Still pinching myself following recent exciting news on a big, first award for my debut novel Big Green Country. The 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards is a highly respected annual literary award competition open exclusively to independent authors, small publishing houses and university presses around the English speaking world.
Big Green Country, a contemporary novel set in coastal Sonoma County, Russian River and into the Emerald Triangle counties of Humboldt and Mendocino was judged Best Regional Fiction in the West Pacific.
I'll share more on this news later, but for now, thank you to everyone who has read and all of those who have taken time to write a brief review for my latest work. A book is not worth its salt without readers. The hardest part of writing a book is finishing it. The next hardest, putting into print, the hardest of all is the marketing and promoting. So every time a reader shares my work with another, word spreads and my books take wings. Please do continue to tell friends and family and fellow readers about Big Green Country.
I'm delivering signed books locally in my hometown, via PayPal store orders on the homepage of Southern Sonoma Country Life and will mail to addresses in the U.S. It is available on Kindle and all the major online booksellers, including my favorite, Bookshop (click here) and through local bookstores. Big Green Country is available in the UK.
I'm back at my desk starting on the next one, slowly, but surely!
This is my second IPPY. Fog Valley Winter — Pioneer Heritage, Backroad Rambles and Vintage Recipes won a Silver Medal in 2018. in the Holiday Book category. I was thrilled to attend the awards ceremony at the iconic Copacabana Club in NY. No award ceremony this year for obvious reasons but I will plan a party for the Big Green Country Gold when it is safe to gather. I hope you will join me in a toast!
Click here for full list of award winners of this year's Independent Publishers Book Awards (Ippys).
Wow!! Many Congrats --Frank
Posted by: D | Friday, May 08, 2026 at 06:03 PM