NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

CELEBRATING SELF & INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE

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Winners of the 15th Annual Contest!

ACTION/ADVENTURE

Chilly Winds, a chinoleague intrigue Brooks Birdwell Yeager Koehler Books

ACTION/ADVENTURE

Chilly Winds, a chinoleague intrigue Brooks Birdwell Yeager Koehler Books

ADDICTION & RECOVERY

Unraveled: A Mother and Son Story of Addiction and Redemption Laura Cook Boldt & Tom H. Boldt River Grove Books

ADULT COLORING BOOKS

Color Me Boulder: A Coloring Book of the City's Iconic Architecture John Aaron Modern ARF Publishing

AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION

Rock 'n Fire: A Novel Mark Stallard Kaw Valley Books LLC

AFRICAN AMERICAN NON-FICTION

FAIRYTALE: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story Anita Pointer & Fritz Pointer Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing, Inc.

AGING

Next Stage: In Your Retirement, Create the Life You Want Tom Wilson Balboa Press

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Peak Human Clock: How to Get up Early, Fix Eating Time Schedule, and Improve Exercise Routines to be Highly Productive Said Hasyim Self-Published

ANIMALS & PETS

The Bichir Handbook Joshua Pickett Independent Publishing Network

ANTHOLOGY

The Analog Sea Review, No. 3 Various Authors Analog Sea

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Moore Than Meets The Eye: The Life and Times, Art and Wit of California Painter Scott Moore Cindy Johnson Cool Titles, LLC

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Cover My Dreams in Ink: A Son's Unbearable Solitude, A Mother's Unending Quest Jessie Dunleavy Apprentice House Press

BIOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can Alan Logan Glass Spider Publishing

BODY/MIND/SPIRIT

Go From Hustle to Flow: Yoga + Mindset Practice, Release Overwhelm, Cultivate Peace + Redefine Success Amanda W. Jenkins Self-Published

BOOK COVER DESIGN CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOO

52: A Tale of Loneliness Johnny DePalma Umbrelly Books Publishing

BOOK COVER DESIGN FICTION

Perl: the Awakening Melissa Flesher Self-Published

BOOK COVER DESIGN: NON-FICTION

In Living Color: The Art and Life of Henrietta Berk Cindy Johnson Cool Titles, LLC

BOOK INTERIOR DESIGN: FICTION

Prospects of a Woman Wendy Voorsanger She Writes Press

BOOK INTERIOR DESIGN: NON-FICTION

Moore Than Meets The Eye: The Life and Times, Art and Wit of California Painter Scott Moore Cindy Johnson Cool Titles, LLC

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SMALL BUSINESS

Chasing the Invisible: A Doctor's Quest to Abolish the Last Unseen Cancer Cell Thomas Grogan, MD Koehler Books

BUSINESS: GENERAL

Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy Mary C. Kelly, PhD & Meridith E. Powell, MBA Kaimana Publishign

BUSINESS: MOTIVATIONAL

You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, and Design Your Dream Career Ashley Stahl BenBella Books

CANCER

Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution, and the New Science of Life's Oldest Betrayal Kat Arney BenBella Books

CAREER

Whatever Works: The Small Cues That Make a Surprising Difference in Our Success at Work and How to Create a Happier Office Thalma Lobel BenBella Books

CAREGIVING

Run, Walk, Crawl: A Caregiver Caught Between Generations Sarahbeth Persiani Self-Published

CHAPTER BOOKS

No Ordinary Cat Vicki Spandel Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc.

CHICK-LIT

Lady Be Good: The Life and Times of Dorothy Hale Pamela Hamilton Koehler Books

CHILDREN'S FICTION

Triple Delight Birthday Kelly Lynn Spencer Self-Published

CHILDREN'S INSPIRATIONAL/MOTIVTIONAL

The Garden and the Glen Elizabeth Moseley Lenox Street Press

CHILDREN'S NON-FICTION

Bow Tie Boone Tanya Diable Self-Published

CHILDREN'S RELIGION

Tiny Tim and The Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge (Children's Edition) Norman Whaler Beneath Another SkyBooks

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

Moore Than Meets The Eye: The Life and Times, Art and Wit of California Painter Scott Moore Cindy Johnson Cool Titles, LLC

