Book awards!

I’m happy to say that I received a medal for “Gangsters to Governors” at the Independent Publishers Book Awards, which is open to independent press or university press books or self-published titles. The event was at the Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan (no Barry Manilow sighting!) and there was an open bar, plenty of food and lots of authors with interesting books and backgrounds. My book received the bronze award for Current Events (political/economic/foreign affairs). Publishing a book of any kind is a difficult endeavor, so this sort of recognition is most welcome — especially to a first-time author. Thanks to the event organizers for supporting and encouraging independent presses and authors!

I also learned that “Gangsters to Governors” was chosen as the winner in the Current Events/Social Change category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards! The awards will be given at a ceremony on June 22 in New Orleans in conjunction with the American Library Association’s annual conference. (Unfortunately, I can’t make that one.) The awards also posted judges’ comments for the winners, and here’s what one of the judges said about the book: “Compulsively readable from its first pages, ‘Gangsters to Governors’ is a compelling look at the past and future of gambling in America. It spans the boardwalk in Atlantic City to the borderless world of online gambling and everything in between.”