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

 

Writing about 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  

The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones

 

Last month, Dr. Michael E. Platt received a bronze medal in the Most Progressive Health Book category of the 2008 IPPYs.  His book, titled The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones—How I Lost my: Fatigue, Hot Flashes, ADHD, ADD, Fibromyalgia, PMS, Osteoporosis, Weight, Sexual Dysfunction, Anger, Migraines…, is a revolutionary book that explains how balancing one’s hormones results in better health.  Interesting yet easy-to-follow, this book has received widespread praise.  Mort Farina, R.Ph., a longtime colleague, says of Dr. Platt, “He is a brilliant diagnostician.  His book is an example of the way medicine should be practiced.” 

 

View the author’s website 

12th Annual IPPY Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles

view from the 54^th floor of the Wells Fargo Building

This year’s IPPY Awards ceremony was as exciting as ever, held on May 30th on the 54th floor of the Wells Fargo Building in Los Angeles.  IPPY winners came from all corners of the United States–as well as one from London–for the big event, which was held on the first day of the annual BookExpo America.  Please view our “2008 Awards Wrap-up” page (top bar).  Also, check out our photo slideshow from the event.  The 2008 IPPY contest was a huge success, and we are truly grateful for all of the entrants.  We look forward to the outstanding books that independent authors will bring for ‘09!           

2008 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

As this year’s IPPY contest has come to a close, Jenkins Group, Inc. is now accepting entries for our second annual Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.  This awards contest is run similarly to the IPPYs.  Our team of judges presents gold, silver, and bronze medals to the top books in each of 30 categories, which range from toddler picture books to young adult fiction.  The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards’ mission is to “bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading”.  Last year’s inaugural Moonbeam Awards were quite successful, drawing 862 entries from 45 states, 6 Canadian provinces, and 7 countries overseas.  This year, we will accept books until August 16, 2008.  Learn how to enter!     

2008 IPPY Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, May 30

 

Los Angeles, California.  Home to Hollywood, the Lakers, and sunny beaches, this popular west-coast city is also the site of the 2008 IPPY Awards ceremony.  The event will take place on May 30, the first evening of this year’s four-day BookExpo America, an annual nationwide convention hosting book-lovers, authors, and members of the publishing industry at the beautiful Los Angeles Convention Center.  IPPY finalists will receive their medals and many congratulations during this exciting evening.     

 

 Los Angeles Convention Center

 

This year’s ceremony will wrap up the 12^th annual IPPY contest.  Established in 1996, the Independent Publisher Book Awards continues to thrive.  Consistently receiving over 3,000 entries a year, the IPPY Awards is now the largest independent book awards contest in the world.