Can you take two award announcements in one day?
I just found out that Camelot’s Queen is a Foreword Indies Book of the Year finalist in the Fantasy category! There were 2,200 titles submitted in 65 categories. Winners will be announced June 24!
Category Archives: Awards
Double IBPA Awards Finalist
Yes, more awards, but this is a really big one in indie publishing.
I’m so excited that two of my books have made it into the finals of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards. Daughter of Destiny is a finalist in the Best New Voice: Fiction category and Been Searching for You is a finalist in the Romance category. We’ll find out if either of them wins the Gold Award on April 7. Regardless, they are both Silver Award winners.
Madame Presidentess Awarded Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion
I am super excited to announce that Madame Presidentess has been awarded the Indie B.R.A.G. medallion for excellence in independent fiction. Camelot’s Queen was given this honor last year.
The B.R.A.G. medallion is one of a handful of honors that attempts to distinguish the best of independently published books in an effort to help readers weed through the glut of books and showcase the professionalism and excellence of certain works. It differs from programs like Library Journal’s SELF-e program in that it is not run by a particular organization within the publishing field, but rather by readers.
Camelot’s Queen – Ozma Award Finalist
I’m so happy to announce that Camelot’s Queen (Guinevere’s Tale Book 2), is a finalist in the Ozma Awards for Fantasy, Magic, Steampunk, Fairytale, Swords & Sorcery Fiction! This award is through Chanticleer Reviews. The next level of award, First in Category is supposed to be announced later this month. The Grand Prize of each category and Book of the Year will be announced at the Chanticleer Awards banquet on April 1, which I will be attending.
The previous book in the series, Daughter of Destiny, won Book of the Year in this competition last year. I’m seriously hoping to make it two years in a row!
Been Searching for You Shortlisted for Romance Award
Been Searching for You has been short-listed for the 2016 Chatelaine Awards for Romance/Women’s Fiction, sponsored by Chanticleer Reviews! This is the same award Daughter of Destiny ultimately won Grand Prize in last year before going on to take home Book of the Year. Here’s hoping for that luck two years in a row!
All My Books are Now SELF-e Select picks from Library Journal
I just found out that all of my books are now SELF-e Select picks from Library Journal! (We’ve known about Daughter of Destiny since January, but the others are news to me as of this morning!)
Library Journal‘s curated SELF-e Select module is a nationwide module available on BiblioBoard Library at any local library subscribed to BiblioBoard and participating in the SELF-e program. This means my books will be available to libraries across the country (and possibly across the world because there are several other countries that use SELF-e) to purchase. So go tell your local library you want to see my books on your shelves! They take patron requests very seriously, so if you don’t see it in your catalog, don’t be afraid to ask.
Missouri readers, we have an even better chance of seeing it because all of my books are now “highlighted selections” throughout the state. But please request them if you want to see them in your library. This is especially important in St. Louis County as they are still reticent about purchasing indie books. The more people who request my books, the more likely they are take us seriously.
Camelot’s Queen is an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner!
Holy crap, y’all! Camelot’s Queen was just awarded the Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion! That means it is designated as one of the best indie books on the market. Not only is this Camelot’s Queen‘s first award, it’s one that even Daughter of Destiny, which has won a ton of awards, did not achieve.
It should be listed on the Indie B.R.A.G. site shortly and they will be doing a series of promotions for it.
And if I can tell you a little secret, I like Camelot’s Queen even better than Daughter of Destiny.
I owe you several more blog posts, especially about the re-enactment of the election of 1872 and my trip to Oxford, among other things rattling around in my head. I will have them for you soon.
Two More Awards and A Sequel Announcement!
I’m so happy to announce that Daughter of Destiny (fairy tale/folklore) and Been Searching for You (romance) both placed first in their categories at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) EVVY Awards this weekend! Here’s the full list of winners. (They are the only two books I entered. I’ll enter the other two next year.)
And…
Been Searching for You was meant to be a standalone book, but so many of you have asked for a sequel that I started to think about it and I’m proud to say, there will be not one more book in the series, but at least two more. I’m actually thinking this *could* end up being an open-ended series. I have an idea for a fourth book percolating. But I have to write the second one first.
The second book doesn’t have a title, but I can tell that the main character is Miles’ long ago ex, Violetta. (She’s mentioned very briefly in Been Searching for You. Blink and you may have missed it.) I don’t know all the details yet, but I promise you our favorite BFF gets his happily ever after AND you get to see Alex and Annabeth’s wedding. I’m hoping to write it at some point in 2017. Not sure on a publication date. I’m still hoping Guinevere will start talking soon so I can write Mistress of Legend next.
Help me name this new series! I was originally thinking Love in the Windy City, but I’m not sure if I want to tie myself down to a location. Book 2 will take place both in Chicago and LA, as will book 3. Do you have any series name suggestions? I’d love to be able to say that a fan helped name the series! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
More Awards for Daughter of Destiny and Been Searching for You
I just found out that both Daughter of Destiny and Been Searching for You are finalists in Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association (CIPA) EVVY Awards Book Competition. Daughter of Destiny is in the Fairytale/Folklore category and Been Searching for You is in romance. Final placement will be announced August 20. More info then!