This week’s voting will determine the winner of the 2022 Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award. Help out your favorite author by voting for their book to win!
Click on the book covers above to learn more about each book and author. The public poll for Best Book of the Year closes promptly at 11:59 pm (MST) on Friday, September 23rd. Place your vote today!
Just days ago, we announced the three finalists in this year’s Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year awards.
All three finalists were1st place winners of a 2022 CIPA EVVY Award, those annual awards sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) and the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation (ELF). They were announced late last month and recognize some of the finest works of independent authors in dozens of book categories.
The time has come to vote on which of these talented authors have built an author platform and worked up the promotional muscle to acquire Outskirts Press’s top honors through a head-to-head competition! The Best Book of the Year Grand Prize winner and $1,500 Grand Prize winnings will be awarded based on the results of a live public poll . . . which is where you come in!
Our three finalists couldn’t be more different, and you’ll find summaries of each book below. So, study your choices, order their books, visit their webpages and social media, and cast your vote. Voting is easy! Simply scroll down to the poll below to place your vote for the book you think deserves our top honors in the 2022 Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year competition!
Every year Outskirts Press has the honor of publishing thousands of amazing books, and every year we nominate a small percentage of those for submission to the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards. And every year, a percentage of those official nominees win an EVVY Award, thereby representing the best of independent publishing as determined by a committee of 3rd party judges from the publishing community.
From among all our EVVY winners, we select 3 finalists for our own Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards. These finalists compete head-to-head-to-head in a public poll to see who can garner the most votes.
Because this is a public vote on this blog, the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award not only demonstrates to agents, editors, publishers, and readers that the author is the talented writer of a technically and artistically award-winning book (as evidenced by the EVVY win) but also that he or she knows how to successfully market a book. The Best Book Finalists also introduce brand new and remarkable books for the public to read and review in order to cast their votes.
This year, Outskirts Press won 22 EVVY Awards, the most among all participating publishers, and all excellent books from excellent authors in their own right. So selecting three finalists is never easy. Yet, every year, we must systematically narrow down all our published books from the past year to select three finalists for the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards and its $1500 Grand Prize.
Our first finalist is Andrew Ceroni, author of Meridian. Meridian won a 1st Place EVVY Award in the Action/Adventure category and a 2nd Place EVVY Award in the Science Fiction category. Mr. Ceroni has had a distinguished career as a special agent, conducting global counterespionage and anti-terrorism operations. While this may sound like the biography of the main character in a high-octane thriller, it is actually the author’s real-life biography. Andrew received his B.S. Degree from the US Air Force Academy; M.A. Degree from Case Western University; and studied several foreign languages at the University of Maryland. So to suggest he writes adrenaline-filled action/adventure novels filled with intrigue based upon his true-life experiences would be an understatement. He lives in Colorado with his family. He is also the author of a previous Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award, Snow Men.
Introducing Meridian, by Andrew Ceroni, one of the finalists in the 2016 Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards.
It is the biggest of America’s big secrets—MERIDIAN, the deepest black and most intensely protected program since the Atom Bomb. The MERIDIAN program contains the furthest leading edge of weapons technology and with origins more profoundly startling than the technology itself. Governments will stop at nothing to get it. Laszlo Csengerny, a Russian–controlled spy, a man haunted by demons from his past, has uncovered the key to destroying the program. In this prequel to SNOW MEN, CIA agent Pete Novak is racing to Europe with orders to stop Laszlo, to kill him if that’s what it takes. Several agents have already died trying. Novak’s dedicated security escort, J.T. Brannon, former assassin unmatched in the art of killing, is leery of Novak’s assignment and warns him of its danger. As Novak unravels the alarming secrets behind the MERIDIAN program and his path converges with Laszlo’s desperate pursuit to annihilate his demons, Novak and his family are swept into the cross-hairs of rogue Agency assassins. Only Brannon can save Novak’s family, and he is committed to sacrificing his own life to do so. The final confrontation and profound revelation of MERIDIAN explode into a deadly struggle over what may be the very future of mankind itself.
