AWARDS CEREMONY for Winners & Distinguished Favorites:
May 3, 2025: 6pm - 10pm
Attendees (both winners, distinguished favorites/finalists)

NYC Big Book Award & Independent Press Award
* Photo opportunities start in front of award screen at 6pm
Photos by Dan D'Errico (The New York Times, W Magazine, Vogue and Beauty Fashion)
and we make photos available at no charge
* Sit down dinner with choice of menu options
* Walk up on stage to receive your award
* Acknowledgement of Independent Press Award / NYC Big Book Award in attendance
* Photo opportunities (On Stage, Front of Award Screen, additional opps)
* Recognized in an issue of the Independent Press Award magazine
* Gift bag* Chance to win prizes including a free book video trailer or video reel to sponsor donated gift cards and book services.
* Every awardee receives additional self-adhesive book seals.
* We create a personalized Awards Dinner digital banner (see below)
$159. per person; a limited time special offer for first attendee of a party: only $139. per person.
* Table of eight, $1000; or Table of ten, $1250.
Dress code is Black-tie optional: suits & dresses are acceptable (since we do have other cultures in attendance, we are requesting those in attendance to respect that this is an award's ceremony) as we want to look great and have fun.
SHARE YOUR STORY with us, complete form here
May 3rd BOOK AWARDS Dinner only, use link or button below:
SPECIAL HOTEL RATES Doubletree by Hilton, 128 Frontage, Newark, NJ. Special hotel rates for both Friday, Saturday, & Sunday nights, LIMITED ROOMS, currently available with our link of ONLY $169./night plus taxes and fees.
94.7% rated our Awards Dinner & Ceremony
10 out of 10!
What attendees are saying . . .
"I have had the opportunity to attend various award ceremonies in the past, particularly those dedicated to actors and performers. However, the Awards ceremony stood out to me due to its exceptionally warm and welcoming atmosphere. What truly made a difference was the graciousness and attentiveness of the hosts and staff. Instead of simply attending the event, I felt like an integral part of it. It was a remarkable experience that made me feel truly valued and included."
Attended multiple years of Nonprofit & Theater galas: "The pace of the IPA and NYC Big Book Award dinner was fast and efficient, the food was delicious (nothing was dry or a salt bomb like a lot of other places these events were held)."
"I’ve been to retirement parties at this venue. This was so inclusive and all awardees interacted."
"I loved all the thought and care you took from providing food, drinks, and a beautiful venue! I truly felt like a rock star!"
"The ceremony was well organized...the ceremony was filled with many scholars, professionals, and writers/authors who'd won an award. It was amazing. The audience as you could tell was very appreciative."
"Attended mostly journalism awards, and I must say the NYC Book Awards looked after almost every detail better. You guys truly went above and beyond to make it a great experience for the award winners."
"This was a very elegant ceremony, well organized and planned with some nice theatrical touches."
Past 2024 Menu Choice:
PRIME RIB OF BEEF: Traditional Dish Prepared with Crushed Sea Salt, Horseradish Cream Sauce
GREMOLATA FILLET OF SALMON: Lemon and Orange Beurre Blanc
CHICKEN MEDITERRANEAN: Boneless Breast of Chicken, Capers and Sun-dried Tomato
Vegetarian Option (Chef's choice)
Gluten Free Option (Chef's choice)
Special requests are honored to the best of our ability
2024 Winners & Favorites were published in the magazine; Posted one page on Twitter, over 20 million impressions:

Awards Dinner in main ballroom


Upper terrace under the glass ceiling.




Brand new fitness center now open
Upper Terrace overlooks Indoor pool
FREE shuttle from Newark International Airport

Franke James
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Audiobook-Nonfiction

Kimberly Adams
Kiowa, OK
Childrens-Fiction

Jenny Jefferies
South Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Cookbooks - International