COMEDY

Ring On Deli Eric Giroux New Salem Books

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

Chazan! Unfiltered Lenny Schwartz Never Enough Books

CONTEMPORARY NOVELS

Tell Me You Love Me Kathleen Stone Self-Published

COOKBOOKS: GENERAL

The Friendly Vegan Cookbook: 100 Essential Recipes to Share with Vegans and Omnivores Alike Toni Okamoto & Michelle Cehn BenBella Books

COOKBOOKS: REGIONAL

Recipes from the President's Ranch: Food People Like to Eat Matthew Wendel The White House Historical Association

CRAFTS & HOBBIES

Lettering from A to Z: 12 Styles & Awesome Projects for a Creative Life Phawnda Moore Mango Publishing

CRIME FICTION

Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One Laurie Buchanan SparkPress

CROSS GENRE

The Vines Shelley Nolden Freiling Publishing

CURRENT EVENTS

American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness Tea Krulos Feral House

DEATH & DYING

No Pressure, No Diamonds: Mining for Gifts in Illness and Loss Teri A. Dillion Pomegranate Publishing

DIVORCE

Go: One Woman. One Van. A New Beginning. Stacy Fisher Intrinsic Publishing

EDUCATION

Really Good Schools: Global Lessons for High-Caliber, Low-Cost Education James Tooley Independent Institute

ENVIRONMENT

The Human Animal Earthling Identity: Shared Values Unifying Human Rights, Animal Rights, and Environmental Movements Carrie P. Freeman University of Georgia Press

EROTICA

The Perfect Wife: Sinful Pleasures #1 A.L. Long ALLongbooks

FACTION

Breaking Point: A Novel of the Battle of Britain John Rhodes Suncoast Publishing

FANTASY

Ascendant: Songs of Chaos, Book One Michael R. Miller Monolith Books

FINE ARTS

In Living Color: The Art and Life of Henrietta Berk Cindy Johnson Cool Titles, LLC

FRIENDSHIP

Bunco: A Comedy About The Drama of Friendship Robin Delnoce Manacle Publishing

GENERAL FICTION

Stand a Little Out of My Sun Angelyn Christy Voss Nature's Light Press

GIFT BOOKS

Mother's Thoughts for the Day Journal M.C. Sungaila Crystal Cove Press

GREEN LIVING

Chemicals and Christians: Compassion and Caution Martha McLaughlin Redemption Press

GRIEF

Boldly into the Darkness: Living with Loss, Growing with Grief & Holding on to Happiness Autumn Toelle-Jackson Wise Ink Creative Publishing

HEALTH: GENERAL

Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease and How to Fight It Benjamin Bikman, PhD BenBella Books

HISTORICAL FICTION

Found in Pieces George Rollie Adams Bam Loft Press

HISTORY: GENERAL

Tiny Blunders Big Disasters: Thirty-Nine Tiny Mistakes That Changed The World Forever! Jared Knott Jefferson Central Publishing

HISTORY: UNITED STATES

James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House Stewart D. McLaurin The White House Historical Association

HOLIDAY

Miracle on Mall Drive Paolina Milana Madness to Magic

HORROR

Pivot L.C Barlow California Coldblood Books

HOW-TO

Surviving the Job Search Jane Snipes Self-Published

HUMOR

Still Laughing, Still Learning, Still Looking for a Good Title: Mostly True Stories of Family, Friends, Faith & Foibles Bill Chadwick Beaver's Pond Press

INSPIRATION

Purpose Passion and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection and Lead with Meaning Genevieve Piturro Greenleaf Book Group

JUVENILE FICTION

The King's Broad Arrow Kathryn Goodwin Tone Marron Press

LEADERSHIP

Achieve Beyond Expectations: Master the 5 Intangibles to Make the Impossible, Possible! Bill Blokker, Ed.D. New Insights Press

LEGAL THRILLER

Almost Damned Christopher Leibig Koehler Books

LGBTQ FICTION

Going on Red Lyn Gardner Self-Published

LGBTQ FICTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS

Awaken Ryan K. Wallace Self-Published

LGBTQ NON-FICTION

A Gay Man's Guide to Life: Get Real, Stand Tall, and Take Your Place Britt East Houndstooth Press

LITERARY FICTION

Duplicity Peter Selgin Serving House Books

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Death of Content As King: How a Data Democracy Has Revolutionized Marketing Jon Hinderliter Tactical 16 Publishing

