29th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™

Congratulations to the 29th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners for Excellence in Book Publishing!

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, which include fifty-five categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. See below for a list of the 29th annual winners. Gold winners were announced April 7, 2017 during a gala dinner ceremony held in conjunction with IBPA's Publishing University in Portland, Oregon.

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Categories

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Animals/Pets

Tracking Gobi Grizzlies: Surviving Beyond the Back of Beyond

Author: Douglas Chadwick; Joe Riis and Douglas Chadwick (Photographers)
Publisher: Patagonia
ISBN: 978-1-938340-62-8
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

A Chronicle of Mongols, Ninjas, Vodka, Gold, and the World’s Rarest Bears A portrait of these rarest of bears' fight for survival in one of the toughest, most rigorous environments on Earth.

 GOLD WINNER

Lead with Your Heart: Lessons from a Life with Horses

Author: Allan J. Hamilton, M.D.
Publisher: Storey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61212-734-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In more than 100 short essays, neuroscientist and long-time horse trainer Allan J. Hamilton, MD, explores how horses have helped him achieve clarity, peace, and mindfulness, along with spiritual insights into the fullness of life.

 SILVER WINNER

Notes from the Grooming Table, 2nd Edition: An All-Breed Grooming Guide for the Professional Pet Stylist

Author: Melissa Verplank, CMG; Lisa Van Sweden (Illustrator)
Publisher: White Dog Enterprises
ISBN: 978-0-692-65807-9
Purchase: Links to come

You get step-by-step instructions and beautiful, easy to follow illustrations that have made this book a must-have for groomers and stylists world-wide.

 SILVER WINNER

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Art & Photography

Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey through America's National Parks

Author: QT Luong; Dayton Duncan (Foreword)
Publisher: Cameron + Company
ISBN: 978-1-944903-00-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In a 20-year odyssey, photographer QT Luong traversed all 59 US national parks, presenting his journey in this array of more than 500 breathtaking images.

 GOLD WINNER

Oaxaca Stories in Cloth: A Book About People, Belonging, Identity, and Adornment

Author: Eric Sebastian Mindling; Martín Prechtel (Foreword)
Publisher: Thrums Books
ISBN: 978-0-9838860-8-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In sensitive, full-color portraits of the people of Oaxaca, Eric Mindling captures a vanishing world of traditional dress that expresses an ancient, living culture.

 SILVER WINNER

Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink

Photographer: Bill Yates
Publisher: Fall Line Press
ISBN: 978-0-9799379-7-2
Purchase: Photo-Eye Bookstore, Publisher Website

In the early 1970s, Bill Yates photographed skaters at the Sweetheart Roller Skating rink in Florida. In 2013, Yates’ photographs won PhotoLucida Critical Mass, and later, a solo exhibit at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

 SILVER WINNER

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Autobiography & Memoir

Where the Water Meets the Sand: A Memoir

Author: Tyra Manning; Retired USAF Colonel Tom Yarborough (Introduction)
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
ISBN: 978-1-62634-272-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Through devastating loss, depression, and addiction Tyra persevered to become one of the nation’s top educators. Her story offers courage and hope to those suffering.

 GOLD WINNER

Good Seeds: A Menominee Indian Food Memoir

Author:Thomas Pecore Weso
Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
ISBN: 978-0-87020-771-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Menominee author Thomas Pecore Weso remembers colorful characters and stories as he recreates recipes from his childhood and reservation life from the 1950s through the 1970s and beyond. With his rare perspective as a Native anthropologist and artist, he tells a poignant personal story in this unique book.

 SILVER WINNER

My Journey through War and Peace: Explorations of a Young Filmmaker, Feminist and Spiritual Seeker

Author: Melissa Burch
Publisher: Gaia Press
ISBN: 978-0-9893429-7-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

My Journey Through War and Peace is about a young woman who seeks self-discovery in the midst of danger in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion.

 SILVER WINNER

Veronica's Grave: A Daughter’s Grave

Author: Barbara Bracht Donsky
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 978-1-63152-074-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

When Barbara Bracht's mother disappears, she is left a confused child whose father is intent upon erasing any memory of her mother. Forced to keep the secret of her mother's existence from her younger brother, Barbara struggles to keep from being crushed under the weight of family secrets.

 SILVER WINNER

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Biography

A Cup of Honey: The Story of a Young Holocaust Survivor, Eliezer Ayalon

Author: Neile Sue Friedman
Publisher: SelectBooks
ISBN: 978-1-59079-365-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A CUP OF HONEY places one man’s indomitable spirit in sharp focus as he faces the horrors of Nazi-occupied Poland, and ultimately finds to a new life in Palestine.

 GOLD WINNER

Audubon: America's Greatest Naturalist and His Voyage of Discovery to Labrador

Author: Peter B. Logan
Publisher: Ashbryn Press
ISBN: 978-0-9972282-1-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Seattle Book Company

A groundbreaking biography, using the lens of Audubon's critically important 1833 Labrador expedition as a means to examine the panoramic sweep of his remarkable life.

 SILVER WINNER

Blue Skies Buddha: The American Buddhist Rebel

Author: Liz Lewison
Publisher: Mystic Buddha Publishing House
ISBN: 978-0-9820505-7-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

Winner of the 2016 Eric Hoffer Award and a "Best Books of 2015" winner from USA Book News. The story of an enlightened Buddhist teacher who inspired people to change in dramatic ways. He focused on the empowerment of women.

 SILVER WINNER

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Body, Mind & Spirit

The Journey Within: Exploring the Path of Bhakti: A Contemporary Guide to Yoga's Ancient Wisdomw

Author: Radhanath Swami
Publisher: Mandala Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60887-157-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

With illuminating references to Western religions and ideologies, THE JOURNEY WITHIN invites readers from all backgrounds to discover the simple truths that unite us.

 GOLD WINNER

The Drama-Free Way: A Thought-Management Guide to Navigating Chaos and Thriving

Author: Jennifer Kern Collins
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-010-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

THE DRAMA-FREE WAY reveals the thought patterns and energetic states underlying  drama, and provides a guide to make life more easy, fun, and fulfilling.

 SILVER WINNER

I Heard Your Dog Died: Imaginings for Those Who Have Lost a Pet

Author: Bonnie Kreitler
Publisher: Rambling Dog Publications LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9970653-7-4
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Seattle Book Company

When a youngster’s dog dies tragically, a neighbor offers possibilities that allow a shift from misery to hope and lead to a conclusion neither imagined.

 SILVER WINNER

Rainbow Body: A History of the Western Chakra System from Blavatsky to Brennan

Author: Kurt Leland
Publisher: Ibis Press
ISBN: 978-0-89254-219-2
Purchase: Links to come

If you've ever had questions about the inconsistencies between chakra systems or wondered where the names, colors, locations, and other associations came from--you'll find the answers here.

 SILVER WINNER

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Business & Career

The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness

Author: Bari Tessler 
Publisher: Parallax Press
ISBN: 978-1-941529-20-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

THE ART OF MONEY is the book your money-savvy best friend, therapist, and accountant would write if they could. Bari Tessler's integrative approach creates the real possibility of "money healing," using our relationship with money as a gateway to self-awareness and a training ground for compassion, confidence, and self-worth.

 GOLD WINNER

The Job Search Navigator: An Expert's Guide to Getting Hired, Surviving Layoffs, and Building Your Career

Author: Matt Durfee
Publisher: Agate B2
ISBN: 978-1-57284-185-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A comprehensive guide to finding a new job in today's evolving marketplace from a career expert who has recruited for some of America's biggest companies and has successfully navigated several job losses of his own.

 SILVER WINNER

Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environment Movement

Editors: Nora Gallagher, Lisa Myers
Publisher: Patagonia
ISBN: 978-1-938340-44-4
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

Captures the best wisdom and advice of 20 years of the Patagonia Tools Conference, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills for success in the environmental movement.