As a finalist, Andrew Ceroni has already won a book video trailer. Take a look!
Sound intriguing? It gets better!
As one of three finalists, Andrew Ceroni and his book Meridian will be competing head-to-head-to-head with the other two finalists in a public poll on this blog September 9th through September 14th. Andrew has already demonstrated he has the writing chops to win this prestigious award, as evidenced by his EVVY Award win. Does he have the marketing prowess to make it as the Best Book of the Year author in this digital age (for the second time)?
Stay tuned tomorrow and Wednesday for the announcements of the next two finalists and then come back September 9th through September 14th to cast your vote for the book you believe to be the best among the three. Order it now to help you decide!
Happy Labor Day! Did you do some writing? Did you do some reading? Did you do some marketing? Did you do some eating? Use the “Comments section” to tell us how you spent this Labor Day weekend.
All this week we will be announcing the three Finalists in the 2016 Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year contest. Our first finalist will be be announced tomorrow, the next on Wednesday, and the final finalist on Thursday. The three finalists are selected from among our recent EVVY Award winners.
Then, on Friday, the public polls open for everyone to vote on their choice for the winner of the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year and its $1,500 Grand Prize. Good luck, everyone!
The Colorado Independent Book Publishers Association Annual EVVY Awards Banquet took place in Denver, Colorado last Saturday night, and once again Outskirts Press walked away with the most awards of any participating publisher, demonstrating that award-winning writers publish award-winning books at Outskirts Press.
Outskirts Press executives were on-hand for the event, and President Brent Sampson accepted the awards on behalf of authors unable to attend. Published Outskirts Press authors from as far away as Florida traveled to Denver to accept their awards personally.
Here are our 2016 EVVY Award winners. Congratulations to them all!
FIRST PLACE WINNERS
1st Place Fiction/Mystery & Detective
1st Place Juvenile Fiction
1st Place Fiction/Action Adventure
1st Place Juvenile Non Fiction
SECOND PLACE WINNERS
2nd Place Juvenile Fiction
2nd Place Fiction/Historical
2nd Place Fiction/Action Adventure
2nd Place Religion & Spirituality
THIRD PLACE WINNERS
3rd Place Family & Relationships
3rd Place Fiction/Fairy Tales Folklore
3rd Place Fiction/Literary
3rd Place Social Science
3rd Place Juvenile Fiction
3rd Place Religion & Spirituality
3rd Place Fiction/Science Fiction
3rd Place Juvenile Fiction
MERIT AWARD WINNERS
Merit Award Poetry
Merit Award Fiction/Fantasy
Merit Juvenile Fiction
Merit Poetry
Merit Biography
Congratulations to all our EVVY nominees, finalists, and winners. Winning an EVVY Award is a prerequisite to winning the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award and its $1500 Grand Prize. Stay tuned to find out which three authors from the winners above will be the finalists…
You’ve dedicated months, even years, to committing your book to paper. And now, after typing that final, “The End,” a new journey begins: getting your book published and into the hands of as many readers as possible.
Although self-publishing may seem intimidating, and book marketing may seem to be a full-time job…with the Outskirts Press One-Click Publishing packages, it’s not!
The One-Click Publishing packages are all-inclusive, offering the services that every author needs to properly publish and promote a high-quality book.
With (literally) one click of the mouse, you can hand over the reins to a team of
publishing and promotion professionals and let us handle everything. Our One-Click Publishing packages offer the best value and bring together everything you need to polish, publish, package, and promote your work from start to finish. Sit back and relax while we do all the work, and you collect 100% of your royalties!
All One-Click packages are even specific to particular genres. This means that when you buy, you can rest assured that everything included is just what your book needs to stand out from the rest.
After your book is published, we provide you with support from a top-tier team of marketing professionals to help you reach your post-publication goals—leaving you free to do what you do best: write!
We offer four One-Click packages:
The One-Click Publishing for Fiction package is tailored to provide novelists with all the specific services necessary for successfully publishing and marketing a work of fiction.
