Feature

Announcing the 2009 IPPY Outstanding Books of the Year

Special awards recognize the daring spirit of independent authors and publishers
For 26 years our mission at Independent Publisher has been to recognize and encourage the work of publishers who exhibit the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society. These medalists were chosen from our regular entries for exemplifying this daring spirit. Here are the winners of this year's Outstanding Book of the Year awards, including two new categories established this year: the Independent Spirit Award recognizes the book project our judges found the most heartfelt and unique, and the Independent Voice Award recognizes the year’s most experimental, boundary-pushing voice among our fiction entries.

Independent Spirit Award



Gold:
America according to Connor Gifford, by Connor Gifford and Victoria Harris (Hargrave Press)


Independent Voice Award



Gold:
Lust and Cashmere, by A.E. Simns (The Green Lantern Press)


Freedom Fighter of the Year



Gold:
After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution, by Neal Q. Herrick (Black Rose Books)
Silver: Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe, by Terry D. Turchie and Kathleen M. Puckett, PhD (History Publishing Co.)


Most Likely To Save the Planet



Gold:
Evolution's Edge: The Coming Collapse and Transformation of Our World, by Graeme Taylor (New Society Publishers)
Silver: Breakthrough Power: How Quantum-leap New Energy Inventions Can Transform Our World, by Jeane Manning, Joel Garbon and Jan Scherer (Amber Bridge Books)


Peacemaker of the Year



Gold:
Be Not Afraid: An Alternative to the War on Terror, by Tom Cordaro (Pax Christi)
Silver: Tibet's War of Peace: A Nation’s Nonviolent Struggle for Freedom, by Dennis Cusack (Brown Door Publishing)


Most Original Concept



Gold:
The Oxford Project, photographs by Peter Feldstein; text by Stephen G. Bloom (Welcome Books)
Silver: Attachments, by Anne-Marie Cottenet Dannenberg (Aava Books Co.)


Most Outstanding Design



Gold:
Paris Icons. by Leslie J. Little; photography by James P. Scholz; design and typography by Justine Tucker Art and Design (Icon Images)
Silver: The Chinese Dream: A Society Under Construction , by Neville Mars and Adrian Hornsby (010 Publishers)


Story Teller of the Year



Gold:
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, for Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment, by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas with Wangari Maathai and His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Greystone Books)
Silver: Franklin A. (Bull Tail) Scout, for Grandfather’s Bedtime Stories: Three Traditional Sioux Folktales, by Franklin A. (Bull Tail) Scout; illustrated by Jim Yellowhawk (Peg Sperlich Publishing)


Best Book Arts Craftsmanship



Gold:
The New City, photographs by Jefferson Hayman & poetry by MacLean Gander; binding by Mark Tomlinson & Sarah Creighton (21st Editions)
Silver: A Happy Day, original poems and illustrations by Louise Sheppa Lovett; revisions and restoration by Ellen Anne Chong (Tish and Company LLC)


Most Inspirational to Youth


Gold:
Another Sad Mad Glad Book, by Chuck Stump & Jim Strawn (Four Dolphins)
Silver: Have You Ever Noticed? An A-Z Look at Feelings and Actions, by Ray Ali and Rudy Ambtman with Elaine Ali and Zobida Ambtman


Most Life-Changing



Gold:
Hands At Work - Portraits & Profiles of People Who Work with Their Hands, photography by Summer Moon Scriver; stories by Iris Graville (Heron Moon Press)


Most Progressive Health Book



Gold:
Nourishing Hope for Autism: Nutrition Intervention for Healing Our Children, by Julie Matthews (Nourishing Hope)