News & Press

The 37th IBPA Book Award Winners Celebrate Unique Stories and Diverse Voices in Indie Publishing.

Tue, 13 May 2025 17:33:00 GMT

The full list of IBPA Book Award Gold and Silver winners can be viewed here: https://www.ibpabookaward.org/2025-winners

(St. Paul, MN – May 16, 2025) -- In a gala ceremony held at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront, MN on May 16, the Independent Book Publishers Association announced the gold and silver winners of its prestigious IBPA Book Award program, representing the best independently published books of 2024.

The 37th IBPA Book Award carries forward the legacy of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award as the premier program celebrating editorial and design excellence in independent publishing – recognizing publishers of exceptional titles across a wide array of categories, publishing models, and communities. The full list of 174 IBPA Book Award Gold and Silver winners can be viewed here: https://www.ibpabookaward.org/2025-winners.

The year’s outstanding titles include Finding Flaco, Our Year with New York City's Beloved Owl by Jacqueline Emery and David Lei (published by Owls of New York), that chronicled in photos and essays a former zoo owl’s one year survival in the wilds of New York City. It won Gold in two categories (Animal & Pet, Art & Photography) and a Silver (Nature & Environment).

Also the recipients of two Gold awards, are science fiction novel Secret Sky, The Young Universe by T. Alan Horne (Tristellation Media), The Canary Code - A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work by Ludmila N. Praslova (Berrett-Koehler Publishers), and history-based Snoopy and the Spy, A Saga of Espionage, Ingenuity, and the Epic Battle to Save International Harvester by Lee Klancher (Octane Press).

Children’s book A Tree of My Own, winner of one Gold and two Silvers, is notable for the fact that it’s a premier effort from first-time author Nui Wilson as well as new publisher, Qilin Press.

Traditional, hybrid, university, nonprofit presses, and author-publishers – all who identify as independent publishers and members of IBPA were well represented on the stage, most notably The Collective Book Studio who took home the most awards on Friday night, eight.

In addition, the IBPA Book Award program introduced seven new award categories that focus on works from underrepresented communities. The winners in these seven new categories are:

AAPI – Gaman, The Story of a Japanese American Prisoner in a War That Never Ended, by Kenichi K. Yabusaki, Ahuimanu Press
Black/African American – She Remembered It All, The Art of Memory Painter Helen LaFrance, by Jayne Moore Waldrop, illustrated by Michael McBride, Shadelandhouse Modern Press
Disabled – My Body Beeps! Growing Up with Diabetes, by Katherine Lockwood, illustrated by Olga Sall, Acorn Cottage Press
First Nations/Indigenous – The Seventh Direction, A Legend of Creation, by Kevin Locke and Kristy Cameron, Medicine Wheel Publishing
Latina/o/e – Cultura & Cash, Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances & Cultural Expectations, by Giovanna González, Fast Company Press
LGBTQIA2+ – Transgender Justice in Schools, by Linda Christensen and Ty Marshall, Rethinking Schools
Neurodivergent – The Canary Code, A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work, by Ludmila N. Praslova, Berrett-Koehler

“IBPA is proud to celebrate this year’s exceptional gold medalists and finalists,” commented IBPA CEO, Andrea Fleck-Nisbet. “With the debut of our new name and brand—and the introduction of seven powerful new community categories—this marks a historic milestone for both IBPA and the broader independent publishing community.”

“We received a strong number of entries from publishers of all types,” said Terry Nathan, IBPA’s Chief Operating Officer and head of the awards program. “The volume and variety of submissions reflect the exceptional quality and innovation coming from today’s indie publishing community. We continue to see an increase in business books, memoirs, and fiction, but all of the books this year are just so darn good!”

About the IBPA Book Award Program

The IBPA Book Award program (formerly known as the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program) includes 58 categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design. It’s regarded one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission. The awards are administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), with help from over 170 volunteer book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.

When the IBPA book award program launched in 1985, it had two goals: (1) to celebrate excellence in independent publishing and (2) to foster that excellence by sharing a written critique from each judge with the submitting publisher.

Both goals continue today, and each of the nearly 1,800 entrants will receive a written critique from two or three individual judges—meaning more than 5,000 written critiques will be shared. These critiques include constructive feedback to help each publisher transparently understand how the book was perceived by each judge.

IBPA is incredibly grateful to the volunteer judges—librarians, booksellers, design and editorial experts—who brought their decades of book industry knowledge and experience to this year's program.

The 38th annual IBPA book award program's call for entries for books with a copyright date of 2025 will open in July 2025. For additional information, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Officer Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

37th Annual IBPA Book Award Finalists Highlight Independent Publishing’s Diversity

Mon, 7 Apr 2025 18:06:00 GMT

(Manhattan Beach, CA – April 8, 2025) – The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is proud to announce the finalists for the 37th annual IBPA Book Award, honoring the best independently published books of 2024. This year’s finalists reflect a dynamic range of genres, voices, and perspectives that highlight the diversity and strength of the indie publishing community.

Formerly known as the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, the rebranded IBPA Book Award carries forward its legacy as the premier program celebrating editorial and design excellence in independent publishing. The award recognizes publishers who of exceptional titles across a wide array of categories, publishing models, and communities.

As part of the 2024 rebrand, IBPA introduced seven new award categories focused on underrepresented communities: AAPI, Black/African American, Disabled, First Nations/Indigenous, Latina/o/e, LGBTQIA2+, and Neurodivergent. These categories spotlight voices often marginalized in the broader publishing industry and celebrate the depth of leadership and creativity within each community.

From children’s picture books like Today is Orange Shirt Day (Medicine Wheel Publishing, First Nations/Indigenous Communities) and graphic novels like Black Defender: The Awakening (Washington Comix, Black/African American Communities), to personal finance guides such as Cultura & Cash (Fast Company Press, Latino/a/e Communities) and social justice works like Transgender Justice in Schools (Rethinking Schools, LGBTQIA2+ Communities), the 2024 selections showcase the breadth of stories rising from independent publishing.

“By expanding our award categories to include underrepresented voices, IBPA is reinforcing its commitment to ensuring that all independent publishers have equal opportunity to thrive—particularly during a moment when many organizations are retreating from this work,” said IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet. “We’re proud to continue leading with equity at the heart of our mission.”

The 2025 program also highlights the diversity of the publishers themselves—from first-time authors and micro-presses to historical associations to seasoned companies—demonstrating the breadth of publishing models and the evolving landscape of the industry.

“We received a strong number of entries from publishers of all types,” said Terry Nathan, IBPA’s Chief Operating Officer and head of the awards program. “The volume and variety of submissions reflect the exceptional quality and innovation coming from today’s indie publishing community. We continue to see an increase in business books, memoirs, and fiction, but all of the books this year are just so darn good!”

The Collective Book Studio leads this year’s finalists with eight titles. Other standout publishers include She Writes Press and Fast Company Press, with six and five finalist titles, respectively.

Among the most recognized books are A Tree of My Own (Qilin Press), Finding Flaco (Owls of New York), and Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! (Project Roar Publishing)—each a finalist in three categories.

Gold winners will be revealed on May 16, 2025, during the IBPA Book Award ceremony at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront. The event is open to the public, and tickets for the award dinner are available here: IBPA Award Dinner Registration.

A complete list of finalists can be found at: ibpabookaward.org/2025-winners

About the IBPA Book Award Program

IBPA Announces Exciting Changes to its Book Award Program

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Name Change and New Categories Modernize the Awards and Strengthen the Brand

(Manhattan Beach, CA, April 28, 2024) — To ensure every independent book publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in an inclusive publishing industry, the Independent Book Publishers Association announces a name change for its prestigious awards program. Currently known as the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, the NEW name will be the IBPA Book Award. Also in 2025, the awards will expand to include NEW award categories to highlight publishing excellence within underrepresented communities.

“The new name and additional award categories reflect our commitment to ensure that all independent publishers have an equal opportunity to participate in the business of publishing,” said Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, CEO of IBPA. “We are proud to continue our work as an equity leader in the publishing industry.”

Celebrating publisher excellence since 1985, the awards honor independent publishers who have exceeded industry standards to produce editorial and design excellence in a book. As the longest running book award program for independent publishers, the awards are one of the highest national honors an independent book publisher can receive.

Honoring IBPA’s founder, the association is pleased to announce the establishment of a new award category, the Jan Nathan Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to independent publishing by individuals and companies.

The other new award categories include the following:

AAPI Communities
Black/African American Communities
Disabled Communities
First Nations/Indigenous Communities
Latina/o/e Communities
LGBTQIA2+ Communities
Neurodivergent Communities

“By increasing the award categories, we create an environment where every independent publisher has an equal chance for their outstanding work to be recognized,” said Karen Pavlicin, current IBPA Board Chair and publisher of Elva Resa Publishing.

The 2024 award programs will mark the final year of the program under the current name of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. During the next award cycle, the new award categories will launch under the name the IBPA Book Award.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the IBPA Award Rebranding

Who is the Independent Book Publishers Association?
Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. IBPA sees a world where its approximately 3,500 members and all independent publishers have the access, knowledge, and tools needed to engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.

What is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award?
Currently known as the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, the award honors independent publishers who have exceeded industry standards to produce editorial and design excellence in a book. Celebrating excellence since 1985, these awards showcase the work of independent publishers and their professional teams. The awards are considered one of the highest national honors for independent book publishers.

When will the name change be effective?
The 36th annual award recipients announced in April 2024 will mark the final year of the awards under its current name. The 37th awards will launch as the IBPA Book Award. The IBPA Book Award will add new award categories: plus, a special lifetime award.

How many IBPA awards are there?
The Benjamin Franklin Award has more than 50 categories, with one gold and two silver winners in each category. The 37th award program, known as the IBPA Book Award, will expand these award categories ¬allowing an opportunity for additional book publishers to be honored with an award.

Why is IBPA introducing these new awards?
The new award categories are part of IBPA’s efforts to modernize its award program, improve its brand, and expand the number of opportunities for independent book publishers.

What does this mean for IBPA?
We are so excited about announcing the new award program name change, and the expanded award categories. We believe that this change reflects our organization’s work in ensuring that everyone has a fair chance at obtaining an award and continues to position us as an equity leader in the book publishing industry.

I have an IBPA Benjamin Franklin award. What does this change mean for me?
If you have received an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award from our first award program in 1985 until our 36th program in 2024, congratulations again! You can choose to refer to the award as the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award or the IBPA Book Award. The choice is up to you.

Do I have to change all my marketing and collateral?
No, you can continue calling it the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. You can continue using the Gold and Silver seals on your book covers.

Can I now call my IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award the IBPA Book Award?
Yes, this choice is up to you. You may add “(formerly the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award)” if you think it’s appropriate for clarity i.e. the IBPA Book Award (formerly the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award).

Where can I get more information on the criteria for the new award categories?
The criteria will be announced when the 37th IBPA Book Award call for entries opens in July 2024. The addition of this suite of categories to the IBPA Book Awards is expressly to amplify authentic voices and underrepresented communities. Therefore, submissions will be judged on the quality of the publication and also on the book’s contribution to the community. Furthermore, it is required that one or more of the members of the book development team (editor, primary illustrator/photographer for highly illustrated books, publisher, author) be a member of the community.

What are the criteria for the Jan Nathan award? How do I nominate someone?
Honoring IBPA’s founder, we are pleased to announce the establishment of a new award category, the Jan Nathan Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to independent publishing by individuals and companies. More information will be available when the next award cycle opens for submissions in July.

Why change the name of the award program?
IBPA's book award program has a long history of recognizing outstanding books published by independent publishers. The new name, IBPA Book Award, more closely associates the award with IBPA’s strong brand and core values. The tagline "celebrating publisher excellence since 1985” makes it clear that the award is for publishers creating excellent books and audiobooks.

Why not continue to use IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program?
The award was originally named for one of our country’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s book publishing endeavors created a foundation for independent publishing. But like many great Americans at the time, Franklin had a mixed history. He owned slaves, yet he was the first president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. Given the new award categories which illustrate IBPA’s commitment to an inclusive publishing industry, this was the right time to change the name of the award program.

What is your definition of a Neurodivergent individual?
The term Neurodivergent can be used to describe an individual whose brain development, behavior, and thought pattern operates differently than those who are defined as “neurotypical.” This includes people with Autism, ADHD, Depression, Tourette's, Dyslexia, Synesthesia, Anxiety, and many more.

What is your definition of a Disabled community?
The Disabled Community is comprised of individuals who have a limitation on their physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina. This includes individuals who have impairments that limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders, blindness, deafness, epilepsy and sleep disorders.

There will be an IBPA Town Hall on May 9, 2024 (10am PT) for members and the press to ask questions about the rebranding of the IBPA Book Award. You can register for the event here.

New Publishers Make an Impression at 36th IBPA Benjamin Franklin Book Awards

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 03:00:00 GMT

(Denver, CO – April 27, 2024) – The longest-running and most prestigious award program recognizing excellence in independent publishing, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ yesterday announced the Gold- and Silver-winning books and audiobooks that showcased the best in independent publishing in 2023.

Author Meredith R. Lyon accepted the Gold award for Ghost Tamer (CamCat Books) in Science Fiction & Fantasy.

