For Immediate Release “Useppa · A Passage in Time” has won the Independent Publisher’s Silver Literary Award for Best Regional Fiction in the Southeast US. The book authored by Dale Ludwig, who lives in Osprey, Florida, is the result of collaboration between Dale and internationally renowned artist, John Seerey-Lester, also an Osprey resident. Independent Publisher, the voice of the Independent Publishing Industry for 24 years, has been conducting annual book award programs for eleven years. This year there were more than 2,690 entries overall, with 688 entries to the regional competition. The regional awards are designed to spotlight the best regional titles from around the country. Selection is based on content, literary quality and the regional significance of the story. “This project has consumed and inspired me for nearly two years,” says historian and novelist, Dale Ludwig. “As I got deeper into the research, a terrific story about this tiny island’s rich and unbelievable history emerged, a history that is a microcosm of events that shaped not only Florida, but the entire US. As time wore on, I became enchanted by the island’s history.” The result is a “Novel based on real events”. The story is beautifully supported by more than 80 paintings by John Seerey-Lester. The artist commented “As I read the manuscript that Dale created, I was instantly inspired because he painted pictures for me with his words.” The award will be presented in June at the upcoming Book Expo in New York City, a trade show that attracted 29,000 attendees last year. |
