Puyallup author Lisa Rimmert named finalist for Benjamin Franklin™ Award
Memoir about caring for a senior dog selected as silver winner of the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book
Puyallup, WA — Puyallup-based author Lisa Rimmert has been named a finalist in the 35th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin™ Awards program. Hosted by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), this is the premier award program for independently published books and audiobooks. Rimmert will receive the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Nonfiction) for her debut memoir, Stay: My Forever Friendship with an Aging Dog, published in September 2022.
“I remember standing at the post office on Meridian Ave., packing up copies of my book to ship to IBPA and wondering if I was delirious to think I had a shot at winning an award,” Rimmert said. “After two years of hard work to write, publish, and promote the book, it feels extremely validating to know that the judges appreciated it.”
Rimmert has secured a silver award, but she could also emerge from the award program with an even greater honor. The judges will select a single book in each category to win a gold award. The gold winners will be announced on May 5, at an award ceremony held in conjunction with IBPA’s Publishing University conference in San Diego, Calif. Competing in the same category as Rimmert are authors Libby Hoffman and two-person team Laurie Ellis-Young and George T. Ellis, Psy.D.
Overall, Rimmert is one of 168 finalists in 56 categories, chosen by IBPA judges out of 1,800 entries—the second highest number of entries received since the award program began more than 35 years ago.
“I am in awe of the progress made by the independent publishing community since I started working with this program in 1992,” Terry Nathan, IBPA’s chief operations officer, said in a press release published. He added, “This year’s batch of finalists are absolutely amazing!”
According to the publisher’s website, Rimmert’s book follows her real-life story of navigating a new role as the caretaker of her elderly dog, Dakota. But Rimmert, who moonlights as a standup comedian, doesn’t want potential readers to get the wrong impression. “When they hear that the book is about a senior dog, many people assume it’ll be a tearjerker,” she said. “For every tear you shed while reading it, I’m confident you’ll have also let out a few chuckles. Maybe even a guffaw.”
Contacts:
Lisa Rimmert
Owner
On The Nose, LLC
lisa@onthenosecomms.com
Terry Nathan
Chief Operations Officer
Independent Book Publishers Association
terry@ibpa-online.org
Images:
Available for use with credits. Access via Google Drive HERE.
About On the Nose:
Established in 2020 and formed as an LLC in 2021, On the Nose helps people and organizations to change the world through effective communication. From freelance writing and editing services to strategic planning and coaching, On the Nose strives to tell clear, persuasive stories about and garner support for work that makes the world a better place. On the Nose is also the publisher of Stay: My Forever Friendship with an Aging Dog., available for purchase on Amazon.com and Bookshop.org. For more information, visit onthenosecomms.com.
About the Independent Book Publishers Association:
Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community by providing advocacy, education, and tools for success. With 4,000+ members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the US. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.