IndieReader Discovery Awards 2024 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
Inspiration comes in many different forms; CCNY MADE: by Ronnyjane Goldsmith features several alumni from the City College of New York who’ve made significant contributions to mankind. Complete with old photographs, these individual stories delve into each subject’s life, struggles, and successes. An easy read, PROFILES IN GRIT reminds us that vision and perseverance bring on a productive life’s path.
Matt Ingwalson’s HELENA is an historical whodunit involving the disappearance of a French scouting group in 1854. Charged with taking control of the tiny island where Napoleon Bonaparte died, an interesting cast of characters, including men, women and children, set sail on the English ship, Golden Arm, in a stirring drama as individual members of the party begin to fall prey to an invisible killer.
Surviving childhood sexual abuse takes more than a few sessions in a therapist’s office. DON’T EXPECT ME TO CRY (by Janet Bentley describes her life, pain, and realities of living life with emotional poison lurking within. The author’s story is more than just an eye-opener of the evil side of humanity, it is a path for abuse victims as they heal from horrific memories; starting a path to a calm and steady future.
With predictable characters in unpredictable situations, SWEET MUFFIN RANCH by Matthew Blasi is a fictional tale of destitution and despair and a reminder of the underworld that exists below the surface. “Bad guys” are bad guys, “good guys” are bad—or maybe good—depending on the reader’s point of view, and the entanglement between bookies, gamblers, loan sharks, and innocent bystanders make for an intriguing storyline.
Sally Avery Bermanzohn’s WILLOW’S SECRETS depicts a segregated South from the perspective of a mixed race family, white and Chickasaw – in a time, no less, when Native people were all forcibly relocated away from their true lands. Willow herself faces the terrible challenge of having to navigate a racist society her whole life, but her family – especially her Gramps, a Unionist who refused to fight in the Civil War – is always there to ground her in the truth of this society being illogical and wrong.
Trapped in an unhappy marriage, forty-something Valerie Hawthorne makes a series of decisions with an attractive, enigmatic stranger while staying alone at a picturesque lodge for a writer’s conference. What she doesn’t realize is the man is no stranger and he is about to unleash a series of events and a story that will have catastrophic and life-changing consequences. WHEN YOU READ THIS I’LL BE GONE hooks the reader from the very first page and does not let go until the last. Chilling, terrifying, and absolutely of the moment, author Anne Moose has written a well-constructed novel that not only is clever, twisting, and tightly plotted but horribly, toe-curlingly credible, and, consequently, impossible to put down.
When high level investment strategies intersect with and endanger the lives of two kidnapped children, Tokyo police slowly unravel the connections in Michael Pronko’s AZABU GETAWAY, a twisty plot-driven novel. An engrossing story through which readers also learn a lot about the culture, food and history of Tokyo’s residents.
THE SELLOUT by Andrew Diamond intricately weaves together the struggles of an author torn between literary integrity and financial success. With elements of satire and noir fiction, Diamond crafts a compelling narrative that effortlessly transitions between the comedy, drama, romance, mystery, and thriller genres. As protagonist McElwee finds himself stuck in a mediocre crime novel, readers are drawn into a captivating tale of self-discovery filled with twists, turns, and valuable insights with an unexpected but satisfying ending.
All Lord Henry Foxbrook wants is to live his life in peace, away from the pure, undiluted chaos that is his family and their sprawling estate, but his family have other ideas – namely that Henry must find a suitable girlfriend, post-haste. So to get them off his back, Henry lies about his nonexistent girlfriend with plans to introduce her at his 30th birthday party. After a chance encounter during a training seminar at work, Henry meets Libby – a bright, bubbly actor who manages to disarm the jaded Henry instantly. In a tight spot, Henry asks Libby if he could pay her to pretend to be his girlfriend, which seems all above board – until their pesky, and very real, feelings get in the way. LOVE AD LIB author Evie Alexander reads her own words with vim and vigor and a deep passion for her characters and their unique voices, but especially her heroine, Libby Fletcher. Alexander’s joy is infectious as she reads with an ever-present dramatic flare. The book is absolutely hilarious, full of the misunderstandings and hi-jinx you expect from a romantic comedy, but also not lacking in its steamy bits – with the added bonus of getting to hear the author have an absolute blast reading it all the way through.
