2023 BEACH BOOK FESTIVAL RAISES A GLASS TO NAPA VALLEY HISTORY

LOS ANGELES_ The story of one of the great wine regions in the world has won top honors at the 2023 Beach Book Festival, which celebrates summer’s hottest reads.

Author Mark Gudgel’s The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map (Arcadia Publishing) tells the story of how a sleepy region of Northern California became a world-class wine producer. The evolution came after a blind tasting of French and American wines in Paris revealed an unexpected winner in California wine.

The reawakening of the region and its growth and development make for a fascinating beach read, and is well worthy of top honors.

Other winners in the competition:

YOUNG ADULT:

WINNER: Hierarchy of Blood – Jennifer Haskin

RUNNER-UP: Isle of Shadows: The Inky Trilogy – Don Stansbury

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

•  I Want to Play College Golf – Angelina and Cameron Huang
• The Invisible Hand – Paul Eric Klein
• Cryptic Spaces: Foresight – Deen Ferrel

GENERAL NON-FICTION:

WINNER: The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries – Mark Gudgel

RUNNER-UPS:

The Empowerment Solution – Friedemann Schaub

How to Have a Healthy Relationship in an Unhealthy World – Laura Streyfeler, PhD, LMHC

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

•  Under the Naga Tail – James Taing
•  Becoming Mother Martha – Martha Hoy
•  Warrior Mom – Tracy M. Slepcevic
•  Her Alibi – Mary L. Schmidt

BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

WINNER: My Whorizontal Life: An Escort’s Tale – Sephe Haven

RUNNER-UP:

“Are You a N***** or a Doctor?” – Otto E. Stallworth Jr. MD, MBA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

•  In the Time of Madmen - Mark A. Prelas
•  Under the Naga Tail – James Taing
•  Spirit of a Hummingbird – Felicia Thai Heath
•  How I Think I Should Be is “B***S*** - Eileen Marder-Mirman

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

WINNER: Mick and the Big Bone – Shlomo Goldman

RUNNER-UP: Mommy’s Blue Stilettos – Missy Brickman

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

•  Bailey Speaks! – Mary Calvert
•  The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur – Lori Schneider, MD
•  Nurse Florence, How Does Our Spine Work – Michael Dow, RN, MS
•  Frankinschool Book 1: Monster Match – Caryn Rivadeneira

WILD CARD:

WINNER: West Virginia: Paranormal Gateway – Fred Saluga

RUNNER-UP: Love Again, Love For Them: A Novel – R.A. Lee

ROMANCE:

WINNER: No Other Name – Robert Beatty

RUNNER-UP: The Outcast – Eve M. Riley

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

•  Emergence – Shira Shiloah
•  Sinful Duty – Philip Burbank Pallette
•  Elodia’s Knife – Robert S. Phillips
•  Defining Me: A Novel – LM Berthiaume
•  Sinful Fathers – Philip Burbank Pallette

GENERAL FICTION:

WINNER: Bobby Truax – Denise Cassino

RUNNERS-UP:

No, You’re Crazy – Jeff Beamish

Argren Blue – Ross Hightower and Deb Heim

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• The Many Adventures of Donnie Malone – Paul E. Doutrich
• Nad of Nadide – Wagih Abu-Rish
• Something Sacred I Lost – Emmy Vine
• Fool, Anticipation – Robert Polakoski
• Because of Rachel– Alan Bryce Grossman
• The Last of the Greatest Generation – J. Robert Gould
• Frame 39 – Rick Shands
• Dr. Altman and the Concubines – Jacqueline Shortell-McSweeney

BUSINESS:

WINNER: Taking Stock – Peter J. de Silva

RUNNER-UP:

The Review Cycle – Matt R. Vance

HONORABLE MENTION:

•  Trailblazer Founders – Deepti Pahwa

SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS:

WINNER: Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead – John Russell

RUNNER-UP:

The Unopened Present – Richard Battle

HONORABLE MENTION:

•  Following the Way of Wisdom Jesus – Josh R. Ritter/Sharyl West Loeung

SCIENCE FICTON:

WINNER: Summerday: Book 2 of the War Bunny Chronicles – Christopher St. John

RUNNER-UP:

Mountains of the Gods – Diann T. Read

HONORABLE MENTION:

•  Rise of the Source: The Phantom Cobra – Don Universe

SEQUELS:

WINNER: Pressure Point – Betty Briggs

POETRY:

WINNER: Sitpoe – N. Eisenrose
 

COMPILATIONS/ANTHOLOGIES:

WINNER: Retro Active Television – Herbie J. Pilato

RUNNER-UP: ESPN: One Giant Leap for FANkind – Bill Rasmussen

HEALTH:

WINNER: Coping and Thriving with a Chronic Condition – Carla Cobbs