 SILVER WINNER

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Children's Picture Book (0-3 years)

The Body Book

Author/Illustrator: Roz MacLean
Publisher: Promontory Press
ISBN: 978-1-987857-60-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Indigo

THE BODY BOOK helps kids learn to love their bodies while recognizing and celebrating how every body is different! With simple, fun, colorful illustrations and a delightful series of simple rhymes, Roz MacLean introduces the concept to young children that bodies come in all shapes and sizes.

 GOLD WINNER

A Moon of My Own

Author: Jennifer Rustgi; Ashley White (Illustrator)
Publisher: Dawn Publications
ISBN: 978-1-58469-573-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Come along on an enchanting adventure with a young girl and her companion, the Moon. Portrayed in silhouetted art, she visits wonders around the world. "Explore More" sections for kids and adults offer information and activities on phases of the moon and other aspects of astronomy and geography.

 SILVER WINNER

When I Wake Up

Author: Ming and Joanna Liu; Hattie Hyder (Illustrator)
Publisher: Mascot Books
ISBN: 978-1631779992
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A young girl doesn’t want to go to sleep – until she starts imagining all the things she can do when she wakes up.

 SILVER WINNER

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Children's Picture Book (4-7 years)

Sleepy Solar System

Author: Dr. John Hutton; Doug Cenko (Illustrator)
Publisher: Blue Manatee Press
ISBN: 978-1-936669-49-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

"It’s been a long, busy day in the starry Milky Way. Sleepy, setting Sun calls out, 'Bedtime, everyone...'" Playfully blends a rhyming bedtime story with the marvels of outer space, including a distance chart and list of "fun facts" at the end.

 GOLD WINNER

The Egg Thief

Author: Alane Adams; Lauren Gallegos (Illustrator)
Publisher: SparkPress
ISBN: 978-1940716367
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Set in 1920s Pennsylvania, follow young Georgie and his dog Buster on mischievous antics in this heartwarming tale of farm life in America’s storied past.

 SILVER WINNER

Octopus Escapes Again!

Author/Illustrator: Laurie Ellen Angus
Publisher: Dawn Publications
ISBN: 978-1-58469-577-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

An octopus displays a dazzling array of defenses as it outwits dangers in its search for food. "Explore More" sections for kids and adults offer information and activities on the adaptive behavior of these very intelligent creatures.

 SILVER WINNER

Periwinkle's Journey

Authors: Judy Petersen-Fleming, Suzy Spafford
Publisher: Blue Sneaker Press
ISBN: 978-1-943198-03-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Periwinkle journeys to Antarcptica where she meets her penguin cousins, learns to be brave and realizes it's not what you look that really matters.

 SILVER WINNER

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Young Reader: Fiction (8-12 years)

Kalifus Rising

Author: Alane Adams
Publisher: SparkPress
ISBN: 978-1-940716-84-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Sam Baron is a prisoner of the Volgrim Witches, but forces are at work that could free Sam or condemn him to the darkness forever.

 GOLD WINNER

Lone Wolf: Book Two of the Oldenglen Chronicles

Author: Robin Mason
Publisher: Tricklewood Press
ISBN: 978-0-9948371-2-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

School bullies awaken Jax’s inner wolf. Vengeful, they storm the glen. Jax, Sarah and the woodfolk resist but unexpected perils thrust friend and foe together.

 SILVER WINNER

A Raccoon's Tale: Seven Saves the Notch

Author: Fran Hodkins
Publisher: Brattle Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-0-9908706-3-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

Seven is a clever raccoon destined to save the forest! Chased from her city home, Seven searches for the mythical raccoon homeland, the Notch.

 SILVER WINNER

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Young Reader: Nonfiction (8-12 years)

All About Amelia Earhart

Author: Lew Freedman; Kristen Cella (Illustrator)
Publisher: Blue River Press
ISBN: 978-1-68157-086-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

The first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart broke many world records in flight but disappeared while attempting to fly around the world.

 GOLD WINNER

The Journey of a Dollar

Author: Doris Rubenstein; Howard Fridson (Illustrator)
Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press
ISBN: 978-1-59298-793-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Elliot earns a dollar for his class’s project to help schoolchildren in Ecuador. He learns how his dollar travels there. Fun and educational! A portion of the sale of every copy of THE JOURNEY OF A DOLLAR will be donated to charity.

 SILVER WINNER

The Sultan's Trap: And Other Miraculous Tales of Faith & Wonder

Author: Zalman Goldstein
Publisher: The Jewish Learning Group
ISBN: 978-1-891293-64-1
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website, iTunes

Explore 2,000 years of thrilling adventures in this breathtaking compilation of vintage Jewish stories filled with mystery, fascinating personalities, ingenuity, prayer and unshakable faith.

 SILVER WINNER

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Teen Fiction (13-18 years)

This Is Not The End

Author: Jesse Jordan
Publisher: Medallion Press
ISBN: 978-194254630-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Turning sixteen is not going well for James Salley. His family’s too busy to care, the local bully tortures daily, someone is following him, and he’s just learned that he’s the Antichrist. James must discover how to navigate a world in which everything he’s ever believed is wrong — and if it’s possible to be the hero of a story when you’ve already been cast as the villain.

 GOLD WINNER

Shadows of the Sun Dynasty: An illustrated Series Based on the Ramayana

Author: Vrinda Sheth; Anna Johansson (Illustrator)
Publisher: Mandala Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60887-871-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, w

Welcome to the royal city of Ayodhya, a realm ruled by the Sun dynasty, where peace reigns among the citizens while discord simmers behind the palace walls. A prophecy predicts that a son of the Sun dynasty will slay the immortal Ravana and defeat his demon army—but how will a mere human succeed where all the gods have failed?

 SILVER WINNER

Tyrants and Traitors: Book One of the Lion's Dynasty

Author: Joshua McHenry Miller
Publisher: Blue Ink Press
ISBN: 978-0-9968673-2-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

A fifteen-year-old shepherd is destined for greatness. All that stands in his way is a mad king, ravenous beasts, and a literal giant.

 SILVER WINNER

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Teen: Nonfiction (13-18 years)

Gunpowder Girls: True Stories of Three Civil War Tragedies

Author: Tanya Anderson
Publisher: Quindaro Press of Kansas City
ISBN: 978-0-9669258-7-6
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

The first book-length account of three Civil War arsenal disasters that killed 140 young women and girls. GUNPOWDER GIRLS is a story of child labor and immigrant hopes and the cruel, endless demands of an all-consuming war. "Outstanding" (James McPherson).

 GOLD WINNER

Be a Better Writer: For School, For Fun, For Anyone Ages 10-16

Authors: Steve Peha, Margot Carmichael Lester
Publisher: Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9972831-0-5
Purchase: Amazon

One Book for All Kinds of Writers and All Kinds of Writing. Used by parents, teachers, and kids worldwide, BABW covers all kinds of writing with proven techniques and advice from the pros.

 SILVER WINNER

Kakuma Girls: Sharing Stories of Hardship and Hope from Kakuma Refugee Camp

Author: Clare Morneau, et. al.
Publisher: Barlow Books
ISBN: 978-1-988-02514-8
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound

An inspiring book for teenage girls that vividly portrays both the hardships and the delightful spirit of young girls living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.

 SILVER WINNER

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Coffee Table Book

Blair House: The President's Guest House

Author: William Seale
Publisher: White House Historical Association
ISBN: 978-1-931917-58-2
Purchase: Publisher Website

This book takes you through the history of Blair House—the president’s guest house on Pennsylvania Avenue—and inside its rooms with their elegant mingling of antiques and present-day furnishings.

 GOLD WINNER

The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands

Author: Dale Hope; Gerry Lopez (Introduction)
Publisher: Patagonia
ISBN: 978-1-938340-56-7
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

The definitive and beloved book on the rich history of the Hawaiian shirt, now completely revised, updated, redesigned, with new content and photographs throughout. THE ALOHA SHIRT is both a dazzling, fun-to-browse art book, and a fascinating chronicle of the world’s love affair with Hawaii.

 SILVER WINNER

Nirvana: The Spread of Buddhism through Asia

Author: Jeremy Horner
Publisher: Goff Books, an imprint of ORO Editions
ISBN: 978-1-939621-00-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

A photographic journey tracing the origins of Buddhism and following its evolutionary paths from its birthplace at Bodh Gaya, India to northeast Asia.

