Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded in this year's Independent Publisher Book Awards. A total of 2,690 national entries came from all 50 U.S. states, 8 Canadian provinces, and 17 countries overseas.

National Categories

Cookbook Category – Gold Medal
THE KITCHEN TABLE: BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON (Bright Sky Press/November 2006/$29.95) by Executive Chef Randy Evans opens with “Diaries of the Kitchen Table”, customers’ telling what they saw, heard, tasted and learned while dining in the center of the action. Following are chapters corresponding to the seven courses served at The Kitchen Table, from lagniappe through dessert and including “the forgotten course”, cheese. At the heart of it all are the recipes created for this one-of-a-kind experience.

Children’s Interactive – Bronze Medal
WILD WEST TRAIL RIDE MAZE (Bright Sky Press/April 2006/$16.95) Roxie Munro, with her eye-popping and intricate artwork, invites children to trail through aerial mazes, each one dovetailing into the one following, making discoveries deep down in every canyon and over each hill. As young readers search out the trail through the western landscapes, they can try the “ABC Challenge”, finding the hidden letter shape on each page, or play “Alphabet Travel.” No one will get lost or bumfuzzled because answer keys conclude the adventure.

Also awarded were 12 Outstanding Books of the Year and Best Regional Fiction and Best Regional Non-Fiction. Independent publishers are truly changing the world, one book at a time! For 24 years the mission at Independent Publisher has been to recognize and encourage the work of publishers who exhibit the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society. There were 36 books in 12 categories, chosen from the 2,690 national entries that exemplify this daring spirit.

Outstanding Books of the Year – Bronze Medal
BEST REMUDAS (Bright Sky Press/October 2006/$39.95) To recognize the contributions made by working ranch horses to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse breed, the American Quarter Horse Association annually presents the Best Remuda Award. Beginning in 1992, the Association has honored 15 outstanding ranches for their efforts in raising American Quarter Horses, an essential “tool of their trade” . . . and their respected co-workers. Best Remudas features photography and descriptive text about each of the ranches and the horses they have produced and now rely on in their daily work.