The Benjamin Franklin Digital Awards (BFDAs), launched in 2013 by the Independent Book Publishers Association, honor innovation in electronic publishing by individuals and organizations of all sizes. Both Gold and Silver honoree designations are awarded based on exceptional content, design, and use of technology. The most recent honorees are:
GOLD HONOREE:
Be The Best Bad Presenter Ever
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
In Be the Best Bad Presenter Ever, Karen Hough uses her unique presentation approach to take the anxiety out of one of the greatest fears in business. Her book debunks over a dozen myths about presentations and makes them more fun and natural for everybody. It is authenticity and passion that wins people over, not polish. Karen shows how you can embrace your own style and communicate your message without worrying constantly about antiquated dos and don’ts. Readers who follow Karen’s “bad advice” will be surprised to learn they’re actually a naturally skilled presenter.
SILVER HONOREES:
Cash Kills: An Angelina Bonaparte Mystery
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press
Cash Kills is a tightly plotted and meticulously edited mystery, featuring a mature female private investigator. The novel uses its Milwaukee setting to enhance the story and characters. Fifty-something Angie Bonaparte re-invented herself with gusto when her long marriage ended badly, taking her librarian research skills to a new level as a PI. To find justice in the midst of lies and cover-ups, Angie must face her own fear of trusting another. Readers will relate to her humor, vulnerability and dedication to the truth. Shelf Awareness likened Angie to “Stephanie Plum with a little experience in life under her belt.”
Life In A Jar: The Irena Sendler Project
Publisher: Long Trail Press
Life In A Jar: The Irena Sendler Project is the non-fiction account of how Irena Sendler rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto. After the war her story remained unknown. Sixty years later, three Kansas teens find a reference to her heroism, which becomes a play they call Life in a Jar. Their play elevates Irena Sendler to hero and helps crack open Polish dialogue about the Holocaust. The “girls from Kansas” are living examples of the power of one person to change the world and models for young people everywhere. They continue to champion Irena Sendler’s legacy – courage, tolerance, respect for all.
Tales Of The Blue Wizard: The Children Of Jamomere
Publisher: Talisman Press
This unusual series weaves together history, myth, and fables into a rich new tapestry which crosses cultural, religious, and spiritual boundaries to teach children on a deeper level. The series presents a new-age fairy tale subtly informing the reader on the nature of humanity, including the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Jamomere, the Blue Wizard of Atlantis, creates three types of fairies representing these aspects of humanity. Lessons about love, friendship, happiness, sadness, dying, and reincarnation are all explored by the three main tribes of fairies as they interact with the children of the world.
The Fade Series
Publisher: theEDGEbooks.com
A mixture of fantasy, thriller, romance, and dystopia, Fade pushes the creative envelope incorporating these elements into a mash-up of genres that is unique and original. Fade features a beautiful and eye-catching cover which bloggers have listed as one of the best covers in young adult fiction, a story line that is gripping and compelling with unexpected twists and turns. With all the elements of a blockbuster film,Fade also touches upon the deeper meaning of what it means to be human and endless love.
The Gondola Maker
Author and Publisher: Laura Morelli
From the author of Made in Italy comes a tale of artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world’s most magnificent settings: Renaissance Venice. When Luca Vianello, the heir to a renowned gondola-making enterprise, experiences an unexpected tragedy in the boatyard, he believes that his destiny lies elsewhere. Soon he finds himself drawn to restore an antique gondola with the dream of taking a girl for a ride. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the authentic details of gondola craftsmanship, along with an intimate first-person narrative set against the richly textured backdrop of 16th-century Venice.
ABOUT THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DIGITAL AWARDS (BFDAs)
As a rolling awards program, Benjamin Franklin Digital Award (BFDA) submissions are accepted year-round. Entries are judged against a standard of excellence in four categories: eBook, Enhanced eBook, Book as App, and New Technology/Software.
The Benjamin Franklin Digital Awards provides both Gold and Silver Honoree awards for exceptional content, design, and use of technology. All entrants benefit from direct, constructive feedback from judges, a hallmark of IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin print book awards, now in its 27th year. Both Gold and Silver honoree awards are distributed to entries that showcase exceptional digital content and design.
