For the past eight years, SparkPoint Studio’s hybrid publishing imprints—She Writes Press and SparkPress—have swept the indie book awards season, taking home more book award finalist and winner accolades than any other indie publisher. In January 2023, these two imprints collectively hit over 2,000 award and finalist titles!

As of February 2024, SWP and SP are already on track to sweep the awards season once again for the ninth year in a row.

So far, highlights from 2024 include 252 awards:

    • 5 winners in the International Impact Book Awards: Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Family and Medical); The Shaman’s Wife by Alicia Rodriguez (Inspirational); Affliction by Laura Hall (Memoirs); Talland House by Maggie Humm (Women’s Fiction); The Goldilocks Genome by Elizabeth Reed Aden, PhD (Medical)
    • 8 distinguished favorites in the Independent Press Awards: The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Historical Fiction): Whispers from the Valley of the Yak by Jacquelyn Lennox Tuxill (Memoir); ’Till All These Things Be Done by Suzanne Moyers (New Fiction); Untethered by Laura Whitfield (New Nonfiction); Every Other Weekend by Margaret Law (Women’s Fiction); The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy (Women’s Fiction); A Haunting at Linley by Michelle Cox (Mystery); The French Lover’s Wife by Janet Garber (Women’s Fiction)
    • 1 winner in the Axiom Business Book Awards: The Butcher, the Embezzler, and the Fall Guy by Gretchen Cherington (gold medalist in Corporate History / Milestone)
    • 8 Winners in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards: 
      • 1 Gold Winner: The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman (Fiction: General)
      • 7 Silver Winners: Because I Loved You by Donnaldson Brown (Fiction: General), Those People Behind Us by Mary Camarillo (Fiction: General), Catch Me When I Fall by Donna Stoneham (Inspirational), Justice Is Served by Leslie Karst (Memoir), The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman (Teen: Fiction 13-18 years); The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman (Best New Voice: Fiction), The Byways by Mary Pascual (Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy)
    • 20 honorees in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards: 
      • 3 winners: The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Historical Fiction), Work Jerks by Louise Carnachan (Business), Luz by Debra Thomas (Legacy Fiction)
      • 3 Honorable Mentions: The Golden Ticket by Irene Smith (Culture), Deep Waters by Beth Ann Mathews (Memoir), A Smoke and a Song by Sherry Sidoti (E-book Nonfiction)
      • 1 Category Finalist: The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Cèline Keating
      • 1 da Vinci Eye Winner: Work Jerks by Louise Carnachan
      • 2 da Vinci Eye Finalists: A Smoke and a Song by Sherry Sidoti, Crash by Rachel Michelberg
      • 4 First Horizon Award Finalists: Deep Waters by Beth Ann Mathews, Luz by Debra Thomas, The Golden Ticket by Irene Smith, Work Jerks by Louise Carnachan
      • 6 shortlisted for the Grand Prize: A Smoke and a Song by Sherry Sidoti, Deep Waters by Beth Ann Mathews, Luz by Debra Thomas, The Golden Ticket by Irena Smith, The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue, Work Jerks by Louise Charnachan
    • 13 honorees in the Chanticleer International Book Awards:
      • 1 Grand Prize Winner:
        • The M&M Book Awards: A Haunting at Linley by Michelle Cox
      • 7 winners:
        • The Clue Book Awards: A Haunting at Linley by Michelle Cox
        • Journey Book Awards: Underwater Daughter by Antonia Deignan, Reconfigured by Barbara Wolf Terao
        • The Hemingway Book Awards: Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley
        • Somerset Book Awards: Eat and Get Gas by J.A. Wright,
        • The Hearten Book Awards: The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy by Lally Pia
        • The Goethe Book Awards: The River Remembers by Linda Ulleseit
      • 5 finalists:
        • Mind & Spirit Book Awards: Threads of Awakening by Leslie Richen-Wongmo
        • Somerset Book Awards: Five Days in Bogotá by Linda Moore, Every Other Weekend by Margaret Klaw
        • The Hemingway Book Awards:  Eat and Get Gas by J.A. Wright, The Forger of Marseille by Linda Joy Meyers
    • 11 winners in the BookFest Book Awards: 
      • 6 First Place winners: Affliction by Laura Hall (Nonfiction: Relationships – Family), Catch Me When I Fall by Donna Stoneham (Nonfiction: Body, Mind & Spirit – Healing), Flash Point by Christy Warren (Nonfiction: Health & Wellness/Mental Health Memoirs – Personal), Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Nonfiction: Memoirs – Transformational [Relationships – Family]), Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Nonfiction: Memoirs – Transformational [Self-Help – Inspiration]), The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy (Fiction: Women’s)