MARRIAGE

Unglued: A Bipolar Love Story Jeffrey Zuckerman Boyle & Dalton

MEDICAL

Chasing the Invisible: A Doctor's Quest to Abolish the Last Unseen Cancer Cell Thomas Grogan, MD Koehler Books

MEDICAL THRILLER

The Vines Shelley Nolden Freiling Publishing

MEMOIR

The Colour of the Sun Gillian Thorp E.L. Marker

MEN'S HEALTH

How to Master Your Inner Superman: A Guide for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Using Superman to Help Conquer the Need for Facades Kenneth Rogers Jr. Strategic Book Publishing

MILITARY FICTION

Infinite Stakes: A Novel of the Battle of Britain John Rhodes Roundel House

MILITARY NON-FICTION

Care Under Fire Bill Strusinski Calumet Editions

MOTIVATIONAL

A Gay Man's Guide to Life: Get Real, Stand Tall, and Take Your Place Britt East Houndstooth Press

MOVIES & TV

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can Alan Logan Glass Spider Publishing

MULTICULTURAL FICTION

Goodbye, Orchid Carol Van Den Hende Koehler Books

MULTICULTURAL NON-FICTION

The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You: Follow your Own Path, Discover your Own Journey Simone Knego Self-Published

MUSIC

African-American Musicians That Changed Music Forever Michael A. Carson & Matthew A. Carson Double Infinity Publishing

MYSTERY

Crime Beat Girl Geri L. Dreiling Self-Published

NATURE

Wasps Heather Holm Pollination Press

NEW ADULT FICTION

Spark Patricia Leavy Gilford Press

NEW ADULT NON-FICTION

Wine and the White House: A History Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. The White House Historical Association

NEW AGE FICTION

Nimue: Freeing Merlin Ayn Cates Sullivan Infinite Light Publishing & Media

NEW AGE NON-FICTION

Perfect: A Path to Love, Forgiveness & Transformation Judi Miller Self-Published

NEW FICTION

Behind Picketwire M. Day Hampton HuckleberryBlue Press

NEW NON-FICTION

Cycle of Lives: 15 People's Stories, 5,000 Miles, and a Journey Through the Emotional Chaos of Cancer David Richman River Grove Books

NON-FICTION

Alone in Wonderland Christine Reed Rugged Outdoors Woman, LLC

PARENTING & FAMILY

What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them Johnathan Cristall Quill Driver Books

PERFORMING ARTS

Jacob's Ghetto: You're not the product of your environment Travis Peagler Script Novel Publishing

PERSONAL GROWTH

AfterLIFE: Waking up from My American Dream Carlo Pietro Sanfilippo Stonebrook Publishing

PHILOSOPHY

Piercing Human Experience: Based on Mandukya Karika Tushar Choksi Advaya Press

PHOTOGRAPHY

Maya Ruins Revisited: In the Footsteps of Teobert Maler William Frej Peyton Wright Gallery Press

PICTURE BOOKS: AGES 4-8

52: A Tale of Loneliness Johnny DePalma Umbrelly Books Publishing

PICTURE BOOKS: AGES 4-8

Bubble Kisses Vanessa Williams Sterling Publishing

PICTURE BOOKS: ALL AGES

BOB IN A BOX Joe Jamaldinian Self-Published

PICTURE BOOKS: PRESCHOOL

I Wish You Happiness Michael Wong & Ann Baratashvili Picco Puppy

POETRY

Was Body Billie R. Tadros Indolent Books

POLITICAL

The Button: The New Nuclear Arms Race and Presidential Power from Truman to Trump William J. Perry & Tom Z. Collina BenBella Books

POLITICAL THRILLER

Just the Truth Gen LaGreca Winged Victory Press

PRE-TEEN FICTION

The Blameless E. S. Christison Belle Isle Books

PRE-TEEN NON-FICTION

A Young Person's Field Guide to Finding Lost Shipwrecks Laurie Zaleski Austin Zaleski

PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH

When You Were in My Belly Kara Michelle Liu Sunday Dinner Publishing

PSYCHIATRY/PSYCHOLOGY

Surrounded By Others and Yet So Alone J. W. Freiberg Philia Books, LTD

REFERENCE

Structuring International Partnership Programs: How to Design and Draft for Sustainability, Efficiency, and Development Impact Andrea E. Stumpf Self-Published