The One-Click Publishing for Coaches and Speakers package is tailored to help your career as a speaker, coach, and/or counselor. A book can build upon your platform, further establish your expertise, and provide an additional revenue stream.
The One-Click Publishing for Children’s Books package is tailored to include all that a successful children’s book needs. This includes custom, full-color illustrations, a full-color cover and full-color printing.
The One-Click Publishing for Spiritual Books package is tailored to provide spiritual writers with all the specific services necessary to successfully publish and market an important inspirational/spiritual work.
See what our convenient One-Click packages can do for you and your book. It simply couldn’t be any easier.
ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards program was created to spotlight distinctive books from independent publishers. The judges—working librarians and booksellers—review the entries based upon on their experiences with patrons and customers. The annual ForeWord IndieFab Awards has for the past 17 years recognized the best in independent/self-published books. Winners are awarded cash prizes, along with priceless industry recognition that helps indie authors continue to make connections with readers and publishing insiders. More than 1,300 entries in 63 categories are being considered for the awards, which represent the best in small publishing offerings. Foreword Reviews will announce and celebrate the winners on Friday, June 26.
Congratulations to the following Outskirts Press authors for your consideration for the 2014 awards! As finalists, you’re already winners:
General
Picture Books, Early Reader
Science Fiction
Sports
The winners will be determined by a panel of librarians and booksellers selected from our readership. Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, as well as Editor’s Choice Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction will be announced at a special program at the ALA Annual Conference this June.
Congratulations to Lesha Acker, author of No Fear, one of four finalists for the Outskirts Press 2013 Best Book of the Year Award.
The remaining three finalists will be introduced throughout the week on this blog. Public voting will determine which of the four finalists should be awarded the Outskirts Press 2013 Best Book of the Year Award and its $1,500 Grand Prize. Voting is open to everyone and begins on this blog on Saturday, September 6.
Lesha Acker published her first book, Powdered Donuts on Monday, in 2010. She graduated from Texas Tech University, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK
One thing I know for sure, Daniel is my Greek god … How can one person create deep love, passion, and complete exhilaration from the pit of my soul but also resuscitate my existing darkness … At the peak of my desperation, which do I choose … succumb to my fears or conquer them?
Every year, Outskirts Press recognizes the best book they publish with their annual Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award, which must not only win an EVVY Award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association but must also be recognized as the best book among four finalists.
As one of four finalists, Lesha Acker and her book No Fear will be competing head-to-head-to-head with the other three finalists in a public poll on this blog starting on Saturday. Lesha has already demonstrated she has the writing chops to win this prestigious award, as evidenced by her EVVY Award win. Does she have the marketing prowess to make it as the Best Book of the Year author in this digital age? Learn about the remaining three finalists being announced throughout the week, and then come back on Saturday to vote for the book you believe to be the best among the four.
The author of the winning book will receive a $1,500 credit to his or her Publishing Center, courtesy of Outskirts Press, and an exclusive 2013 Best Book of the Year award seal to apply to the cover of the book.
Are you ready to publish your own award-winning book and perhaps find yourself in the running for next year’s Best Book of the Year award? Get started today.
The remaining three finalists will be introduced throughout the week on this blog. Public voting will determine which of the four finalists should be awarded the Outskirts Press 2013 Best Book of the Year Award and its $1,500 Grand Prize. Voting is open to everyone and begins on this blog on Saturday, September 6.