      • 4 Second Place winners: Flash Point by Christy Warren (Nonfiction: Memoirs – Professional), Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Nonfiction: Health & Wellness – Medical), The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy (Artistic & Technical: Book Cover – Overall Design), Work Jerks by Louise Carnachan (Nonfiction: Business Leadership/Business Communication [Work Culture])
      • 1 Honorable Mention: Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Artistic & Technical: Audiobook – Overall Presentation)
    • 1 honorable mention in The London Book Festival: Ivy Lodge by Linda Murphy Marshall (Biography/Autobiography)
    • 2 winners in the Sarton Awards:
      • 1 Young Adult Winner: Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright
      • 1 Gilda Prize Winner: The Golden Ticket by Irene Smith
    • 17 honorees in the American Legacy Book Awards: 
      • 5 winners: A Sky of Infinite Blue by Kyomi O’Connor (Health: Death & Dying and Religion: Eastern); Hollyland by Patricia Leavy (Romance: General); Magician and Fool by Susan Wands (Visionary Fiction); The Byways by Mary Pascual (Young Adult Fiction)
      • 12 Finalists: Sophia’s Return by Sophia Kouidou-Giles (Autobiography/Memoir and Multicultural Nonfiction); Hollyland by Patricia Leavy (Best New Fiction and Mystery/Suspense: Romantic Suspense); Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops by Allison Hong Merrill (Best New Nonfiction and Multicultural Nonfiction); The Fourteenth of September by Rita Dragonette (Historical Fiction and Women’s Fiction); Affliction by Laura Hall (LGBTQ+ in Nonfiction); The Worst Thing We’ve Ever Done by Carol Menaker (Nonfiction: Creative); Tracing Inca Trailers by Eddy Ancinas (Travel: Guides & Essays); The Byways by Mary Pascual (Fantasy: General)
    • 1 finalist in the Maine Literary Awards: The Butcher, The Embezzler, and the Fall Guy by Gretchen Cherington (Nonfiction)
    • 2 winners in the Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards: Light in Bandaged Places by Liz Kinchen (Memoir), Faraway and Forever by Nancy Joie Wilkie (Science Fiction Novelettes)
    • 1 Silver Winner in the Nautilus Book Awards: Threads of Awakening by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo (Religion/Spirituality of Eastern Thought)
    • 14 honorees in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards:
      • 2 winners: No More Empty Spaces by D. J. Green (General Fiction/Novel [70,000 to 100,000 Words]); Immersion by Linda Murphy Marshall (Travel/Travel Guide),
      • 12 finalists: No More Empty Spaces by D. J. Green (First Novel [70,000 to 90,000 Words]); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Best Cover Design [Nonfiction]); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Memoirs [Personal Struggle/Health Issues]); ’Till All These Things Be Done by Suzanne Moyers (E-Book [Fiction]); ’Till All These Things Be Done by Suzanne Moyers (Regional [Fiction]); Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Regional [Fiction]); I Will Leave You Never by Ann Putnam (General Fiction/Novel [70,000 to 100,000 Words]); Those People Behind Us by Mary Camarillo (General Fiction/Novel [70,000 to 100,000 Words]); Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Memoirs [Other]); Ivy Lodge by Linda Murphy Marshall (Memoirs [Personal Struggle/Health Issues]); We Used to Dance by Debbie Chein Morris (Memoirs [Personal Struggle/Health Issues]); The Eden Trilogy by Jeanne McWilliams Blasburg (Memoirs [Personal Struggle/Health Issues]); Worldwide Crush by Kristen Nilsen (Humor/Comedy)
    • 4 winners in the Foreword Indie Book Awards:
      • 3 Silver Winners: The Seeing Garden by Ginny Kubitz Moyer (Historical Adult Fiction); The Twenty by Marianne Bohr (Adventure, Sports & Recreation); Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Body, Mind & Spirit)
      • 1 Bronze Winner: About the Carleton Sisters by Dian Greenwood (General Adult Fiction)
    • 20 honorees in the National Indie Excellence Awards:
      • 5 winners: Be Brave. Lose the Beige! by Liz Kitchens (Aging); Making the Rounds by Patricia Grayhall (LGBTQIA Nonfiction); Making the Rounds by Patricia Grayhall (Memoir); A Haunting at Linley by Michelle Cox (Mystery); The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Céline Keating (Regional Fiction: Northeast)
      • 15 finalists: The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Céline Keating (Literary Fiction); Available As Is by Debbie Weiss (Grief); You Make Your Path By Walking by Suzanne Anderson (Grief); The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Historical Fiction); The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Literary Fiction); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Inspiration); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Medical); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Nonfiction); The Broken Hummingbird by Ann Marie Jackson (Literary Fiction); The Broken Hummingbird by Ann Marie Jackson (Women’s Fiction); A Smoke and a Song by Sherry Sidoti (Memoir); By Accident by Joanne Greene (Memoir); Dancing Into the Light by Kathryn Abdul-Baki (Multicultural Nonfiction); Swimming for My Life by Kim Fairley (Sports); Worldwide Crush by Kristen Nilsen (Teen Fiction)
