Printed Word Reviews

Submit your book on any subject for the 2026 NYC Big Book Award! That’s right, no limitation on where the author is located or the topic of the book. WHO CAN ENTER? Print and audiobooks can be submitted by: independent publishers hybrid publishers self-published authors university presses association presses small, medium and big house presses *including any of the big five publishing houses and their imprints Outside of the big five publishing houses, any publisher or author may submit to both competitions, IndependentPressAward.com (every spring); and NYCBigBookAward.com (every fall). See webpages for complete details. WHEN CAN I ENTER the NYC Big Book Award? We are on a rolling submission, approximately every two and a half months, with two hard deadlines: (1) September 1, 2025 to December 30, 2025 (2) January…

Dear Readers, It is with immense pride that we celebrate the announcement of the 2026 Independent Press Award winners. This year’s list serves as a powerful reminder that the most vital, innovative, and courageous storytelling is happening within the independent sector. These are books that set new benchmarks for excellence. In the words of our president Gabby Olczak, the 2026 winners represent a “global community that refuses to be sidelined.” From the rugged landscapes of primordial survival to the sterile, high-stakes corridors of geopolitical espionage, these authors have navigated the complexities of our current moment with unflinching honesty. We see a recurring call for resilience, not as a passive trait, but as an active, revolutionary choice. Whether it is Stacey Andrade King’s relentless pursuit of justice or Mitchell Raff ’s…

David Benjamin is a writer whose life reads like one of his own stories, full of curiosity, humor, and a relentless pursuit of the written word. David is the author of an eclectic array of more than two dozen award-winning books spanning various genres. He's been honored with 46 literary awards since the launch of his imprint, Last Kid Books, in 2019. An avid contributor to both the Independent Press Award and The New York City Big Book Award since our inception, David joined The GAB TALKS for the first time this winter. During the episode we delved into four of David's books. The first two, “The Life and Times of the Last Kid Picked,” a 2021 New York City Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite for Best Cover Design; and…

Action/Adventure The Biohunter by Ingrid Moon Drinking from the Stream by Richard Scott Sacks Slickrock by A.W. Baldwin The Fatal Saving Grace: An Ed Earl Burch Novel by Jim Nesbitt The Gooeyduck Man: Mystery in the Sand by K. Merton Claar The Time Has Come by Brock Bodenschatz African American Fiction Arc of the Universe by Nikki Alexander Aging/Midlife Racing Against Time: On Ironman, Ultramarathons and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Life by Jeffrey Weiss Alternative Medicine America’s Lifeline for Better Health: Preventive Care by Bala Kumar Animals/Pets A Land Filled With Horses by Robyn Rominger Animals/Pets-Childrens Can I Pet This Dog? by Camie Putchaven dog+girl by Maria Murillo Anthology Chronicles of the Grim Reaper Volume 1 by Griz Calderon The Book of Lost Innocence by Glenn Taylor Audiobooks The…

Childrens . Canoe Tree Press. ISBN: 978-0578568607 At its core, “Grumpy the Iguana” is a gentle exploration of how one’s world can be shattered by unexpected change. The protagonist is not born “Grumpy”; in fact, he begins the story as a happy creature whose happiness is rooted in the simple, rhythmic safety of his daily routine in Miami’s Flamingo Park. When his home—a beloved tree—is cut down, the loss of his physical space leads to the loss of his identity, transforming him into the irritable character of the title. Brighter days shine when the Green Parrot is introduced. Rather than trying to “fix” the iguana, the parrot offers something more profound: presence and compassion, recognizing “Grumpy” just needs a friend, and “someone to understand.” Chapman handles the concept of grief…