In a ceremony sponsored by the Ingram Content Group and held at the Denver Hilton City Center, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) recognized 171 books and audiobooks that won in 57 categories ranging from fiction, nonfiction, design, self-help, best first book, multicultural, poetry, and more. A complete list of Gold and Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award winners is available here: https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2024-winners.

For the third consecutive year, four-year-old CamCat Books emerged as the biggest winner – taking home five golds and three silvers. Their achievement is all the more poignant following the sudden passing of Camcat's publisher and founder Sue Arroyo in March.

New indie publisher Waxwing Books won four awards for children's book A Little More Beautiful.

The Collective Book Studio, Weldon Owen and Waxwing Books also made strong showings, winning three gold awards each. In addition, three-year-old publisher Waxwing Books’ A Little More Beautiful, The Story of a Garden won in the most categories for a single book, four, for Cover Design, Interior Design, Best New Voice, and the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book.

“IBPA has a long history of promoting excellence in independent publishing,” said IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet. “No program better showcases the quality of books that indie publishers produce than the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. We are proud of this award’s enduring and prestigious legacy and congratulate all of the finalists.”

IBPA received 1824 entries this year, making this its second-best year in the number of entries received since the award program began more than 35 years ago in 1985.

Dexterity Books won Gold in the Religion category for Nature Unveiled.

This year’s winning publishers include traditional indie presses such as Brown Books and Berrett-Koehler; hybrid presses such as She Writes Press, W. Brand and Page Two; universities such as North Dakota State University Press; non-profit presses including the Wisconsin Historical Society and American Academy of Pediatricians, and first-time author publisher Fred Kray (Live Oak Press).

Categories and Gold Winners

For a complete list of Gold and Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award winners please go to: https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2024-winners.

Animals & Pets - Romeo the Friendly Wolf, from Nick Jans
Art & Photography - The New Big 5, from Earth Aware Editions
Audiobook: Children's/Young Adult - Magda, Standing, from Bold Story Press
Audiobook: Fiction - Ellis River, from Bay Feather Books
Audiobook: Nonfiction - The New Teacher Book, from Rethinking Schools
Autobiography & Biography - Under the Naga Tail, from Greenleaf Book Group Press
Best New Voice: Children's/Young Adult - Sister, from Phoenix Media & Books
Best New Voice: Fiction - Lest She Forget, from CamCat Books
Best New Voice: Nonfiction - In My DNA, from One Idea Press
Body, Mind & Spirit - Dreaming on the Page, from The Collective Book Studio
Business & Career - Simply Put, from Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Children’s Picture Book (0-3 Years) - Farm Boots, from Feeding Minds Press
Children's Picture Book (4-7 years) - While Everyone Is Sleeping, from Waxwing Books
Coffee Table Book - Barbie Takes the Catwalk, from Weldon Owen
Cookbook - Muy Bueno: FIESTAS, from Weldon Owen
Cover Design: Children's/Young Adult - Bladestay, from CamCat Books
Cover Design: Fiction - Desert Deadline, from Questover Press
Cover Design: Large Format - Farmall Century: 1923-2023, from Octane Press
Cover Design: Nonfiction - The Joy of Costco, from Hot Dog Press
Craft, Hobby, Home & Garden - Antique Locks and Keys, from Artisan Ideas
Education - Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts, from CAST, Inc.
Fiction: Historical - Blood to Rubies, from Koehler Books
Fiction: Horror - The Woodkin, from CamCat Books
Fiction: Mystery & Thriller - King Me, from CamCat Books
Fiction: Romance - Love in War, from Stewart Lytle
Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy - Ghost Tamer, from CamCat Books
General Fiction - The Truth About Horses, from SparkPress
Gift Books - I'll Drink to That, from Weldon Owen
Graphic Novel - Mary Shelley's School for Monsters, from Wicked Tree Press
Health & Fitness - Up the Down Escalator, from Health Communications, Inc.
History - Farmall Century: 1923-2023, from Octane Press
Humor - Santa Anna, from Level 4 Press
Inspirational - Two by Two, from Favorite Recipes Press
Interior Design - Furnishing the White House, from The White House Historical Association
Interior Design: Children's/Young Adult - While Everyone Is Sleeping, from Waxwing Books
LGBTQ+ - Desert Deadline, from Questover Press
Memoirs - Drafted! from W. Brand Publishing
Multicultural - Obreros Unidos, from Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Nature & Environment - A Forest Journey, from Patagonia
Parenting & Family - Chaos to Calm, from The Collective Book Studio
Poetry - Morning Leaves, from The Collective Book Studio
Political & Current Events - Is Social Justice Just?, from The Independent Institute
Professional & Technical - Full Stack Web Development, from Rheinwerk Publishing Inc.
Psychology - EMDR Workbook for Kids, from PESI Publishing
Reference - SAE International's Dictionary for Automotive Engineers, from SAE International
Regional - All Join Hands, from Peter E. Randall Publisher
Religion - Nature Unveiled, from Dexterity Books
Self-Help - Brave Thinking, from Page Two
Sports & Recreation - Broken, from Live Oak Press
Teen Nonfiction (13-18 years) - Happy Grades Workbook, from How2Conquer
Teen: Fiction (13-18 Years) - The Last Saxon King, from Imbrifex Books
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children's/Young Adult) - A Little More Beautiful, from Waxwing Books
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Fiction) - No Lifeguard on Duty, from Bumper Car Books
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) - Broken, from Live Oak Press
Travel - The Dayhiker's Guide to the National Parks, from Stone Road Press
Young Reader: Fiction (8-12 years) - Cookie Island, from Decozen Publishing
Young Reader: Nonfiction (8-12 years) - Teaching Tornero, from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which include 57 categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission. The awards are administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), with help from over 170 volunteer book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.

When the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program launched in 1985, it had two goals: (1) to celebrate excellence in independent publishing and (2) to foster that excellence by sharing a written critique from each judge with the submitting publisher.

Both goals continue today, and each of the nearly 1,800 entrants will receive a written critique from three individual judges—meaning more than 5,000 written critiques will be shared. These critiques include constructive feedback to help each publisher transparently understand how the book was perceived by each judge.

The 37th annual IBPA book award program's call for entries for books with a copyright date of 2024 will open in July 2024. For additional information, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Office Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

IBPA Announces the 171 Finalists for its 2024 36th Benjamin Franklin Award

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:57:00 GMT

Announcing the 171 finalists for the 36th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin™ Award

(Manhattan Beach, CA – March 28, 2024) – The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, the premier book award program in the independent publishing industry, has announced the finalists for its 2024 awards.

In all, 171 books and audiobooks will be announced as Gold or Silver winners in 57 categories at the awards’ ceremony in Denver this April 26. See the complete list of the 36th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award finalists here – https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2024-winners

IBPA received 1824 entries this year, making this its second best year in terms of the number of entries received in the award's 35+ year history.

“The diversity of books and publishers who enter IBPA’s award shows the breadth of the indie publishing industry,” said IBPA’s Chief Operations Officer Terry Nathan. “We received a high number of entries in all categories – from the broad children, fiction and memoirs, to the niche categories such as psychology, nature, and regional books.”

“Since the awards’ inception in 1985, barriers to publishing have been steadily decreasing with each passing year,” said Fleck-Nisbet. “Despite many new publishers entering the industry, it doesn’t mean that quality has suffered. Quite the opposite. We are inspired by new publishers such as CamCat Books and WaxWing who are producing amazing books with their strong focus on quality.”

Four-year-old CamCat Books once again earned the distinction of having the most number of their titles, eight, recognized with an award in this year’s competition. Meanwhile, children’s book A Little More Beautiful, The Story of a Garden from new publisher WaxWing earned recognition in four award categories--Cover Design, Interior Design, Best New Voice, and the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book--while another WaxWing book, While Everyone Is Sleeping, was recognized in three categories.

All finalists will win either a gold or silver in their respective categories when the winners are announced on April 26. The IBPA Benjamin Franklin award and gala dinner will take place at the Denver Hilton City Centre in conjunction with IBPA’s Publishing University conference happening at the same time. Tickets for the award dinner are open to the public and can be purchased here.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

The awards are administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), with help from over 170 volunteer book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.

The 37th annual award program's call for entries for books with a copyright date of 2024 will open in June 2024. For additional information, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Office Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA Announces Benjamin Franklin Award™ Gold Winners, the Best Independently Published Books of 2022

Sat, 6 May 2023 02:15:00 GMT

(San Diego, CA – May 5, 2023)--At a gala dinner ceremony on May 5 in San Diego, CA, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) celebrated 168 Gold and Silver award-winning titles in its prestigious 35th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program. The awards ceremony sponsored by Ingram Content Group took place at IBPA’s annual conference— the IBPA Publishing University—which also celebrated the association’s 40th anniversary.

A complete list of Gold and Silver Benjamin Franklin award winners is available here: https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2023-winners.

For the second consecutive year, CamCat Books emerged as the biggest winner of the night – taking home four golds and three silvers. CamCat stepped on stage to receive the Benjamin Franklin gold awards for Jester by Brielle D. Porter (Teen: Fiction 13-18 Years), Death Warrant by Bryan Johnson (Best New Voice: Fiction), Heroes Ever Die by J.A. Crawford (Fiction: Mystery & Thriller), and The Girl in the Corn by Jason Offutt (Fiction: Horror).

The Answers Are There from Blue Chair Press won four awards -- the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) for author Libby Hoffman in addition to three silver awards in the categories of Body, Mind & Spirit; Cover Design Small Format, Nonfiction; and Multicultural. The book shares stories of transformation in Sierra Leone—where the culture of community was nearly destroyed by civil war—achieved through a tradition called Fambul Tok or “family talk.”

Page Two Books’ Write a Must Read won two silvers in addition to its gold in the Business and Career category. The book by author AJ Harper promises to teach readers how to “craft a book that changes lives—including your own.”

“We are delighted to see such diversity in this year’s slate of winners…we saw a range of publisher types, authors and subject matter represented,” said IBPA COO Terry Nathan who has managed the award program since 1992. This year’s winning publishers include traditional indie presses such as Brown Books; hybrid presses such as She Writes Press and Wonderwell; universities like John Hopkins University Press and North Dakota State University Press; and non-profits including The White House Historical Association, and the Lakota Language Consortium.

“It is also very exciting to see first-time publishers such as Bunny Books, and self-published authors like Carol Walker, Esther Siegel and Spencer Brewer winning awards alongside well-known indie publishers,” said Nathan. “A great book demonstrates excellence in content and production value, and it deserves recognition, regardless of who publishes it.”

Other gold-winning titles in the awards’ 56 categories include: A Girl's Guide to Military Service, Elva Resa (Teen Nonfiction 13-18 years), Detroit Steel Artists, Beaver Pond Press (Coffee Table Book), Voices of Navajo Mothers and Daughters, Soulstice Publishing (Multicultural), My Cat Hates Me, Brown Books (Graphic Novel), A Practical Reference for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Adults, Bainbridge Books (LGBTQ+), and Dispatches from the Cowgirl, W. Brand Publishing (Memoir).

IBPA received close to 1,800 entries in this year’s program, below the previous year’s record-breaking 1,900 entries but nonetheless making this the second highest number of entries received since the award program began more than 35 years ago.

Categories and Gold Winners

Animals & Pets - Blue Zeus from Living Images by Carol Walker, LLC
Art & Photography - Bay of Life from Earth Aware, an imprint of MandalaEarth
Biography & Autobiography - Century's Witness from Whaler Books
Body, Mind & Spirit - Happily EVEN After from PESI Publishing
Business & Career - Write a Must-Read from Page Two
Coffee Table Book - Detroit Steel Artists from Beaver's Pond Press
Cookbook - The White House Family Cookbook from The White House Historical Association
Craft, Hobby, Home & Garden - Crochet Amigurumi for Every Occasion from Weldon Owen, an imprint of Insight Editions
Education - Rebooting Assessment from Solution Tree Press
General Fiction - The Lives of Diamond Bessie from SparkPress
Fiction: Historical - The Blue Butterfly from She Writes Press
Fiction: Horror - The Girl in the Corn from CamCat Books
Fiction: Mystery & Thriller - Heroes Ever Die from CamCat Books
Fiction: Romance - Summerhaven from Covenant Communications, Inc.
Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy - L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 38 from Galaxy Press
Gift Book - Mastering Classic Cocktails from Palo Alto Publishing
Graphic Novel - My Cat Hates Me from Brown Books Publishing Group
Health & Fitness - Hear & Beyond from Page Two
History - Capital City from Chickasaw Press
Inspirational - Unleashed from WorldChangers Media
LGBTQ+ - A Practical Reference for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Adults from Bainbridge Books
Memoir - Dispatches from the Cowgirl from W. Brand Publishing
Multicultural - Voices of Navajo Mothers and Daughters from Soulstice Publishing
Nature & Environment - Waterfowl of the World from Sweetgrass Books, an imprint of Farcountry Press
Parenting & Family - Finding Ecohappiness from Quill Driver Books
Poetry - Field Notes from North Dakota State University Press
Political & Current Events - Ethically Challenged from Johns Hopkins University Press
Professional & Technical - Python 3 from Rheinwerk Publishing Inc.
Psychology - Raising a Loving Family from Two Lights Publishing
Reference - New Lakota Dictionary, 3rd Edition from Lakota Language Consortium
Regional - The White House from The White House Historical Association
Religion - Trauma in the Pews from Berry Powell Press
Self-Help - The Fiscal Feminist from Wonderwell
Sports & Recreation - Headwaters from Patagonia
Travel - The Photographer's Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park from Rocky Trail Press
Children’s Picture Book (0-3 Years) - Bedtime with Daddy from End Game Kidz, an imprint of End Game Press
Children's Picture Book (4-7 years) - I Love Strawberries from Feeding Minds Press
Young Reader: Fiction (8-12 years) - Finding Moon Rabbit from CHB Media
Young Reader: Nonfiction (8-12 years) - Raising Don from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press
Teen: Fiction (13-18 Years) - Jester from CamCat Books
Teen Nonfiction (13-18 years) - A Girl's Guide to Military Service from Elva Resa Publishing
Cover Design: Small Format, Fiction - The T Room from She Writes Press
Cover Design: Small Format, Nonfiction - Sweet in Tooth and Claw from Patagonia
Cover Design: Large Format - Western Skies from Dexterity
Cover Design: Children's/Young Adult - Yeti Needs a Haircut from Beaver's Pond Press
Interior Design - Lost and Found from Esther Siegel and Spencer Brewer
Interior Design: Children's/Young Adult - Revolutionary Red Tractors from Octane Press
Audiobook: Fiction - ReInception from Winding Road Stories
Audiobook: Nonfiction - On Constance from Post Hypnotic Press Inc.
Audiobook: Children's/Young Adult - Misfit's Magic from Bisket Press, LLC
Best New Voice: Fiction - Death Warrant from CamCat Books
Best New Voice: Nonfiction - Tailspin from Ten16 Press, an imprint of Orange Hat Publishing
Best New Voice: Children's/Young Adult - Mason Goes Mushrooming from Green Writers Press
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Fiction) - Ellis River from Bay Feather Books
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) - The Answers Are There from Blue Chair Press
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children's/Young Adult) - Lulu the Beaver from Bunny Books

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which include 56 categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission.