J.L. Feuerstack
Bridgeport, CT
Epic Fantasy

Joan Gelfand
New Adult Nonfiction

Dr. Lynsey Victoria
Childrens-Nonfiction

Michael Dow
Childrens: Educational Series

Pearl Gifty Alimo
Picture Books - Ages 4-8

Bridey Thelen-Heidel
Memoir

Matthew J. Louis
Military Nonfiction

R.w. Meek
Santa Clarita, CA
Historical Fiction

Xuemo
Beijing, China
World Literature

Gloria Mindock
Somerville, MA
Poetry

Everett Riggs
Boulder, MT
Military Fiction

Peta-Gaye Nash
Ontario, Canada
Short Stories

Lee Woodman
Rhinebeck, NY
Poetry-Universe

Dr. Susan Agbenoto
Sanford, FL
Christian

Mary Sheeran
Bronx, NY
Christian Fiction

James Jennings
Long Valley, NJ
Western Fiction

Barbara Lane
United States
Memoir

Brittney Brackett
Greenville, SC
Childrens: Inspirational/Motivational

Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
Rye, NY
Psychology

David Benjamin
Madison, WI
Romantic Suspense

Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Friendship

Esther Mollica
Union, NJ
LGBTQ Nonfiction

Georja Umano
Santa Monica, CA
Animals/Pets

Heather Leigh Strom
Manitou Springs, CO
Animals-Pets

JC Compton
Overland Park, KS
LGBTQ Fiction

Judie Dziezak
Hoffman Estates, IL
Personal Growth

Laurel Anne Hill
Orinda, CA
Anthology

Keven Renken
Tampa, FL
LGBTQIA Fiction

Lee Woodman
Washington, DC
Poetry

Michele Kwasniewski
San Clemente, CA
Teen

Parris Sheets
Mesa, AZ
Epic Fantasy

Shane Svorec
Hillsdale, NJ
Inspirational

Suzanne Smith
Hayward, CA
Romance

Morgan Baker
Cambridge, MA
Parenting & Family

Jeanine Thompson
Prior Lake, MN
Inspiration

Robin Reams
Middlesex, NC
Action/Adventure

Laurisa Brandt
Annville, PA
Science Fiction

T.E. Lane
Huntersville, NC
Paranormal Mystery/Thriller

Dr. Mark DeYoung
Fort Worth, TX
Marriage

Anna Pierre
Port St. Lucie, FL
New Nonfiction (First-time Published)

Natalie V Frazao
British Columbia, Canada
Poetry - Love, Life & Family

Steven Dale Davison
Pennington, NJ
Cross Genre

Lowell E. Baier with Christopher E. Segal
Bethesda, MD
Environment AND History: United States

Mary E. McDonald
Austin, TX
New Fiction (First-time Published)

Matthew J. Louis
Cincinnati, OH
How-to

Nadia Davis
Seal Beach, CA
New Nonfiction (First-time Published) + Memoir

Samantha Smith, Illustrated by Melissa Johns
Victoria, Australia
Picture Books - Ages 4-8

Kimberly Adams
Childrens-Holiday

Lucie Dickenson
Spring Lake Heights, NJ
Personal Growth

Akilah Darden
Childrens-African American Fiction

Judie Dziezak
Personal Growth

James Darnell

Christin Collins
Mind, Body, Spirit

Alex Bisset
Pregnancy and Childbirth

Maria Baltazzi
Well-being

Douglas Peterson
Psychology

Dee Marley
Macon, GA
Book Cover Design-Fiction

Xuemo
Beijing, China
Women’s Fiction

Dr. Annise Mabry
Porterdale, GA
Social/Political Change

Everett Riggs
Boulder, MT
Western Fiction

Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden
Waukee, IA
Psychiatry/Psychology

C. Fulster
Littleton, CO
Horror

Penny Lane
Mill Valley, CA
Memoir

Ralph R. "Rick" Steinke
Midway, UT
Political Thriller

Gary E Smith
Hayward, CA
Romantic Suspense

Benjamin M. Weilert
Colorado Springs, CO
How-to

Carla Crane Osborne
Meridian, ID
Book Cover Design-Childrens

Chris Lengle
Ogden, UT
Medical Nonfiction

Donna Marie Hayes
New York, NY
African American Nonfiction

Elaine Bapis
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Coffee-table Book AND Cookbook: Regional

Eugina Jordan
Myrtle Beach, SC
Leadership

Gerald Everett Jones
Santa Monica, CA
Romantic Comedy

James Harris
Grand Prairie, TX
Personal Finance

Jessica Bantom
Bowie, MD
Cultural and Social Issues

Judy Kelly
Rockville, MD
Religion-Fiction

Katherine Davis-Gibbon
Santa Fe, NM
Childrens: Inspirational/Motivational

Kevin Wayne Johnson
Clarksville, MD
Religion Nonfiction

Mark Berridge
Coorparoo, Australia
Inspiration

Muhammad Obaidur Rahim
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Biography: Historical

