AdoptingOnline.com

Media Coverage for AdoptingOnline.com:

Our award-winning breakthrough title! Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award.

If there is an Academy Award in the publishing field, then the Publishers Weekly “Rising Star- Best New Publisher of the Year” award is it. Northern California author Mardie Caldwell and publisher American Carriage House Publishing were presented with one of the most prestigious awards in the industry by Publishers Weekly for their book AdoptingOnline.com. 

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Rising Star Award

The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which include 56 categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers.

Publicist Celia Rocks of Rocks-Dehart PR firm stated, “Many authors and publishers work their entire career for the Benjamin Franklin award. To win is just huge, and to win the Publishers Weekly award is enormous. Past winners of the Benjamin Franklin award have gone on to sell hundreds of thousands of books. It gives an author national recognition. It is considered one of the most sought after awards for independent publishers; awards such as this one can send authors and their books to the best seller’s lists.”

Competition was extremely stiff. Small publishing companies such as American Carriage House Publishing competed alongside publishing giants such as Readers Digest, Simon & Shuster, and Sunset Publishing in 52 categories. A panel of 150 judges selected finalists from more than 1,600 books, and then chose one winner per category. Caldwell and American Carriage House were also finalists for the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Non Fiction Book. They won a silver award in that category.

Speaking from her NY hotel, Caldwell was astonished. “This was a wonderful surprise, to be recognized by others in the publishing industry. It is just thrilling for us all. We didn’t have a hint that it was coming. The editor of Publishers Weekly began the ceremony by sharing about the purpose of the award. Then, she began describing the winner as an exceptional book that uses the technology of the internet and helps people that want to become parents through adoption. I thought, ‘this sounds like my book, but it just couldn’t be.’ Then she announced- ‘This years Publishers Weekly Rising Star Award goes to American Carriage House Publishing for their book AdoptingOnline.com’.”

“My mouth dropped, the crowd in the ballroom cheered, and cameras were flashing. I just sat there in shock until my 17-year-old son said, ‘Mom, get up. That’s you. Go up there!’ I’m still on cloud nine. So many people helped with this book; they are all part of this award and the success of the book. We had many people in Nevada County that contributed. This is a dream come true. We came to NY for one award, and walked away with something much bigger. I am honored, blessed and thrilled that my children and husband were there to be part of it.”

Along with the engraved crystal trophy, Publishers Weekly will present a monetary award to American Carriage House Publishing, plus a feature article about the book in Publishers Weekly.

Caldwell was invited to sign her newly released second book – Adoption: Your Step by Step Guide, at BookExpo America (BEA), an annual event for book industry professionals from around the world. The BEA was attended by over 35,000 at the Javits Center in New York City.