 SILVER WINNER

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Cookbooks

World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook

Author: Chelsea Monroe-Cassel
Publisher: Insight Editions
ISBN: 978-1-60887-804-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Prepare a feast fit for a warchief with WORLD OF WARCRAFT: THE OFFICIAL COOKBOOK, a delicious compendium of recipes inspired by the hit online game from Blizzard Entertainment.

 GOLD WINNER

Eating Well Through Cancer: Easy Recipes & Tips to Guide You Through Treatment and Cancer Prevention

Authors: Holly Clegg, Gerald Miletello, M.D.
Publisher: Favorite Recipes Press
ISBN: 978-0-9815640-8-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A cancer cookbook for cancer patients that focuses on easy, practical recipes and information to ease symptoms during cancer treatment and recipes for cancer prevention.

 SILVER WINNER

With Gratitude, Johnny Carrabba: Celebrating 30 Years of Recipes, Stories, and Family

Author: Johnny Carrabba
Publisher: Johnny Carrabba Family of Restaurants
ISBN: 978-0-9977420-0-8
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

This 288-page, coffee-table size cookbook features over 100 of the Original Carrabba’s family recipes tested for the home kitchen, gorgeous photography and Johnny’s compelling story of the challenges and triumphs faced in the restaurant business.

 SILVER WINNER

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Craft & Hobby

Bricks, Cobblestones and Pebbles: A Path to Modern Quilts

Author: Gyleen X. Fitzgerald
Publisher: FPI Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9768215-8-8
Purchase: Publisher Website

Quilts inspired by classic architecture build upon the square through its variations. Contemporary with moderate piecing viewed through a barrage of color. Modern with limited piecing echoing clean lines and a bold presence.

 GOLD WINNER

Genealogy Basics in 30 Minutes

Author: Shannon Combs-Bennett
Publisher: i30 Media Corp
ISBN: 978-1-939924-68-1
Purchase: Links to come

If you have ever wanted to research and document your family history the right way, then GENEALOGY BASICS IN 30 MINUTES is for you! While not a comprehensive guide, there are lots of examples, case studies, and advice that can help would-be family historians quickly get up to speed.

 SILVER WINNER

Oliver + S Building Block Dress: A Sewing Pattern Alteration Guide

Author: Liesl Gibson
Publisher: Liesl and Co., Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-692-68725-3
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

Imagine it. Make it! Designer Liesl Gibson shows how to create any dress style imaginable using the included sewing pattern and her pattern alteration techniques.

 SILVER WINNER

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Education

Notes from the Grooming Table, 2nd Edition: An All-Breed Grooming Guide for the Professional Pet Stylist

Author: Melissa Verplank, CMG; Lisa Van Sweden (Illustrator)
Publisher: White Dog Enterprises
ISBN: 978-0-692-65807-9
Purchase: Links to come

This is the NEW SECOND EDITION of the book that has set the industry standard for grooming reference guides.

 GOLD WINNER

Be a Better Writer: For School, For Fun, For Anyone Ages 10-16

Authors: Steve Peha, Margot Carmichael Lester
Publisher: Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9972831-0-5
Purchase: Amazon

One Book for All Kinds of Writers and All Kinds of Writing. Used by parents, teachers, and kids worldwide, BABW covers all kinds of writing with proven techniques and advice from the pros.

 SILVER WINNER

Rethinking Sexism, Gender and Sexuality

Editors: Annika Butler-Wall, Kim Cosier, Rachel L.S. Harper, Jeff Sapp, Jody Soklower, Melissa Bollow Tampel
Publisher: Rethinking Schools
ISBN: 978-0-942961-59-1
Purchase: Links to come

Filled with inspiring, from-the-ground stories about practical ways to include LGBTQ content in curriculum, make it a part of an approach to social justice, and create classrooms and schools that nurture all children and their families.

 SILVER WINNER

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Gift Book

Allentown: A Photographic Journey in the Heart of Buffalo, NY

Photographer: William Faught
Publisher: Buffalo Heritage Press
ISBN: 978-1-942483-29-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

Beautiful black & white photographs capture the funky bohemian spirit that pervades the streets of this historic Buffalo, New York neighborhood, accompanied by evocative prose.

 GOLD WINNER

B is for Buffalo: An Aerial Alphabet

Author: Christopher Hyzy
Publisher: Buffalo Heritage Press
ISBN: 978-1-942483-31-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

From the ground, Buffalo, New York’s remarkable architecture by world-renowned architects is impressive. From the sky, it’s breathtaking. Color drone photography accompanied by intriguing narrative.

 SILVER WINNER

The Truths of Tula: A Muse and Her Artist

Author: Dianna Cates Dunn
Publisher: DCD Designs, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-692-64941-1
Purchase: Amazon, Satiama, Goodreads 

An artist discovered her muse in a painting where Tula emerged unintended and unexpectedly captivating, offering her 'truths' about life. A luminous beacon of love!

 SILVER WINNER

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Popular Fiction

The Dining Car 

Author: Eric Peterson 
Publisher: Huckleberry House 
ISBN: 978-0-9824860-1-6 
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In a journey that will change his life, a young man enlists as bartender to a food and wine writer who travels by private rail car. A story of service, serendipity, and second chances, THE DINING CAR is more than a mouthwatering read -- it's a marvelous, exuberant work of fiction.

 GOLD WINNER

The Baljuna Covenant

Author: Tim Pelkey
Publisher: SDP Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9968426-7-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A search for Genghis Khan’s tomb reveals a web of deception that tears lives apart and pushes the world to the brink of war. Part historic fiction, part archaeological mystery, and part political thriller, THE BALJUNA COVENANT tells stories of a poor boy's rise to the heights of world power, of two friends and unimagined betrayal, and of a secret kept for over half a millennia.

 SILVER WINNER

The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall

Author: Shannon Kirk
Publisher: Reputation Books
ISBN: 978-1-944387-10-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

What if you could choose your heaven now? Go on a celestial shopping trip of sorts? Thirty-five-year-old Vivienne does just that, as she lies dying in the ICU; a fatal walk into the path of a truck. The nature of love, the variety and magic of life, unending hope, and the importance of saying goodbye are central to this uplifting tale.

 SILVER WINNER

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Fiction: Historical

Iron O'Brian

Author: M.L. Becker
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4917-7832-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

The tale of a Civil War nurse who journeys from the darkness of grief to the horrors of battlefield and beyond as she learns about love and herself. It is 1862 and nineteen-year-old Cassie O’Brian has been traveling for three days on a train to reach a camp surrounded by a scorched wasteland. Cassie is ill-equipped for her new life as she is quickly ushered off the train and thrown into the horrors of war.

 GOLD WINNER

The Baljuna Covenant

Author: Tim Pelkey
Publisher: SDP Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9968426-7-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A search for Genghis Khan’s tomb reveals a web of deception that tears lives apart and pushes the world to the brink of war. Part historic fiction, part archaeological mystery, and part political thriller, THE BALJUNA COVENANT tells stories of a poor boy's rise to the heights of world power, of two friends and unimagined betrayal, and of a secret kept for over half a millennia.

 SILVER WINNER

The Last Great American Magic

Author: L.C. Fiore
Publisher: Can of Corn Media
ISBN: 978-0-6927-1707-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A lyrical and magical retelling of the legend of Tecumseh, the Shawnee warrior, and his brother The Prophet, who fought white settlers in post-colonial America.

 SILVER WINNER

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Fiction: Mystery & Suspense

The Devil's Flood: Emory Crawford Mysteries, Book Three

Author: Pearl R. Meaker
Publisher: Promontory Press
ISBN: 978-1-987857-57-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Indigo

Old legends are awakened and the past just won’t stay dead in this latest cozy mystery in the Emory Crawford amateur sleuth series.

 GOLD WINNER

Of Sound Mind

Author: James Waltzer
Publisher: Medallion Press
ISBN: 978-194254618-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Protagonist Richard Keene is a 30-year-old misfit, whose preternatural auditory acuity governs a life that has been derailed by a traumatic incident in his childhood.