Rebecca Miller
Foster, RI
Young Adult Fiction

Sterlin D. Williams
Southaven, MS
Cultural & Social Issues

T.W. Harvey
Shaker Heights, OH
Military Fiction

Jayson Adams
Santa Monica, CA
Science Fiction

Tong Ge
Alberta, Canada
New Fiction

Peter Eliott
Amagansett, NY
Fantasy

Mohan Ranga Rao
Karnataka, India
Spirituality

David Rockwell
Okemos, MI
Coffee-table Book

Xuemo
Aurora, IL
Literary Fiction

Angela Terry
San Francisco, CA
Chick-Lit

Samantha Richardson
Ontario, Canada
Business: General

Joseph Howse
Halifax, NS, Canada
Literary Fiction

Lowell E. Baier, John F. Organ, and Christopher E. Segal
Bethesda, MD
Environment AND Nature

Derek Corsaro
Las Vegas, NV
Young Adult Fiction

Monique de Maio
Fair Lawn, NJ
Women's Issues

Isabela Sardas, Ph.D.
Mequon, WI
Childrens-Fiction

Loretta Goldberg
New York, NY
Military Fiction

J.L. Feuerstack
Bridgeport, CT
Epic Fantasy

Ben Murnane
Biography-General

Dr. Kimberly Harms
Death and Dying

Kellie Kaminskas
Childrens-Death and Dying

Dr. D.W. Knight
Childrens-Humor

Dr. Kristal Lau
Pregnancy and Childbirth

Matthew J. Louis
Reference

David Benjamin
Crime Fiction

Sarah Lynn
Pittsburgh, PA
New Fiction

Patrick McLaughlin
Gates Mills, OH
Military Fiction

Jeremy Keating
Coaley, United Kingdom
Book Cover Design Nonfiction

Nathan Myhrvold
Bellevue, WA
Cookbooks: General

Caytlyn Brooke
Elmira, NY
Epic Fantasy

Nicholas D'Souza
Belleville, NJ
Religion: Fiction

Mary Sheeran
Bronx, NY
Literary Fiction

Ralph R. "Rick" Steinke
Midway, UT
Thriller

Amy S. Peele
Novato, CA
Medical Mystery

Beth Ann Hooper
Manchester, NH (Moved from Schoonhoven, Netherlands)
Book Cover Design-Nonfiction

Caytlyn Brooke
Elmira, NY
Urban Fantasy

Claire N. Rubman
Saint James, NY
Education

Danielle Camer
North Wollongong, Australia
Picture Books-All Ages

Ernesto Atkinson
Milwaukee, WI
Fine Arts

Gary E Smith
Hayward, CA
Thriller

H.L. Howard
Fairfield, CT
Religion: Fiction

Jamie Andrea Garzot
Indianapolis, IN
Business-Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Jim Reiman
Evanston, IL
Audiobook: Nonfiction

JW Warner
Edison, NJ
Fantasy

Kathleen Vallee Stein
Monrovia, CA
Caregiving: Specialized

Kristen Donnelly & Erin Hinson
Yardley, PA
Leadership

Michael Dow, RN, MS
Tucson, AZ
Childrens: Educational Series

Otto H. Iglesias
Newport, RI
Hispanic

Rumki Chowdhury
Paterson, NJ
Multicultural Fiction

Suzanne Lezotte
Westlake Village, CA
Parenting and Family

Theresa Lynn
Aldan, PA
Picture Books - Ages 4-8

Dr. Josh McConkey
Apex, NC
Motivational

Dr Joel A. Davis Brown
San Francisco, CA
LGBTQ Nonfiction

Edward Belfar
Columbia, MD
Humor/Satire

Deborah Tant
Queensland, Australia
Childrens: Animals/Pets

Rey A. Banda
Georgetown, TX
Animals-Pets

Jessica Clancy
Spring, TX
Christian

Mariela Rodriguez
Toms River, NJ
Spiritual

Jeff Beamish
Surrey, BC, Canada
Visionary Fiction

Hadley Vega
Roswell, NM
Young Adult Fiction

Terence Ang
Singapore
Inspiration

Grace Torres-Hodges
Pensacola, FL
Medical Nonfiction

David A. Jones
Louisville, KY
Memoir



