wealth building, and leadership excellence. He is a graduate of the University College London and founder of TJS Cognition, a company dedicated to exploring, expanding and evolving the frontiers of human awareness and potential. Tony has been featured in hundreds of articles, invited onto talk shows, delivered a TEDx talk with over one million views and spoken at conferences, private functions, companies and universities worldwide. Tony is the author of A Path to Wisdom, #Loneliness, and The Unfakeable Code. He is also the creator of the Multi Award winning coaching documentary Living My Ilusion and the documentary film series Into Your Divinity. Tony educates and inspires people all over the world.
their wisdom, knowledge, skills and building the things that really push you on this personal path to excellence. Each individual has the ability and the potential to be great, to be on a path to excellence. GABBY: Tony, you have said that self-love is the best medicine. The Octagon of Excellence methodology and the eight principles is the blueprint to achieving your greatest potential. Explain to us what that is and why. Eight principles always means a student of life, which means I love studying both science and spirituality, comparative religions, biology, cosmology, and always had an interest about demystifying the secrets of life. Throughout history, the number eight has been used in buildings, in architecture, also from a religious perspective usually your heart would resonate with one of those principles. The Octagon represents internal light and also number eight represents that. Therefore if we turn that number eight slightly, you will see the infinity sign in that. The eight areas that I put together in Octagon of Excellence are stages of light that we all go through. The way Octagon of Excellence is designed is for you to start where you are in your life currently. Usually your heart would resonate with one of those principles.
GABBY: You’ve said “magic happens when excellence becomes the default lens through which you observe the obstacles that life presents you”. Simplify that for us. TONY: Firstly, having the daily distractions and all the uncertainty we experience, the problems, the mental problems, emotional financial issues, everything that’s going on globally, people lose out on being our true essence. We then become very emotional, we become resentful, we become angry, we become depressed, we become anxious, we become stressed. And the way that we observe the world comes through those lenses. When we go on to this inside out lensing journey and change up essentially the way in which we observe reality, life shows us the greatest miracles. We find joy in so many things around us, but also our vibrational energy has to be elevated. From that vibration, we tend to attract a whole new world into our lives.
GABBY: Tony, for those of us who are not aware of your journey, you overcame abuse, bullying, civil war, critical illness and homelessness. What would you consider to be the most pivotal points in your journey that changed everything for you and led you to your path of excellence? TONY: Those are just some of the adversities that I experienced, and I believe being in the Civil War as a teenager and observing atrocities that no child or teenager or human being for that fact should experience was that vastly changing moment. I never knew if I was going to have another breath. I never knew if I was going to have another day. It also made me question God. Made me question “why is this happening to me, why is this happening to people I grew up with? Why is it happening globally in the world?” There was this inner voice that kept me going every single day. I knew back then that one day I want to go out there and inspire people.
GABBY: Tony, your latest book, A Path to Excellence, is a blend of scientific and spiritual teachings. What was your goal when you wrote the book? TONY: My goal was to bring this amalgamation of spiritual knowledge and material scientific knowledge. So being able to help people combine those two worlds so they can actually make the most of their true being, their true essence.
GABBY: What led you to write your very first book, A Path to Wisdom?
GABBY: Tony, you believe that we’re all destined for excellence while each and every one of us. Why do most of us fall short?
TONY: The wisdom was born out of three decades of overcoming so many challenges and learning so many things. I wanted to integrate and help people in business and also professional people to make a big difference because we tend to focus so much on the work that we truly lose ourselves. I wanted to empower people to be able to find that inner balance and find that inner peace and be able to live a healthy life.
