Ten iUniverse Titles Selected as Finalists in 13th Annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards

New York, NY (May 15, 2006) - Ten iUniverse titles were selected as finalists—including three first place winners—in the 13th Annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. This awards program focuses on the outstanding achievements of self-published authors.

Writer's Digest offers the only competition exclusively designed for self-published books, and presents its winners with a vast array of prizes. Contestants have spanned a wide variety of genres and targets, from professional writers to self-starting students.

The list of iUniverse authors who received first place prizes and honorable mentions in the 13th Annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards include:

First Place Winners

• Don Meredith, The Search for Grizzly One, Children's Fiction
• Tima Smith, Riddle, Genre Fiction
• Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Scent of Hyacinth, Mainstream Fiction
• Carren W. Joye, Home Schooling More Than One Child, Reference

Honorable Mentions

• Lee Brenner, Grounds for Appeal, Genre Fiction
• Louis Stannard, China Diaries, Genre Fiction
• Randi Berger, My Recycled Pets: Diary of a Dog Addict, Inspirational
• Alfred Wellnitz, Finding the Way, Mainstream Fiction
• Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Arms of Quirinus, Mainstream Fiction
• Robert W. Barker, The Devil's Chosen, Mainstream Fiction

"This awards program is the perfect forum for our authors to showcase their quality work," said Susan Driscoll, president and CEO of iUniverse. "These authors have shown that success can be achieved outside the boundaries of traditional publishing and that supported self-publishing is a viable first step for new authors."

About iUniverse

iUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market, and sell fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books. The company is one of the largest publishers in the United States, publishing more than 5,000 new titles each year. iUniverse partners with industry leading author organizations, including the Authors Guild, the Harlem Writers Guild, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) to bring innovative programs to their members. Barnes & Noble, Inc. is one of the company's major investors. iUniverse has offices in New York City, Shanghai and Lincoln.