 SILVER WINNER

Poisoned Justice: A Riley the Exterminator Mystery

Author: Jeffrey Alan Lockwood
Publisher: Pen-L Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-68313-008-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website 

Riley—an exterminator, whose business extends to two-legged pests and corpses—tracks vermin, from filth flies to drug dealers, and provides his own poisoned justice.

 SILVER WINNER

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Fiction: Romance

Hostile Takeover: A Love Story

Author: Phyllis J. Piano
Publisher: SparkPress
ISBN: 978-1-940716-82-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Can Molly trust the man who broke her heart years ago, and who may be manipulating her now to ruin everything she has worked for? The chaos that ensues forces Molly to chart a dramatic new direction for her life. She must decide: does she have the courage to follow her heart and expose her painful past―a decision that may cost her everything?

 GOLD WINNER

Been Searching for You

Author: Nicole Evaline
Publisher: Lawson Gartner Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9967631-6-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Annabeth believes in soulmates. But when she’s not married by 30, she fears she’ll be searching for him forever – unless he’s just one love letter away. (Short-listed for the Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Fiction.)

 SILVER WINNER

Iron O'Brian

Author: M.L. Becker
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4917-7832-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher's Website

The tale of a Civil War nurse who journeys from the darkness of grief to the horrors of battlefield and beyond as she learns about love and herself. It is 1862 and nineteen-year-old Cassie O’Brian has been traveling for three days on a train to reach a camp surrounded by a scorched wasteland. Cassie is ill-equipped for her new life as she is quickly ushered off the train and thrown into the horrors of war.

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Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy

Hindsight

Author: Mindy Tarquini
Publisher: SparkPress 
ISBN: 978-1-943006-01-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Eugenia has the ability to remember her past lives. This time around, she’s determined to break the cycle in order to live her dream life. A layered contemporary fable, HINDSIGHT reminds us to live this life like it's the only one we'll have.

 GOLD WINNER

The Book of Ralph

Author: Christopher Steinsvold
Publisher: Medallion Press
ISBN: 978-1-942546-34-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

A message appears on the moon. It is legible from Earth, and almost no one knows how it was created. Markus West leads the government’s investigation to find the creator.

 SILVER WINNER

The Land Without Color

Author: Benjamin Ellefson; Kevin Cannon (Illustrator)
Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press
ISBN: 978-1-59298-844-0
Purchase: Amazon, Itasca Books

Lost in a world where everything is gray, Alvin must find the vile goblins to rescue the princess and restore the color to the land.

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Poetry / Literary Criticism

Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded

Author: John Z. Guzlowski
Publisher: Aquila Polonica Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60772-021-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In this major tour de force, John Guzlowski traces the arc of one of the millions of immigrant families of America, in this case, survivors of the maelstrom of World War II. Raw, eloquent, nuanced, intimate―Guzlowski illuminates the many faces of war, the toll it takes on innocent civilians, and the ways in which the trauma echoes down through generations.

 GOLD WINNER

Between Us

Author: Margaret Hasse
Publisher: Nodin Press
ISBN: 978-1935666912
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Poems in this lyrical collection, the poet’s fifth book, explore bonds with family, friends, and places in an intimate, witty, and generous voice. Hasse writes with precision and surprise about connections with both the natural world and with people.

 SILVER WINNER

The Moment's Only Moment: Poems

Author: Emilie Buchwald
Publisher: Nodin Press
ISBN: 978-1-935666-90-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

The poems in THE MOMENT'S ONLY MOMENT illuminate the everyday, interrogate personal history, and evoke the essence of places traveled and people encountered, remembered, cherished.

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LGBT

Tough Girl: An Olympian's Journey

Author: Carolyn Wood
Publisher: White Pine Press
ISBN: 978-0-9977828-0-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

TOUGH GIRL opens as sixty-five year old Carolyn Wood decides to walk the Camino de Santiago in hopes of reawakening the youthful determination and resilience that took her on the road to Rome and gold at the 1960 Olympics. What she encounters along both paths - fear, fatigue, pain and loss - are well worth the rewards of awakening and discovery.

 GOLD WINNER

Blue Apple Switchback: A Memoir

Author: Carrie Highley
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 978-1-93152-037-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Carrie Highley has always been more attracted to girls than boys. In this memoir, she recounts the ups and downs of her journey to embracing her sexuality.

 SILVER WINNER

Loving Eleanor: The Intimate Friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok

Author: Susan Witttig Albert
Publisher: Persevero Press
ISBN: 978-0-9892035-4-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

The true story of the intimate, enduring friendship of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and AP journalist Lorena Hickok, based on their 3300-plus letters.

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Health & Fitness

The American Cancer Society's New Healthy Eating Cookbook

Author: Jeanne Besser
Publisher: American Cancer Society
ISBN: 978-1-604432-37-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IPG 

Offering 120 tantalizing new recipes, this cookbook will help people eat well and make small, sustainable lifestyle changes to improve their overall health.

 GOLD WINNER

Breast Cancer Clear & Simple, Second Edition: All Your Questions Answered

Author: American Cancer Society
Publisher: American Cancer Society
ISBN: 978-1-604432-36-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IPG

Targeting newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, this revised and updated edition gives patients the knowledge they need to make informed decisions for their care.

 SILVER WINNER

Eating Well Through Cancer: Easy Recipes & Tips to Guide You Through Treatment and Cancer Prevention

Author: Holly Clegg & Gerald Miletello, M.D.
Publisher: Favorite Recipes Press
ISBN: 978-0-9815640-8-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A cancer cookbook for cancer patients that focuses on easy, practical recipes and information to ease symptoms during cancer treatment and recipes for cancer prevention.

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History

Gettysburg 1863 - Seething Hell: The Epic Battle of the Civil War in the Soliders' Own Words

Author: Thomas R. Pero
Publisher: Wild River Press
ISBN: 978-0989523622
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Contemporary photos of re-enactments are skillfully combined with surviving letters, diaries and personal recollections of ordinary Union and Confederate soldiers, as well as local residents, to create a sweeping eyewitness narrative of the largest battle ever fought in the western hemisphere.

 GOLD WINNER

Blair House: The President's Guest House

Author: Wiliam Seale
Publisher: The White House Historical Association
ISBN: 978-1-931917-58-2
Purchase: Publisher Website

This book takes you through the history of Blair House—the president’s guest house on Pennsylvania Avenue—and inside its rooms with their elegant mingling of antiques and present-day furnishings.

 SILVER WINNER

Lincoln's Generals' Wives: Four Women Who Influenced the Civil War--for Better and for Worse (Civil War in the North)

Author: Candice Shy Hooper
Publisher: The Kent State University Press
ISBN: 978-1-60635-278-6
Purchase: Links to come

The story of the American Civil War is not complete without examining the extraordinary and influential lives of Jessie Frémont, Nelly McClellan, Ellen Sherman, and Julia Grant, the wives of Abraham Lincoln’s top generals.

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Home & Garden

Official White House China: From the 18th to the 21st Centuries

Author: William Allman
Publisher: The White House Historical Association
ISBN: 978-1931917636
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

As this newly redesigned and updated book conveys, the presidential china in the White House comprises a museum collection of unequalled historic significance.

 GOLD WINNER

The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden

Editor: Stella Otto
Publisher: Otto Graphics
ISBN: 978-0-9634520-4-7
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

THE BACKYARD ORCHARDIST covers everything from planting to harvest of a home orchard. Enjoy popular and more unusual fruit, from  Asian pelar to sweet cherries.

 SILVER WINNER

A Thrifty Good Life: Reflections on My Unexpected Journey Toward Homegrown

Author: Sara Sailer
Publisher: What If? Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-692-81041-5
Purchase: Amazon

Join Sarah on her engaging journey into urban homesteading. Complete with beautiful photos, family recipes and inspiring tales from her garden. Sustainable living for beginners.

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Humor

Crowded in the Middle of Nowhere: Tales of Humor and Healing from Rural America

Author: Dr. Bo Brock, Veterinarian
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
ISBN: 978-1-62634-264-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Laugh or cry with this witty, personable, story-filled journey from a rural country veterinarian. The book is as much about people as it is about animals.

