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We’re so proud to share the following CamCat Books titles that are 2024 Benjamin Franklin Award winners. Check out an excerpt from IBPA’s press release below (emphasis added to highlight our publishing house in the press release):

The longest-running and most prestigious award program recognizing excellence in independent publishing, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ yesterday announced the Gold- and Silver-winning books and audiobooks that showcased the best in independent publishing in 2023.

In a ceremony sponsored by the Ingram Content Group and held at the Denver Hilton City Center, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) recognized 171 books and audiobooks that won in 57 categories ranging from fiction, nonfiction, design, self-help, best first book, multicultural, poetry, and more. A complete list of Gold and Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award winners is available here.

For the third consecutive year, four-year-old CamCat Books emerged as the biggest winner—taking home five golds and three silvers. Their achievement is all the more poignant following the sudden passing of CamCat's publisher and founder Sue Arroyo in March.

The award ceremony took place on April 26, 2024 in Denver, CO. Read about all of our winners below!

2024 Winners for Science Fiction & Fantasy:

See below for our 2024 winners in the FICTION: SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.

GHOST TAMER: GOLD

“VERDICT: A paranormal thriller that offers thrills and chills in addition to a touching exploration of grief, love, and moving on.” —Library Journal

“Funny, poignant, spooky, and uniquely clever, Ghost Tamer is a remarkably assured debut from a bright light in the fantasy realm. Meredith Lyons is a name to watch, and this book is just plain cool from start to finish.” —J. T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of It’s One Of Us

“I love this! Original, hilarious, and completely inspirational. Lyons has an incredible gift with dialogue, and Ghost Tamer is absolutely captivating. Touching, relatable, and haunting—in the best sense of the word. Do not miss this.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The House Guest

OXYGEN FARMER: SILVER

“Holmes crafts a twisty thriller with conspiracies to spare . . . this is a rollicking science-fiction thriller that will please fans of Andy Weir.” —Shelf Awareness 

“A cantankerous octogenarian astronaut finds himself in over his head when he accidentally stumbles across a deadly secret hidden on the surface of the moon . . . An action-packed thriller perfect for fans of Andy Weir and Jack McDevitt.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This space mystery is a page-turner rooted in its convincing and compelling protagonists and their well-written relationships . . . Sf fans will enjoy this rich novel full of good world building, mysterious space intrigue, and dry humor.” —Booklist

2024 Winners for Mystery & Thriller:

See below for our 2024 winners in the FICTION: MYSTERY & THRILLER category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.

KING ME: GOLD

“Crawford’s gleeful skewering of obsessive fandom and gift for action sequences make this twisty, frothy whodunit whiz by. Readers will impatiently await the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly

“VERDICT: Highly recommended for listeners who want a madcap mixture of Stephanie Plum, Veronica Mars, and Magnum, P.I.” —Library Journal, audio starred review

CITIZEN ORLOV: SILVER

“[An] enjoyable comic fable—one that may cause readers to think twice about ever answering someone else’s phone.” —Wall Street Journal

“The blend of action and picaresque buffoonery flatteringly calls Conan Doyle’s Brigadier Gerard tales to mind, and Payne pulls off a genuinely surprising conclusion. This auspicious debut announces a bright new voice in comic suspense.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review 

“First-time novelist Jonathan Payne mixes Franz Kafka’s surreal absurdism with the ingenious plotting of Graham Greene’s spy novels, then adds a hilarious layer of deadpan comedy.” —Apple Books Review

2024 Winners for Horror:

See below for our 2024 winners in the FICTION: HORROR category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.

THE WOODKIN: GOLD

“[A] perfectly drawn psychological horror . . . that fans of the grotesque should relish.” —Library Journal

“This is adventure horror done right!” —Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of Children of Chicago 

“The serpentine trails that twist and twine throughout Alexander James’ towering debut all lead to one destination: absolute terror.” —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters

GIRL AMONG CROWS: SILVER

“Vayo’s gripping debut . . . is an entertaining thriller that will keep even seasoned horror fans guessing.” —Publishers Weekly

“Vayo’s debut novel combines sinister pagan rituals with a fast-paced, compelling mystery reminiscent of a James Patterson best seller . . . The twists come fast, and the characters’ decisions lead to brutal consequences. Share with fans of Stephen King and Riley Sager.” —Library Journal

“This fresh, artful thriller, as genuinely frightening a novel as you’ll read all year, darts smoothly between the decades as not one but two mysteries unfurl like stairways into darkness. Intelligent, original, audacious—and scary.” —A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

2024 Winner for Cover Design: Children’s/Young Adult:

See below for our 2024 winner in the COVER DESIGN: CHILDREN’S/YOUNG ADULT category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.

BLADESTAY: GOLD

“A brutal, suspenseful, and surprising read with an unforgettable protagonist.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review 

“A scheming female antihero goes undercover as a man to survive the hostile takeover of her small hometown in this raucous 19th-century Western.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Deeply beautiful and tragic, Bladestay brings together dark family secrets, a love story, and one hell of a strong female lead searching for the truth at every cost. Utterly riveting from beginning to end.” —Demetra Brodsky, ITW and Black-Eyed Susan Award-nominated author of Last Girls

2024 Winner for Best New Voice: Fiction:

See below for our 2024 winner in the BEST NEW VOICE: FICTION category, for books with a copyright date of 2023. 

LEST SHE FORGET: GOLD

“In her twisty debut, Malice weaves a web of deception, intrigue, and fast-paced adventure into a psychological thriller that captivates until the last second . . . VERDICT A fresh and surprising psychological thriller from a promising new author.” —Library Journal, audio starred review

“Lisa Malice’s debut, Lest She Forget, is filled with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end!” —Debra Webb, USA Today bestseller

“Lisa Malice turns an amnesia story on its head in this twisty, unique tale of intrigue, suspense and unexpected turns. You won’t be able to predict the next chapter, much less the ending.” —Lisa Black, NYT bestselling author of the Gardiner & Renner and Locard Institute series