Lynda Stephenson’s first novel, Dancing with Elvis, introduces the irreverent teenager, Frankilee Baxter, who is both charming and sharp-tongued. Published in 2005, fifty years after Brown vs. Board of Education, Dancing with Elvis was chosen by Book Sense for Teen Readers and was a finalist for the Oklahoma Center for the Book Award. It was named an International Reading Association Book Award Notable. In addition to other accolades, the book received the Delta Kappa Gamma Young Adult/Adult Award in 2007. Born and reared in the West Texas Panhandle, Stephenson attended Trinity University in San Antonio and then received her Master’s Degree and doctoral work in English from the University of Oklahoma. A former English professor at East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma, she is a prolific writer of poetry, essays, and short stories. She currently lives with her husband, Gene, in Edmond, Oklahoma.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK
The year is 1958, and schools in the South are rebelling against the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education. In the beginning, Frankilee Baxter, a freshman at Athena College, is not concerned with racial issues. Instead, she is determined to improve her looks, pledge a sorority, find a steady boyfriend and make her name as a journalist at the college newspaper. Her plans are changed, however, when she befriends Eleanor Wilson, the only Negro student on campus. Eleanor is the daughter of a northern minister who is a prominent leader in the NAACP. When life becomes almost more painful and confusing than they can bear, Frankilee and her friends in the dormitory form The Southern Chapter of the Big Girl Panties Club, and they invite Eleanor to join. The BGPC members stand together to protect Eleanor from acts of discrimination. The story also deals with the blossoming love of Frankilee for Trace Godwin, a popular star basketball player and the pledge trainer of his fraternity. When a boy in Trace’s fraternity is seriously injured during a campout, the narrative takes a dark turn of mystery and deceit. More complications arise when Frankilee spends Easter weekend with Trace’s wealthy, dysfunctional family. A quirky story of love, discrimination, forgiveness, and redemption, The Southern Chapter of the Big Girl Panties Club follows Frankilee and her friends during their freshman year.
Every year, Outskirts Press recognizes the best book they publish with their annual Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award, which must not only win an EVVY Award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association but must also be recognized as the best book among four finalists.
As one of four finalists, Lynda Stephenson and her book The Southern Chapter of the Big Girl Panties Club will be competing head-to-head-to-head with the other three finalists in a public poll on this blog starting on Saturday. Lynda has already demonstrated she has the writing chops to win this prestigious award, as evidenced by her EVVY Award win. Does she have the marketing prowess to make it as the Best Book of the Year author in this digital age? Stay tuned for information on the remaining finalists being announced this week, and then come back on Saturday to vote for the book you believe to be the best among the four.
The author of the winning book will receive a $1,500 credit to his or her Publishing Center, courtesy of Outskirts Press, and an exclusive 2013 Best Book of the Year award seal to apply to the cover of the book.
Are you ready to publish your own award-winning book and perhaps find yourself in the running for next year’s Best Book of the Year award? Get started today.
Sharon Rhodes’ book has been voted the best book of the year for 2012 by voters in the third annual Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Awards, winning a grand prize of $1,500.
Outskirts Press, the fastest growing self-publishing and book marketing company, announced today that Sharon Rhodes has won the Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year Award for her book, It’s a Family Affair. Rhodes’ work was voted the top honor for 2012 from the three finalists selected from the most recent Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY award winners. Sharon Rhodes will receive the $1,500 Grand Prize from Outskirts Press as well as wide recognition through social networks, and a widely distributed press release.
In It’s a Family Affair, author Sharon Rhodes created a sequel to her first novel, Family Secrets, that is both entertaining and quite the page turner! Sharon Rhodes cleverly weaves a tale about the joys, pains and surprises of travel, family, and military life. A book about reuniting old friends, the making of new ones, love, lust, trust, secrets and the ties that bound these characters together. Thousands of readers and writers among Outskirts Press’ writing & publishing social community were invited to vote. The Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year award recognizes not only the author with the writing talent to compose an award-winning book, but with the marketing prowess to promote one. It’s a Family Affair ultimately collected the greatest percentage of votes.
Besides receiving the $1,500 Grand Prize, Sharon Rhodes will now reap the benefits of extensive promotion of her book by Outskirts Press. A feature story that covers her inspiration to write the book, her own writing process and her personal story will be widely distributed throughout the social networks in the near future. Congratulations Sharon!
Outskirts Press offers high-quality, full-service self-publishing and book marketing services for writers and professionals who are seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining 100% of their rights, 100% of their profits, and 100% of the creative control. http://www.outskirtspress.com
