A Path to Better Living

 As a citizen of today’s world, do you ever get stressed out?  You are not alone.  According to a 2004 survey by the American Psychological Association, 54% of Americans are “concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives”.   

 

 

An Illumined Life by Melanie McGhee provides the guidance for inner peace that many of us so desperately need.  This book earned McGhee a gold medal in the Self Help category at the 2007 IPPY Awards.  Through exercises, stories, and tips, An Illumined Life further develops the reader into a self-accepting, happy, productive person.  

To learn more about this book an its inspirational author, please visit  http://www.illuminedlife.com        

Smooth Sailing after IPPY Gold

Congratulations to Barry Pickthall of South Atlantic Publishing on his 2007 IPPY gold medal in the Sports/Fitness/Recreation category for his book Blue Water Sailing Manual.  This manual is an invaluable guide to this detailed sport, covering both racing and recreational sailing.  Richard Crockett of Sailing Magazine calls it “a book that tops anything I have seen of a similar nature.”   Pickthall wrote us recently on the happenings of South Atlantic Publishing after winning an IPPY gold: 

“We got some really good publicity for winning the award across specialist websites which drove buyers from all around the world to purchase the special limited edition available exclusively from www.southatlanticpublishing.com.  We then went to Frankfurt Book Fair with Blue Water Sailing and its IPPY Gold medal and sold 4 co-editions to Swedish, Dutch, German and French publishers.

  We are very much in favour of these IPPY Awards which puts the spotlight on small independent publishers like ourselves, and gets us noticed by the big international publishers.  The proof is in the fact that since winning this award, we packaged three other sailing books for big name publishers in 2007 and have seven more on the stocks this year.  Business could not be better.” 

 

IPPY Gold May Help “Warlock” Sell Overseas

Perry Brass, winner of an IPPY gold medal in 2002, gave us some great feedback on his experience of being recognized by Independent Publisher.  His novel, Warlock: A Novel of Possession, was entered in the Gay/Lesbian category.  Brass writes,  

“…the book was overlooked for a Lammy, and a few other book awards, and then suddenly it had won an IPPY! I was ebullient… every time I brought up that my book had won an IPPY, whether it was to bookstores, critics, or other writers, they beamed back at me that I should be really proud of that, and of course I was. I use this accomplishment as a credit any time I can, and lately, one agent has told me that its winning an IPPY will very much help Warlock get into overseas markets, which we are trying for.”  

 Brass describes Warlock as a book that “works on many levels—psychologically, economically, and emotionally, and has a lot of valor and maturity in it”.  If you are interested in learning more about Warlock and Perry Brass, please visit http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/perry-brass/   

The Magic of “Useppa”

Useppa: A Passage in Time, written by Dale Ludwig and illustrated by John Seerey-Lester, earned a silver medal at the 2007 IPPYs for South-East Best Regional Fiction. Beautiful paintings and elegant writing make this coffee table book truly enchanting. We recently heard from Christine Ludwig of Passages Press about the book’s success after winning an IPPY. She writes,

“Winning the silver award last year improved our ability to
market the book in a multitude of ways.
- It legitimized the book and distinguished it from the
others.
- It gave us credentials that we used in our public
relations and marketing the ‘award winning book from
Independent Publishing’.
- It made a real difference in our ability to get book
signings and presentation opportunities.
- Having the award separated us from the crowd and enabled us to get radio and TV interviews as well.”

Useppa Island is located off the coast of southwestern Florida. Useppa: A Passage in Time delves deep into the island’s history and showcases its amazing wildlife. Learn more about the book at http://www.useppapassages.com/

 

 

 

“Dreamkeepers” Thriving Post-IPPYs

We were pleased to hear from David Lillie, 2006 Bronze IPPY medalist in the Cartooning category for his book Dreamkeepers: Vol. 1.  Lillie told us about how the recognition he earned from the IPPYs helped him to promote his book.  He wrote:     

 “Creativity and quality are not factors that will ensure notice in the big business world of publishing.  Many a pioneering entrepreneur has found their literary efforts brushed aside and overlooked because of where they come from.  The IPPY awards create the opportunity for anyone, regardless of budget, to gain the recognition and notice their work has earned. 

