30th Annual Midwest Book Award Finalist PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: [David W. Gates Jr., david@postofficefans.com, 815-206-8405]
Jennifer Baum, chair, Midwest Book Awards, 248-259-0090, bookawards@mipa.org

[WISCONSIN POST OFFICE MURALS] BY [DAVID W. GATES JR.] NAMED FINALIST IN 30^TH ANNUAL MIDWEST BOOK AWARDS

Winners announced June 27 during regional online watch party with book prizes

[CRYSTAL LAKE, IL]—[MAY 1, 2020]

[WISCONSIN POST OFFICE MURALS] by [DAVID W. GATES JR.] was named a finalist in the [HISTORY – REGIONAL] category of the 30^th annual Midwest Book Awards. The awards program, which is organized by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, recognizes quality in independent publishing in the Midwest.

[We couldn’t be more please Wisconsin Post Office Murals is a finalist in the 30th annual Midwest Book Awards. It truly is an honor to be selected]. David W. Gates Jr.

The 30^th annual Midwest Book Awards was open to books published and copyrighted in 2019 in MiPA’s 12-state Midwestern region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

This year’s competition garnered 221 entries in 31 categories, which were judged by a panel of 99 librarians and booksellers from every state in MiPA’s 12-state Midwestern region.

Typically an awards gala is held every year in Minneapolis to announce the winners, but this year, due to travel and shelter-in-place restrictions from Covid-19, winners will be announced during a free, online watch party on Facebook set for June 27 at 7pm CDT, with book prizes for attendees and a special segment by independent booksellers throughout the Midwest on how to support them at this time.

“Although we were disappointed to cancel our gala this year, we are excited for the potential to attract a larger audience who can help make this a truly regional event that celebrates Midwestern publishing,” said Jennifer Baum, chair of the Midwest Book Awards.

For a complete list of finalists, visit www.mipa.org/midwest-book-awards. Follow @MIPAMidwestBookAwards on Facebook for updates on how to join the event on June 27.

The Midwest Book Awards, which began in 1989, is organized by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MiPA). Founded in 1984, MiPA exists today as a vibrant professional nonprofit association that serves the Midwest independent publishing community through education, networking, and peer recognition.