 GOLD WINNER

Fifty Shades of Talmud: What the First Rabbis Had to Say About You-Know-What

Author: Maggie Anton
Publisher: Banot Press
ISBN: 978-0976305064
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In this lighthearted tour of sexuality within the Talmud, Maggie Anton reveals how Jewish tradition is more progressive, and more bawdy, than one might think.

 SILVER WINNER

Uncle John’s UNCANNY Bathroom Reader

Author: The Bathroom Readers' Institute
Publisher: Printers Row Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-1-62686-759-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Target

Covering a wide array of topics—incredible origins, forgotten history, weird news, amazing science, dumb crooks, and more—readers of all ages will enjoy all 512 pages.

 SILVER WINNER

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Inspirational

Beautiful Scars

Authors: Kilee Brookbank, Lori Highlander, Jessica Noll
Publisher: KiCam Projects
ISBN: 978-0-9970-8153-4
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

After being severely burned in a house explosion at age sixteen, Kilee Brookbank discovered an inner strength she never knew she had. Told together by Kilee and her mom Lori, BEAUTIFUL SCARS is a story of recovery, healing, and hope, reminding us all that we’re never powerless, never alone, and that each challenge we face helps make us the people we are meant to be. It’s what you do with each moment that defines you.

 GOLD WINNER

Firedancer: Your Spiral Journey to a Life of Passion & Purpose

Author: Kami Guildner
Publisher: Merry Dissonance Press
ISBN: 978-1-939919-36-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Sharing her personal story, beginning with a mystifying discovery on a Himalayan mountaintop, Kami Guildner helps you break through to your life’s purpose and reach your soul-given potential.

 SILVER WINNER

Wounded Warrior, Wounded Wife: Not Just Surviving but Thriving

Author: Barbara K. McNally
Publisher: Battle Flag Books, an imprint of Koehler Books
ISBN: 978-1-63393-287-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

WOUNDED WARRIOR, WOUNDED WIFE is a collection of true stories, inspired by the voices of women at SPA Day (Support, Purpose, Appreciation), a now nationwide event.

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Multicultural

Oaxaca Stories in Cloth: A Book About People, Belonging, Identity, and Adornment

Author: Eric Sebastian Mindling; Martín Prechtel (Foreword)
Publisher: Thrums Books
ISBN: 978-0-9838860-8-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In sensitive, full-color portraits of the people of Oaxaca, Eric Mindling captures a vanishing world of traditional dress that expresses an ancient, living culture.

 GOLD WINNER

A Black Man's Journey from Sharecropper to College President: The Life and Work of William Johnson Trent, 1873-1963

Author: Judy Scales-Trent
Publisher: Monroe Street Press, an imprint of Wyatt-MacKenzie
ISBN: 978-1-942545-38-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

This deeply researched biography of William Trent, sharecropper, college president, and co-founder of the United Negro College Fund, recounts a lost era of black history.

 SILVER WINNER

Letters from Nigeria: A Young American Observes a Newly Independent Country, 1961-62

Author: Gretel Clark
Publisher: Peter E. Randall Publisher
ISBN: 978-1-942155-13-3
Purchase: Distributor Website, Amazon

A young American joins her husband on a pre–Peace Corps mission to newly independent Nigeria: she to work in the Ministry of Education, while he joins a team of economists sent by the Ford Foundation. Gretel’s letters home give an inside view of the fledgling government. Full-color slides bring alive the vibrant cultures of the new nation.

 SILVER WINNER

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Nature & Environment

A Global Warming Primer: Answering Your Questions About The Science, the Consequences, and the Solutions

Photographer: Jeffrey Bennett
Publisher: Big Kid Science
ISBN: 978-1-937548-78-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Anyone can understand the basic science of global warming, and people of all political persuasions can agree on the solutions to this important problem.

 GOLD WINNER

All the World's Primates

Editors: Noel Rowe, Marc Myers
Foreword: Jane Goodall
Publisher: Pogonias Press
ISBN: 978-1-940496-06-1
Purchase: Amazon, Direct

With 505 currently recognized species, ALL THE WORLD'S PRIMATES lavishly illustrates all of their amazing faces.

 SILVER WINNER

Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environment Movement

Editors: Nora Gallagher, Lisa Myers
Publisher: Patagonia
ISBN: 978-1-938340-44-4
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

Captures the best wisdom and advice of 20 years of the Patagonia Tools Conference, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills for success in the environmental movement.

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Parenting & Family Issues

ADHD & The Focused Mind: A Guide to Giving Your ADHD Child Focus, Discipline & Self-Confidence

Authors: Sarah Cheyette, MD, Peter Johnson, Ben Cheyette, MD, PhD
Publisher: Square One Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-7570-0414-8
Purchase: Amazon

Debbie Phelps found a way to reach past her son’s ADHD―and that young boy, Michael Phelps, went on to win twenty-two Olympic medal and break thirty-nine world records in swimming. Now the principle that guided Debbie Phelps’ approach is the subject of this breakthrough title.

 GOLD WINNER

Baby Bare: A Bottom-Up Approach to Growing Strong Brains and Bodies

Author: Stephanie Johnson, MA, R-DMT, LPC
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-038-0
Purchase: Links to come

This is a beautiful book full of photographs, illustrations, and tips to teach new parents about early movement and brain development.

 SILVER WINNER

Author: Attorney Janice Green
Publisher: NOLO
ISBN: 978-1-4133-2227-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

"Gray Divorce" is on the rise. Divorce can be emotionally devastating at any time, but the emotional and financial challenges are even greater for people who divorce later in life and can face complicated issues of blended families, health care concerns, and retirement planning. Learn how to navigate the complex financial aspects of a late-life separation with DIVORCE AFTER 50.

 SILVER WINNER

What to Expect When Adopting a Dog: A Guide to Successful Dog Adoption for Every Family

Author: Diane Rose-Solomon
Publisher: SOP3 Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9857690-4-8
Purchase: Links to come

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN ADOPTING A DOG is a guide to successful dog adoption and pet parenting for every family. Anyone considering a new dog has questions, particularly when thinking about adopting a shelter dog.

 SILVER WINNER

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Political & Current Events

Crossroads for Liberty: Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of America's First Constitution

Author: William J. Watkins, Jr.
Publisher: The Independent Institute
ISBN: 978-1598132793
Purchase: Links to come

In a time of increasing turmoil over American history, politics, and society, CROSSROADS FOR LIBERTY takes a surprising and thought-provoking look at the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, and asks what we can learn from them.

 GOLD WINNER

A Spirit of Charity: Restoring the Bond Between America and Its Public Hospitals

Author: Mike King
Publisher: Secant Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-944962-06-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A SPIRIT OF CHARITY tells the remarkable story of public hospitals and how they make a life-and-death difference to so many Americans at a time of rapidly changing health policy.

 SILVER WINNER

When Money Talks: The High Price of "Free" Speech and the Selling of Democracy

Author: Derek Cressman
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 978-1626565760
Purchase: Links to come

Special-interest money is destroying our democratic process. But now that the Citizens United decision has thrown out campaign spending limits as abridgments of free speech, Americans want to know what they can do about it. Derek Cressman gives us the tools, both intellectual and tactical, to fight back.

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Professional & Technical

The Build: How the Masters Design Custom Motorcycles

Author: Robert Hoekman Jr.
Publisher: Octane Press
ISBN: 978-1937747572
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

In THE BUILD, Robert Hoekman Jr. compiles insights from today's best builders to help you plot out your own beautiful beast. Loaded with photos, THE BUILD features firsthand advice from the masters of moto design.

 GOLD WINNER

Neuroendoscopic Surgery

Authors: Jaime Gerardo Torres-Corzo, Leonardo Rangel-Castilla, Peter Nakaji
Publisher: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc
ISBN: 978-1-62623-161-0
Purchase: Publisher Website

Current indications for intracranial and intraventricular endoscopy are described in depth, through detailed chapters, stellar videos, professional animations, and exquisite illustrations.