Written by Raina Garland James with illustrations by Katherine Gukovskiy, HOPEBEACH offers a compelling narrative that sheds light on environmental conservation efforts, making it a valuable read for those interested in sustainability and the well-being of our planet. The book’s focus on creating a cleaner and healthier world resonates with readers, emphasizing the importance of individual and collective actions towards a greener future.
In Rebecca S. Nieminen’s intriguing novel, THE DANCE OF THE WHITE DEER, a sixteen-year-old young woman, Limery Clark, feels trapped in a home marked by conflict and lack of closeness and an alcoholic stepfather who constantly makes sexual advances at her. Aaron Harper, on the other hand, is a nineteen-year-old boy who grew up in a relatively peaceful household and hands-on parents. Upon setting his eyes on Limery, Aaron is enamored by her looks and is determined to win her heart. Set in the early 1800s in the state of Ohio, the novel tells of a story of a placid and luscious love that struggles to bloom amidst the chaos and secrets in Limery’s life that threaten to spiral both her life and that of Aaron apart. In an era with few choices accorded to women, Rebecca weaves a tapestry that probes women’s issues during that period, all the while examining powerful and complex themes. The book title befits the symbolism that is masterfully fused in the tale, and its beguiling start will capture many readers’ interest. The emotionally charged scenes and apt use of language appropriate to that time demonstrates the writing skills of an author with true command of her craft.
THE STORY OF RICE by Xiaorong Zhang sheds light on the value of this staple, exploring its origins, significance, divisions, and cultural importance for the inhabitants of China. Beyond scientific, agricultural, and historical knowledge, the book contains numerous rice-based recipes and brims with valuable insights written in an engaging and easily understandable manner.
Greg Schweiner’s joyful memoir, DON’T TELL MOM!with a keen sense of (19)70snostalgia. There are plenty of experiences that people of all ages will relate to—fun times with friends, the freedom of childhood, chuckles and suspense–which together bring back a time where there were fewer rules and life wasn’t lived through lenses and screens.
Ashish K. Saxena’s gripping dystopian science fiction adventure AVA’S NEW WORLD transports readers to a society split along technological and economic lines. Ava, the protagonist, is a strong, intelligent lady with a secret that has the potential to alter history. The book exlores issues like artificial intelligence, societal inequity, and whether or not technology can save humanity. For followers of the genre, the author’s accurate characterization and realistic depiction of the narrative make it a compelling read.
In SHEG by Dima Tsyptsiura, readers are encouraged to delve into a world of contemplation and reflection, captivated by its raw charm and unconventional narrative style, this anthology offers a distinctive and thought-provoking reading journey that explores humanity’s issues through storytelling designed to inspire.
Readers will feel inspired to find one’s authentic voice and courage to express it no matter the artist’s age in Janice Mason Steeves’ BLOOM: . Steeves encourages permitting oneself to follow a creative, spiritual path by releasing fear, following intuition, and allowing play in creative, exploratory freedom. Emboldened readers will “follow the giggles” of inner guidance as they commit time and discipline to themselves.
J. Adams’ BENT: is a warm and deeply human memoir of discovering queer identity. Although the focus is on sexual identity, BENT’s greatest strength is its understanding that sexuality is just one component in the complex human search for both self-definition and intimate connection with others. The text does not authoritatively pronounce on sex or gender; it offers the reader insights gleaned from lifelong relationships with family, friends, and lovers, all of which help us understand who we are.
Set in the rustic landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains, John Ellington’s WHISPERING WINDS OF APPALACHIA unfurls a narrative that tackles the intricacies of life long friendships, challenged by an unalterable mistake. Well-hewn characters and vivid world building give this work a high poise as do the heartfelt connection between the characters and the land that surrounds them. The text’s slow-burning narrative is intriguing through and through.