The 36th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program's call for entries for books with a copyright date of 2023 will open in June 2023. For additional information, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Office Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

2023 Finalists Announced in IBPA's Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program

Fri, 7 Apr 2023 16:29:00 GMT

Hear the speeches and backstories from the 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards in Orlando last April 2022.

In its 35th year, the IBPA indie award program continues three-year trend in record high entries.

(Manhattan Beach, CA – April 7, 2023) – The premier award program for independently published books and audiobooks, the Independent Book Publishers Association’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Award program is proud to announce its 2023 list of finalists that continue to bear testimony to the incredible quality and creativity generated within the independent publishing community.

Altogether 168 finalists will emerge as either gold or silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award winners when the winners are announced at a special award ceremony on May 5, 2023. See the complete list of the 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award finalists here: https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2023-winners.

“The day we announce the finalists is always my favorite day of year. Large or small, the passion and love our members show for their books is infectious,” said IBPA’s Chief Operations Officer Terry Nathan. “I am in awe of the progress made by the independent publishing community since I started working with this program in 1992. This year’s batch of finalists are absolutely amazing!”

The Answers Are There by Libby Hoffman and published by Blue Chair Press is a finalist in four categories: Body, Mind & Spirit, Multicultural, Cover Design: Small Format (Nonfiction), and The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction).

“We take this as a sign that independent publishing continues to thrive,” said IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet. “And we couldn’t be prouder of IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Award program as it leads the way as the most enduring and prestigious of awards dedicated to independent publishers’ books.”

The incredible range of independent publishing’s output is demonstrated by the diversity of titles on the list, which include: Detroit Steel Artists, New Lakota Dictionary, Muppets in Moscow, A Girl’s Guide to Military Service, LGBTQ+ Family Building, Yeti needs a Haircut, and more.

Blue Chair Press’s The Answers are There was the most awarded book on the list. The Amazon bestselling book is a finalist in four categories, including the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) for author Libby Hoffman. The book shares stories of individual and communal transformation in Sierra Leone—where the culture of community was nearly destroyed by civil war—achieved through an approach called Fambul Tok (“family talk”) which brought reconciliation via indigenous traditions of communal truth-telling, apology, and forgiveness.

For the second year in a row, new publisher CamCat Books exemplifies excellence in indie publishing by having the most number of titles on the finalist list, seven, namely: Bewitching a Highlander, Death Warrant, Heroes Ever Die, Jester, Son of the Salt Chaser, The Girl in the Corn, and The Registration. CamCat Books was founded in 2019 and publishes genre fiction: mystery, sci-fi, romance, adventure, horror, and paranormal.

Publishers She Writes Press and Page Two Press also made a strong showing with four titles respectively making it into the finalist list. They join a total of 116 independent publishers who will win either a gold or silver in 56 categories, when the winners are announced on May 5.

The award and gala dinner will take place at the Coronado Island Marriott in San Diego in conjunction with IBPA’s Publishing University conference happening at the same time. Tickets for the event are open to the public and can be purchased here.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Invitation to Judge the 35th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

Tue, 5 Jul 2022 19:35:00 GMT

Now through August 31, 2022, IBPA is recruiting judges for the 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply here prior to the August 31 deadline. If you have questions or suggestions on how to improve the process, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Officer Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - July 5, 2022) — Once again, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)—the largest association of independent publishers with over 4,100 members—is looking for book industry professionals with the credentials to serve as judges for the 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, the most prestigious book awards program available to independent publishers and author publishers.

IBPA seeks judges capable of judging print books, graphic novels, audiobooks...or all three.

To ensure a successful program, IBPA provides all approved judges with judging guidelines and an online orientation. In addition, there are two submission deadlines so judges have enough time to review each book: the first on September 30, 2022 and the second on December 15, 2022. Click here for additional judging guidelines.

Over 160 volunteer librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts—most of whom have decades of book industry experience—will be chosen to judge the entries submitted. The judging process will take seven months, beginning in September 2022 and continuing into March 2023. At the end of the judging process, all entrants will receive a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed the book.

"I am extremely grateful for the invaluable feedback," said children's author Junia Wonders. "This feedback certainly gave me more insight into the judging criteria for the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards.... l will endeavor to create beautiful and lasting children's books as I continue along this self-publishing journey."

One book in each category will be named a Gold winner and two additional books in each category will be named Silver winners.

Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

SEE ALSO:

A video recap of the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award celebration

Now available! Watch the video below to see what happened at the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award ceremony, held April 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, which include over fifty categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission.

The awards are administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), with help from over 160 volunteer book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

35th AnnuaI IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Now Open for Entries

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 23:24:00 GMT

Calling all print and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2022: it's time to enter the 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program!

Qualifying publishers include: independent publishers, hybrid publishers, self-published authors, university presses, and association presses.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - June 30, 2022) — A great story—well written—beautifully designed. Do you have a winning book in your hands? If so, get the confirmation and recognition that your book deserves through the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program. Independent publishers of books with a copyright date of 2022 are invited to enter the current competition.

Regarded as one of the nation’s highest honors in independent publishing, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program has been recognizing excellence and innovation in independent publishing for over 34 years.

An award program exclusively recognizing independently published books and audiobooks.
57 categories including fiction, nonfiction, children, design, new voices, and first time publishers. You can enter in multiple categories.
Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Coronado Island, California (just outside of San Diego) on Friday, May 5, 2023.
Enter anytime under two deadlines: September 30 (mostly for books published Jan-Sept 2022) and December 15 (mostly for books published Oct-Dec 2022).
The awards are unique in that entrants receive constructive feedback on their submissions, with the actual judging forms returned to all publishers.
The official Call for Entries can be downloaded here.

Over 160 volunteer librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts—most of whom have decades of book industry experience—will judge the entries submitted. The judging process will take seven months, beginning in September 2022 and continuing into March 2023. At the end of the judging process, all entrants will receive a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed the book.

One book in each category will be named a Gold winner and two additional books in each category will be named Silver winners.

Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program?
The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program is a book award program that, over the past 35 years, has been regarded as one of the highest national honors in independent publishing. The awards are unique in that entrants receive direct feedback on their submissions: the verbatim judging forms are returned to all publishers.

Who can enter the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program?
Publishers of print and audiobooks books with a copyright date of 2022 may enter the current competition. To assist the judges and ensure they have enough time to review each book, there are two deadlines for entry: the first on September 30, 2022, then on December 15, 2022.

Can authors enter the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program on behalf of their publisher?
Absolutely! This happens all the time.

Where can I go for more information?
Visit the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ website for further details. You can also email program director and IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Winners’ Speeches from the 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony Now Online

Thu, 2 Jun 2022 03:25:00 GMT

Overview video of the 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards dinner and ceremony.

Watch the acceptance speeches and the stories behind the stories.

(Manhattan Beach, CA – June 2, 2022) — The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) announced more than 150 Gold and Silver award winning titles in its 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ ceremony held in Orlando on April 29, 2022.

Gold-award winners were invited on stage to accept their trophies and share a few words, and walking up to the podium were the books' respective publishers or authors. Many shared heartwarming stories about the inspiration behind the books, and you can watch all the speeches here in this Youtube Playlist.

The event, IBPA’s first in-person awards ceremony since 2019, was made possible through the support of sponsor Ingram Content Group.

Read the official press release here.
Watch the official awards video here.
See a complete list of winners here.
Download official photos from the reception and ceremony here.

The 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award call for entries (for books with a copyright date of 2022) will open in June 2022.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA Announces 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Gold Winners

Thu, 5 May 2022 00:54:00 GMT

Over 150 books, including 57 Gold Award winners – selected from a record-breaking 1,894 entries – demonstrate excellence and creativity in independent publishing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Manhattan Beach, CA – May 5, 2022)—At a gala dinner ceremony held April 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) announced more than 150 Gold and Silver award winning titles in its prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program. With help from supporting sponsor Ingram Content Group, this was the first in-person awards ceremony IBPA has produced since 2019, after pivoting to virtual in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A complete list of winners is available here. Official photos from the reception and ceremony are available here.

[More copy after the image....]

For 34 years, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program has been the premier book award program celebrating excellence and innovation in independent book publishing. On April 29 in each of 57 categories, one Gold and two Silver winners were announced during a gala dinner ceremony.

IBPA CEO Angela Bole co-hosted the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award ceremony.

"I am incredibly proud of the award-winning books represented in this year’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program," said IBPA Chief Executive Officer Angela Bole, who co-hosted the ceremony alongside IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services Christopher Locke.

"The crop of independent publishers represented this year have showcased an enviable degree of professionalism and creativity through the books they've published," she continued. "As an industry, we need to support and nurture these independent publishers if we're serious about fostering a diversity of voices and opinions in the content we read."

During the April 29 ceremony, four books won Gold twice, in different categories judged by a different set of three judges:

John Deere Evolution (ISBN 978-1642340082) (Publisher: Octane Press): winning Gold in the categories of History and Cover Design/Large Format
California Indian Basketry (ISBN 978-1941384527) (Publisher: Sunbelt Publications, Inc.): winning Gold in the categories of Art & Photography and Interior Design
My Good Son (ISBN 978-1608012015) (Publisher: University of New Orleans Press): winning Gold in the categories of General Fiction and LGBTQ+
A Sports Fan’s Guide to Route 66 (ISBN 978-1945501739) (Publisher: Imbrifex Books): winning Gold in the categories of Sports & Recreation and Travel

These titles are shining examples of the well-designed and well-written diversity of independently published books that attract and captivate their respective audiences.

"I started working with this program in the early '90s and the quality of books being entered each year continues to amaze me," said IBPA Chief Operations Officer Terry Nathan. "This year may be the best overall set of entries I've ever seen."

[More copy after the image....]

Ron Clements, author of A SPORTS FAN'S GUIDE TO ROUTE 66, (pictured left with his wife) attended the ceremony to receive the two Gold awards in the categories of SPORTS & RECREATION and TRAVEL.

The Judging Process

Author/publisher Ayesha Rodriguez (right) strikes a pose at the award's reception with her friend and dinner guest.

In total, 171 professionals—librarians, booksellers, design and editorial experts— brought their decades of book industry knowledge and experience to the judging process, which included writing a constructive critique of each book to help its publisher understand how the content and interior/cover design is being perceived by the market. This is a unique aspect of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, which upholds IBPA’s mission to help independent publishers achieve and succeed.

Each of the 1,894 entries was evaluated by three independent judges, resulting in 5,682 unique critiques which will be emailed to entrants by end of May 2022.

"It’s always wonderful to see the happiness in the winning publishers’ eyes, but my favorite part of this program is sharing the judges’ scores and comments for each and every one of the books being entered," said Nathan. "Our judges work hard to provide constructive feedback, challenging our publishers to publish better books. The system is working!"

The 1,894 entries received this year surpasses the previous record number of entries set just one year ago. “The growth in number of entries suggests that creativity and output within the independent publishing industry is thriving despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said Bole.

The 35th annual Benjamin Franklin Award call for entries (for books with a copyright date of 2022) will open in June 2022.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony—In Pictures

This year's IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program was conducted live, in-person for the first time since 2019.

The program was sponsored by Ingram Content Group. Here, Director of IngramSpark Paige Allen provides welcoming remarks.

Nominated publishers and authors made a night of it, in many cases inviting their family and friends to celebrate their achievement with them.

