Book Reviews
IR Staff •
Jun 03, 2012 Today at Book Expo America (BEA), a trade show taking place in New York City, Darcie Chan, New York Times bestselling indie author of “The Mill River Recluse” and Amy Edelman, founder of IndieReader, announced the winners of the first annual “IndieReader Discovery Awards”.
The judges on the IRDA panel included top people in all areas of the publishing industry, in concert with IndieReader’s trusty reviewers. Judging was based on the quality of writing and the originality of the story. There was a first, second and third place winner in each of the fiction and non-fiction categories, in addition to winners in various sub-categories, indicating that each book has received at least a 4-5 star review (out of 5 stars).
Without further ado, IndieReaders, meet this year’s winners!
| Fiction |
| First Place |
 Whole Latte Lifeby Joanne DeMaio Popular Fiction A satisfying exploration of mid-life crisis, female friendship, grief, possibility and renewal. Demaio has penned a heartfelt portrait of two friends at the crossroads of their lives. |
| Second Place |
 One Bloodby Qwantu Amaru Horror |
| Third Place |
 The Golden Ballby Katelyn Sinclair Children’s A delightful retelling of a well-known fairy tale that relays a moral point without being dramatically preachy for children who are still young enough to want a fairy tale picture book—one with charming illustrations such as this—but are just on the brink of being ready to tackle a chapter book. |
| Non-Fiction |
| First Place |
 The Intentional Networkerby Patti DeNucci Business This handbook contains step-by-step exercises and activities suitable for those new to networking practices, or for experienced networkers who need a refresher course. Perfect for assessing goals and chock-full of strategies and tips for self-improvement. |
| Second Place |
 Comfortably Unaware by Dr. Richard A Oppenlander Environment Comfortably Unaware maintains that our food choices are depleting our planet’s resources because “the major cause of biodiversity loss on our planet is from the livestock we raise for food and from overfishing of our oceans,” and calls for the consumer to be aware of the brainwashing by the media and become more educated on how to make choices that will save our planet. |
| Third Place/Tie |
 Grieving a Soulmateby Robert Orfali Self-Help Candid and often heart-wrenching, part diary and part self-help book, designed to inform, guide and prepare the reader through the dying process, death of and grieving of a loved one, based on author Robert Orfali’s own experience of losing his soulmate Jeri after a ten-year battle with cancer. |
| Third Place/Tie |
 Death with Dignityby Robert Orfali Aging, Death & Dying Robert Orfali’s passionate and persuasive argument for legalized physician-assisted dying, based on personal opinion and experience and extensive research into the debates and issues revolving around this controversial issue. |
| Fiction |
| Chick-Lit |
 Blow Meby Lennie Ross Sales |
Fantasy Darkmageby M.L. Spencer |
| Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans Fiction |
 Father Tierney Stumblesby John Shekleton |
| Historical Fiction |
 The Woman at the Well by Ann Chamberlin
by Will Coe |
| Humor |
 The Girl Who Fished with a Wormby Harry Groome |
| Kids/Tie |
 Red, Right, Return by June Sherwin |
 Fun in the Yellow Pages by Bobbi Groover |
| Literary Fiction/Tie |
 In Leah’s Wake by Terri Giuliano Long
by Lee Fullbright |
| Mystery/Suspense/Thriller – Tie |
 Sleeper’s Run |
 The Scorpion’s Nest by Nate Granzow by Michael Kasenow |
| Paranormal |
 The Seventh Soul by MariLou Harveland |
| Popular Fiction |
 The Tourist Trail by John Yunker |
| Romance |
 Jennifer’s Gardenby Dianne Venetta |
| Science Fiction |
 Spire by Aaron Safronoff |
| Short Stories |
 Sometimes the Sun Does Shine There by Herb Schultz |
| Young Adult/Tie |
 Pandora’s Key by Nancy Fischer |
| Young Adult/Tie |
 Untraceable by S. R. Johannes |
| Non-Fiction |
| American Studies |
 Oh, Beautiful by John Paul Godges |
| Biography |
 Life in a Jar by Jack Mayer |
| Business |
 They Cooked the Books by Patrick Edwards |
| Environment |
 Maria’s Duck Talesby Maria Daddino |
| Health/Medicine/Nutrition |
 Successfully Surviving a Brain Injury by Garry Prowe |
| History |
 Unvanquished by Pete Hetherington |
| Inspirational |
 EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience by Debra Duneier |
| Memoir |
 Mirror Talk by Barbara Alfaro |
| Psychology/Mental Health |
 The Digitally Divided Self by Ivo Quartiroli |
| Self-Help |
 The Way Things Work in Life by Basimah Khulusi |
| Travel |
 Fast Times in Palestineby Pamela Olson |
| Travel/Honorable Mention |
 Pines Picks: A Kid’s Guide to the Best Things to Eat and Drink in New York Cityby David D. Pines |
Would you be able to post a list of the 2012 finalists? Some of us have interviews with different websites and when they inquire about whether the book has been recognized or received any awards I would like to be able to say that I was an Indiereader Discovery Award finalist. While I have your e-mail telling me so, I wish it could be in one small list on the website so that they could verify it. Would you start printing that list of finalists?
Regards,
Terry
Hi Terry,
We actually did post a list of the finalists. You can find it here. http://indiereader.com/2012/05/ir-discovery-awards-top-titles-to-date/
Best,
Amy
IndieReader
It’s an enormous honor to be listed among this tremendously talented group of authors. Thank you so much, Amy, for giving us this wonderful opportunity to showcase indie books. I second John’s sentiments – this was an extremely well run program. I’m grateful to you and to the judges for giving valuable time to read and review our books.