    • 2 Winners in the International Impact Book Awards: The Goldilocks Genome by Elizabeth Reed Aden, PhD (Medical), Big Wild Love by Jill Sherer Murray (Relationships)
    • 1 Second Place Winner in the CMA Book Awards: Out of Ireland by Marian O’Shea Wernike (Faith-Based Novel)
    • 19 honorees in the International Book Awards:
        • 4 winners: Mattie, Milo, and Me by Anne Abel (Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction); No More Empty Spaces by D. J. Green (Best New Fiction); Five Days in Bogotá by Linda Moore (Fiction: Literary); The Shaman’s Wife by Alicia M. Rodriguez (Nonfiction: Narrative)
        • 15 finalists: Dancing Into the Light by Kathryn Abdul-Baki (Autobiography/Memoir); No More Empty Spaces by D. J. Green (Fiction: General); There Are No Rules for This by JJ Elliot (Best New Fiction); Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Fiction: General); Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Fiction: Literary); Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Women’s Fiction); Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Fiction: Historical); Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Women’s Fiction); The Forger of Marseille by Linda Joy Myers (Fiction: Historical); Five Days in Bogotá by Linda Moore (Fiction: Mystery/Suspense); The Other Side of Nothing by Anastasia Zadeik (Fiction: Literary); The Other Side of Nothing by Anastasia Zadeik (Women’s Fiction); Last Place Called Home by Betsy Hartmann (Fiction: Mystery/Suspense); The Deepfake by Joan Cohen (Women’s Fiction); Blackwildgirl by Menah Adeola Eyaside Pratt (Nonfiction: Inspirational)
    • 18 winners in the IPPY Awards:
      • 7 Gold Winners: The Other Side of Nothing by Anastasia Zadeik (Popular Fiction); Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Military/Wartime Fiction); Underwater Daughter by Antonia Deignan (Autobiography/Memoir [Personal Struggle/Health Issues]); Available As Is by Debbie Weiss (Aging/Death and Dying); But You Look So Normal by Claudia Marseille (Best First Book [Nonfiction/Personal]); Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Best Adult Nonfiction Personal Ebook); Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright (West Pacific Fiction)
      • 7 Silver Winners: The Golden Ticket by Irene Smith (Essay); Justice Is Served by Leslie Karst (Autobiography/Memoir [Celebrity/Political/Romance]); Wanderlust by Karen Dershowitz (Travel [Essay]); The Broken Hummingbird by Ann Marie Jackson (Cover Design [Fiction]); The Ways of Water by Teresa H. Jansen (West Mountain Fiction); The Forger of Marseille by Linda Joy Meyers (Europe Fiction); To Walk It Is To See It by Kathy Elkins (Europe Nonfiction)
      • 4 Bronze Winners: The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Historical Fiction); The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy by Lally Pia (Multicultural Nonfiction [Adult]); The Twenty by Marianne C. Bohr (Travel [Essay]); The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Céline Keating (Northeast Fiction)
    • 22 honorees in the American Fiction Awards:
      • 10 Winners: Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Adventure: War and Military), Not Yours to Keep by Zelly Ruskin (Mystery/Suspense: General), After the Red Carpet by Patricia Leavy (Romance: General), This Animal Body by Meredith Walters (Coming of Age), The Die by Jude Berman (General Fiction), The Die by Jude Berman (Visionary Fiction), Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph (Best New Fiction), Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph (Science Fiction: General), Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph (Thriller: Political), Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph (Thriller: Techno)
      • 12 Finalists: Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Coming of Age), Not Yours to Keep by Zelly Ruskin (Women’s Fiction), After the Red Carpet by Patricia Leavy (Family Saga), Out of Ireland by Marian O’Shea Wernicke (Historical Fiction), Sleeping in the Sun by Joanne Howard (Historical Fiction), The Vow by Jude Berman (Historical Fiction), Last Place Called Home by Betsy Hartmann (Thriller: Political), The Die by Jude Berman (Cross Genre Fiction), Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph (Cross Genre Fiction), The Grandest Garden by Gina L. Carroll (Best Cover Design: Adult Fiction), The Grandest Garden by Gina L. Carroll (Women’s Fiction), The Grandest Garden by Gina L. Carroll (African American Fiction)