 SILVER WINNER

Pediatric Neurosurgery: Tricks of the Trade

Author: Alan R. Cohen
Publisher: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc
ISBN: 978-1-60406-869-6
Purchase: Publisher Website

This book focuses on achieving technical excellence in the OR, yet this is a remarkably personal book about the art of pediatric neurosurgery.

 SILVER WINNER

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Psychology

ADHD: Non-Medication Treatments & Skills for Children and Teens

Author: Debra Burdick, LCSWR, BCN
Publisher: PESI Publishing
ISBN: 978-1559570336
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

Step-by-step instructions on tailoring psychotherapy to ADHD, including tools for diagnosis, emotional and behavioral regulation, and organizing time. 162 downloadable handouts & exercises.

 GOLD WINNER

Bedlam's Door: True Tales of Madness and Hope

Author: Mark Rubinstein, M.D.
Publisher: Thunder Lake Press
ISBN: 978-1-941016-23-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Explore the world of mental illness and astounding medical mysteries in fascinating true stories depicting the tragedies and even humor of our shared human experience.

 SILVER WINNER

Borderline Personality Disorder Toolbox: A Practical Evidence-Based Guide to Regulating Intense Emotions

Author: Jeff Riggenbach, PhD, LPC
Publisher: PESI Publishing
ISBN: 978-1683730057
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

Powerful tools to cope with BPD and take control of emotions. Over 100 worksheets to improve behavior and create a healthier, more productive life.

 SILVER WINNER

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Reference

The Slate Roof Bible, 3rd Edition: Everything You Need to Know About the World's Finest Roof

Author: Joseph Jenkins
Publisher: Joseph Jenkins, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9644258-2-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

The third edition of THE SLATE ROOF BIBLE is based upon decades of experience from the foremost expert on slate roofs in the United States.

 GOLD WINNER

Hack-Proof Your Life Now! The New Cybersecurity Rules

Authors: Sean M. Bailey, Devin Kropp
Publisher: Horsesmouth
ISBN: 978-0-9977290-0-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Everyone faces increased cyber threats. Learn to apply clear, sensible, and doable rules in three areas: Secrecy, Omniscience, and Mindfulness. Boost your online security quickly.

 SILVER WINNER

International Scout Encyclopedia: The Authoritative Guide to IH's Legendary 4x4

Authors: Jim Allen, John Glancy
Publisher: Octane Press
ISBN: 978-1-937747-51-0
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

This is the only Scout book you'll ever need. Veteran journalist and four-wheel drive historian Jim Allen and recognized collector and Scout expert John Glancy built the most in-depth book about Scout trucks on the market.

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Regional

Tudor Place: America's Story Lives Here

Editor: Leslie L. Buhler
Photographer: Bruce M. White
Publisher: White House Historical Association
ISBN: 978-1-931917-56-8
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

The first definitive history of Tudor Place, this lavishly illustrated book explores the rooms, gardens, collections, and rare artifacts at the elegant Georgetown home built for Martha Washington’s granddaughter.

 GOLD WINNER

Hidden Thunder: Rock Art of the Upper Midwest

Authors: Geri Schrab, Robert F. Boszhardt
Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
ISBN: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

With an eye toward preservation, an artist and archaeologist research ancient Native American pictographs and petroglyphs, revealing their ancient stories through words, full-color photographs, and artistic renditions.

 SILVER WINNER

Mapping Indiana: Five Centuries of Treasures from the Indiana Historical Society

Authors: Eric Mundell, Amy Vedra, Nicole Etcheson, Donald Cresswell, Erin Kirchhoff
Publisher: Indiana Historical Society Press
ISBN: 978-0-87195-277-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Although it is not known exactly when the first map found its way into the Indiana Historical Society collection, the organization has actively collected cartographic gems over the last 186 years. Mapping Indiana features 107 of the most dynamic and treasured of those.

 SILVER WINNER

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Religion

Fifty Shades of Talmud: What the First Rabbis Had to Say About You-Know-What

Author: Maggie Anton
Publisher: Banot Press
ISBN: 978-0976305064
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In this lighthearted tour of sexuality within the Talmud, Maggie Anton reveals how Jewish tradition is more progressive, and more bawdy, than one might think.

 GOLD WINNER

Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People 

Editor: Charles E. Moore 
Publisher: Plough Publishing House
ISBN: 978-0874867435
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Why Christians should live in community - and some sound advice from those who have, from Benedict to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henri Nouwen, and Dorothy Day.

 SILVER WINNER

Final Departure: Death is Never on Time

Author: Jeff Walton 
Publisher: Sunbrook Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9974334-0-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Books-a-Million

A no-nonsense, multi-disciplinary survey of the evidence for and against the veracity of the Bible blended into a gripping drama about life, death, and beyond.

 SILVER WINNER

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Self-Help

Be the Exception: Your 7 Steps to Transformation

Author: Annie Meehan
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-900-0
Purchase: Author Website

This book is about the author overcoming a dysfunctional childhood filled with a hoarding house, poverty, a mentally ill mom. It is about eliminating excuses of why life won't shouldn't couldn't work out and making her excuses become the reasons she must succeed.

 GOLD WINNER

Borderline Personality Disorder Toolbox: A Practical Evidence-Based Guide to Regulating Intense Emotions

Author: Jeff Riggenbach, PhD, LPC
Publisher: PESI Publishing
ISBN: 978-1683730057
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

Powerful tools to cope with BPD and take control of emotions. Over 100 worksheets to improve behavior and create a healthier, more productive life.

 SILVER WINNER

Don’t Settle: How to Marry the Man You Were Meant For

Author: Scott Carroll, MD
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 978-1-5043-6810-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Tired of being single and failing at love? DON'T SETTLE is the complete, step-by-step solution to finding the man you were meant for!

 SILVER WINNER

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Sports & Recreation

The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs

Authors: Tom Zappala, Ellen Zappala, John Molori, Steve Grad
Publisher: Peter E. Randall Publisher
ISBN: 978-1-937721-29-9
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

This beautiful coffee table book is the third volume in the set of award-winning publications authored by the Zappalas including, The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories and The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball's Prized Players.

 GOLD WINNER

The Chicago Tribune Book of the Chicago Bulls: A Decade-by-Decade History

Author: The Chicago Tribune Staff
Publisher: Agate Midway
ISBN: 978-1-57284-202-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A comprehensive portrait of Chicago Bulls history featuring essays, reproduced articles, photography, and team memorabilia from the Chicago Tribune's archives, released to commemorate the team's 50th anniversary.

 SILVER WINNER

Weight Training Without Injury: Over 350 Step-by-Step Pictures Including What Not to Do!

Authors: Fred Stellabotte, Rachel Straub, MS, CSCS
Publisher: Regalis Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9962638-1-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

The exercise will never hurt you—only improper form causes injury. Master the essentials of proper weight training and be safe!

 SILVER WINNER

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Travel

Exploring Wine Regions: Argentina

Author/Photographer: Michael C. Higgins, PhD
Publisher: International Exploration Society
ISBN: 978-0-9969660-1-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

Explore exciting beautiful wine regions, insiders travel-guide of spectacular photography, romantic conversation, cultural exploration, inspiring education, captivating adventures into the depths of travel, food and wine connoisseurship.

 GOLD WINNER

A (Mostly) Kids' Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast

Author: Karen T. Bartlett
Publisher: Mostly Kids' Guides, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9909731-5-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Outrageously colorful, informative and sassy, this 80-page family guidebook sparkles with inside tips, quizzes and commentary, redefining the concept of what a guidebook should be.

 SILVER WINNER

Textile Fiestas of Mexico: A Traveler's Guide to Celebrations, Markets, and Smart Shopping

Author: Sheri Brautigam
Publisher: Thrums Books
ISBN: 978-0996447584
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

This book, geared to independent-minded travelers, presents accessible regional markets and artisan events in Mexico, with an emphasis on finding the finest traditional textiles and shopping ethically.

 SILVER WINNER

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Cover Design: Fiction

Diana Herself: An Allegory of Awakening

Author: Martha Beck
Publisher: Cynosure Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-944264-00-0
Purchase: Links to come

In this exuberant allegory, bestselling memoir and self-help author Martha Beck takes readers into the wild parts of the world and the human psyche. The story of DIANA, HERSELF helps every reader chart a course for awakening to greater joy, adventure, and purpose.

