Winners
Inspirational
2021 FINALISTS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2021 finalists in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2020. Register to attend the virtual award ceremony (May 11-14, 2021) to learn which book wins Gold.
2024 FINALISTS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2024 finalists in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.
Catch Me When I Fall: Poems of Mother Loss and Healing
2024 Finalist
Author: Donna Stoneham
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 9781647424282
A healing balm for anyone experiencing loss, Catch Me When I Fall reveals how our grief journeys can be a powerful transformative force, and how, if we keep our hearts open to the power of transcendent, eternal love, we can heal and continue our most pivotal relationships, even after death.
Finding Joy on Death Row: Unexpected Lessons from Lives We Discarded
2024 Finalist
Author: Dewey Williams
Publisher: Dexterity Books
ISBN: 9781947297555
Finding Joy on Death Row explores the devastating events that nearly destroyed pastor Dewey Williams' faith and his transformative interactions with men and women sentenced to die. With poignant letters from Death Row inmates, readers' will discover the persistence of hope in the face of even the most extreme circumstances.
Two by Two: Conversations Between Friends Navigating Breast Cancer
2024 Finalist
Authors: Nancy Bedsole Bynon and Kathryn Lavallet Tortorici
Publisher: Favorite Recipes Press
ISBN: 9780871976154
Two by Two follows two friends diagnosed with breast cancer at the exact same time through their varying journeys. Realizing that the bond with each other and their relationships with the Heavenly Father are the key ingredients to healing, these women share their stories, devotions, and recipes to pay their good fortune forward to others facing similar battles.
2023 WINNERS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2023 winners in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2022.
Unleashed: A Been-There, Rocked-That Guide to Radical Authenticity in Life and Business
2023 Gold Winner
Author: Amber Swenor
Publisher: WorldChangers Media
ISBN: 978-1-955811-03-3
Calling all visionary entrepreneurs and rebel-spirited changemakers! Claiming your rockstar identity and embracing your authenticity is the key that will unlock everything you desire in your life and work—and Amber Swenor is here to show you how to do it in total alignment with your soul.
911 From Your Soul
2023 Silver Winner
Author: Jeanine Thompson
Publisher: WorldChangers Media
ISBN: 978-1-955811-22-4
When life speaks, will you listen? The greatest invitations in our life often masquerade as challenges. Yet, the most powerful source of untapped potential is one many have lost sight of: our Soul. In this book, Thompson shares how “the beauty of the and” can fully enliven what life is offering to, and through, us.
Healing Out Loud: How to Embrace God's Love When You Don't Like Yourself
2023 Silver Winner
Authors: Sandi Brown and Michelle Caulk, PhD, LPC
Publisher: Dexterity
ISBN: 978-1-947297-33-3
Healing Out Loud captures many of the insecurities the modern woman faces in her walk with Christ. Written in conversational prose, Sandi Brown—founder of Christian radio ministry JOYFM—and her counselor Dr. Michelle Caulk’s combined voice creates an accessible path for readers to face their vulnerabilities with biblical insight.
2022 WINNERS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2022 winners in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2021.
The Journey Beyond: Learning to Live Beautifully in a Troubled World
2022 Gold Winner
Author: Erik Stensland
Publisher: Rocky Trail Press
ISBN: 978-1-970099-99-7
How do we live healthy and meaningful lives in a divided and angry world? Professional photographer and author Erik Stensland invites us to explore this question through a series of daily meditations, illustrated with his stunning photos. This book is an invitation to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and with each other.
Boldly Into the Darkness: Living with Loss, Growing with Grief & Holding On to Happiness
2022 Silver Winner
Author: Autumn Toelle-Jackson
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63489-357-2
In Boldly into the Darkness, Autumn Toelle-Jackson examines all the lessons and outcomes of her life story with aching intimacy and insight. The result is a portrait of healing so complete, it transcends the traditional survivor narrative and enters new territory, a bold light shining where before was only darkness.
The Impossible Mile: The Power in Living Life One Step at a Time
2022 Silver Winner
Authors: Johnny Agar, Becki Agar
Publisher: Dexterity
ISBN: 978-1-947297-37-1
The incredible story of Johnny Agar, born with cerebral palsy and told he would never walk, overcoming the odds to compete in Ironman triathlons. Featured on ESPN, The Today Show, and more, Johnny delivers a moving memoir that is a testament to the power of family, faith, and extraordinary courage.
2021 WINNERS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2021 winners in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2020. Click here to watch the Gold and Silver winner speeches.
HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time
2021 Gold Winner
Author: Brad Aronson
Publisher: LifeTree Media
ISBN: 9781928055631
This heartwarming, feel-good book is filled with true stories about how one small deed can make a world of difference.
Big Wild Love: The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Jill Sherer Murray
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 978-1-63152-852-1
If you’re stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, worried you’re destined to be alone, and need to let go, this smart, funny, and heartfelt tome lights the path forward. Based on Murray’s viral TEDx Talk, it’ll give you the tools and inspiration to let go for the healthy, happy love you deserve.
She is Me: How Women Will Save the World
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Lori Sokol, PhD.
Publisher: She Writes Press
ISBN: 978-1-63152-715-9
In She Is Me, Lori Sokol, PhD, introduces readers to thirty diverse women who are utilizing traits long been considered soft and weak in patriarchal cultures to successfully create change. Through interviews with leaders like Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, and others, readers will witness how these women are actually transforming lives, securing our planet, and saving the world.
2020 WINNERS - INSPIRATIONAL
See below for the list of 2020 winners in the INSPIRATIONAL category, for books with a copyright date of 2019.
Through a Sober Lens: A Photographer's Journey
2020 Gold Winner
Author: Michael Blanchard
Publisher: Genevieve Press
ISBN: 978-0-578-49159-2
An inspiring blend of photography and writing that chronicles the author’s journey to sobriety and emergence into a new life of creativity and meaning.
Bethany, God, and Me: Hope in the Midst of Heartbreak
2020 Silver Winner
Author: Bonnie Bolander
Publisher: Bound by Hope Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-7337580-0-0
Bonnie's transparency will draw you in to sympathize with her immense loss, only to suddenly find yourself basking in the warmth of God's tender care.
Piloting Your Life: Take the Controls and Be The Pilot in Your Own Life
2020 Silver Winner
Author: Terri Hanson Mead
Publisher: Class Bravo Ventures
ISBN: 978-1-0864719-2-2
The go-to guide for midlife women based on the author’s personal stories and extensive research interwoven with the stories of over thirty diverse women.
The Power of Love: A Transformed Heart Changes the World
2020 Silver Winner
Author: Fran Grace, Ph.D.
Publisher: Inner Pathway Publishing
ISBN: 978-7323185-0-2
An inspiring chronicle of life-changing encounters, personal transformation and a vision of love that transcends the everyday definition.
About the
Independent Book Publishers Association
Founded to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,200 members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.
For more information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.
