Cindi Brown's "Poverty and Promise" Wins Two Gold Medal Book Awards
"Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer's Experience of Kenya" (Just One Voice Press) by Cindi Brown has won the Indie Gold Medal Award from the 2009 Indie Next Generation Book Awards program and the IPPY Gold Medal Award from the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards program, both in the Multicultural category. Just One Voice, a non-profit, publishes books on international development topics and supports rural Kenyan communities through The Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK), where Brown served as a Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) volunteer in 2005. All proceeds from the sale of "Poverty and Promise" go to assist rural Kenyans with agribusiness set-up and animal husbandry training, including instruction in raising cows, goats, and poultry.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) July 29, 2009
"Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer's Experience of Kenya" (Just One Voice Press) by Cindi Brown has won the Indie Gold Medal Award from the 2009 Indie Next Generation Book Awards program and the IPPY Gold Medal Award from the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards program, both in the Multicultural category.
"Poverty and Promise" also won a Glyph Finalist Award in the Multicultural category, and a Glyph Finalist Award in the Best First Book by New Publisher category. The Glyph Award program is sponsored by the Arizona Book Publishers Association. Additionally, "Poverty and Promise" won an Indie Finalist Award in the Travel/Travel Guide category from the 2009 Indie Next Generation Book Award program.
Author Cindi Brown sold her home, cars and other possessions to volunteer in Africa. With only her skills and desire to assist others, Brown hit Kenya hard... and then Kenya hit back. "Poverty and Promise" follows Brown's setbacks and small victories while giving the reader an insider's view of Barack Obama's Luo homeland, polygamy, cycling past Cape Buffalo and floating past hippos, Sikh wedding parties, Luo burials, and dancing to Ahangla music. Brown also takes the reader along on exhilarating and sobering trips of discovery to Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, and the DR Congo.
Just One Voice, a non-profit, publishes books on international development topics and supports rural Kenyan communities through The Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK), where Brown served as a Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) volunteer in 2005. Brown's experience in corporate communications and marketing added greatly to her role as marketing manager at GLUK and to furthering the university's vision of training leaders who will guide Kenya out of poverty and up the ladder of development. All proceeds from the sale of "Poverty and Promise" go to assist rural Kenyans with agribusiness set-up and animal husbandry training, including instruction in raising poultry, goats, and cows.
"Writing 'Poverty and Promise'," says Brown, "was my homage to the people of Kenya, and my way of sharing with the world what it feels like for people who live in a developing country, and who struggle daily to overcome poverty. Receiving these book awards has been humbling and validating, and the awards are spreading the book's message of how we, as ordinary people, can help Kenya and other developing countries climb out of poverty."
Just One Voice will release an abridged audiobook version of "Poverty and Promise," narrated by author Cindi Brown, in October 2009, and the audiobook will feature authentic African slave songs performed by Sule Greg Wilson on handmade primitive instruments. Brown is currently writing a children's book to be published by Just One voice in 2010. The story follows a group of American children who raise funds to provide a cow, goats, hens, and roosters to a class of Kenyan school children, who, by raising and caring for the animals, raise money to better their school and their families' health and homes.
The 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards spotlight the best in independent publishing. Founder Jim Barnes says, "nearly 2,000 independent authors and publishers from North America and beyond submitted more than 4,000 entries. I'm struck by the compassion and concern expressed by IPPY-winning authors for their fellow human beings and for our planet Earth."
The 2009 Indie Next Generation Book Awards Program honors the most exceptional independently published books in 60 different categories from micro to large independent publishers and university presses worldwide.
Media: Contact author for interviews or review copies of "Poverty and Promise" in print or audio format. Visit http://www. justonevoice. org (http://www. justonevoice. org) to hear sound bites from recent interviews with author Cindi Brown and to access cover art, author pic, book reviews, and more. "Poverty and Promise" in paperback retails for $18.95 and as an audiobook retails for $10.95. 100% of all proceeds go to advance the people of western Kenya. "Poverty and Promise" can be purchased through most major bookstores, at http://www. amazon. com (http://www. amazon. com), and through http://www. justonevoice. org (http://www. justonevoice. org).
###
