Swim receives two book awards

​Local Author Honoured in 2025 Indie Book Awards
Swim by Lisa Brace has been named by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group as one of the best indie books of 2025.

Lisa Brace’s book is a finalist in two categories in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards programme for independent publishers.

Swim was one of only four finalists in Best Historical Fiction (post 1900s) and Best General Fiction Novel beating hundreds of other entries.

The winners and finalists will be honoured on June 27th at a gala event at The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia, PA, coinciding with the American Library Association Annual Conference.

Lisa, who will be hosting the launch of her second historical fiction novel, The Fastest Girl on Earth, at Waterstones Horsham on June 4th (see here for booking information), said:

“I am overwhelmed to be a finalist in this prestigious awards. Not only has this award been running for 18 years and is hugely well respected in the industry, it’s a real coup for Blue Pier Books, the publishers I run with fellow author D.E White.”

She added: “We set out to create novels that people want to read, and have proven that success doesn’t need to come with a hefty publisher behind you! Swim is a very important book to me, and I can’t wait to have the medals hanging up on my wall alongside the photo of the woman who inspired the novel, Lucy Morton.”

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards are judged by leaders in the indie publishing industry, many of whom have had long careers at major publishing houses. Drawing on their deep experience and love of great storytelling, they recognise books that deserve a wider audience.

According to Catherine Goulet, Founder and Co-Chair of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, “Like other independent artists, many indie book publishers face challenges that the industry giants don't experience. The indies have to work much harder to get their best books into readers’ hands.”
“Authors and publishers who compete in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards are serious about promoting their books,” adds Goulet. “They aim to stand out from the crowd of millions of books in print.”

To help indie authors and publishers reach a wider audience, the top 80+ books in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen Literary Agency (formerly the Allen O'Shea Literary Agency), or one of Ms. Allen’s co-agents, for possible representation in areas such as: distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights.

A complete list of 2025 winners and finalists is available at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards website at indiebookawards.com.
 
 
 

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