Walking Through the Seasons by Marilyn Webb Neagley and Wind Ridge Publishing of Shelburne, VT received the IPPY gold medal book award for best northeastern regional non-fiction.
Earlier this year the book was entered into the Independent Publisher Book Awards contest, a prestigious group which honors independent publishers’ Outstanding Books of the Year. In 2008, Wind Ridge Publishing (WRP), joined with Neagley to turn columns she had written for the Shelburne News, the town’s weekly newspaper, into a book. In those columns, Neagley shared her personal and contemplative vision, detailing the wonder and simple beauty observed with Vermont’s seasonal changes.
The competition featured books and publishing companies that “take chances and break new ground.” Four thousand and ninety (4,090) books were entered in more than 60 categories.
On May 30, 2009 at the award ceremony in New York City, Johnson and Neagley accepted the Gold Medal Award for the book in the category of Best Northeastern Region Non-Fiction. “Walking Through the Seasons” was one of 710 entered in the regional category.
"Naturally, I am thrilled and grateful to receive an IPPY award. Life is full of pleasant surprises,” stated Neagley. She explained that the honor is shared with local artist Lynda Reeves McIntyre who illustrated the book, and the book’s graphic designer Suzanne Fay.
According to Holly Johnson, owner of Wind Ridge Publishing, “We are proud to acknowledge the talent and potential of authors such as Marilyn Webb Neagley who have unique perspectives to share with readers.” In addition to newspaper and magazine publishing, WRP plans to continue its efforts to publish unique local authors.
“Walking Through the Seasons” is available throughout New England bookstores, including Borders and Barnes and Noble. Visit www.marilynneagley.com for more information.
VSO names new office manager
Samantha Talbot recently joined the Vermont Symphony Orchestra staff as office manager. She served most recently as marketing coordinator for Spruce Peak at Stowe. Prior to that position, she was an intern in the brand management and market research departments of KSV in Burlington and worked as a volunteer and site coordinator for the Vermont Mozart Festival summer series. Talbot holds B.A. degrees in Business Administration and in English from the University of Vermont. She has served as volunteer coordinator for Green Up Day and as a seasonal volunteer for the Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program in South Hero, a therapeutic horseback riding program assisting persons with disabilities to connect with animals. Talbot lives in South Burlington.