Fresh out of college and impatient with the lackluster content of established, profit-minded publishers, I’ve struck out on my own publishing venture.  With no money and no connections, I’m already reaping profits, selling merchandise, and garnishing more and more readers – in just one year!  The IPPY awards were the single most expensive portion of my marketing campaign – $70.  But after winning a bronze, I was able to cut through the negative stigma that many hold towards independent publishing.  The Award turned heads and made a bold statement that, ‘yes, this is worth taking a second look at – it’s award winning!’  No matter how good your book is, if nobody opens the covers, it will never matter.  Once they are inside your book, if it’s really worthwhile, then the battle is yours.  But something must pull them in, and show them that the inside is worth a look.  Nothing does that like an award.  Have you ever heard of David Lillie or the DreamKeepers graphic novel?  Neither has anyone else.  But with the help of the IPPY, my award-winning book is now distributed throughout the library chain of the #1 ranked library in the nation.

Now, don’t forget – publishing, especially with a low budget, takes smart, informed, dedicated work.  Winning an award won’t automatically make you an overnight success.  You have to use all your tools to their maximum advantage…  But having an award-winning book gives you one hell of an effective tool.”

   

 

http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/home.html    

 

 

Success of the “Bla-Bla Cafe”

Sandy Ross, author of A Place Called the Bla-Bla Café, earned a bronze medal at the 2007 IPPYs for Popular Culture/Leisure.    

The Bla-Bla Cafe is an actual place in Los Angeles.  During the 1970’s it was a popular hangout where people of all backgrounds felt at home.  Sandy Ross was a performer and talent coordinator at the venue during its days of glory.  Up-and-coming musicians and comedians took the stage at The Bla-Bla, including The Police, Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Robin Williams. 

Check out the cafe for yourself at  http://www.bla-bla-cafe.com/     

Calling All IPPY Winners!

 

 

 

 

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 If you are an IPPY medal winner, we’d love to hear from you.  If you would like to let us and fellow authors know how winning an IPPY medal has improved the sales of your book, please send your comments to Amy at abrunner@bookpublishing.com  

We will post your response, as well as any cover shots or photos you send us.  Keep on writing!

A Seven-Continent Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

 Marty Essen and his wife Deb have traveled across all seven continents, experiencing the earth’s wildlife from insects to seals to zebras.  Essen saw how the war in Iraq was taking its toll on people and nature, and he produced an award-winning book about it.  Cool Creatures, Hot Planet earned the author a bronze medal in the Travel/Essay category at the 2007 IPPYs.  It introduces readers to awe-inspiring creatures while expressing the necessity of caring for the planet we call home.  Famous wildlife explorer Jeff Corwin calls the book “an exciting and adventurous read”.  Essen says, “I feel honored that so many judges liked my book and look forward to more people discovering it as a result of the wins”. 

 

http://www.coolcreatureshotplanet.com/index.html 

Double-Category Medalist

“The philosophies of one age have become the absurdities of the next, and the foolishness of yesterday has become the wisdom of tomorrow…” 

                                    –William Osler, MD Chauvinism in Medicine, 1902  

This quote, found in Medicine: Perspectives in History and Art by Dr. Robert Greenspan perfectly presents the appeal of the book, which takes readers back to the beginning of medicine and health history.  This book won two bronze medals at the 2007 IPPYs: one in the Coffee Table category, and one in History.   

Medicine delves into the evolution of medical practice: the scandals, the tragedies, the “quacks”, the diseases, and the breakthroughs.  It draws information from numerous sources, including letters of early physicians, quotes from the likes of da Vinci and Shakespeare, and famed artwork of the past.  Beautifully illustrated, it is both informative and intriguing.  Please visit   http://www.medicalhistoryandart.com/index.php 

      www.independentpublisher.com

 

 

A Tough Topic

 

 

  

Death is one of the hardest subjects to explain to a child.  Luckily, I Found a Dead Bird by Jan Thornhill does just that, using gentleness, straightforwardness, and bits of humor.  This book earned Thornhill a bronze medal in the Juvenile-Teen-Y/A Non-Fiction category at the 2007 IPPYs.  It answers some of the most troubling questions, such as “Why do people have to die?” and “What happens to us when we die?”  The book is bright and interesting, aiming to satisfy children’s curiosity rather than sadden them.  Publishers weekly says, “…youngsters will come away with a positive reaction to this visually stimulating and informative volume”.   Learn more about I Found a Dead Bird at http://www.mapletreepress.com/book.aspx?id=1181