    • 1 finalist in the WILLA Literary Awards: Josie and Vic by Debra Thomas (Multiform Fiction)
    • 6 honorees in the Living Now Book Awards: Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (General
      • 1 Gold Medalist: Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (General Fiction)
      • 1 Silver Medalist: Mattie, Milo, and Me by Anne Abel (Animals/Pets)
      • 4 Bronze Medalists: Make a Home Out of You by Ginelle Testa (Memoir – Female), The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews by Rossi (Memoir – Female), Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Health & Wellness), This Animal Body by Meredith Walters (General Fiction)
    • 15 honorees in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards:
      • 4 Gold Medal Winners: Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Non-Fiction – Grief/Hardship), A Smoke and a Song by Sherry Sidoti (Non-Fiction – Inspirational), The Die by Jude Berman (Fiction – Visionary), This Animal Body by Meredith Walters (Fiction – Animals)
      • 1 Silver Medal Winner: The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy (Romance – General)
      • 3 Bronze Medal Winners: There Are No Rules for This by JJ Elliot (Fiction – Chick Lit), An Unexpected Ally by Sophia Kouidou-Giles (Fiction General), Kate’s War by Linda Stewart Henley (Fiction – Historical – Event/Era)
      • 4 Finalists: The Broken Hummingbird by Ann Marie Jackson (Fiction – Women’s), Five Days in Bogotá by Linda Moore (Fiction – Suspense), Swimming for My Life by Kim Fairley (Non-Fiction – Sports), The Butcher, the Embezzler, and the Fall Guy by Gretchen Cherington (Non-Fiction – True Crime)
      • 3 Honorable Mentions: The Forger of Marseille by Linda Joy Myers (Fiction – Women’s), Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Non-Fiction – Inspirational), Late Bloomer by Melissa Giberson (Non-Fiction – LGBTQ)
    • 11 honorees in the NYC Big Book Awards:
      • 4 Winners: Countermelodies by Ernestine Whitman (Memoir), Five Days in Bogotá by Linda Moore (Suspense), The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman (Dying), When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane (Comedy)
      • 7 Distinguished Favorites: The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman (General Fiction), High Priestess and Empress by Susan Wands (Visionary Fiction), Incurable Optimist by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (Audiobook–Nonfiction), The Map Colorist by Rebecca D’Harlingue (Historical Fiction), Bright Eyes by Bridey Thelen-Heidel (Memoir), Whispers from the Valley of the Yak  by Jacquelyn Lenox Tuxill (Memoir), Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Nature)
    • 2 winners in the Nonfiction Book Awards:
      • 1 Gold Winner: Healing Wisdom for Pet Loss by Anne Marie Farrage-Smith
      • 1 Silver Winner: Fall and Recovery by Joanne DeSimone
    • 1 winner in the BookFest Awards:
      • 1 First Place Winner: Immersion by Linda Murphy Marshall (Nonfiction – Memoir – Travel)
    • 20 honorees in the Best Book Awards:
      • 6 Winners: Healing Wisdom for Pet Loss by Anne Marie Farage-Smith (Animals/Pets: General), Not Yours to Keep by Zelly Ruskin (Best New Ficiton), Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Fiction: Literary), When Skies Are Gray by Lindsey Henke (Nonfiction: Inspirational), The Others by Evette Davis (Fiction: Fantasy), High Priestess and Empress by Susan Wands (Fiction: New Age)
      • 14 Finalists: Not Yours to Keep by Zelly Ruskin (Fiction: Mystery/Suspense and Fiction: Women’s Fiction), Daughter of a Promise by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg (Fiction: Women’s Fiction), Bloodlines by Tracey Yokas (Health: Psychology/Mental Health and Health: Women’s Health), Hiding for My Life by Karen Solt (LGBTQ+ Nonfiction), Solo Passage by Glenda Goodrich (Nonfiction: Inspirational), The Shaman’s Wife by Alicia M. Rodriguez (Nonfiction: Narrative), The Nutcracker Chronicles by Janine Kovac (Performing Arts: Film, Theater, Dance, Music), Girl, Uncoded by Brandi Dredge (True Crime: Nonfiction), Devil’s Defense by Lori B. Duff (Fiction: General and Fiction: Thriller/Adventure), The Goldilocks Genome by Elizabeth Reed Aden (Fiction: Mystery/Suspense), Blood Divided by Katie Keridan (Fiction: Young Adult)
    • 2 honorees in the Reader’s Choice Awards:
      • Gold Winner: Worldwide Crush by Kristen Nilsen (Best Children’s Book 8-12)
      • Finalist: Worldwide Crush by Kristen Nilsen (Best Teen Book)
    • 2 finalists in the Independent Author Network Awards: Because I Loved You by Donnaldson Brown (Historical Fiction: 20th Century), Because I Loved You by Donnaldson Brown (Literary Fiction)
    • 1 winner of the BookLife Prize: Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright (Fiction)