This morning, the Florida Authors and Publishers Association released the complete list of 2014-2015 winners of their President’s Awards. Members of Tallahassee Writers Association, authors who are in Tallahassee’s Southern Yellow Pine Publishing family, as well as others, are on the list, including our dear friend and Around the Writer’s Table client, Leslee Horner. An Unrequited Fall is the second of four books in her Young Adult series, The Past Lives of Lola Ray, about fifteen-year-old Lola, who is experiencing past life regressions. Congratulations to all the winners. Fine work, everyone ! Here is FAPA’s official release:
AUGUST 8, 2015 — On Saturday night, August 8, the Florida Authors & Publishers Association (FAPA) gave out its prestigious annual President’s Awards for the best books of 2014 and the first half of 2015 by authors and publishers in Florida and throughout the United States. The event, which took place at the Hilton Orlando/Lake Buena Vista Resort, recognized outstanding books by awarding gold and up to two silver medals in categories ranging from children’s books to adult fiction, from memoirs to self-help, from business books to e-books.
“The 2015 award winners elevate publishing both regionally and nationally. The awards continue to command the attention of industry professionals and readers!” said Mark Wayne Adams, FAPA President.
The following winners were selected in the following categories by the competition’s 31 judges – 27 national state librarians and four publishing professionals:
CHILDREN’S FICTION
- SILVER: Liesel’s Ocean Rescue, Barbara Krasner, Avi Katz, Gihon River Press
- SILVER: Lost Loot, D.G. Stern, Deborah Allison, Neptune Press
- GOLD: Lost in Boston, Jane R. Wood, Florida Kids Press
CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION
- SILVER: Same is Lame, Jimmy Vee, Mike Motz, Atlas Press
- SILVER: Pelican Pete’s Backyard Adventures: Nature Discoveries And Outdoor Fun, Frances Keiser, Hugh Keiser, Sagaponack Books
- GOLD: Sea Slime: It’s Eeuwy, Gooey and Under the Sea, Ellen Prager, Shennen Bersani, Arbordale Publishing
FLORIDA YOUNG CHILDREN’S BOOK
- SILVER: Goodnight Gators, Patricia Baloyra, Ampersand, Inc
- SILVER: Baby Animals of Florida, Kathleen King, South Bay Publishing
- GOLD: Eli’s Balloon, Candace Ruffin, Mark Wayne Adams, The Writing Cane
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
- SILVER: Laura and Grandpa: Discovering Science Together, Book 3, Dr. Robert H. Krupp, Kristina Edstrom, Simple Science Books
- SILVER: Lea, the Christmas Angel, Brenda Sue Boulden Thompson, Kayla Lynn Olson, Middle River Press
- GOLD: Xs and Os for Gabby Ann, Petrell Marie Ozbay, Mike Motz, Adorn, Inc.
- GOLD: Fast Freddie, Lee Ann Mancini, Dan Sharp, GLM Publishing
FLORIDA CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
- SILVER: Xs and Os for Gabby Ann, Petrell Marie Ozbay, Mike Motz, Adorn, Inc.
- SILVER: You’re a CrocaGator, Kenny Rager, Patti Brassard Jefferson, Halo Publishing
- GOLD: Sometimes I Dream, Jose Colon, Jennifer Schmucker, Making Memories Portraits, Halo International
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
- SILVER: The Sparks, Kyle Prue, Barringer Publishing
- SILVER: FreeK Week, Steve Burt, Steve Burt Books
- GOLD: An Unrequited Fall, Leslee Horner, CalBel Productions, LLC
FLORIDA YOUNG ADULT (FICTION & NON-FICTION)
- SILVER: The Izzy Story, Ddwlem, Chalice Mitchell, Ddwlem, LLC
- SILVER: John Horse, Florida’s First Freedom Fighter, Betty Turso, CreateSpace
- GOLD: The Sparks, Kyle Prue, Barringer Publishing
EDUCATION
- SILVER: The Magic Ice Cream Palace, Jose Colon, Amy Rottinger, Halo International Publishing
- SILVER: Sometimes I Dream, Jose Colon, Jennifer Schmucker, Making Memories Portraits, Halo International Publishing
- GOLD: Parts of Speech Parade, New York City, Irina Gonikberg Dolinskiy, Mark Wayne Adams, Mark Wayne Adams, Inc.
