Local author named first-place winner of national book award
by Judy Williams
Congratulations are again in order for first-time author Patrice Johnson. The Stockbridge resident and editor-in-chief of the Stockbridge Community News was notified that her book, “The Fall and Rise of Tyler Johnson” is the first-place winner of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Award for new nonfiction.
The panel of judges, made up of experts from all facets of the book industry including publishers, writers, editors, book designers and professional copywriters, wrote, “Your book truly embodies the excellence that this award was created to celebrate, and we salute you and your fine work.”
The prestigious annual contest of the National Indie Excellence® Awards is open to recent English language books in print from independent, university, and self-publishers. Contest results “celebrate a spectacular range of titles,” and one winner was selected in each category. Several finalists were also named.
Johnson graduated from Stockbridge schools and holds master’s degree in English Literature from MSU. “I entered ‘The Fall’ on a whim,” she said, “and was thrilled to learn it won.” She indicated she wrote the book so her son’s death might serve as a life lesson to young people who might not otherwise think about the consequences of their actions.
The 496-page book of narrative nonfiction, based on her deceased son’s journals, tells the true story of an idealistic young genius’ struggle to overcome the crushing consequences from a night of college binge drinking in a post-911 world.
Contest winners and finalists are displayed on NIEA’s website, www.indieexcellence.com.