 GOLD WINNER

The Breedling and the City in the Garden: The Element Odyssey, Book One

Author: Kimberlee Ann Bastian
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-945769-04-7
Purchase: Amazon, Author Website, IndieBound

An innovated take on Historical Fantasy set in 1934 Chicago. Follow the enchanted journey of Bartholomew, the immortal soulcatcher, & his mortal friend, Charlie Reese.

 SILVER WINNER

Secrets of Worry Dolls

Author: Amy Impellizzeri
Publisher: Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-942545-65-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

According to Mayan tradition, if you whisper your troubles to the Worry Dolls, they will do the worrying instead of you--therefore, it follows that Worry Dolls are the keepers of a great many secrets....

 SILVER WINNER

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Cover Design: Nonfiction

The Journey of Not Knowing: How 21st Century Leaders Can Chart a Course Where There is None

Author: Julie Benezet
Publisher: Morton Hill Press
ISBN: 978-0-9978139-0-6
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Ebooks

THE JOURNEY OF NOT KNOWING offers a new approach to one of the most elusive but essential leadership capabilities for the future: navigating the unknown.

 GOLD WINNER

The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden

Editor: Stella Otto
Publisher: Otto Graphics
ISBN: 978-0-9634520-4-7
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

THE BACKYARD ORCHARDIST covers everything from planting to harvest of a home orchard. Enjoy popular and more unusual fruit, from Asian pear to sweet cherries.

 SILVER WINNER

The Practical Tanya

Author: Shneur Zalman, adapted by Chaim Miller
Publisher: Kol Menachem
ISBN: 978-1934152379
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

An astoundingly clear adaptation of one of the most influential works of Jewish spiritual thought ever written, penned by Chasidic Rebbe, Shneur Zalman of Liadi. This new translation and commentary, by best-selling author Chaim Miller, renders the text relevant for the contemporary reader with elegant simplicity.

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Cover Design: Large Format

The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy

Author: Sun Tzu, Lao-Tzu, Confucious, Mencius
Publisher: Canterbury Classics
ISBN: 978-1-62686-802-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Target

The words of ancient Chinese philosophers have influenced other thinkers across the world for more than 2,000 years and continue to shape our ideas today. From insights on warfare and diplomacy to advice on how to deal with neighbors and colleagues, this collection will provide readers with countless nuggets of wisdom.

 GOLD WINNER

The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands

Author: Dale Hope; Gerry Lopez (Introduction)
Publisher: Patagonia
ISBN: 978-1-938340-56-7
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

The definitive and beloved book on the rich history of the Hawaiian shirt, now completely revised, updated, redesigned, with new content and photographs throughout. THE ALOHA SHIRT is both a dazzling, fun-to-browse art book, and a fascinating chronicle of the world’s love affair with Hawaii.

 SILVER WINNER

Father Daughter

Photographer: Terry Corrao
Foreword: J.B. White
Publisher: Colfax Press
ISBN: 978-0-9973604-0-0
Purchase: Amazon

FATHER DAUGHTER is a haunting and joyous photographic exploration of the bond between men and their female children, shot over two decades all around the world.

 SILVER WINNER

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Cover Design: Children's/Young Adult

Kalifus Rising

Author: Alane Adams
Publisher: SparkPress
ISBN: 978-1-940716-84-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Sam Baron is a prisoner of the Volgrim Witches, but forces are at work that could free Sam or condemn him to the darkness forever.

 GOLD WINNER

The Freckle Fairy

Author: Bobbie Hinman
Publisher: Best Fairy Books
ISBN: 978-0-9786-7912-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Publisher Website

The Freckle Fairy kisses sleeping children, leaving telltale freckles behind. This rhyming book includes an audio CD of the story narration and an original song. Children will delight in listening to this story and song about the enchanting Freckle Fairy. The tinkling sound of the bell lets children know when it is time to turn the page.

 SILVER WINNER

Max & Charlie

Author: Zack Lieberman; Louis Neubert (Illustrator)
Publisher: EXIT STRATEGY New Media
ISBN: 978-0-9969298-0-6
Purchase: Amazon

MAX & CHARLIE is a graphic novel adventure through the chaOs of a dreamed New York City. We follow our reluctant young hero (Charlie!) as he chases his silly beagle pup (Max!) through a beautiful dreamed day in the city.

 SILVER WINNER

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Interior Design: 1-2 Color

All About Sir Edmund Hillary

Author: Lew Freedman; Amber Calderon (Illustrations); Dave Reed (interior design)
Publisher: Blue River Press
ISBN: 978-1-68157-087-7
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, beekeeper Sir Edmund Hillary became world famous for being the first to summit Mt. Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

 GOLD WINNER

The Practical Tanya

Author: Shneur Zalman, adapted by Chaim Miller
Publisher: Kol Menachem
ISBN: 978-1934152379
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

An astoundingly clear adaptation of one of the most influential works of Jewish spiritual thought ever written, penned by Chasidic Rebbe, Shneur Zalman of Liadi. This neamelw translation and commentary, by best-selling author Chaim Miller, renders the text relevant for the contemporary reader with elegant simplicity.

 SILVER WINNER

Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink

Photographer: Bill Yates
Publisher: Fall Line Press
ISBN: 978-0-9799379-7-2
Purchase: Photo-Eye Bookstore, Publisher Website

In the early 1970s, Bill Yates photographed skaters at the Sweetheart Roller Skating rink in Florida. In 2013, Yates’ photographs won PhotoLucida Critical Mass, and later, a solo exhibit at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

 SILVER WINNER

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Interior Design: 3 or more Colors

With Gratitude, Johnny Carrabba: Celebrating 30 Years of Recipes, Stories, and Family

Author: Johnny Carrabba
Publisher: Johnny Carrabba Family of Restaurants
ISBN: 978-0-9977420-0-8
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

This 288-page, coffee-table size cookbook features over 100 of the Original Carrabba’s family recipes tested for the home kitchen, gorgeous photography and Johnny’s compelling story of the challenges and triumphs faced in the restaurant business.

 GOLD WINNER

Audubon: America's Greatest Naturalist and His Voyage of Discovery to Labrador

Author: Peter B. Logan
Publisher: Ashbryn Press
ISBN: 978-0-9972282-1-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, Seattle Book Company

A groundbreaking biography, using the lens of Audubon's critically important 1833 Labrador expedition as a means to examine the panoramic sweep of his remarkable life.

 SILVER WINNER

Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors

Editors: Diana Lindsay, Paula Knoll, Terri Varnell
Publisher: Sunbelt Publications
ISBN: 978-1-941384-20-6
Purchase: Amazon, IndieBound, Publisher Website

COAST TO CACTUS is a hiking and field guide written by citizen scientists expertly trained to introduce the species and habitats of San Diego County.

 SILVER WINNER

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Interior Design: 3 or more Color (Children's/YA)

Periwinkle's Journey 

Authors: Judy Petersen-Fleming, Suzy Spafford
Publisher: Blue Sneaker Press
ISBN: 978-1-943198-03-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Periwinkle journeys to Antarctica where she meets her penguin cousins, learns to be brave and realizes it's not what you look like that really matters.

 GOLD WINNER

Jairo, The Leatherback Hero

Author: Stacy Erin Myers
Publisher: Irish Lass Press
ISBN: 978-1-929845-22-4
Purchase: Amazon, Author Website

A young boy learns about the oceans environmental threats from an endangered sea turtle who reflects an intimate account of his long life at sea. The lessons he learns reminds us all that our real strength comes from the heart.

 SILVER WINNER

Pocketmouse at Crystal Cove

Author: Marian Parks; Melinda Beavers (Illustrator)
Publisher: Nature Tale Books
ISBN: 978-1-943-17200-9
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

An inspirational read-aloud that introduces young learners to a persevering endangered pocket mouse and the challenges he encounters in his coastal habitat.

