2009 Arizona Book Awards: Top Arizona Books and Publishers Recognized at Arizona Club Gala Event

Phoenix, AZ, May 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Culled from more than 100 entries in 28 categories, Kartchner Caverns, by Neil Miller, published by The University of Arizona Press took the year’s top prize and was named Best Book of the 2009 Arizona Book Awards. In an account spanning the twenty-five-year period in which co-discoverers, Randy Tufts and Gary Tenan struggled to protect Kartchner Caverns, Miller weaves together personal interviews, biographical information, political maneuvering, and geological facts. Presented in full color with dazzling photographs showcasing the natural wonder of the caverns, this is an invitation to take in the mysterious, stunning beauty of a cave as if discovering it for the first time.

Another special award of the competition--the Embodying Arizona Award—goes to the book that is published by an Arizona publisher, written by an Arizona author, and is directly about Arizona. This year's winner was Grand Canyon: Views Beyond the Beauty by Gary Ladd, published by Grand Canyon Association. This fine work includes more than 100 photographs of different angles of the canyon in addition to dozens of facts and discussions of geology, human history, prehistory, ecology, and weather patterns of one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Other special awards of the evening included an Excellence in Publishing award which went to the Grand Canyon Association and the Most Valuable Person: Outstanding ABPA Member which was awarded to Jessica Tribble of Poisoned Pen Press.

Founded in Phoenix in 1992, the Arizona Book Publishing Association’s mission is to advance and promote successful book publishing in Arizona through education, community involvement, cooperative effort, peer recognition, industry advocacy, and the support of 1st Amendment rights.

2009 Arizona Book Award Winners

Best Book
Kartchner Caverns
Neil Miller
The University of Arizona Press

Embodying Arizona
Grand Canyon: Views Beyond the Beauty
Gary Ladd
Grand Canyon Association

Art/Music/Photography
The Trail of Painted Ponies
Karlynn Keyes/Rod Barker
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.

Autobiography/Biography/Memoirs
Great Peacemakers
Ken Beller/Heather Chase
LTS Press

Business/Career
Productivity Plus
Jim Temme
Five Star Publications, Inc.

Children-Fiction
Patriotic Pups
Nancy Arnold
Acacia Publishing, Inc.

Children-Nonfiction
Gila Monsters
Conrad J. Storad
Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Coffee Table, Large Format
Images: Jack Dykinga’s Grand Canyon
Jack Dykinga/Charles Bowden/Wayne Ranney
Arizona Highways

Cookbook
Potluck Survival Guide
Cherie Kimmons
Five Star Publications, Inc.

Education/Teaching/Academic
Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades
Dr. Sylvia Rimm
Great Potential Press

Health/Wellness/Nutrition
In Full Bloom
Ilchi Lee/Jessie Jones, Ph.D.
BEST Life Media, LLC

History/Political
Great Peacemakers
Ken Beller/Heather Chase
LTS Press

Humor/Comedy/Satire
How to Ruin a Vacation
Becky A. Bartness
Murder Mysteries, LLC

Juvenile/Young Adult-Nonfiction
Amazing Girls of Arizona: True Stories of Young Pioneers
Jan Cleere
Globe Pequot Press

Multiculture
Transformation from Tragedy
Thomas R. Winkel/Nicola M. Winkel
WordPoint Publishing Group

Mystery/Suspense
Anteater of Death
Betty Webb
Poisoned Pen Press

Nature/Environment
Images: Jack Dykinga’s Grand Canyon
Jack Dykinga/Charles Bowden/Wayne Ranney
Arizona Highways

Parenting/Family Issues
How to Parent So Children Will Learn
Dr. Sylvia Rimm
Great Potential Press

Poetry/Literary Criticism
A Radiant Curve
Luci Tapahonso
The University of Arizona Press

Popular Fiction
If I Die in Juarez
Stella Pope Duarte
The University of Arizona Press

Psychology/Self-Help
Brain Wave Vibration
Ilchi Lee
BEST Life Media, LLC

Recreation/Sports
Jim Burns’ Arizona Birds
Jim Burns
The University of Arizona Press

Reference
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Dr. Gabriel Hilkovtiz
BelVista Publishers, LLC

Regional
Kartchner Caverns
Neil Miller
The University of Arizona Press

Religion/Spirituality
One God, Many Paths
Amy Hirshberg Lederman
Wheatmark, Inc.

Science/Environment
Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau
Ron Blakey/Wayne Ranney
Grand Canyon Association

Travel
Great Escapes Arizona Teresa Bitler
Countryman Press

Best First Book by New Publisher
Transformation from Tragedy
Thomas R. Winkel/Nicola M. Winkel
WordPoint Publishing Group

Best Interior Layout/Design
Painting At the Edge of the World
Carol Haralson, Designer
University of Washington Press

Best Cover Design—Adult
Pythagorean Crimes
Tefcros Michaelides
Parmenides Publishing

Special Awards

Excellence in Publishing
Grand Canyon Association

Most Valuable Person: Outstanding ABPA Member
Jessica Tribble
Poisoned Pen Press

The complete list of winners and finalists appear on Arizona Book Publishing Association webpage at azbookpub.com/onews/2009-aba-winners.

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