A Bulgarian television station sent a news crew to the May 11 awards ceremony for Next Generation Indie Book Awards at the Newberry Library in Chicago. The focus of the TV crew’s attention was Bulgarian-born author Vlad Zachary. As part of the news segment, which aired on Bulgarian television on May 12, 2016, the crew also interviewed Cindy Safronoff.

Indie Book Awards

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards recognizes the most exceptional independently published books, including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors. This international book contest is run by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group, which is based in Oregon state. As one of the many perks, winning books are reviewed by Marilyn Allen of Allen O’Shea Literary Agency for possible representation. 

Bulgarian News Show

The TV crew attended the indie book awards to do a feature on Vlad Zachary’s book The Excellence Habit – How Small Changes In Our Mindset Can Make A Big Difference In Our Lives: For All Who Feel Stuck  which has achieved the status of #1 Amazon bestseller for Business Management books, and has also won an award in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Zachary, who has a professional background in journalism and television, won in the “Motivational” category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. 

In addition to following Zachary through his evening at the awards presentation, the news correspondent wanted to hear from other award-winning authors why they chose independent publishing. During Cindy Safronoff’s interview, she explained the benefits of having complete control of the book title, cover, editing, and how the book is marketed.

In the clip used for the news segment, Safronoff speaks about how being an independent publisher is a huge amount of work, because the author is responsible for everything, so it has to be a labor of love.

Safronoff’s labor of love has been her historical biography Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage, which was the winner in “Religious Nonfiction” and a finalist in “Women’s Issues” in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Awards Presentation

Those attending the event at the Newberry Library enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres before and during the awards presentation. Book contest judges, publishers agents, award winners, and their friends and family had opportunity to meet and network. The atmosphere was social and friendly, and the food was excellent.

Catherine Goulet and Mary Ellen Gavin hosted the presentation. New York literary agent Marilyn Allen gave a speech about trends in the publishing industry from her perspective of having worked for over 25 year for large publishing companies Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books and Avon Books and having worked with many best-selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark. The number of books being published has been increasing dramatically, and these award winners are among the very best independently published books.

Winners and finalists each were announced and invited to the stage to receive metals and congratulations from the hosts. Afterwards, more formal photos were taken by awards coordinators of award-winning authors.

News Show on the Internet

The news segment that aired on BIT, Bulgarian International Television, is available for viewing on the internet. The 2 1/2 minute segment runs from 17:27 to 20:00. Cindy Safronoff’s 25-second interview is from 19:30 to 19:55. Most of it has been dubbed over in Bulgarian, but even those who don’t understand Bulgarian can enjoy the visuals of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards event of international interest. Click here to watch.

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The 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards have been announced and Crossing Swords has won two book awards, including a $100 cash prize! 

Religious Non-Fiction Winner 

In the category of Religious Non-Fiction, Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage by Cindy Safronoff tied for first place with The Case Against Origen and Reincarnation by Eric Liberatos. This first-place win award includes a Winner Certificate, a gold metal, and a $100 cash prize. As a Winner it will be listed in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards brochure to be distributed at the Book Expo America (BEA) publishing industry convention in Chicago, and will also be reviewed by Allen O’Shea Literary Agency of New York for possible representation.

Women’s Issues Finalist

Crossing Swords was also named one of five Finalists in the category of Women’s Issues, earning it a finalist metal and certificate. The winner in the Women’s Issues category was Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox Book by Joanne Cronrath Bamberger. The other finalists were Fat Girl, Skinny: A Memoir by Amye Archer, Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran, by Nina Ansary, Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change, Edited by Michelle Duster and Trina Sotira, and The Full Catastrophe, by Karen Lee. 

Chicago Awards Ceremony

The 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards contest will hold an awards reception and presentation for winners and finalists at the Newberry Library in Chicago on Wednesday, May 11. The Newberry Library is an independent research library originally founded in 1887 and moved to the current historic building in 1893.

About the Next Generation Indie Book Awards

All 2016 winners and finalists are listed on the website. This is the ninth year for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, a not-for-profit book contest which was started by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in over 70 different categories. All winners and finalists are considered to be among the best of independently published books.

Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage by Cindy Peyser Safronoff (This One Thing, July 4, 2015) is available on Amazon, by special order through your favorite local bookstore (through Ingram), and at a growing list of public libraries.

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