BUSINESS
- SILVER: 2015 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide, Ginger Marks, DocUmeant Publishing
- SILVER: The CEO and I.T. Department, Donald J. Burchell, South Bay Publishing
- GOLD: Protecting Your Nest Egg, Page Cole
REFERENCE
- SILVER: Captivate Your Readers: An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction, Jodie Renner, Cobalt Books
- SILVER: The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books, Tara R. Alemany, Emerald Lake Books
- GOLD: The Little Red Writing Book, Brandon Royal, Maven Publishing
- GOLD: The Weekend Book Proposal, Ryan G. Van Cleave, Writer’s Digest Books
RELIGION
- SILVER: A Taste of Chocolate for the Soul, Dr. Carol Kennedy, Westbow
- SILVER: Shiloh Unveiled, Walter Joseph Schenck, Jr., iUniverse, LLC
- GOLD: Still Wearing My Heels, Michelle Frazzetto, Peppertree Press
SPORTS & RECREATION
- SILVER: Reeling in Time with Fish Tales, Capt. Brian E. Smith, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
- GOLD: A Secret History of the Ollie: Volume 1: The 1970s, Craig B. Snyder, Black Salt Press
E-BOOK ADULT
- SILVER: Immigration: Obama Must Act Now, Leonard Birdsong, Winghurst Publications
- SILVER: Jupiter and Gilgamesh, Scott Archer Jones, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
- GOLD: The Big Wheel, Scott Archer Jones, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
E-BOOK CHILDREN
- SILVER: My Pink Airplane, Tracy Bryan, Tracy Bryan
- SILVER: Lift, Tracy Bryan, Tracy Bryan
- GOLD: My Silly Dog Gus, C. K. Carter, Ricardo J. Rodriguez, C. K. Carter
SHORT FICTION
- SILVER: The Day the Mirror Cried, Saundra Kelley, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
- SILVER: History and Mystery Oh My!, Sarah E. Glenn, Mystery & Horror, LLC
- GOLD: Now We Will Be Happy, Amina Gautier, University of Nebraska Press
ADULT FICTION: GENERAL
- SILVER: Iron Butterfly, Lisa Wainland, Twin Tree Press
- SILVER: Lost Twin, D. W. Harper, HayMarBooks, LLC
- GOLD: The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, David Litwack, Evolved Publishing
ADULT FICTION: GENRE
- SILVER: Iron Butterfly, Lisa Wainland, Twin Tree Press
- SILVER: Memory House, Bette Lee Crosby, Bent Pine Publishing
- GOLD: The Farber Legacy, George Encizo, CreateSpace
- GOLD: Good Sam, Dete Meserve, Melrose Hill Publishing
ADULT FICTION: ACTION/SUSPENSE
- SILVER: Shark Fin Soup, Susan Klaus, Oceanview Publishing
- SILVER: Murder in Nice, Susan Kiernan-Lewis, San Marco Press
- GOLD: The Care Card, Darryl Bollinger, JNB Press
ADULT FICTION: HISTORICAL
- SILVER: Over Here, James Hockenberry, HN Books
- SILVER: Callie Kinser of Brush Creek, Ron Miller, Antebellum Press
- SILVER: Not Just Another War Story, Wayne G. MacDowell, DocUmeant Publishing
- GOLD: Fate & Freedom, Book 1 – The Middle Passage, K. I. Knight, First Freedom Publishing
ADULT: NON-FICTION
- SILVER: Hadrian’s Wall Path, Jane V. Blanchard, Jane V. Blanchard
- SILVER: Oh My God, I’m Feeling Older and So Is My Mom, Scott Greenberg, Star Group Books
- GOLD: Unbroken Circles for Schools, Ken Johnson, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
POETRY
- SILVER: Just One Scent: The Rest is God, Piero Rivolta, Bardolf & Company
- SILVER: Kinyamaswa: An Epic Poem, Andreas Morgner, Apprentice House Press
- GOLD: Dinosaurs Living in My Hair, Jayne M Rose-Vallee, Anni Matsick, Rosevalle Creations
FLORIDA FICTION FOR ADULTS
- SILVER: The Care Card, Darryl Bollinger, JNB Press