Congratulations to all finalists and winners! You make me proud to be indie!
Warmest wishes,
Terri
This whole IRDA awards program has been so well run, from beginning to end. It’s an honor to be a part of it. Many thanks to Amy and all the judges who managed everything with such great competence and thoughtfulness!
Thank you so much, John, for the kind words. It’s really been a honor to work with such great and talented authors!
Wow, I know (and have read the works of) Patti DeNucci and Herb Shultz, both incredible authors and very deserving of this award!
I can’t say I was surprised to win the historical fiction category of the IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDA), 2012. Complete shock covers it better. I’d forgotten I’d entered. I’m now back with the literary optimists after having played for the other side for the last few months. Thanks, Amy.
Congratulations to all winners and finalists – we wish you ongoing success with your writing career.
And congratulations also to IndieReader on yet another excellent awards program – we’re pleased to have you as one of our Honoring Excellence award recipients – it’s well deserved!
Thank you!
What an honor to have ‘The Scorpion’s Nest’ included among the winners of the IRDA this year! I’m absolutely ecstatic.
I was thrilled to find my second novel, “amo, amas, amat…an unconventional love story” listed as a finalist in the IndieReader Discovery Awards. Although I didn’t win in the end, just having it included as a “Top Pick to Date” was a rush. Thanks for proving that there are good Indie books out there waiting to be read.
I have had the pleasure of reading many of the Indie books this year and look forward to catching up with some of the winners this summer….Congrats to all and especially Amy for creating this site for all SP authors.
Thx Mom! xo
My congratulations to Barbara Alfaro. I’ve just downloaded your book onto my Kindle and, as a ‘finalist’, I look forward to reading the best book in the Memoir category.
Julia Frey
Thanks, Julia. I hope you enjoy the book.
Thanks so much for helping independent authors find their place in this world. It’s an honor for Fast Times in Palestine to be recognized in the Travel category. Just wish I had been at the ceremony to meet the other authors!
Thanks so much for disproving the idea that all self pubbed books are BAD! Perhaps you can attend next year and help announce the next round of winners (like they do at the Oscars!).
Best,
Amy
That would be awesome!
Was there a winner in the category Fantasy?
Yes! And it was you! Did you not get the email? Resending NOW!
Oh, wow! Thank you very much! I’m incredibly honored!
Congratulations to the indie authors that rocked the IR Awards.
As stated on the original contest announcement page: “Everyone entering the IRDA’s will get a guaranteed book review from one of IR’s professional reviewers (right now the only way an author can get a review is for IR to select their book from among the many they receive every week).”
Is this still the case? If so, when will it happen, and where will the review appear?
Also, will a list of the category finalists be posted?
Thanks!
Hi, yes we’ve begun posting reviews today and will send you a link when we post yours. As far as the finalists go, lists were posted on the site the last two weeks. If you did not receive notification you were not a finalist. Sorry!
Best,
Amy
A big CONGRATS to Terri Giuliano Long for her terrific “In Leah’s Wake” winning Literary Fiction. Kudos and bright klieg lights from Hollywood for this wonderful, passionate author winning this IRDA award. This book should be on everyone’s next great read list. Bravo!
So kind of you, Guy! Thank you so very much! Many congrats to you for making the finals list with Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot! Love your book and wasn’t remotely surprised to see it on the list!!
I have read both of Robert Orfali’s excellent books and was therefore delighted, though not surprised, he was amongst the top winners. Hoping to see a film made of “Grieving a Soulmate” – the true love story at the heart of this book makes excellent material. Well done to Robert Orfali.
Congrats to all the winners of the 1st IRDAs. I’m ecstatic just to have had my 1st novel get a 4/5 star review along with a “Top Picks to Date” in this year’s competition. The talented authors of this year’s winning selections must be on cloud 9. BRAVO!!
Congrats to all the winners, you are an inspiration and it’s a joy to read your books!
Greetings IR,
I am so complimented and thrilled to have FUN IN THE YELLOW PAGES included among such terrific talent. Thank you so much!!!
So happy for Whole Latte Life, a powerful and eloquent story. Well-deserved! And much kudos to all the other winners, too. Sounds like an exciting day at BEA.
Congratulations Barbara Alfaro
Thanks so much. I am thrilled!
Thank you Amy for creating an exciting awards contest, as well as a thrilling awards ceremony, replete with pictures and an interview! But I am most appreciative of your giving your all to Indie Authors!!! I was honored that Maria’s Duck Tales was named the winner in Environment and am still walking on Cloud #9!!! Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists, and especially to wonderful new friends made at the ceremony ~ Ann Chamberlin, “The Woman in the Well” and June Sherwin, “Red, Right, Return” …
Thank you for your participation! Congrats!
Best,
Amy
Hello IR !
I attended the Indie Reader awards ceremony at BEA this morning Sunday 6/3/12 at the Javitz
Center.
After all the categories were enumerated I was sad to note that Indie Reader
does not list poetry as a category in their awards considerations.
This glaring omission appears to discredit IR as a serious venue for
literary appraisal.
Hope you correct this and gain the respectability which is currently lacking.
Hi Gerard,
If you checked the IRDA info on the site you’ll see that we do include a poetry category, however we did not receive a book that was entered that was good enough to merit an award.
Best,
Amy
IndieReader