REGIONAL FICTION: MIDWEST

Crime Beat Girl Geri L. Dreiling Self-Published

REGIONAL FICTION: NORTHEAST

The Revolving Heart Chuck Augello Black Rose Writing

REGIONAL FICTION: SOUTHEAST

Found in Pieces George Rollie Adams Bam Loft Press

REGIONAL FICTION: SOUTHWEST

Jacobo's Rainbow David Hirshberg Fig Tree Books LLC

REGIONAL FICTION: WEST

Prospects of a Woman Wendy Voorsanger She Writes Press

REGIONAL NON-FICTION: MIDWEST

Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love Justin & Alexis Black Global Perspective Publishing

REGIONAL NON-FICTION: NORTHEAST

A Theft of Privilege: Harvard and the Buried History of a Notorious Secret Society L.M. Vincent Self-Published

REGIONAL NON-FICTION: WEST

Alone in Wonderland Christine Reed Rugged Outdoors Woman, LLC

RELATIONSHIPS

Turn Back Time Annette G. Anders Self-Published

RELIGION FICTION

Missing Peace N.K. Holt HMG Press

RELIGION NON-FICTION

Our Road to Damascus: 7 Lessons for a Life of Purpose and Meaning Dr. Dan Assisi Rivail Publishing Company

ROMANCE

The Christmas Spirit Alexandrea Weis Rosewind Books

SALES & MARKETING

Sales Demystified: An Insider's Guide To Building Better Sales Professionals Steve Rangoussis Hockeystick Growth Publishing

SCIENCE FICTION

The Peacemaker's Code Deepak Malhotra Self-Published

SELF-HELP: GENERAL

Joyous Resilience: A Path to Individual Healing and Collective Thriving In An Inequitable World Anjuli Sherin, LMFT North Atlantic Books

SELF-HELP: MOTIVATIONAL

Radical Belonging: How to Survive and Thrive in an Unjust World (While Transforming it for the Better) Lindo Bacon, PhD BenBella Books

SELF-HELP: SPIRITUAL

Perfect: A Path to Love, Forgiveness & Transformation Judi Miller Self-Published

SEXUALITY

Corrupted: The Truth Shall Be The Nail in Your Coffin Jared Dixon Full Circle Press

SHORT STORIES

Once Removed: Stories Colette Sartor University of Georgia Press

SMALL BOOKS

Remove to Play Lia Woodall The Cupboard Pamphlet

SOCIAL/POLITICAL CHANGE

Really Good Schools: Global Lessons for High-Caliber, Low-Cost Education James Tooley Independent Institute

SPECIALTY BOOKS

Sacred Landscape of the Soul: Aligning with the Divine Wherever You Are Karen Brailsford Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, Inc.

SPIRITUALITY

Stark Raving Zen: A Memoir of Coming Alive Kristy Sweetland Cauda Pavonis Publishing

SPORTS

They Changed the Game: 50 Stories and Illustrations Celebrating Creativity in Sports Matthew & Ariana Broerman Ink and Craft

STEAM PUNK

Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap Sean March Little Wade and Watchtower

SUSPENSE

Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One Laurie Buchanan SparkPress

TECHNOLOGY

T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power Michael Kanaan BenBella Books

THRILLER

Tokyo Traffic Michael Pronko Raked Gravel Press

TRAVEL

Guide to Spiritual L.A.: The Irrelevant, the Awake, and the True Catherine Auman Green Tara Press

TRUE CRIME

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can Alan Logan Glass Spider Publishing

VISIONARY FICTION

Heart Wood: Four Women, for the Earth, for the Future Shirley Dickard Sierra Muses Press

WELL-BEING

The Athena Principles: Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals Kathy Robinson Collabria Publishing

WESTERN FICTION

Prospects of a Woman Wendy Voorsanger She Writes Press

WESTERN NON-FICTION

The Trial of Billy the Kid David G. Thomas Doc45 Publishing

WINE

Wine and the White House: A History Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. The White House Historical Association

WOMEN'S FICTION

The Exit Strategy Lainey Cameron The Wild Rose Press

WOMEN'S HEALTH

If My Ass Were Smaller Life Would Be Perfect: And Other Lies The Mean Girl In Your Head Tells You Julie Glynn Self-Published

raising-our-hands

Raising Our Hands: How White Women Can Stop Avoiding Hard Conversations, Start Accepting Responsibility, and Find Our Place on the New Frontlines Jenna Arnold BenBella Books