 SILVER WINNER

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Most Improved Redesign

The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden

Editor: Stella Otto
Publisher: Otto Graphics
ISBN: 978-0-9634520-4-7
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher Website

THE BACKYARD ORCHARDIST covers everything from planting to harvest of a home orchard. Enjoy popular and more unusual fruit, from Asian pear to sweet cherries.

 GOLD WINNER

Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000

Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Publisher: Galaxy Press
ISBN: 978-1-59212-957-7
Purchase: Links to come

From New York Times bestselling author, L. Ron Hubbard, comes the newly expanded edition of the multi-award-winning Battlefield Earth—a saga of intrigue and suspense, love and war, power and vision.

 SILVER WINNER

Peck's Beach: A Pictorial History of Ocean City, New Jersey

Author: Tim Cain
Publisher: Down the Shore Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-945582-04-5
Purchase: Links to come

The classic book about Ocean City's founding and history is now available as a newly re-designed hardcover, with all the fascinating photos and text of the popular original. The roots of this unique seaside community are explored in stories and historical photographs in 21 chapters.

 SILVER WINNER

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Best New Voice: Fiction

Follow the River Home 

Author: Corran Harrington 
Publisher: Arbor Farm Press
ISBN (paperback): 978-0-9855200-2-1
ISBN (ebook): 978-0-9855200-3-8
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Daniel Arroyo finds his way home after a lifetime of guilt over his infant sister’s death and PTSD from a Vietnam he left years ago. Old houses hold tired secrets.

 GOLD WINNER

Behind The Mask

Author: Dana Ridenour
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-903-1
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

An idealistic FBI agent goes deep undercover to infiltrate a dangerous domestic terrorist cell. As the actions of her cell escalate beyond simple demonstrations and graffiti, Savannah turns to a friend to keep her grounded. But as the two women grow closer and the FBI's case builds, Lexie is forced to decide what betrayal really means.

 SILVER WINNER

Daughter of Destiny: Guinevere's Tale, Book One

Author: Nicole Evelina
Publisher: Lawson Gartner Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-996-76310-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Before Camelot, Guinevere was a priestess of Avalon. She loved another before Arthur, a warrior destined to betray her. You may think you know the story of Guinevere, but you've never heard it like this: in her own words. Listen and you will hear the true story of Camelot and its queen.

 SILVER WINNER

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Best New Voice: Nonfiction

A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Grounds

Author: Jonathan Pliska
Publisher: White House Historical Association
ISBN: 978-1-931917-55-1
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher's Website

Heavily illustrated with historical images ancd newly commissioned photography this book by new author Jonathan Pliska explores the relationship between the White House and its landscape.

 GOLD WINNER

Hack-Proof Your Life Now! The New Cybersecurity Rules

Authors: Sean M. Bailey, Devin Kropp
Publisher: Horsesmouth
ISBN: 978-0-9977290-0-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Everyone faces increased cyber threats. Learn to apply clear, sensible, and doable rules in three areas: Secrecy, Omniscience, and Mindfulness. Boost your online security quickly.

 SILVER WINNER

Letters from Nigeria: A Young American Observes a Newly Independent Country, 1961-62

Author: Gretel Clark
Publisher: Peter E. Randall Publisher
ISBN: 978-1-942155-13-3
Purchase: Distributor Website, Amazon

A young American joins her husband on a pre–Peace Corps mission to newly independent Nigeria: she to work in the Ministry of Education, while he joins a team of economists sent by the Ford Foundation. Gretel’s letters home give an inside view of the fledgling government. Full-color slides bring alive the vibrant cultures of the new nation.

 SILVER WINNER

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Best New Voice: Children's/YA

Ascension

Author: Hannah Rials
Publisher: Aletha Press, an imprint of Audrey Press
ISBN: 978-1-936426-00-3
Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Life is supposed to be perfect after Cheyenne Lane's Ascension ceremony, but it turns out awakening her vampire half only complicates things more. Burdened with a patronizing family and constant surveillance by the Vampire Council, Cheyenne welcomes a summer vacation to the magical city of New Orleans. But Cheyenne quickly realizes that she can't escape her problems, no matter where she goes.

 GOLD WINNER

The Golden Winged Fairy

Author: Lala Fae; Laura Siadak (Illustrator)
Publisher: madebyfae
ISBN: 978-0-9908-5273-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A young fairy learns to accept a unique difference – her one golden wing – and glow golden true. May you always glow golden! With artwork highlighted by silver and gold foil, this book reveals the sensitive side of nature and will inspire all to celebrate their differences and glow golden true.

 SILVER WINNER

Periwinkle's Journey

Authors: Judy Petersen-Fleming, Suzy Spafford
Publisher: Blue Sneaker Press
ISBN: 978-1-943198-03-0
Purchase: B&N, IndieBound

Periwinkle journeys to Antarctica where she meets her penguin cousins, learns to be brave and realizes it's not what you look like that really matters.

 SILVER WINNER

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The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Fiction

DRIFT and HUM: The Great Canadian-American Novel 

Author: Robert O. Martichenko
Publisher: Karmack Publications LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9970308-0-8
Purchase: Amazon

DRIFT AND HUM is an extraordinary story of incredible friendships, embracing the kite ride of life, and making sense of the obstacles along our path.

 GOLD WINNER

AutoFlick: A Study of Whales and Cigarettes That Became a Novel

Author: John R. Bancroft
Publisher: Ecphora Press
ISBN: 978-0-9974350-0-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

In 1968, an atheist reporter and Boy Scout son chase after people who throw cigarettes from their cars in a coming-of-age story.

 SILVER WINNER

The Baljuna Covenant

Author: Tim Pelkey
Publisher: SDP Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9968426-7-9
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

A search for Genghis Khan’s tomb reveals a web of deception that tears lives apart and pushes the world to the brink of war. Part historic fiction, part archaeological mystery, and part political thriller, THE BALJUNA COVENANT tells stories of a poor boy's rise to the heights of world power, of two friends and unimagined betrayal, and of a secret kept for over half a millennia.

 SILVER WINNER

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The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Nonfiction

Love Sick: A Memoir 

Author: Cory Martin
Publisher: Write Out Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9969193-0-2
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

An honest, hilarious memoir about living with MS and dating in Hollywood, LOVE SICK is one woman’s search for a cure and "the one." Writing from a place of strength and vulnerability, Cory Martin faces her fears head on with humor and grace.

 GOLD WINNER

Be a Better Writer: For School, For Fun, For Anyone Ages 10-16

Authors: Steve Peha, Margot Carmichael Lester
Publisher: Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9972831-0-5
Purchase: Amazon

One Book for All Kinds of Writers and All Kinds of Writing. Used by parents, teachers, and kids worldwide, BABW covers all kinds of writing with proven techniques and advice from the pros.

 SILVER WINNER

Every Body's Guide to Everyday Pain

Author: Ya-Ling J. Liou, D.C.
Publisher: Return to Health Press
ISBN: 978-0-9913094-0-5
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

For day-to-day life plagued with pains that seemingly come out of nowhere, easily discover here, with over 100 photos and illustrations, why pain develops, how to make it stop, and keep it from returning.

 SILVER WINNER

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The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Children's/YA

Periwinkle's Journey

Authors: Judy Petersen-Fleming, Suzy Spafford
Publisher: Blue Sneaker Press
ISBN: 978-1-943198-03-0
Purchase: Amazon, B&N, IndieBound

Periwinkle journeys to Antarctica where she meets her penguin cousins, learns to be brave and realizes it's not what you look like that really matters.

 GOLD WINNER

Pocketmouse at Crystal Cove

Author: Marian Parks; Melinda Beavers (Illustrator)
Publisher: Nature Tale Books
ISBN: 978-1-943-17200-9
Purchase: Amazon, Publisher's Website

An inspirational read-aloud that introduces young learners to a persevering endangered pocket mouse and the challenges he encounters in his coastal habitat.

 SILVER WINNER

Sheila and the Sugar Monster

Author: Mary Meyer; Ando Twin (Illustrator)
Publisher: Lights Up Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-692-75557-0
Purchase: Amazon

Sheila loves sugar! Treats make her so happy – until the sugar monster shows up and causes trouble. Could life without sugar be even sweeter?

 SILVER WINNER

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