The 2012 winners of the Indie Book Awards have just been announced. In an effort to promote independent publishing and give deserving books a wider audience, the awards recognize authors in 60 categories of publishing. The awards program was established in 2007 by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group and is judged every year by prominent publishers and literary agents. The awards are the largest Not-for-Profit book awards program.

"We like to think of our awards program as the 'Sundance' of the book publishing world," says Catherine Goulet, Chair of the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards program.  Adding that she would "like other independent artists, many indie book publishers face challenges that the industry giants don't experience. They typically have to work much harder to get their best books into the hands of readers." 

Independent publishing is thriving.  For example, in 2010, 2.7 million non-traditional books were published, which included print-on-demand and self-published titles.

The Indie Book Awards intend to give a PR boost to independent authors who Goulet says have to work very hard to get the word out about their books. "Like other independent artists, many indie book publishers face challenges that the industry giants don't experience. They typically have to work much harder to get their best books into the hands of readers." 

Some of the awardees this year include the following:

First Place Winner ($1,500 Prize)

Inner Visions: Grassroots Stories of Truth and Hope, by Jan Thrope (Orange Frazer Press)

Second Place Winner ($750 Prize)

Put the Needle on the Record: The 1980s at 45 Revolutions Per Minute, by Matthew Chojnacki (Schiffer Publishing)

Third Place Winner ($500 Prize)

Strategy for Good: Business Giving Strategies for the 21st Century, by Susan A. Hyatt, M.S. (GoodWorks Publishing)

Top Fiction Books

First Place Winner ($1,500 Prize)

The Parsifal Pursuit, by Michael McMenamin and Patrick McMenamin (Enigma Books)

Second Place Winner ($750 Prize)

A Little Leg Work, by Royce Leville (Rippple Books)

Third Place Winner ($500 Prize)

Walter's Muse, by Jean Davies Okimoto (Endicott and Hugh Books)

Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Indie Book Awards. For more information visist the Indie Book Awards website.