TONY: If we are living in an environment in which you haven’t been nurtured properly, just like a flower, or if you take an exotic flower and you put it in Antarctica, it’s going to die. Similarly with us as humans, if we are put in an environment in which there’s no encouragement, there’s no education, there’s no nurturing in a way that we can really excel. If we take the same individual and we put it in an environment where education is provided, training is provided, a new awareness comes with www.IndependentPressAward.com
Listen to the entire interview on https://www.thegabtalks.com/. Learn more about Tony Sellimi and his books Path to Excellence, Path to Wisdom, #Loneliness and The Unforgivable Code at Tonyselimi.com
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Printed Word’s PUBLISHING SERVICES and PRODUCTS AUDIOBOOKS
DESIGN
DeepZen, uses NLP and TTS systems specifically for long-form content to provide publishers with a tool to grow their audiobook catalog quickly, conveniently, and cost-efficiently. DeepZen’s technology replicates human voice and enables high-quality, life-like audiobook production using voices licensed from narrators. Register https://portal.deepzen.io/ and listen to the library of voices here https://portal.deepzen.io/voices. Email hello@deepzen.io or inquiry at https://deepzen.io/.
1106 Design, Michele DeFilippo, owner Do you want to learn more about working with 1106 Design? Great! We want to know all about you and your book too! https://1106design.com/contact-us/ Phone: (602) 866-3226 Toelke Associates has over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of custom book & publication design. We provide complete design & production services that are tailored to your unique project with specialization in illustrated non-fiction, exhibition catalogs, and historical / cultural subjects. www.toelkeassociates.com • Voice/text: Ron 518-392-3040 | Amelia 518-755-3215
AUTHOR SERVICES Amnet Author Services Ready to publish your book? A personalized package at an unbeatable price! High quality editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, translation services. https://bit.ly/amnet_AS
DISTRIBUTORS Cardinal Publishers Group, Tom Dougherty, President A full service national book distributor. 2402 Shadeland Ave A, Indianapolis, IN 46219 | (317) 352-8200
SPARK Publications-custom publishing Professionally custom publish your non-fiction business book, cookbook, or coffee-table book. High-level editing, design, publishing, consulting, and hand-holding services for business owners & leaders. No Royalties. In business 25 years. SPARKpublications.com/books
EDITING SERVICES Write On, Inc., Nonfiction Book Editor Editing for indie authors writing on business/leadership, self-help, true crime. Work with a seasoned editor who literally wrote the award-winning book: Cover to Cover: What First-Time Authors Need to Know about Editing. Sample edit, assessment and project pricing for the level of edit your book needs and deserves. Free ebook and more information on editorial services. www.WriteOnInc.com
eBooks2go About eBooks2go: eBooks2go is the single source for all of your book publishing needs. We offer an array of affordable solutions to assist self-publishing authors at every stage of the publishing process including cover design, eBook conversions, hardcover and paperback book printing, worldwide distribution, marketing packages, and much more. Email: info@ebooks2go.net • Phone Number: +1 (847) 598-1150 ext. 4141 Website: https://www.ebooks2go.net
PRINTERS Lightning Press Book Printing, Ron Balinski, President Bookstore Quality Book Printing - Quality and Attentive Service. Get a FREE quote! ron@lightning-press.com www.lightning-press.com 140 Furler Street, Totowa, NJ 07512 | Tel: (973) 890-4422
BOOK AWARDS Independent Press Award, Gabby Olczak, President Every spring; awards independent authors and publishers. https://www.independentpressaward.com/ • gabby@IndependentPressAward.com
REVIEWS
NYC Big Book Award, Gabby Olczak, President Every fall; awards authors and publishers of all persuasions: independent, self, and traditionally published books. www.nycBigBookAward.com • gabby@nycBigBookAwards.com
Get discovered with a BlueInk Review! Honest, credible book reviews written by professional critics and respected by booksellers, librarians and readers nationwide. www.blueinkreview.com
BUSINESS BROKERS & SERVICES
SALES & MARKETING YOUR AD COULD BE HERE reaching over 10,000 authors and publishers Or here: https://issuu.com/independentpressaward reaching over 10,000 librarians and booksellers, 20,000 additional book lovers and consumers. Contact the Publisher Ted Olczak Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com
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