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22nd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Writer's Digest would like to congratulate the 46 winners of the 22nd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards. For full coverage of the awards, please check out the March/April 2015 issue of Writer's Digest.

March/April 2015 Issue of Writer's Digest

Grand Prize

Well Fed 2 by Melissa Joulwan ($24.95). Smudge Publishing. theclothesmakethegirl.com.

Children’s Picture Books

First Place

Rocko Rocket: Rocko’s Big Launch by Yolande Clark-Jackson and R. Jackson (illustrator) ($19.99). rockorocket.com.

Honorable Mentions

Commonplace Mouse by Karima Cammell ($15.00). Dromedary Press. blog.castleintheair.biz.

The Wonderful (Magical, Super-Fantastical) Musical Animals by Damon Robinson ($24.95). Dog Ear Publishing.

Genre Fiction

First Place

Glory Be! by Martha B. Hook ($16.99). Xulon Press.

Honorable Mentions

The Fig Orchard by Layla Fiske ($14.95). Rancho Publishing, LLC. laylafiske.net.

Lessons I Learned From Nick Nack by Padgett Gerler ($16.95). CreateSpace. padgettgerler.com.

Once Upon a Mulberry Field by C.L. Hoang ($15.95). Willow Stream Publishing. mulberryfieldsforever.com.

Blood on the Tracks by Steve Liskow ($15.00). CreateSpace. steveliskow.com.

To Murder a Saint by Nicole Loughan ($5.99). Little Spot for Stories. littlespotforstories.com.

One Eyed Jack by Christopher J. Lynch ($10.99). CreateSpace. christopherjlynch.com.

Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn ($11.99). Joy Inked. sherynmacmunn.com.

By Water and Blood by Melanie Rose ($13.95). CreateSpace. melanieroseauthor.com.

Inspirational

First Place

Cora Pooler by Dottie Rexford ($19.95). WestBow Press.

Honorable Mentions

Winter Always Turns to Spring by Sachiko Takata Bailey, as told to Akemi Bailey Haynie ($15.99). Friesen Press.

Inside/Outside by Jenny Hayworth ($14.99). CreateSpace. jennyhayworth.com.

A Middle Way by Duke Robinson ($15.50). CreateSpace.

Steps Out of Time by Katharine B. Soper ($16.95). Stellaire Press.

Life Stories

First Place

Breakfast with the Pope by Susan Vigilante ($19.95). Richard Vigilante Books. desperateirishhousewife.blogspot.com.

Honorable Mentions

An American’s Resurrection by Eric C. Arauz ($17.95). Treehouse Publishing. ericarauz.com.

Flight Through Fire by Carol Fiore ($17.99). Flying Kea Press. carolfiore.com.

A Garland for Ashes by Hanna Zack Miley ($19.95). Outskirts Press. georgeandhannamiley.com.

Mainstream Fiction

First Place

The Life & Times of Persimmon Wilson by Nancy Peacock ($16.00). Lystra Books. nancypeacockbooks.com.

Honorable Mentions

Stuck by Stacey D. Atkinson ($17.95). Mirror Image Publishing. staceydatkinson.com.

The Lady of the Lake by R.E. Braczyk ($12.95). iUniverse.

Lenin Lives Next Door by Jennifer Eremeeva ($24.95). Small Batch Books. russialite.com.

The Rummy Club by Anoop Ahuja Judge ($16.95). Daggerhorn Publishing. therummyclub-anovel.com.

A Place in the World by Cinda Crabbe MacKinnon ($14.99). Multicultural Press. cindamackinnon.wordpress.com.

The Unheralded King of Preston Plains Middle by Jedah Mayberry ($14.95). River Grove Books. jmberryfictionwriter.tumblr.com.

The Legacy Letters by Carew Papritz ($21.95). King Northern Publishing. thelegacyletters.com.

Eleven Sundays by Alonna Shaw ($12.95). CreateSpace. alonnashaw.com.

