Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE) announced the winners and finalists of the 2015 IPNE Book Awards at their annual conference on September 25, 2015. Thirty winners and finalists were announced in ten categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2013, 2014, and 2015 with one category open to perennial sellers.
"The caliber of books produced by IPNE members has risen dramatically since we started producing the awards," said Charlotte Pierce, IPNE president, "and the winners and finalists this year demonstrate definitively that indies can produce books of the finest quality."
Award-Winning Titles Include:
Books of the Year:
Rachel's Day in the Garden by Giselle Shardlow (Tie)
Breathe: A Memoir of Motherhood, Grief, and Family Conflict by Kelly Kittel (Tie)
Order of Seven by Beth Teliho (Runner-Up)
Literary Fiction
Winner:
Wait Until I'm Dead! by Elda M. Dawber
Finalists:
Dogs Don't Look Both Ways: A Primer on Unintended Consequences by Jane Hanser
Grants Ferry by David Chase
Genre Fiction
Winner:
Murdered Sleep by R.A. Harold
Finalists:
In the Waters of Time by Bette Lischke
Dante's Cypher by T. Stephens
Children's
Winner:
Rachel's Day in the Garden by Giselle Shardlow
Finalists:
Freedom Trail Pop Up Book of Boston by Denise D. Price
Thomas Holland and the Prophecy of Elfhaven by K.M. Doherty
Young Adult
Winner:
Order of Seven by Beth Teliho
Finalists:
Dogs Don't Look Both Ways: A Primer on Unintended Consequences by Jane Hanser
Somewhere in Between by Katie Li
Narrative Nonfiction
Winner:
Breathe: A Memoir of Motherhood, Grief, and Family Conflict by Kelly Kittel
Finalists:
Those Who Remain: Remembrance and Reunion After War by Ruth W. Crocker
Finding Zoe by Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris
Informational Nonfiction
Winner:
Boston's 100 Greatest Games by Rob Sneddon
Finalists:
The Real Dirt on Composting by Cheryl Wilfong
Brave: A Painfully Shy Life by Helen Rivas-Rose
Specialty Books
Winner:
Seacoast: The Seasons of New Hampshire by Bob McGrath
Finalists:
Freedom Trail Pop Up Book of Boston by Denise D. Price
The Ella Zoo by Elizabeth Dimmette Coyne
Cover Design
Winner:
The Real Dirt on Composting by Cheryl Wilfong
Finalists:
Brave: A Painfully Shy Life by Helen Rivas-Rose
Wait Until I'm Dead! by Elda M. Dawber
Book Presentation & Marketing
Winner:
Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer
Finalists:
The Troubles by Connie Johnson Hambley
Brave: A Painfully Shy Life by Helen Rivas-Rose
Full results along with cover images are available at IPNE.org.