Publishers Weekly's John Maher (left) and IBPA's Adeline Lui (right) at the pre-dinner cocktail reception.

Sue Arroyo of CamCat Books (left) received the most Gold awards of any publisher: three. One for THE BRASS QUEEN (Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy); one for THE GHOSTS OF THORWALD PLACE (Best New Voice: Fiction); and one for THE GIRL IN THE CORN (Audiobook: Fiction).

All of the 150+ nominated books were on display throughout the ceremony.

Honorees met and networked during the pre-dinner cocktail reception.

Live harp music set the mood.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, which include over 55 categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The awards are unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA Announces 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Finalists

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:25:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Watch the short video above to see what’s in store for the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards in-person ceremony and get your tickets now. The event is sponsored by Ingram Content Group.

Indie publishing's premier book award program announces 171 book and audiobook finalists.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - March 24, 2022) – Today, March 24, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is thrilled to announce 171 finalists in the prestigious 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™. Stemming from a record-breaking number of entries during a time when independent publishing is flourishing in both creativity and output, each finalist will receive either a gold or silver award during a special dinner ceremony on April 29 in Orlando, Florida. Tickets to the ceremony are open to the public and on sale here.

See the complete list of 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award finalists here:
https://www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com/2022-winners.

A record-breaking year highlighting a diversity of content

IBPA received nearly 1,900 entries for the 34th annual program, a record number that surpassed the previous record of 1,750 set just a year earlier.

The most winning book—CALIFORNIA INDIAN BASKETRY (Sunbelt Publications)—won in three categories.

"For sure, the diversity of books entered in this year's program was incredible. And the quality continues to amaze me, rivaling anything published by the Big 5," said IBPA Chief Operations Officer and award program lead Terry Nathan. "This year’s list of finalists should be very proud."

The list includes award-winning titles from small publishers, hybrid publishers, author-publishers, association presses, and academic presses, all displaying the depth and diversity of content indicative of the high quality work being produced by independent publishers across the United States.

In total, 120 publishers are honored on this year's list of finalists, including Imbrifex Books, The White House Historical Association, University of New Orleans Press, Patagonia Books, She Writes Press, Brown Books Kids, CamCat Books, and Sunbelt Publications.

Sunbelt Publications is recognized as producing the most winning book in the 34th annual program—California Indian Basketry (ISBN 978-1941384510), a tribute to the world-class, Native American Indian baskets of California, circa 1895 to 1940—was honored in three categories: (1) Art & Photography, (2) Cover Design: Large Format, and (3) Interior Design.

Nineteen other books were honored in two categories each, with CamCat Books showing out with the highest number of unique books (nine) becoming finalists across the most categories (seven).

In a 2016 article published on the history of the awards, PESI Publishing publisher Linda Jackson discussed why she enters her books every year: “We are so humbled by the awards, and so happy for our authors. …[It’s a] great bio builder for the authors, too. Being a published author elevates creditability, and to be an award-winning author moves them into coveted air.”

This year, PESI Publishing is recognized as a finalist in two categories: MULTICULTURAL with Diversity in Clinical Practice (ISBN 978-1683733881) and EDUCATION with Self-Compassion for Educators (ISBN 978-1683734048).

About the program

Both goals continue today, and each of the nearly 1,900 entrants will receive a written critique from three individual judges—meaning more than 5,000 written critiques will be shared. These critiques include constructive feedback to help each publisher transparently understand how the book was perceived by each specific judge.

IBPA is incredibly grateful to the 171 volunteer judges—librarians, booksellers, design and editorial experts—who brought their decades of book industry knowledge and experience to this year's program.

"There has been an explosion in publishing awards in the last decade," said IBPA Board Chair Karla Olson (Publisher, Patagonia Books). "The IBPA Benjamin Franklin awards have been around for 34 years, and it is the real deal, recognized and respected by bookstores, reviewers, and readers. Readers can be sure that if a book is a silver or gold winner, it is one of the best of the best. Congratulations, and celebrations to all!"

The gold and silver award winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner and ceremony on April 29 at the Renaissance Orlando hotel during IBPA Publishing University. Tickets for the event are available here.

The 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program's call for entries for books with a copyright date of 2022 will open in May 2022. For additional information, please contact IBPA Chief Operations Office and award program coordinator Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Application for 34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Judges Closes August 31

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 23:28:58 GMT

Qualified book professionals can now apply to judge the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program.

Deadline to apply: August 31, 2021

(Manhattan Beach, CA - August 24, 2021) -- The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) - a 501(c)6 professional trade association with over 3,700 members - seeks qualified book industry professionals to serve as judges for its 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2021.

Launched in 1985, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards program continues to be one of the most respected book award programs in the independent publishing community. Each year, over 165 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most with decades of book industry experience – are selected to judge the prestigious program. This high number of judges ensures that all of the 1,800+ books entered into the program each year are reviewed by three independent judges. At the end of the award cycle, the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with each judge's direct feedback on the submission.

The Judging Process

For audiobooks, each judge has a performance or an editorial focus. For most print books, each judge has a design focus or an editorial focus. Some print books, however, like those in the Interior Design category, are assigned only design judges and some print books, like those in the Best New Voice category, are assigned only editorial judges.

To make judging as easy as possible, IBPA provides all approved judges explicit judging guidelines, an online orientation, and ongoing phone and email support. In addition, the two entry submission deadlines (September 30, 2021 and December 15, 2021) ensure judges have enough time to review each book. All in all, the judging process takes close to six months, beginning in September and continuing into March 2022.

Interested book professionals are invited to apply here prior to the August 31, 2021 application deadline. Those with questions are invited to contact IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org. He's happy to help!

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, which includes over fifty-five categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. Learn more at www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Why I Enter Contests that Evaluate My Writing & Publishing

Tue, 8 Jun 2021 18:05:04 GMT

IBPA member Abbe Rolnick shares what it was like participating in the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program.

Abbe Rolnick

I’m not a gambler, but I’ve learned to take a risk on criticism and valued praises. For this reason, I always enter a few contests for my finished work, short stories, novel, and children’s book.

The trick is to find reputable organizations that have qualified judges in your genre and in the industry.

One contest that I enter is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). As stated in the contest's description.... "Over 160 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most of whom have decades of book industry experience – judge the books submitted to the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™. The judging process takes close to six months, beginning in September and continuing into March each year." With close to 1,800 entries, this was no easy task.

In 2020, I entered my novel, Founding Stones, the third in the Generation of Secrets Series, in two categories: Literary Fiction and Audiobooks. While I didn’t garner a coveted prize, I won with the evaluations. Each category is broken down between design and editorial, and a has at least seven subsets of assessment, graded from 1-10. In the case of a tie, they have category called tiebreaker.

Here are two of comments I received from anonymous judges. I received high marks on the assessments, but each category has three judges. The critiques were invaluable for future books.

Founding Stones by Abbe Rolnick; Publisher: Sedro Publishing

Audio Evaluation:

Wow, that was a ride. The connections between Joseph, Hannah, Luis, Rose, and the complexity of the character dynamics were really well done. The audio was great, and the story arc in this was executed really well. From the prologue, I was vested, and I wanted to know what happened next. Who knew mushrooms could be so important to a plot?! Great work. (Tiebreaker Score: 4)

Literary Fiction Editorial:

For me this is a top book. Why? For so many reasons. It's a coming-of-age story and it's also part political intrigue. The novel lays out for the reader the struggles immigrants have always faced. It stands out amongst all the books I've read for this category. The characters are memorable as the storyline follows their lives. I have a soft spot in my heart for Hannah as she deals with her overbearing parents, particularly her mother, who thinks shielding her saves her but actually has the opposite effect. The fact that she shares her love with Luis is poignant and revealing as it's not what her parents want for her. Great story! Notes: Has a prologue. I rarely read prologues as, too often, they give away the entire book.

Other contests I enter, including the Writer’s Digest, Publishers Weekly, and Chanticleer Awards each has a fee to enter. The fee is worth the cost if it is accompanied with a critique.

Most recently, I entered the Caldecott, Newbery, and Notable Books (all from the Association for Library Services to Children) for my October 2021 release of Bubbie’s Magical Hair. The ALSC entry has no fees, but strict qualifications and physical books must be sent to the judges.

My advice: Research the contests just as you would an agent, editor, or publisher. Be sure you meet the criteria. Then enter...and good luck!

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

34th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program Now Accepting Entries

Wed, 2 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Publishers of print and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2021 may enter the current competition.

Qualifying publishers include: independent publishers, hybrid publishers, self-published authors, university presses, and association presses.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - June 2, 2021) -- Today, the Independent Book Publishers Association - the largest association of book publishers in the US - opened the Call for Entries for its 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program. Independent publishers of books with a copyright date of 2021 are invited to enter the current competition.

The official Call for Entries can be downloaded here. There are two entry deadlines: September 30, 2021 and December 15, 2021.

Regarded as one of the nation’s highest honors in independent publishing, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program has been recognizing excellence and innovation in independent publishing for 34 years. Over 160 volunteer librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most of whom have decades of book industry experience – will judge the entries submitted. The judging process will take seven months, beginning in September 2021 and continuing into March 2022. At the end of the judging process, all entrants will receive a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed the book.

"The first time I entered one of my company's In 30 Minutes guides for consideration in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, we didn't win the Gold or Silver," said i30 Media Corp founder and IBPA member Ian Lamont. "But we got something even more valuable from the process: critical feedback from design and editorial judges letting us know exactly what worked ... and what didn't. My team took that advice to heart, and since then we have not only won several 'Bennies,' but have also created books that convey a sense of professionalism and publishing excellence to readers."

To cap this year's cycle, one book in each category will be named a Gold winner during a gala dinner ceremony scheduled for April 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida as part of IBPA Publishing University. Two additional books will in each category will be named Silver winners.

Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program?
The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program is a book award program that, over the past 34 years, has been regarded as one of the highest national honors in independent publishing. The awards are unique in that entrants receive direct feedback on their submissions: the verbatim judging forms are returned to all publishers.

Who can enter the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program?
Publishers of print and audiobooks books with a copyright date of 2021 may enter the current competition. To assist the judges and ensure they have enough time to review each book, there are two deadlines for entry: the first on September 30, 2021, then on December 15, 2021.

Can authors enter the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program on behalf of their publisher?
Absolutely! This happens all the time.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners Announced Over 4 Nights

Thu, 20 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards in the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book from a new publisher categories were awarded to Two Oaks Press for A Noble Calling: An FBI Yellowstone Adventure (fiction), Brothers in Arms Press LLC for Brothers in Arms: Remembering Brothers Buried Side by Side in American World War II Cemeteries (nonfiction), and Bound to Happen Publishing Inc. for Jump the Moon (children’s/young adult).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Manhattan Beach, CA - May 20, 2021) -- The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) celebrated the best in independent publishing for the year 2020 during a series of four virtual ceremonies, May 11-14, 2021. A variety of publishing models were represented, awarding Gold and Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards to traditional publishers, hybrid publishers, university presses, association presses, mission-driven organizations as well as authors publishing their own work.

“We’re publishing model-agnostic” explained IBPA COO Terry Nathan, who administers the awards. “Books should be judged on the quality of the editorial content and their design, and that’s just what the 165 judges for this year’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards did. This year’s finalists are some of the best I’ve seen. The world of independent publishing is stronger than ever!”

Traditional Independent publisher Light Messages Publishing's Valiant Savage.

Traditional independent publishers honored included Light Messages Publishing, whose Valiant Savage: A Peter Savage Novel won Gold in the General Fiction category and Interlude Press whose The Camino Club won Silver in Teen Fiction.

Hybrid publishers honored included She Writes Press who had a dozen books win over a variety of categories, including A Child Lost: A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel which won Gold in Fiction: Mystery & Thriller; All of Us Warriors: Cancer Stories of Survival and Loss which won Gold in Health & Fitness; and The World Looks Different Now: A Memoir of Suicide, Faith, and Family by Margaret Thomson which won Gold in the Best New Voice by a new author category. Also honored was Koehler Books with five awards including a Gold in the LGBTQ category for Cuban Son Rising.

University presses honored included Johns Hopkins University Press (Frederick Law Olmstead: Plans and Views of Communities and Private Estates won Silver in the Coffee Table Book category and Marvelous Microfossils: Creators, Timekeepers, Architects won Silver in the Nature & Environment category) and North Dakota State University Press (His Feathers Were Chains won Gold in the Poetry category).

Hybrid publisher Koehler Books' Cuban Son Rising.

Association presses honored during the awards ceremonies included the American Psychological Association, who won Gold for The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: The Official Guide to APA Style in the Professional & Technical category and the White House Historical Association, whose Wine in the White House: A History won Gold in both the Coffee Table Book and History categories, and whose Recipes from the President's Ranch: Food People Like to Eat won Gold in the Cookbook category.

Mission-driven organizations honored this year included the San Diego Zoo Global Press, (A Letter from Tashi: A Snow Leopard Tale won Gold in the Children’s Picture Book category and Saving Moka: The True Tale of a Rescued Tiger Cub won Gold in the Young Reader: Nonfiction category) and Minghui Publishing (Minghui Report: The 20-Year Persecution of Falun Gong in China won Silver in The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book from a new publisher, Nonfiction category).