Middle-Grade/Young Adult

First Place

Eleven by Tom Rogers ($8.95). Alto Nido Press. eleventhebook.com.

Honorable Mentions

Forever Thirteen by Crissi Langwell ($14.95). crissilangwell.com.

Nyx by D.M. Livingston ($16.95). Some Peril Publications. nyxthebook.com.

The Adventures of Pearley Monroe by Marci Seither ($7.99). Sawmill Press. marciseither.com.

Starved by Michael Somers ($12.00). Rundy Hill Press. michaelsomers.com.

Nonfiction

First Place

The Twible by Jana Riess ($19.99). Paraclete Press. janariess.com.

Honorable Mentions

Back to Vietnam by R. Bruce Logan and Elaine Head ($22.95). JOTH Press. backtovietnam.com.

Deaf Dogs by Melissa McDaniel ($55.00). The Photo Book Projects. thephotobooks.com.

The New Art of Dying by Diane Burnside Murdock ($14.95). The Murdocks, LLC. dianemurdock.com.

Poetry

First Place

South From Istanbul by Ken Hebson. Green River Press.

Honorable Mentions

The Death of the Human Soul by James Karis ($11.95). Alvalini. univesta.tripod.com/jameskaris/index.htm.

A New Orchid Myth by Helene Pilibosian ($13.95). CreateSpace. home.comcast.net/~hsarkiss.

Reference

First Place

10 Steps to Publish & Succeed by Jill Ronsley ($12.95). Blue Star Press, Inc. suneditwrite.com.

Honorable Mention

Your Guide to the National Parks by Michael Joseph Oswald ($25.00). Stone Road Press. stoneroadpress.com.

The Siren Song of Memory: Avoiding Sentimentality in Fiction When Using Material From Our Past, by Lucian Childs

The Siren Song of Memory: Avoiding Sentimentality in Fiction When Using Material From Our Past

Award-winning author Lucian Childs discusses the tricky act of mining our memories for fiction while also avoiding sentimentality, including five strategies for making it work.

Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Writing Like a Publisher

Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Writing Like a Publisher

The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake is writing like a publisher.

Subtext and the Art of Dramatic Tension in Fiction, by Zeeva Bukai

How to Use Subtext and the Art of Dramatic Tension in Fiction

Award-winning author Zeeva Bukai shares five storytelling elements that have helped her add subtext and dramatic tension to her writing, including examples of adding subtext in fiction.

Megan Collins: On the Complexity of Heartbreak

Megan Collins: On the Complexity of Heartbreak

In this interview, author Megan Collins discusses the surprising amount of fun she’s had promoting her new thriller, Cross My Heart.

Finding Strength in Rejection: Turning Setbacks Into Success as a Writer, by Deanna Martinez-Bey

Finding Strength in Rejection: Turning Setbacks Into Success as a Writer

Author Deanna Martinez-Bey shares how to find strength in rejection by turning setbacks into success as a writer.

Why Writers Shouldn't Fear Distraction but Embrace It, by Liza Monroy

Why Writers Shouldn’t Fear Distraction But Embrace It

Author Liza Monroy discusses why writers shouldn't fear being distracted. Rather, they should embrace it.

Symbolic Drive: Using Allegory in Fiction, by Erika Swyler

Symbolic Drive: Using Allegory in Fiction

Bestselling author Erika Swyler discusses how allegory is "a vital form for political critique, an elegant genre in its own right, and a reliable engine for the novel."

Edward Underhill: Spite Keeps Me Going

Edward Underhill: Spite Keeps Me Going

In this interview, author Edward Underhill discusses how wanting to go back in time inspired his new LGBTQ+ magical realism novel, The In-Between Bookstore.

Wishful Thinking: Exploring the Concept of Regret and Redemption in Literature, by Jennifer Moorman

Wishful Thinking: Exploring the Concept of Regret and Redemption in Literature

Bestselling author Jennifer Moorman explores the concept of regret and redemption in literature.