IngramSpark News Release
Nashville, Tenn. – Innovative self-publishing experts received IngramSpark®’s, an award-winning self-publishing platform, inaugural “Ignite” awards last week. The Ignite awards honored booksellers, publishers and libraries that exhibited outstanding indie publishing best practices in 2017.
Winners were chosen in three categories: “Best Practices in Indie Publishing” recognizing publishers who demonstrate great models of publishing standards, “Best Practices in Community Engagement” recognizing bookstores and libraries providing exceptional support to their indie author communities, and “Rising Star” recognizing authors new to IngramSpark in 2017 who displayed savvy approaches to content creation, marketing, and distribution in the industry.
“Since IngramSpark’s launch in 2013, we’ve been amazed by the quality of content and success of our authors and publishers in the larger publishing world,” said Robin Cutler, Director of IngramSpark. “We’re inspired by their contribution to the entire publishing industry and to their readers. We wanted to recognize these individuals and organizations for their achievements.”
Best Practices in Indie Publishing
Koehler Books (Virginia Beach, VA)—Winner
Three Saints Press (Culver City, Calif.)—Runner-up
Best Practices in Community Engagement
Bookseller
Village Books (Bellingham, Wash.)
Politics & Prose, Inc. (Washington, DC)
Library
Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, MO)
Williamson County Public Library (Franklin, TN)
Rising Star
39 Stars (Austin, TX)
Hastings Bay Capital LLC (Mechanicsville, VA)
“Mid-Continent Public Library is very humbled and honored to be among the first recipients of the IngramSpark Ignite award. We strongly believe that public libraries are ideally positioned to help people share their stories with their neighbors,” said Steven Potter, Library Director and C.E.O. at Mid-Continent Public Library. “Being able to bring those stories to life using the services of IngramSpark has opened a universe of opportunities for us and for our community of storytellers.”
“When I finished my first book, Bipolar by Koehler, back in 2005, I had to figure out the editing and design, and I needed help with the printing and distribution. The entire process was deeply personal. It was my baby, and I needed it done well. Publishing is still personal today, as Koehler Books helps other writers along their publishing journey,” said John Koehler, President and Publisher at Koehler Books. “Looking ahead, I see innovations in technology, harnessed to make the publishing experience personal, easy, and rewarding. I see more direct links between booksellers, publishers, and readers—a link that will make the entire experience even more personal.”
Winners received prize money to recognize their 2017 goals and further their success in the book industry in 2018. “Our team has been so impressed with the way these individuals have exhibited the very best in publishing practices – whether through the quality of their content or engaging with readers and authors in their communities, they are taking the literary world by storm,” said Cutler.
About Ingram | www.ingramcontent.com
The world is reading and Ingram Content Group (“Ingram”) connects people with content in all forms. Providing comprehensive services for publishers, retailers, libraries and educators, Ingram makes these services seamless and accessible through technology, innovation and creativity. With an expansive global network of offices and facilities, Ingram’s services include digital and physical book distribution, print on demand, and digital learning. Ingram Content Group is a part of Ingram Industries Inc. and includes Ingram Book Group LLC, Ingram Publisher Services LLC, Lightning Source LLC, VitalSource Technologies LLC, Verba Software LLC, Ingram Library Services LLC, and Tennessee Book Company LLC.