Local author receives national recognition

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The 2022 Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) President’s Book Awards has recognized “Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam” by Martha Louise in the category of Children — Grades 3-5 as a gold medal winner.

Martha Louise — also known as Martha Womack — is a Ponte Vedra Beach resident and a retired school psychologist who worked in the St. Johns County School District for 21 years.

Hosted by the association, this prestigious national award is open to books published between 2020 and 2022. The judges for this national competition are librarians, educators and publishing professionals.

“The FAPA President’s Book Award exists to promote excellence in the publishing industry by recognizing talented contemporary authors who put both heart and soul into their work,” said Pat Stanford, a past president of the association. “FAPA is proud to be a champion of authors and publishers going the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect.”

“Adeline in a Gymnastics Jam” is a preteen fiction published by Frey House Publishing. The plot follows a kind-hearted, tween gymnast navigating unfriendly, cliquey behavior at a new competitive gymnasium.

Young readers are exposed to important life-lessons involving perseverance, the handling of challenges and the achievement of goals. The story highlights of empathy, compassion and resilience encourage readers to find their inner strength.

“We are proud to announce this year’s winners who truly embody the excellence this award was created to celebrate,” said FAPA’s immediate past president, Renee Garrison. “Their works are representative of creative storytelling, bold concepts and innovative ideas, which make the President’s Book Awards so well respected by librarians and those in the publishing industry. We salute all our winners for their fine work.”

The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers and other professionals involved in the publishing industry. It focuses on providing the highest quality of information, resources and professional development to members and others interested in the writing and publishing profession.