#IndependentPressBookAward
“Melody” Wins Distinguished Award for Children’s Fiction
The 2021 Independent Press Awards announced today Melody’s Magical Flying Machine by Idaho author Elaine Ambrose is the Distinguished Favorite winner in the Children’s Fiction category. Judges evaluated entries from around the world, and the Children’s Fiction category received thousands of submissions. The Awards celebrate and recognize key titles representing excellence in global independent publishing and writing.
Melody’s Magical Flying Machine is a beginning chapter book for ages 7-11. Melody is an amusing 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome. She narrates her story of meeting an enchanted bird, and they use a 3D printer to create a flying machine pulled by two dragons. She soars over the playground to amaze her friends and confront a group of bullies. Melody’s energetic talent in storytelling empowers her to educate others about Down syndrome while sharing her tall tales and strong hugs.
“The book is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination. Melody is an engaging narrator whose cheerful affection, knack for happiness, and zestful imagination express themselves in every line. Carolyn Zina’s pencil illustrations are beautifully textured and shaded, with a magical quality that deftly matches the text.” – Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly named the book as an “Editor’s Pick” for outstanding quality and wrote about “vivid prose” and “imaginative tapestry that is Melody’s magical adventure.” The published review concluded: “This charming flight of fancy with an equally charming protagonist will delight readers who want to be both educated and entertained.”
The story features a 3D printer, and toys were created with a 3D printer to accompany the book. Ambrose has donated books and toys to several charities, including Special Olympics Idaho and the Ohana Day Center in Woods Cross, Utah.
Illustrations were created by Idaho artist Caroline Zina. The book is available in paperback, published by Brown Books Publishing, and in eBook and audiobook read by the author. Order from independent bookstores, online, or from the author.
Elaine Ambrose is a bestselling author of 12 books, 14 eBooks, and 4 audiobooks. During the past six years, her books have won 10 international writing awards in three genres: humor, memoir, and children’s books. More details are available on www.ElaineAmbrose.com.
Find Myself on Your Shelf
Flummoxed and bewildered about what to give for Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other celebration of choice? Buy and give books! Books last for years, they aren’t fattening, and they allow you to escape beyond your quarantined bedroom. I have a dozen award-winning, bestselling books in three genres: humor, memoir, and children’s books. Buy them, and we’ll all be happy.
My latest book, Melody’s Magical Flying Machine, debuted as the #1 New Release in a category on Amazon and features a delightful girl with Down syndrome who uses a 3D printer to create a flying machine. In addition to the paperback, eBook, and audiobook versions, toys were created with a 3D printer so children can use them in role-play activities. Toys can be purchased from me for $10 each. Proceeds from the November release resulted in a $2,000 donation plus books and toys to Special Olympics Idaho.
Order books, eBooks, and audiobooks through local bookstores such as Rediscovered Bookshop in Boise, retail stores, online, or from me. During the last six years, these books have won several regional and nine national writing awards in addition to receiving bestseller status and excellent national reviews.
For a tenth award, Midlife Cabernet was selected as a winner for the Top Shelf Book Award for Humor. Publishers Weekly reviewed the book as “Laugh-out-loud funny.”
I can deliver autographed, personalized books and 3D toys downtown in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, and Garden City. Stay safe and happy this holiday season, and find myself on your shelf for a better New Year. For more details, email me at [email protected].
Author Wins Global Writing Awards in Three Genres in Three Years
On May 9, 2019, the Independent Press Award recognized Frozen Dinners – A Memoir of a Fractured Family by Idaho Author Elaine Ambrose as the winner of a 2019 Distinguished Favorite in the memoir category. This is the third consecutive win for the author in three different genres: humor, children’s books, and memoir. The author’s books won the 2019 award for memoir, the 2018 award for children’s books, and two awards in 2017 for humor.
The Independent Press Award competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.
Frozen Dinners – A Memoir of a Fractured Family was released in November by Brown Books Publishing Group and remains a national bestseller. The book is available from local bookstores and online in hardcover and eBook, and the publisher recently sold the audio rights for the author to read the manuscript for an audio version to be released this summer. The memoir describes the author’s childhood on an isolated farm outside the village of Wendell, Idaho. Her father, an intense entrepreneur, made a fortune hauling frozen food throughout the Northwest. After his early death, the family and fortune were destroyed, and the author spent half a century seeking warmth and freedom.
For the 2019 competition, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries from across the globe. Worldwide participation included books submitted from cities such as London to Madrid; Dallas to Philadelphia; Calgary to Melbourne, Chicago to San Francisco, and many different countries such as Australia, Africa, Canada, Egypt, India, Japan and Scotland as well as others.
“We are overjoyed to announce the winners and distinguished favorites in our annual 2019 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD. Independent publishing is prospering in every corner of the earth, and we are thrilled to be highlighting key titles representing global independent publishing.” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.
Books by Ambrose have won multiple international writing awards in the past five years.
In 2017, Midlife Happy Hour – Our Reward for Surviving Careers, Kids, and Chaos
* Finalist for INDIES Book of the Year Award for Humor
* Independent Press Award – Distinguished Favorite – Humor
* Independent Press Award – Winner – Midlife
* 5-Star Review from Foreword Reviews
In 2018, Gators & Taters – A Week of Bedtime Stories
• 2018 “Distinguished Favorite” for Children’s Literature from the Independent Press Awards
• One of 50 Children’s Books Selected for Bowker’s National Recommended Reading List
Also in 2018, The Magic Potato – La Papa Mágica
•2018 Silver Medal Winner from the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for Children’s Literature
Adopted by the Idaho State Board of Education for the statewide curriculum.
In 2014, Midlife Cabernet – Life, Love, and Laughter After Fifty
• “Laugh-out-Loud Funny”- Publishers Weekly
• “Erma Bombeck” – Foreword Reviews
• Silver Medal for Humor from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY)
Find more information about the author’s books and blog at ElaineAmbrose.
Free Workshop: How to Write a Children’s Book
Free Workshop Thursday, April 18
Do you have a splendid idea for a children’s book but don’t know how to write and publish a book? Bestselling author Elaine Ambrose will present a free workshop Thursday, April 18 at Collister Library from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. She will discuss the tools you need to create the book. Topics will include story, characters, illustrations, cover design, and publication. Free Workshop Thursday, April 18
Ambrose has written ten books, including two award-winning children’s books featuring her home state of Idaho. Gators & Taters – A Week of Bedtime Stories won a writing award from the Independent Press Award Program. The stories are designed to be read aloud to children. Illustrations for both books were created by Boise artist Patrick Bochnak.
The Magic Potato – La Papa Mágica is a storybook written in English and Spanish and features a fun story of children flying around Idaho of a potato. The text includes key words, phrases, colors, numbers, days of the week, and locations in English and Spanish. The book has won several awards, including the 2018 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for children’s literature. The State Board of Education adopted the book for the Idaho statewide curriculum.
Read more about Ambrose’s books, blogs, and events at www.ElaineAmbrose.com.