University press North Dakota State University Press' His Feathers Were Chains.

Author publishers receiving awards included Kathryn Troutman, whose books published under Resume Place, Inc. received multiple honors including the Student's Federal Career Guide, 4th Edition which won Gold in the Business & Career category; and Federal Resume Guidebook, Seventh Edition which won Gold in the Reference category. Also honored was Suhani Parikh, whose Shreya's Very Own Style published under Modern Marigold Books, LLC won Silver in The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book from a new publisher, Children's/Young Adult category.

Additional highlights of the award ceremonies included a teen author helping her publisher, Premier Publishing win the Silver award in the Teen Nonfiction category for their book Why Wait? Your Time Is Now!: Think. Write. Believe. Achieve. authored by 14-year-old author and motivational speaker Reagan B. Nevel; and a bittersweet additional legacy for the late Kobe Bryant with a Gold award for Granity Studios for The Wizenard Series: Season One, created by Kobe Bryant and written by Wesley King in the Young Reader: Fiction category.

Association press the White House Historical Association's Wine in the White House: A History.

In all, fifty-five Gold and over one hundred Silver award winners were announced in 55 categories during the four virtual celebrations, sponsored by Ingram Content Group. Over 120 winners submitted home-recorded acceptance speeches in advance (not knowing if they would win Gold or Silver), and all speeches were included in the short category-specific videos. On demand access to all fifty-five IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award category award speech videos is available here.

The free online watch parties were more accessible and better attended than past in-person gala ceremonies, with over 540 registered attendees. The four-part event also featured a robust chat stream, creative entries to the #IBPABens social media contest, and prizes.

As part of the fun, attendees voted for their favorite posts (from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) each night, resulting in four winners of a free annual membership in IBPA. Winners included Tracee Dunblazier, who posted this photo to Instagram with the text: “Watching the #IBPABens tonight! Conquer Your Karmic Relationships is up for best mind, body, spirit book!”

[Additional text below the photo.]

Mission-driven organization San Diego Zoo Global Press' Saving Moka.

The 33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards program had three volunteer judges for each category, adding up to 165 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts, most of whom have decades of book industry experience. Judging books published in 2020, the judging process took seven months, beginning in September 2020 and continuing into March 2021.

When started in 1988, the awards program had two goals: to celebrate excellence in independent publishing, and to foster that excellence by sharing a written critique from each judge with the submitting publisher. Both goals continue to be met today, and each of the over 1,700 unique entrants will receive a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed their book—meaning more than 5,000 written critiques will be shared. These critiques include constructive feedback to help each publisher both understand how the book was perceived by specific judges and guide them to make future titles even better.

Author publisher Kathryn Troutman's Student's Federal Career Guide, 4th Edition.

By promoting the excellence of Independent publishing, providing feedback to build that excellence, and the marketing boost of an awards program that is regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards program upholds IBPA’s three-part mission: to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success.

CEO and Publisher of Top Reads Publishing Teri Rider commented, “As a judge in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, I am so impressed with the quality of the books that were entered this year. I know it is partly because of the continuous education that IBPA provides through their PubU program and webinars, and also the Checklist for a Professionally Published Book that was so carefully crafted a few years ago. IBPA is the best asset any independent publisher or author can have to help them achieve the high quality book that can compete with any other book on the bookstore shelf."

The call for entries into the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program for books with a copyright date of 2021 will open June 1, 2021. Visit the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards website to learn more.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards: The Stories Behind the Stories

Thu, 6 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Every book has a unique publishing journey full of ups and downs, rewarding moments and overwhelming moments. The books nominated for the 33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ are no exception. As part of the celebration of this year’s awards, IBPA is excited to share the compelling publishing journeys of some of the finalists as told by the publishers and authors.

After you read these stories, make sure you register to attend this year’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards virtual ceremony, held over four evenings May 11-14. Click here to register - it's FREE for ALL!

Saleen Saleh

In 2015, I started working on my book Street Culture. In 2016, a friend of mine who works in book publishing reached out to her friends at all the major publishing houses; to see if they would be interested in the book. After many NO’s we did receive one email saying, “While the work looks good, it does not suit our list.” This devastated me while also giving me a drive to make it happen.

Later that year, I decided to run a Kickstarter to raise $33,000 for printing the book. I asked the people I know to preorder the book at $33 to meet the goal. I knew a lot of people since I was working with Essence magazine for about 6 years at that time. The Kickstarter failed, it only raised $8,000. This really threw me off track but still I did not give up.

In 2018, I was determined to make it happen and publish my book. I spoke to any and everyone about it. I decided to look for a publisher instead of self-publishing. Finally, in November of that year, I reconnected with Umindi Francis who connected me with her friend Gordon Goff of Goff Books. He loved my book and my ideals. We went into production in 2019 and finally Street Culture was released in May 2020 during the pandemic. I didn’t realize it at the time but it really came out when people needed it the most. This is a testament that anything is possible.

—Saleen Saleh, author

PUBLISHER: Goff Books

BOOK: Street Culture

FINALIST CATEGORY: Art & Photography

Denise C. Breton

Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing Our Realities shipped from the printer on June 9th, 2020, the day of Mr. George Floyd’s funeral. The warehouse started sending out orders Juneteenth, 2020. And Erica Littlewolf, Northern Cheyenne, received her box of author copies June 25th, 2020, the commemoration of the Greasy Grass Fight. Having worked on the book for three years, this timing was stunning. Indeed, we had sought to do a book by scholars and practitioners of color in the restorative justice movement two times before, once in 2005 and another in 2009–2010.

For Colorizing Restorative Justice to emerge smack in the middle of a global uprising for racial and social justice underscored for us the persistence that independent publishers must often have for books we believe in. It also underscored that books often seem bigger than us, the publisher: they have lives of their own, and we cannot force them to be born until the time is ripe. Clearly, the time is now for naming how white supremacy operates in every area of life, and, in the case of Colorizing Restorative Justice, in the restorative justice movement.

Since the book’s release, the twenty contributors have formed a mutually supportive community. Writing openly about experiences with race can have hard consequences, personally and professionally. But voicing racial realities is also liberating—something that whites in the restorative justice movement can feel as well. The book has since catalyzed a colorizing restorative justice movement, further underscoring the bigness of a book that meets the times.

—Denise C. Breton, Co-founder and Executive Director, Living Justice Press

BOOK: Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing Our Realities

FINALIST CATEGORY: Multicultural

Rebecca Kightlinger

As a new publisher, I haven’t yet experienced the thrill of discovering a fresh new voice or publishing a soon-to-be lauded author’s greatest work. Nevertheless, independent publishing has transformed my life. Twice.

After an accident ended my career as a physician, I decided to pursue fiction writing professionally. I earned my MFA, and an independent publisher changed my life by publishing my first novel and revealing the intricacies of the business.

Years later, when I wanted more control over my work, I joined IBPA to learn more about independent publishing and established Rowan Moon LLC. Collaboration with an insightful editor and a cover artist/book designer whose work I had long admired enabled me to bring out the print version of Megge I had long envisioned. Working with a meticulous electronic formatter and an inspired audiobook narrator, we published the ebook and audiobook. And for the second time, independent publishing opened a new and rewarding chapter in my life.

Then came the terrifying part. How would I advertise the book, market it, and find its audience?

Here, IBPA came to the rescue. By sharing a wealth of experience through its educational programs, myriad marketing opportunities, and unstinting professional support, IBPA provided everything I needed to move forward with confidence.

Rowan Moon has now published two books, and I look forward to the day when independent publishing transforms my life for a third time by enabling me to discover that fresh new voice and publish that soon-to-be-lauded author’s greatest work.

—Rebecca Kightlinger, Founder & CEO, Rowan Moon LLC

BOOK: Megge of Bury Down, The Bury Down Chronicles: Book One

FINALIST CATEGORIES:
Audiobook: Fiction
The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Fiction

Karla M. Jay

I’m honored to have won an award with It Happened in Silence. I’m also proud I didn’t quit writing when many things went wrong four years ago. Around that time, I sued my agent for breach of contract. $46,000 in legal fees later, I won back the rights to a title I no longer sell.

That was painful. But I kept writing.

I changed genres from chick-lit/humor and started writing historical fiction. I got a NYC agent for my book, When We Were Brave. She pitched it everywhere and although publishing houses liked it, most said the market was glutted with WWII books and they weren't interested. That agent told me to put it away for 4-5 years and to write another book. It took three years to write that one. I broke our contract and decided to self-publish. That novel came out in 2019 and won many awards.

In May of 2019, I had a "simple" eye surgery to correct slightly warped vision in one eye. When the surgeon removed the bandage, I’d lost half of my vision there. "A one in a million chance," the surgeon said. "Not enough damage to recover money" lawyers said.

But still, I write.

I often have headaches, and my eyes burn from strain. But I'm not stopping. I don't know anything else I love to do as much as the research for a new idea and then turning that into something a reader might love. Or, in this case, a novel that wins awards.

—Karla M. Jay, author and publisher, Book Circle Press, LLC

BOOK: It Happened in Silence

FINALIST CATEGORY: Fiction: Historical

K. Lang-Slattery

The best self-publishing advice I ever received was to spend no more than I could afford to lose. In order to keep costs down, I take self-publishing literally and this has necessitated an entirely new set of skills beyond writing. All decisions, both big and small, fall on my shoulders. I have learned how to buy and assign ISBNs, how to get a Library of Congress number, and how to register a copyright. I work closely with my editor and my proof-reading team, with the book designer, and with the cover designer. It is a process that can be both tedious and gratifying.

Wherever the Road Leads is the fourth book published by Pacific Bookworks. As a memoir about a life-changing journey, this book was a very personal project. From the beginning, my vision included drawings and route maps. Getting all the graphics organized was a huge part of preparing the manuscript for publication. Because the story is told by an artist and illustrated with original drawings, I was determined not to use stock graphics on the cover. But none of my existing drawings seemed right. The cover needed new artwork that would attract readers and represent the memoir so I put on my artist hat again. My graphic designer created layout variations and I sought input from readers. Finally, the perfect cover emerged. All this work produced a book that has received recognition for the writing, the design, and the cover.

—K. Lang-Slattery, Author & Publisher, Pacific Bookworks

BOOK: Wherever the Road Leads: A Memoir of Love, Travel, and a Van

FINALIST CATEGORY: Travel

Reagan B. Nevels

It is an honor to be a finalist for the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards for my book: Why Wait? Your Time Is Now!: Think. Write. Believe. Achieve. I love being a teen nominated for the Teen: Nonfiction (13-18 Years) category!

I chose to sign with Premier Publishing because they saw my vision to inspire others to accomplish their dreams and goals. They believed in my work.

The publishing of Why Wait? was a wonderful roller coaster-like experience. I loved every step of the publishing process including the submitting, the editing, and the finalizing. I worked directly with the publishing team to complete the project. It was especially amazing to choose the book cover and see my words jump off the page in color! I felt a rush of joy, excitement, and accomplishment.

As a young motivational speaker, my publishing team thought I would be the best person to voice my own audiobook instead of hiring an actor. I said, yes! It was big fun to go into the studio and deliver each word.

My greatest hope is that my book will inspire teenagers to achieve their goals with my four-step process: Think. Write. Believe. Achieve.

A lot of time goes into publishing a book, eBook, and audiobook. I am grateful to work with a team who believes in me and my abilities.

Thank you to Premier Publishing and to you, IBPA, for taking the time to read my book.

—Reagan B. Nevels, author

PUBLISHER: Premier Publishing, LLC

BOOK: Why Wait? Your Time Is Now!: Think. Write. Believe. Achieve

FINALIST CATEGORY: Teen: Nonfiction (13-18 Years)

Michael Bradley

My new novel, Dead Air, was my first foray into the world of audiobooks. With Dead Air, I was working with a new publisher, and both thrilled and a little apprehensive when they said they would be producing an audiobook. Like most writers, I had my own ideas of how my characters should sound and how they speak. With an audiobook, the narrator develops the voice of each character based on how they interpret your text. I didn't have the opportunity to provide any notes before the audiobook was recorded. I remember my finger hovering over the "play" button on my smartphone when the audiobook was finally available. How was it going to sound? Did my publisher hire the right narrator? I'd never heard of Rachel Fulginiti. Would she do a good job with my novel?

I pressed play to listen to the first chapter. My protagonist was a radio DJ, and the first piece of dialogue in the book was her speaking on the air. When I heard that bit of dialogue for the first time, I was giddy as a schoolgirl. The narrator, Rachel Fulginiti, had nailed my protagonist's voice so perfectly that I'd swear she was my protagonist. Even better, she also portrayed my antagonist with just the right level of crazy to make me almost cry at its perfection. I don’t know how she did it, but Rachel made my characters come alive in the audiobook like I never thought possible.

—Michael Bradley, author

PUBLISHER: CamCat Books

BOOK: Dead Air

FINALIST CATEGORY: Audiobook: Fiction

Kevin Craig

In 2014, I walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route across Spain. As I walked, I carried an idea for a new novel with me; The Breakfast Club meets the Camino de Santiago. Once I began to write the story, I already had an endgame in mind...Interlude Press and their YA imprint Duet Books. This exciting and diverse LGBTQ press was exactly where I wanted The Camino Club to land. They publish the books my teen self would have loved to read had they been around when I was a teenager. Duet Books and Interlude Press publish books that give LGBTQ kids the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read. I wanted to be a part of that initiative.