- SILVER: Mercedes Wore Black, Andrea Brunais, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
- SILVER: Mosquito County, Lucinda Waldron, Outskirts Press
- GOLD: Save My Place, Olivia deBelle Byrd, Mercer University Press
FLORIDA NON-FICTION FOR ADULTS
- SILVER: Shade in the Sunshine State, Liz Coursen, First Person Publications
- SILVER: Right Smart to Say, Robert H. Gore, III, Middle River Press
- GOLD: Images of America: Key Biscayne, James Kushlan and Kirsten Hines, Arcadia Publishing
BIOGRAPHY
- GOLD: Women of Valor, Joanne D. Gilbert, Gihon River Press
AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
- SILVER: Walking to Woot: A Photographic Narrative Discovering New Dimensions for Parent/Teen Bonding, Jackie Chase, Adventure Travel Press
- SILVER: How We Said Goodnight, Rachel Silsdorf, Bardolf & Company
- GOLD: Blasted By Adversity: The Making Of A Wounded Warrior, Luke Murphy with Julie Bettinger, Inkshares, Inc.
HEALTH & FITNESS
- SILVER: Things I Wish I’d Known: Cancer and Kids, Deborah J. Cornwall, Bardolf & Company
- GOLD: Surviving Cancer: Our Voices & Choices, Marion Behr, WWH Press
HOME AND GARDEN
- GOLD: Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens, James A. Kushlan & Kristen Hines, University Press of Florida
COOKBOOK
- GOLD: The Air Diet: Recipes & Tips for Success in Your Allergy-free Kitchen, Laura Merrill Godfrey, Jigsaw Living
POLITICAL
- GOLD: Unbroken Circles for Schools, Ken Johnson, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
HOW TO/SELF-HELP
- SILVER: The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books, Tara R. Alemany, Emerald Lake Books
- SILVER: Traveling Stories: Lessons from the Journey of Life, Terri Clements Dean, LifeStory Publishing
- GOLD: Elderly Parents With All Their Marbles (A Survivial Guide for the Kids), Pamela Carey, Barking Cat Books – Imprint of New River Press
COFFEE TABLE BOOK
- SILVER: Walkabout Europe, Cliff Roles, Bardolf & Company
- SILVER: Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast, Nick Stoltzfus, Live Oak Production Group
- GOLD: Birds of Fairchild, Kristen Hines, James A Kushlan Photographer, Acclaim Press
HUMOR
- SILVER: Shorts for the Beach, J. M. Fisher
- SILVER: Mark Taylor’s Checkered Past: S.S. Guilt Trip, Angelina Assanti, City of Palms Publishing Co.
- GOLD: Oh My God, I’m Feeling Older and So Is My Mom, Scott Greenberg, Star Group Books
COVER DESIGN: SMALL FORMAT
- SILVER: The Big Wheel, Scott Archer Jones, Southern Yellow Pine Publishing
- SILVER: The Lost Twin, D. W. Harper, HayMarBooks, LLC
- GOLD: Save My Place, Olivia deBelle Byrd, Mercer University Press
COVER DESIGN: LARGE FORMAT
- SILVER: Dinosaurs Living in My Hair, Jayne M Rose-Vallee, Anni Matsick, Rosevalle Creations
- SILVER: Flight of the Golden Harpy, Susan Klaus, Tom Doherty Associate Book
- GOLD: Fate & Freedom, Book 1 – The Middle Passage, K. I. Knight, First Freedom Publishing
FOUNDERS AWARD
Patricia Charpentier, Writing Your Life
Gina Edwards is a retreat leader, a certified creativity coach, and a book editor. She is also a writer, so she’s intimately familiar with the challenges and elation that come with being one.
She supports all writers—published and aspiring—who want to write as an act of courageous and necessary self-expression.
Walking the writer’s path hand-in-hand with her clients and students, she helps them establish a writing practice and define a creative life on their own terms.