TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan: June 6, 2024—Foreword Reviews announces the winners of its INDIES Book of the Year Awards today. These awards celebrate the outstanding books published in 2023 by small, independent, and university presses.

A comprehensive list of the winners can be found here:

https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/winners/2023/

“The days leading up to our INDIES announcement are an annual highlight for our team. It is so very satisfying to see the winning votes come in from our Finalist judging team of booksellers and librarians. Their enthusiasm for the process of discovering the most notable titles is so rewarding for us, and such a pleasure to share with our readers,” said Victoria Sutherland, Foreword’s founder and publisher.

With over 2,400 entries submitted across 55 categories, this year’s competition showcased the remarkable talent and diversity of the independent publishing industry. Foreword’s dedicated editors carefully selected approximately 12 finalists per genre, which were then presented to individual librarians and booksellers entrusted with the challenging task of determining the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners.

In addition to the category winners, Foreword editors handpicked Editor’s Choice Prize winners in both fiction and nonfiction. The nonfiction choice from Fantagraphics is Ephemera, by Briana Loewinsohn. For fiction, from Restless Books comes The Simple Art of Killing a Woman, by Patrícia Melo. Both receive a $1,500 honorarium.

Finally, Foreword annually names an INDIE Publisher of the Year for the independent press who exemplifies the spirit of indie publishing. The 2023 award goes to CamCat Books, a publisher that, in a mere five years, has had a significant impact on independent publishing. Their books boast exciting storylines, dynamic authors, and impeccable packaging—titles that catch eyes on bookstore and library shelves before they captivate readers’ imaginations.

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Since 1998, Foreword Reviews has provided trade book reviews of the best titles from independent presses. In print, and online, its FOLIO: award-winning design and editorial content makes the magazine a favorite among librarians, booksellers, and readers—an excellent resource when it comes to purchasing books. Foreword INDIES and the fee-for-review Clarion service complement our online content and print magazine, helping to showcase diverse independent presses and their authors for over 26 years.
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