When it came time for the cover, I couldn’t wait to see what they would come up with. I really loved the other Duet covers I had seen. After a short conversation with cover designer CB Messer, who read the entire novel prior to our meeting, they set out to create the cover. I already knew my novel had found the perfect home, but seeing the cover cemented that fact. CB Messer blew my expectations out of the water. The cover perfectly captured the story. It brought tears to my eyes. From acceptance, to editing, to the cover, to marketing, I felt secure in my decision. Duet was the perfect publisher for me!

—Kevin Craig, author

PUBLISHER: Duet Books, an imprint of Interlude Press

BOOK: The Camino Club

FINALIST CATEGORY: Teen: Fiction (13-18 Years)

Indra Zuno

Joy of joys! It’s March 2017 and Freedom Dues has finally reached “showable” state—according to my own personal Obi Wan, Steven Wolfson, Creative Writing instructor extraordinaire. Time to land a literary agent. Here we go…agentquery.com…start from the top with B— B— Associates. Time flies. It’s February 2018, and we’re down to F—L—. Hello, July 2018 and W. That’s 92 submissions, for a grand total of 43 agencies who never replied, 47 agencies who rejected my manuscript, one agent who requested the manuscript and vanished, and another who requested the first 50 pages and went MIA. No agent, no publisher, no problem. IBPA to the rescue!

Unlike the writing process, during which many a tear was shed, the publishing process at the newly minted Spinning a Yarn Press brought nothing but inspiration and anticipation. I aimed to approach publishing in the most professional manner possible, and IBPA has been an invaluable resource to that end. Being a finalist for the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards gives great significance to the work invested from finished manuscript to this precious book I cradle in my hands. Joy of joys!

—Indra Zuno, author

PUBLISHER: Spinning a Yarn Press

BOOK: Freedom Dues

FINALIST CATEGORY: Fiction: Historical

Matt Miller

The COVID-19 pandemic's tentacles touched just about every walk of life. Its biggest impact on families may have been through education. Overnight, many educators were forced into remote teaching. It was so sudden that some students weren't even allowed back into schools to get their lunchboxes and textbooks. Teachers scrambled over the weekend to hone their technology skills and adapt their lessons. It wasn't pretty. Students cried. Parents cried. Teachers cried. Let's face it: everyone was crying. Technology was at the forefront of learning, and we were failing.

I submitted my manuscript for Tech Like a Pirate in 2019. Its premise: technology can be the catalyst to the learning of our dreams. Scheduled release: spring 2020. We wondered, do we hold publication because of the pandemic? No, we decided. We can't. In this time of despair in education, this was the book teachers needed. We wanted to provide teachers solutions and ideas—and give students joy in learning at a dark time.

Tech Like a Pirate helped teachers and students alike find joy, effective teaching and fun learning. On Amazon, for a day, Tech Like a Pirate was the #1 Movers and Shakers book and reached #277 in all book sales. It was an Amazon #1 bestseller in two categories. We feel that it made pandemic teaching a little more bearable, which is a valuable accomplishment.

—Matt Miller, author

PUBLISHER: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

BOOK: Tech Like a Pirate

FINALIST CATEGORY: Professional & Technical

Andrew Shaffer

When my wife's Big Five publisher told her they were ending her Original Sinners romance series after eight books, it was understandable—eight books is a lot. Over a million words, when you include the short stories and novellas. But she had more stories she wanted to tell in that universe, so I assumed the mantle of "publisher" and 8th Circle Press was born. Finally, I thought, a chance to put my MBA degree to use!

It's been a fun ride. In the past five years, we've published not only Tiffany's books, but also some of my own work and a charity anthology featuring forty different authors. If that sounds like we're mainly a self-publishing operation, well, that's pretty much the case—but you'd be surprised how many people are involved at times (copy editors, content editors, cover designers, publicists, etc.). We had a surprise USA Today bestseller with the first Godwicks series book, The Red, and somehow managed to bag the unicorn of the independent publishing world: a New York Times review (of The Chateau, a romantic suspense novel).

The Pearl is a standalone novel in Tiffany's Godwicks series. Every book in the series has featured lavish fantasy scenes inspired by classical art and mythology. The heroes and heroines enact different roles in each chapter, based upon a public-domain painting or myth. What makes The Pearl so unique, however, is that all sixteen of the featured paintings—three of which are reproduced in the trade paperback—are by female artists. For a romance featuring a powerful, dominant heroine, the choice to focus on female artists was a natural fit. And the decision to publish The Pearl through 8th Circle Press was easy...what else would you expect from a writer whose heroines are strong and unconventional?

—Andrew Shaffer, Publisher, 8th Circle

BOOK: The Pearl

FINALIST CATEGORY: Fiction: Romance

Kathy Simmers

Twenty years ago, I witnessed the true story that Jump the Moon is based on unfold before my eyes. I was not a writer, but the book tumbled from my heart onto the paper as a children’s book.

Several weeks later, l attended a conference on personal growth. On the first day, I sat next to a lovely lady from South Africa. “What do you do for a living?”, I asked. “I edit children’s books for Harper Collins,” she answered. “That’s amazing! I’ve just written a children’s book.” I’m sure she’d never heard that before!

I shared my book with her and she edited it for me over that weekend. “Send it to me at Harper Collins when you’ve made the changes.” A few months later I was at Harper Collins making a dummy book with her! I thought it was that easy. But she left Harper Collins for personal reasons and never returned.

I began collecting rejection letters and eventually put the book aside. Three years ago, I decided to self-publish. I started working with an artist and quickly realized I was over my head. My friend from Harper Collins, Simone Kaplan, had started her own company producing children’s picture books. She worked with me to complete the manuscript and illustrations.

After considering offers from three hybrid publishers, I realized that I had a very clear vision of what I wanted for Jump the Moon.

Bound to Happen Publishing was born and now has an award-winning first book!

—Kathy Simmers, author & Publisher, Bound to Happen Publishing Inc.

BOOK: Jump the Moon

FINALIST CATEGORY: The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Children’s/Young Adult

Thank you to everyone who sent their incredible stories behind the publication of their books! For all the finalists whose stories were not included above, feel free to share your publication story in the comments below for all to read.

Click here to learn more about the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and to apply for next year’s 34th annual program starting June 1!

If you enjoyed the above stories, check out the publishing stories from some of last year’s finalists.

Share your publishing news with the IBPA community! Send news about events or accomplishments to christopher@ibpa-online.org. For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, click here.

Keep in mind that we reserve Spotlights for major news (such as, you published a book about space exploration and now it's being read in a live video feed by astronauts from the International Space Station), unique news (such as, you published a book about cycling and now the author is riding a bike across the U.S. for their book tour), or human interest stories (such as, you visit shelters every weekend to read books to the dogs and cats there).

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on our IBPA Instagram page. Please contact christopher@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle (and the Instagram handle of the author).

For good news in general about your publishing company (your book received a wonderful editorial review, you have an upcoming speaking engagement, etc.), use the hashtag #IBPAmemberGoodNews on Twitter and IBPA will amplify your good news!

Whether you have news or not, all of us at IBPA are cheering you on!

IBPA Announces Finalists in the 33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 18:17:08 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

146 unique books representing the best of independent publishing are honored in the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program.

Shop the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award finalists on Bookshop.org.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - March 25, 2021) -- Today, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) – www.ibpa-online.org – announced finalists in the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, the association’s flagship book award program recognizing excellence and innovation in independent publishing for 33 years.

One finalist in each of the fifty-five categories will be named a Gold winner during a set of four online ceremonies the evenings of May 11-14, 2021. The remaining finalists in each category will become Silver winners.

Click here to access the full list of 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award finalists.

Watch the video above for a sneak peek at the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards online ceremony, May 11-14, 2021. This 33rd annual ceremony is generously sponsored by Ingram Content Group. Click here to RSVP.

Wine and the White House: A History received the most accolades, being named a finalist in four categories: Coffee Table Book; History; Reference; and Interior Design.

Representing the breadth and diversity of independent publishing nationwide, finalists in each of the fifty-five categories include titles such as Dalko: The Untold Story of Baseball's Fastest Pitcher (Influence Publishers); Buddy's Magic Window: A Little Dog's Big Adventure (Dennis Glennon Photography); Galileo! Galileo! (Sky Candle Press); A Child Lost: A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel (She Writes Press); and Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing Our Realities (Living Justice Press).

Sixteen books were honored as a finalist in multiple categories – meaning a different set of three judges determined their excellence in each category. Fourteen of those titles received two nods, and Grouse & Woodcock: The Birds of My Life (Wild River Press) was named a finalist in three: Art & Photography; Sports & Recreation; and Cover Design: Large Format. Wine and the White House: A History (White House Historical Association) received the most accolades, being named a finalist in four categories: Coffee Table Book; History; Reference; and Interior Design.

Other finalists include: Anonymous is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality (Revela Press); Megge of Bury Down: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One (Rowan Moon); Minghui Report: The 20-Year Persecution of Falun Gong in China (Minghui Publishing); Underprivileged Overachiever: A Crenshaw Story (Telemachus Press); and HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time (LifeTree Media).

The Wizenard Series: Season One, created by the late Kobe Bryant and written by Wesley King for Bryant's Granity Studios publishing company, was named a finalist in the YOUNG READER (8-12 YEARS) category.

"Winning an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award says to bookstores, reviewers, and readers, ‘This is one of the best books published in this category and it deserves to be noticed’," explained Patagonia Books publisher and IBPA Board Chair Karla Olson. "The finalists, which reflect the highest standards of professionalism and attention to detail, celebrate the innovation and diversity coming out of today’s independent publishing community."

Added IBPA COO Terry Nathan, "We’re grateful to the 165 judges who volunteered their time and expertise to read, review, and provide written feedback for the more than 1,750 books submitted for award consideration this year."

The judging process took seven months, beginning in September 2020 and continuing into March 2021. At the end of the process, each of the more than 1,750 entrants will be given a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed their book.

Reflecting on a previous year’s entry that didn’t win gold or silver, Path to Publishing CEO and founder JoyLynn M. Ross said, "Because of the amazing feedback, critique, and suggestions made by the judges, I feel like I now have a winner. I went back and implemented those necessary changes and suggestions…it was a critique that was absolutely priceless."

The call to enter the 34th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program (for books with a copyright date of 2021) will open in May 2021.

Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, contact IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Call for 33rd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Book Award Judges Closes August 31st

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:54:45 GMT

An Open Call To The Independent Publishing Community

The 33rd annual program includes 56 categories, with 3 or 4 finalists selected in each.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - July 29, 2020) -- The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is looking for book industry professional with the credentials to serve as judges for the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, the most prestigious book awards program available to independent publishers and author publishers.

Interested professionals should cick here for the online application. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2020.

Over 165 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most with decades of book industry experience – will be selected to judge the books submitted with a copyright date of 2020. The judging process will take close to six months, beginning in September and continuing into March 2021.

“Each year we receive close to 1,700 entries, and each book is judged by three book professionals,” said IBPA chief operations officer Terry Nathan. “We cherish our judges and appreciate every ounce of effort they invest to make this program happen. These are hard working professionals, people who have reached a point in their careers where they want to give back to the industry they’ve grown to love. And one of the best parts of this program is learning that many of the judges get more out of this program than they give. As one judge told me this year,...

'I do enjoy being part of something that keeps writers writing, publishers publishing, and readers reading!'”

IBPA has opened the call for judges capable of judging print books, graphic novels, audiobooks....or all three! The deadline to apply to be a judge is Friday, August 31, 2020, and applications are being accepted here.

For more information, contact IBPA chief operations officer Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org. For ongoing IBPA news, visit IBPA's online newsroom.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

32nd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Winners Announced During 4-Night Virtual Event

Fri, 15 May 2020 19:56:44 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Manhattan Beach, CA - May 15, 2020) -- The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA - ibpa-online.org) was thrilled to announce fifty-five Gold and over one hundred Silver award winners during four virtual watch parties held on the evenings of May 5-8, 2020. The virtual program, dubbed the "Shelter-In-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Ceremony, came together after an in-person award program planned for April 3, 2020 in Redondo Beach, California was cancelled due to COVID-19.

With over 500 registered attendees, the innovative (and free!) online celebrations yielded higher participation than past in-person gala ceremonies. The four-part event also featured a new level of interactivity, with games, prizes, a robust chat stream, and creative entries to the #IBPABens social media contest. Attendees voted for their favorite posts (from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) each night, resulting in four winners of a free annual membership in IBPA.

The #IBPABens social media contest finalists from Friday, May 8, 2020. By popular vote, #1, Eric Meade, Author of Reframing Poverty, and Silver winner in the The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) category, won a free year's membership to IBPA.

The online program recognized Gold and Silver winners for reaching the highest standards of book editorial and design via category-specific videos, where one Gold winner in each of fifty-five categories was named. The remaining finalists in each category became Silver winners. Over 100 winners submitted home-recorded acceptance speeches in advance (not knowing if they would win Gold or Silver), and all speeches were included in the 2-6 minute category-specific videos.

The fifty-five category award ceremony videos can be seen here.

