You’ve Got a Friend in Me…

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

Unknown

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”

Bernard Meltzer

“A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!”

Doug Larson

Depending on whom you ask, friendship could mean a lot of different things. Why not let us know what you think? Send us a friend request on our MySpace page, where you can see what’s going on with all the different book awards and stay updated with the latest news. Stop by and leave a comment!

Now Accepting: 2009 IPPY Entries!

Announcing the 13th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards, honoring the year’s best independently published titles. We’ll accept entries until March 21st, 2009 for books with 2008 copyrights or that were released in 2009.

No fee increases this year! Early-bird entry incentives available – enter today!

For more information, including guidelines and entry forms, please visit our site.

Think Tanks

What is a think tank?  What are the advantages of having your book published by one? Find out by reading Nina L. Diamond’s article in the current issue of Independent Publisher Online Magazine.

“The Starfish People” Strike Silver

The Starfish People, by Leann Marshall, introduces readers to Sera, a young girl tormented by her past.  Her therapist sends her back in time to discover the source of her nightmares.  Sera must decide if she should break the rules of time travel and try to stop what has happened to her loved ones, or save herself.  The Starfish People earned Leann a silver medal in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category at the 2008 IPPY Awards.  It is a “science fiction story with heart.”   Author’s website 

The New IQ

In Dr. David Gruder’s opinion, integrity is the most important quality a person can possess.  In today’s society, with money and fame as people’s major motivators, integrity has fallen by the wayside.  Dr. Gruder’s new book, The New IQ: How Integrity Intelligence Serves You, Your Relationships, and Our World, directs us back to the right track.  As the author puts it, “Integrity isn’t a burden—it’s a path to joy.  Integrity isn’t a sacrifice—it’s a path to fulfillment.”  This book earned Dr. Gruder a bronze medal at the 2008 IPPYs in the Self-Help category.    

 

More information 

Land of Stone Earns Bronze

One of the most poignant and unusual books in our contest, Land of Stone: Breaking Silence through Poetry by Karen Chase, greatly impressed our judges, earning a bronze medal in the 2008 IPPY Awards in the Psychology/Mental Health category.  Land of Stone is the true account of Chase’s experiences working with Ben, a troubled patient at a psychiatric hospital near New York City in the 1980’s.  Once a week, she would visit with Ben, a handsome young man who had not spoken for years, and the pair would compose poetry together, alternating lines.  Land of Stone is a story of healing, of Ben’s gradual emergence from silence.             

View Karen Chase’s website 

Calling All 2008 IPPY Winners!

We are looking for feedback from gold, silver, and bronze medalists from the 2008 IPPY Awards.  We would like to hear anything they have to say about their experiences in the IPPY contest or its aftermath, including news on how their books are doing on the market.  If desired, all or part of what they have to say will be published on this blog, along with a cover shot of their book.  Questions and responses can be emailed to Amy Brunner at abrunner@bookpublishing.com

MoonQuest Earns Gold

Congratulations to Mark David Gerson of LightLines Media, gold medalist at the 2008 IPPYs in the Visionary Fiction category.  Gerson’s winning novel, The MoonQuest: A True Fantasy, was deemed “an evocative and emotionally moving tale…” by the Midwest Book Review.  We recently heard from the author on the success of his book after winning his IPPY gold:

“Although my novel, The MoonQuest, has placed in three other book competitions, the IPPY is its first first. And I have to say that the big, heavy, shiny gold medal is impressive — and not only to me. My IPPY win has earned me more media attention than my three other awards combined and I’m counting on that attention to add up to increased sales — not only for The MoonQuest, but for my new book on writing: The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write.

 

The MoonQuest, by the way, is a ”true fantasy” set in a time when stories are banned and storytelling spells death. Here, as black-clad armies terrorize the countryside, one young bard must come out of hiding to embark on the long-prophesied journey to end the tyranny…a journey guided only by stories…a journey that blurs the line between vision and reality. A perfect book for anyone who cares about books!”

Sales Post-IPPY

 

Sure, an IPPY award gives authors a boost of confidence, but even more so, it gives their books a boost on the market.  Past winners rave about the credibility of the IPPY awards, as well as the attention they receive from the shiny IPPY stickers on their covers.  Here is some feedback from those who have experienced the aftermath of an IPPY medal:     

 

“I was speaking to (a publisher I’d met at BookExpo) on the phone and she didn’t remember me, but then the moment I said that my book won the 2006 IPPY Award for Outstanding Book of the Year – Most Life Changing, she immediately perked up and went “OH.” She got really excited after that and wanted to hear more about my book. She was happily anticipating my book proposal. First, it shows how well-known and prestigious the IPPY award is. Just the name IPPY Award can knock down brick walls. Second, it’s a great example of how important it is for authors to submit their books to award contests.”

- Bronwyn Marmo, author of The Food is a Lie, the Truth is Within

“Equipped with these awards, the book has taken on a new life. We’ve had several reviewers who passed on the chance to review it the first time around offer to review it now. We’ve also had some paperback reprint interest and even some film interest.”

- Joan Schweighardt, author of 2004 winner, the historical thriller Gudrun’s Tapestry

“The fact is award stickers help to convince buyers to purchase. I’ve seen this happen with librarians — when faced with two competing titles and a limited acquisition budget the librarians will take the one that won an award, any award, over the title that doesn’t have an award to its credit. I’m confident that this same phenomena works for bookstore patrons browsing the shelves as well.”

- Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review

“It was always going to be difficult for me to do business all the way from Australia. You and your awards have provided a “foot in the door” in the US market for me, which I thoroughly appreciate!”

- Ronald Johnston, One Vision Books, Brisbane, Australia

 

 

 

 

“MEMS and Nanotechnology for Kids” Earns Bronze

 

Tiny things reaped great rewards for Marlene Bourne.  The founder of Bourne Research LLC earned a bronze medal in the 2008 IPPY contest in the Juvenile-Teen-Y/A Non-fiction category for her book MEMS and Nanotechnology for Kids.  This book is an introduction to modern technology, exploring MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) and nanomaterials, and their uses in today’s society.  MEMS and Nanotechnology for Kids, directed mainly toward 11 to 14-year-olds, is vibrant and easy to read, sure to spark the interest of young scientists as well as adults.    View the book’s press release