[Additional text below the photo.]

A screen shot from the May 2, 2020 "Shelter-In-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Ceremony Viewing Party, showing the event hosts. Pictured, from top left: IBPA CEO Angela Bole, IBPA Director of Marketing and Programming Lee Wind, IBPA Member Liaison Christopher Locke (at bottom right), and IBPA COO Terry Nathan.

Over 160 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts, most of whom have decades of book industry experience, judged the books submitted to the 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program. The judging process took seven months, beginning in September 2019 and continuing into March 2020.

In a unique program component, all of the over 1,700 unique entrants will receive a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed their book—meaning more than 5,000 written critiques will be shared. These critiques include constructive feedback to help each publisher both understand how the book was perceived by specific judges and guide them to make future titles even better. This upholds the educational component of IBPA’s three-part mission: to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success.

The call for entries into the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program for books with a copyright date of 2020 is now open. Visit the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards website to learn more.

[Additional text below the video.]

New this year was the Fiction: Horror category. Watch The "Shelter-In-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony: Fiction: Horror video above to see the finalists and who won Gold! (Playing time: 4:03) Just one of this year's fifty-five stand alone award ceremony videos. Choose the ones you want to see here.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,300 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the US. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program is administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) with help from over 160 publishing professionals, including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, and editors. All entrants receive direct feedback from the judges which is sure to help guide future publications. For more information, visit ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com.

Funny & Clever Social Media from the "Shelter-In-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

Thu, 14 May 2020 05:00:00 GMT

The May 5-8, 2020 “Shelter-In-Place” IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Ceremony watch parties were a grand success! Over 500 people registered for the events to celebrate the best in independent publishing, and each evening was full of laughs in the livestream chat, as well as in the acceptance speeches themselves. You can see all the acceptance speeches and the videos announcing the winners by clicking any of the categories on this page.

One of the most fun (and creative!) aspects of the each event was the social media posted by the attendees. Each night, the person who posted the best social media as won a complimentary IBPA membership. See below for the winners from each night, and an entertaining taste of the other posts throughout each evening:

This corgi was the Tuesday, May 5th winner

View this post on Instagram

Our book was filled with cats, but Rigby is rooting for Molly and enjoying the #IBPABens! She may also be drinking too much... @ibpalovesindies @IBPA #indiebooks

A post shared by Courtenay Fletcher (@courtenayfletcher) on May 5, 2020 at 5:14pm PDT

These horses were the Wednesday, May 6th winners

These 4-legged judges (& their reader) want @ibpa to know that the book, Equine Law and Horse Sense, should be a hooves-down winner of a Gold Award at the #IBPAbens (IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards) tomorrow. Whinnies of gratitude to all finalists, @juliefershtman, and @ShopABA pic.twitter.com/vuEGNswdQS
— Lawandhorsesense (@horselawyers) May 7, 2020

Tamara Dever was the Thursday, May 7th winner

#TBThursday for the @ibpa #IBPABens awards. This goes back to 1996 in Chicago with none other than Jan Nathan awarding my very first Ben Franklin award and it was for 2-color cover design. (That was a thing!) Look at her gorgeous smile. :) #WhatwasIwearing? pic.twitter.com/onE6C2iC48
— Tamara Dever (@TLCBookDesign) May 8, 2020

Eric Meade was the Friday, May 8th winner

My "red carpet" walk to the "shelter in place" @ibpa Ben Franklin Award Ceremony! #IBPABens pic.twitter.com/kiX0m2aM8r
— Eric Meade, Author of Reframing Poverty (@reframingpvrty) May 8, 2020

And the runners up!...

Sounds like I need to travel to the Rocky Mountains. Staring at this map dreaming of my next trip as I watch the @ibpa #IBPABens awards. pic.twitter.com/73D5BgQbKs
— davidwgatesjr (@davidwgatesjr) May 9, 2020

⁦@ibpa⁩ ⁦@SolutionTree⁩ I love award shows but it must be time for a snack! pic.twitter.com/2y3VISYkBg
— Claudia Wheatley (@claudonwheat) May 7, 2020

#IBPABens ⁦@SolutionTree⁩ IBPA rocks! I’m incentivized to learn to read! pic.twitter.com/qFG3ZXlyng
— Claudia Wheatley (@claudonwheat) May 7, 2020

Kona the dog looking everywhere for the #IBPABens Awards Ceremony only to find out it is virtual this year! Next year...see you in person! Thanks @ibpa for all you do!! #dbcincbooks #OKtoSayThey @dbc_inc @burgess_shelley @ChristyWhittles pic.twitter.com/xIIlT86tmE
— Dave Burgess (@burgessdave) May 7, 2020

Amaya is embracing “Shelter-in-place”. Cheering for Motorcycle Crash Reconstruction! #IBPABens @ibpa pic.twitter.com/2TMmV1INmj
— Sherry Nigam (@SherryDickinson) May 8, 2020

#IBPABens Everyone loves the IBPA Shelter In Place Ben Franklin Awards! #BooksToRead #IBPA #ReadIndie #WritingCommunity pic.twitter.com/XIyWz2HVpN
— M P Zarrella (@MZtheauthor) May 8, 2020

The first two evenings at the #IBPABens were so much fun! Looking forward to #3 tonight (@elvaresa is a finalist). See you there! But first, a poll. What is @ibpa's mission and who ate all the chocolate @SpouseCalls? #indiepublishers #ReadIndie #bookawards pic.twitter.com/0Gqn2gw8Rm
— K Pavlicin-Fragnito (@pavlicin) May 7, 2020

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards: The Stories Behind the Stories

Thu, 7 May 2020 05:00:00 GMT

In a normal year, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ gold winners would get to share the stories behind the publication of their wonderful books in person at the awards ceremony. But as we all know, 2020 has been anything but normal. The in-person award ceremony had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 health crisis and moved to the 4-night “Shelter-In-Place” IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony Viewing Parties online. (Two of the nights already took place on May 5 and 6, but there’s still a chance to attend tonight, May 7, and tomorrow night, May 8, by registering here).

Hearing the “thank you” speeches of the winners is always a touching and inspiring experience, so IBPA asked this year’s finalists to share their stories behind the publication of their books. Below are ten highlights:

Marina Aris

“Last year on Career Day, my seven-year-old daughter said that she wants to be a publisher when she grows up. I was secretly elated by her response—not because she may want to follow in my footsteps someday, but because, those words, ‘I want to be a publisher’ can now be a possible career choice. Those words, can serve as a valid response to an age-old question.

“When I started the Brooklyn Writers Press, I only intended to publish my own writing. I never imagined that in just 3 years I would be publishing the work of more than a dozen passionate and talented writers. Everything I’ve done, every risk I’ve taken since deciding to follow a life-long dream of a career in publishing has led to nothing but rewards. The reward of being in a position to encourage other writers. The reward of taking an active role in creating beautiful books that meet professional standards. And mostly, the reward of building a literary legacy I hope will stand the test of time.

“Whatever path my children eventually embark on, the Brooklyn Writers Press, the house their mother built, is meant to remind them, not only that independently-published books can be well made, but that it is never too late to follow your passion. Words and books have always been my passion. I’m grateful every day is now spent not so much working, as dream-weaving the kind of magic that can only come from books.”

—Marina Aris, Publisher, Brooklyn Writers Press

BOOK: Bleed Through: Alex Greco, ADA Series Book 2

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Fiction: Mystery & Thriller”

Lisa Braver Moss

“Shrug was a difficult novel for me to write. Besides the fact that it depicts domestic violence and psychological brutality in the main character’s childhood, the book is largely autobiographical. I had to be confident in my own strength and healing in order to see it through.

“Shrug was also a difficult novel for me to release, mainly because I knew I’d be asked whether the book was based on my childhood. If I answered honestly, would family members be upset with me? What would my friends think? Would interviews and reviews focus on my childhood experience rather than on the book itself?

“One person who helped me forge ahead was publishing ‘disrupter’ Brooke Warner, Publisher of She Writes Press, who’s such a badass herself that she made me want to be a badass, too. Because of Brooke’s understanding and encouragement, I let myself be interviewed not just as a novelist, but also as a survivor. I began to embrace that identity in a way I’d never done before—proudly. Along the way, I got lots of support from the She Writes community of authors, whose unspoken motto is ‘You go, girl!’ Brooke and her community helped me launch Shrug with self-assurance and no small measure of joy.

“I am deeply proud of Shrug, and its publication was a great opportunity for me to feel pleased and confident no matter what anyone else thought. So I’m doubly thrilled and doubly honored that the IBPA has recognized Shrug with this award.”

—Lisa Braver Moss, author

BOOK: SHRUG

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Fiction: General”

Claudia Wheatley

“Solution Tree’s vision is to transform education worldwide to ensure high levels of learning for all. Internally, our mission is to advance the work of our authors. We have a big hairy audacious vision, so we are very selective to find the right authors with passion for that purpose. All of our books become a mission for our press staff as well. When a new project comes in, we look for the very best team to take the journey with the authors. This matching normally is an efficient selection process based on areas of editor expertise and project schedules. Not so with Step In, Step Up: Empowering WOMEN for the School Leadership Journey. Our Publisher was barraged by both our female and male editors and designers with a multitude of reasons each should have an essential role in this project. The rationales ranged from pleading to almost threatening. We all know the dismal data. Over 75% of educators are women yet less than 30% of school leaders are women. We all wanted to have a role in eliminating that gender gap. Fortunately, our team works as a truly collaborative machine and everyone was kept in the loop.

“Solution Tree later made the decision to hold an event for current and aspiring women in education leadership. Each participant received a copy of Step In, Step Up. Because the authors and Solution Tree’s publishing team stepped up, we believe women will now be empowered.”

—Claudia Wheatley, Education Specialist and Author Liaison, Solution Tree

BOOK: Step In, Step Up: Empowering WOMEN for the School Leadership Journey

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Education”

Deborah Brandon

“Threads Around the World: From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe started out as a collection of previously published newsletter articles focused on ethnic textile techniques. But instead of simply editing, I found myself extensively reworking the articles. I had become more interested in the stories behind the techniques—about the traditions, cultures, communities, and the artisans. In addition, Judy Fort Brenneman (my writing coach and editor) and I commissioned renowned textile photographer Joe Coca to create photographs of the textiles to accompany each essay. Joe’s photos elevated the project to one worthy of publishing.

“I was delighted when Peter Schiffer of Schiffer Publishing expressed his enthusiasm for my proposed book. He suggested supplementing Joe’s beautiful textile photos with images of process. I was hesitant. Since I couldn’t travel in person to photograph artisans worldwide, I knew that obtaining the required images would be a significant challenge.

“But Peter was right: the benefits of our photo search were invaluable. I learned even more about the artisans and their stories, which further enriched my writing and led to the realization that this book was not simply a series of stories about traditional textiles. It was instead about how these traditional textiles unveil our commonalities and our connections with each other—and how they prevent us from losing our humanity.

“The end result is a book that is more vibrant and valuable, a true work of art that will remain relevant for many generations.”

—Deborah Brandon, author

BOOK: Threads Around the World: From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Multicultural”

Deborah Kalas

“It was actually a Match.com date that got my book started. Meeting in a public space, my date took me to an art show. There, I found the late Pat Gerlach, wildlife photographer, who led trips to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Nine months later, I found myself in North Dakota face-to-face with a wild stallion and my camera. Again, I was smitten, this time with the wild horses.

“I returned many times over the course of five years to photograph these magnificent horses and their relationships with each other through the changing seasons. When I decided to put a book together little did I know that the trail would wind up and down through similar challenges I faced photographing the horses.

“My first publisher took my money and ran. The writer I hired decided she couldn’t write. The writer who did write turned out to miss the point. And then my luck changed. In finding Terri Wright Design, my book, The Wild Herd, began taking shape. When she shared my proof with Val De Grace Books, they chose to publish it, adding my title to their list of top-quality books. With the guidance of Terri and Paul Chutkow, the publisher, I wrote what needed to be written, edited the photographs again, and was finally able to produce the book I had always dreamed of!”

—Deborah Kalas, author

BOOK: The Wild Herd: A Vanishing American Treasure

FINALIST CATEGORIES: “Animal and Pet,” “Coffee Table Book,” “Interior Design”

Judy Stoffel

“’Start local, then expand the circle.’

“Those words summed up the message I received from Dara Beevas, Wise Ink Creative Publishing’s Co-founder and Chief Strategic Officer, on how my book can be a game-changer for parents struggling with their children’s use of screens. I wanted to influence thousands of families, and she told me to start local and it will come.

“My journey began when Dara took a chance on me, a first-time author with no writing experience. What I did have, and Wise Ink prides themselves on, was a passion and vision for effectuating change. I was enraged that Silicon Valley executives were not letting their own children use iPads, but they were willing to sell them to us. I wanted to build awareness on the addictive qualities of these devices, especially in children.

“The first big step was a launch party for 125 friends, followed by interviews in local newspapers, then print, radio and television interviews in nearby states. Within months, my book was on the Amazon bestseller list in my category.

“Next, I drafted legislation to mandate screen use education and limits for young children, SF3310 and HF3504. The bill was co-authored by five Senators and Representatives and I testified at the Minnesota State Capitol. This hearing received coverage from the largest television station in Minneapolis and the first of its kind screen time bill was going national as I was interviewed by Good Morning America. The icing on the cake: IBPA Benjamin Franklin award finalist. Start local and it will come…”

—Judy Stoffel, author

BOOK: #LookUp: A Parenting Guide to Screen Use

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Parenting & Family”

Ray Fisk

“When Superstorm Sandy hit the Jersey Shore in 2012, it not only destroyed our office but it also destroyed the remaining inventory of the last printing of our all-time bestselling book. Mother Nature must have a sense of irony, because that book, published in 1993, was titled Great Storms of the Jersey Shore.

“There was still demand for the title, which had gone through a dozen printings, but the content was dated without the greatest storm of the modern era. We let the title go out of print and worked to pick up the pieces of our publishing company, focusing on a book about Superstorm Sandy.

“Half a decade after that publication, we built on the original Great Storms to create a greatly expanded new edition, with color images and new stories. An elephant in the room was climate change and sea level rise, so an Afterword by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author Gilbert M. Gaul was added.

“Scott Mazzella, author of IBPA award-winning Surviving Sandy, was recruited to write new material—including not only Sandy, but major weather events of the past quarter century. Authors of the original book, Margaret Thomas Buchholz and Larry Savadove, contributed updates and corrections. Veteran newspaper editor Stephen Warren helped define the scope and edit. Leslee Ganss and I designed a book incorporating the best of the first edition with the new. All involved had suffered the loss of part of their homes in Sandy and felt an abiding passion for the project.”

—Ray Fisk, Publisher, Down The Shore Publishing

BOOK: Great Storms of the Jersey Shore, 2nd Edition

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Regional”

Julie Hammonds and Myles Schrag

“When Chris Gomez unpinned a race bib from his shirt and held it in front of him as he neared the finish line, a publishing company was born.

“That may not be the most outrageous Butterfly Effect you’ll ever hear, but it’s pretty special to us at Soulstice Publishing and our running peers in Flagstaff, Arizona.

“Gomez, a talented distance runner and oncology nurse, wore the bib of Fon Cordasco, his patient and friend who had passed away just months earlier—before she could finish her beloved Imogene Pass Run for the 20th time.

“Gomez’s moving tribute caught the attention of Myles, which led to a call for other Flagstaffians to share their own special Imogene moments. That resulted in a friendship and co-editing partnership with Julie that resulted in To Imogene, a Flagstaff Love Letter being a finalist for the "Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Nonfiction."

“We quickly realized this passion project should not be our only book, that our skill sets were complementary, and that the sheer pleasure of thinking together made the book stronger. Besides, new book ideas kept popping up once Imogene was in motion! We formed Soulstice Publishing—named after an annual Flagstaff race with an evocative name that itself was inspired by Imogene.

“Our future titles won’t always have such a direct local connection, but they will all be chosen by a desire to produce ‘books with soul,’ in the spirit of Chris’ inspiring, spontaneous decision and our first title that blossomed from it.”

—Myles Schrag and Julie Hammonds, co-founders, Soulstice Publishing

BOOK: To Imogene, a Flagstaff Love Letter: One Town’s Long-Distance Romance with an Iconic Trail Run

FINALIST CATEGORY: "Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book: Nonfiction"

Michael Blanchard

“Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As the author of Through A Sober Lens I had a message I needed to communicate to make sense of my personal battle with alcoholism. After hitting a very low bottom, which included a plan to commit suicide, I transformed from the COO of a large company into a writer and a photographer. By happenstance, I decided to share a gallery space with Julian Wise who would later become the publisher of my book. We shared a love of art, but also had families that were torn by the disease of addiction. Julian had deep empathy for the words and photographs I shared on social media, which would eventually become the essays in my new book. He understood my need to repair damage, help others, and leave a legacy. Julian and his wife had the same deep sense of gratitude and desire to make the world a better place. What are the chances of finding a publisher who shared my specific goal of giving hope to people who suffer from addiction?

“Genevieve Press was born, named after his beautiful daughter. We came into each other’s life through destiny, not coincidence. A ‘God-wink’ that put two people together that had something to say. I was granted my wish in becoming an author, and Julian began his dream of publishing books that will make a difference in people’s lives. We are truly grateful.”

—Michael Blanchard, author

BOOK: Through A Sober Lens: A Photographer’s Journey

FINALIST CATEGORIES: “Inspirational,” "Interior Design”

Justine Villanueva

"For us at Sawaga River Press, publishing our own stories is one of the many ways we decolonize the way we think, act, and live in relation to others and the land. It is how we honor our indigenous identities lest we forget the lessons that our ancestors have passed down to us to help us thrive.

“The best thing about publishing Jack & Agyu is that it reflects the indigenous Filipino concept of Kapwa, which guides us to work collectively and for the collective good. Jack & Agyu is the manifestation of the intentions of many in our diasporic community who are working hard to decolonize.

“We are grateful for our artists, illustrator Lynnor Bontigao, and book designer Stefanie Liang Chung, and our many collaborators, especially those whose support went beyond what we asked for: the Bukidnon Studies Center of the Bukidnon State University, which provided translations to three other Filipino languages and vetted the cultural content of the book to ensure we were accurate and appropriate in our storytelling; the Center for Babaylan Studies for believing in the story; and the 250 crowdfunders who backed our campaign.

“Wherever we share Jack & Agyu, people come up to us and tell us how much the book means to them and that they're grateful for the work we do so that their kids can have books that reflect their kids' joys and dreams. This is all we need to hear to keep us going."

—Justine Villanueva, Founder, Sawaga River Press

BOOK: Jack & Agyu

FINALIST CATEGORY: “Children’s Picture Book (4-7 Years)”

Thank you everyone who shared the stories behind the publication of their books! We hope these stories prove to be an inspiration to all indie publishers out there. For all the finalists whose stories were not included above, feel free to share the story behind the publication of your book in the comments below.

Click here to read more about the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and to apply for next year’s 33rd annual program!

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact christopher@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Twitter handle.

Whether you have news or not, all of us at IBPA are cheering you on!

You’re Invited to the “Shelter-In-Place” IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony Viewing Parties!

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Always known for being responsible, IBPA's Benjamin Franklin mascot wears his mask and stays six feet away from his colleagues for the "Shelter-In-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Ceremony viewing parties! (Marble sculpture created by artist Don Tubesing, Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers and Past President of IBPA.)

Don’t miss one of IBPA’s biggest events of the year, and a chance to cheer on your fellow IBPA members and independent publishers: the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ ceremony viewing parties!

For over three decades, IBPA has announced the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award gold winners at a gala dinner and ceremony held at IBPA Publishing University, but when the April 2020 conference had to be cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 health crisis, we had a major decision to make: if we’re not permitted to have in-person events, what should we do about honoring the award recipients?

IBPA knows how much effort and passion goes into publishing the books that are finalists in the 55 award categories (and think these books are incredible), so we decided it’s vital to hold the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award ceremony any way we can. That’s how we came up with the idea to conduct the first-ever “Shelter-In-Place” IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony viewing parties!

Mark your calendars: May 5-8, 2020 from 4-6pm Pacific each day, IBPA will host online watch parties during which we’ll announce the gold winners. Click here to register for what’s sure to be a grand event. Everyone is welcome to attend these free online parties, so invite your friends, family, and share the news on social media (#IBPABens). The more, the merrier! As a bonus for attending, IBPA is giving away fun prizes each night to some lucky attendees, including a complimentary 1-year IBPA membership, but you have to attend to win.

If you can’t attend the live streaming events, you can still watch and share the acceptance speeches! After each live event, IBPA will post the acceptance speech videos from that night on the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award YouTube Channel. These videos will go live at 6:30 PM Pacific each night. Make sure to share the videos with everyone you know, so the entire community can celebrate the 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award winners!

We look forward to seeing you online soon, and thank you for supporting the independent publishing community!

Before the event, take a look at the new online format with this announcement video:

Also, click here or below to watch highlights from last year's 31st Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Ceremony. This year's event where we'll reveal the Gold winners and acceptance speeches will be filled with the same heart, passion, and excellence.

Whether you have news or not, all of us at IBPA are cheering you on!

32nd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Ceremony Goes Virtual: May 5-8, 2020

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 21:24:27 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Manhattan Beach, CA - April 15, 2020) -- The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) -- ibpa-online.org -- announced today that its 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ ceremony has shifted to an online event dubbed "The 'Shelter-in-Place' IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Ceremony.”

As part of the online festivities, Gold winners in fifty-five unique book award categories will be delivered in four mini online "watch parties" from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific, May 5th through May 8th, 2020. The original award ceremony was planned as an in-person event on Friday, April 3rd, 2020 in Redondo Beach, California, but was cancelled due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Below is text from an email to IBPA members announcing the innovative online event, sent April 15th, 2020.

Ready to party (virtually!) with some amazing independently published books?

Come one! Come all! You're invited to join the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) community for the first-ever "Shelter-in-Place" IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ ceremony, an online celebration of the best in independent book publishing!

On May 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific each day, IBPA is excited to host four unique "watch parties" live online via Webex. Each watch party will include a first-look at gold winners in a selection of the fifty-five (55) total categories represented in the 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program.

All four virtual programs (see the Schedule of Events online here) are free for all - IBPA members and nonmembers alike. Simply RSVP to receive login instructions for all four events. You can then pick-and-choose which ceremonies to attend.

Sound exciting? We think so, too! So, what are you waiting for?? Watch the video above and click the pink button below to join the online parties and celebrate the best in independent book publishing. We look forward to "seeing" you there!

More information and a link to register is available here. Questions and comments can be sent to IBPA COO Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org.

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program, which includes over fifty categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, is regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers. The program is unique in that the verbatim judging forms are returned to all participating publishers, providing entrants with direct feedback on each submission.

The prorgram is administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), with help from over 160 volunteer book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,200 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.

IBPA Announces Finalists in the 32nd Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Program

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

164 unique books representing the breadth and diversity of independent publishing honored in the 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - March 19, 2020) -- Today, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) – www.ibpa-online.org – announced finalists in the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ program, the association’s flagship award program recognizing excellence and innovation in independent publishing for 32 years.

In May 2020, one finalist in each of the fifty-five categories will be named a Gold winner during a special online announcement. The remaining finalists in each category will become Silver winners.

Click here to access the full list of 32nd annual finalists.

Representing the breadth and diversity of independent publishing nationwide, finalists in each of the fifty-five categories include such titles as The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook (Weldon Owen, an imprint of Insight Editions), Why Women Hunt (Wild River Press), Art in the White House (The White House Historical Association), It's Okay to Say "They": Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Nonbinary Students (Dave Burgess Consulting), and A Textile Traveler's Guide to Guatemala (Thrums Books).

Other finalists include: Out of the Shadow of 9/11: An Inspiring Tale of Escape and Transformation (Loving All Nations Press), The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail (Ideapress Publishing), Why Do They Hate Us? Making Peace with the Muslim World (Top Reads Publishing), and The Interactive Constitution: Explore the Constitution with Flaps, Wheels, Color-Changing Words, and More! (Bushel & Peck Books).

"Winning an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award says to bookstores, reviewers, and readers, 'This is one of the best books published in this category and it deserves to be noticed'," said Patagonia Books publisher and incoming IBPA Board Chair Karla Olson. "The finalists, which reflect the highest standards of professionalism and attention to detail, celebrate the innovation and diversity coming out of today’s independent publishing community."

Added IBPA COO Terry Nathan, "I started managing the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program in the early 90s and each year I'm amazed at the improvement in quality of books over the previous year. Since the beginning, IBPA has challenged independent publishers to compete at the highest level. That challenge is being met through this program. Independent publishing is alive and well."

Last year’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award ceremony was a grand event held on April 5th, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Although this year's in person ceremony was cancelled on March 11, 2020 due to COVID-19, a special online announcement revealing Gold winners is planned for May 2020.

Over 160 volunteer librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most of whom have decades of book industry experience – judged the 1,697 entries submitted to the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program. The judging process took seven months, beginning in September 2019 and continuing into March 2020. At the end of the process, all 1,697 entrants will be given a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed the book.

"The first time I entered one of my company's In 30 Minutes guides for consideration in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, we didn't win the Gold or Silver," said i30 Media Corp founder and former IBPA Board Member Ian Lamont, "But we got something even more valuable from the process: critical feedback from design and editorial judges letting us know exactly what worked ... and what didn't. My team took that advice to heart, and since then we have not only won several 'Bennies,' but have also created books that convey a sense of professionalism and publishing excellence to readers."

The call to enter the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ program (for books with a copyright date of 2020) will open in May 2020 . Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

Moving moments from the April 5, 2019 award ceremony in Chicago, Illinois, included Sixtus Z. Atabong, author of My Father’s Gift: How One Man’s Purpose Became a Journey of Hope and Healing, accepting a Gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ in the Inspirational category on behalf of his publisher Koehler Books. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Atabong said: "I wanted to tell this story… to tell the kids in Africa, the kids in South Central America, the kids in the inner cities of Chicago, and everywhere around the world, that you got to believe in yourself, believe in your divine purpose, and you, too, will make it, and you, too, will one day stand here and tell your story. Thank you so much for this honor. I am incredibly honored."

About the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Program

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the tools and knowledge needed to professionally engage in all aspects of the publishing industry.