SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Really Enough, an exquisitely written narrative by two San Francisco Bay authors, won the award in the Memoir/Biography category. The novel tells the uplifting true story of one woman's daunting struggle for survival, freedom, and forbidden love under Chairman Mao.

"Winning the esteemed Sharp Writ Book Award furthers our book's mission to empower readers through this true story of hope," said Really Enough authors, Kathleen Martens and Margaret Zhao. 

The award for Best Young Adult Book went to The Obsidian Pebble, by Rhys A. Jones, who writes middle-grade books. The Obsidian Pebble is the first of a quintet due for re-release by Spencer Hill Press in October 2013.

"I am flabbergasted and delighted in equal measure," said Jones. "Me, a Sharp Writ YA award winner! What a fillip!"

The award for best entry in the Mystery/Thriller category went to Desperate Measures. What should have been the perfect vacation on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts soon becomes a nightmare. The protagonist, Caitlin Martel, has no idea that a forgotten secret is about to explode and put her life in jeopardy. The suspense escalates through twists, turns, and family secrets revealed. A powerful climax unveils an unlikely alliance between two deadly and dangerous enemies.

"Writing a novel was my dream. Obtaining a publishing contract and winning the Sharp Writ Book Awards has exceeded my grandest expectations," said Cindy Cromer, author of Desperate Measures.

Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream! won the award in the Children's Book category. In the story, a bouncy kangaroo named Joey has bad dreams which his parents lovingly help him understand. The story entertains children while teaching them to make sense of and master their bad dreams. The author, Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D., stated that she is proud and honored to have won a Sharp Writ Book Award.

Cry Dance won in the General Fiction category.  "I wrote Cry Dance for readers who like to think, and the Sharp Writ award proves they are out there!" author Dr. Helen Bonner said.

Dr. Bonner's sci-fi novel Dolphin Papers recently won the Eric Hoffer Award, and her autobiographical Laid Daughter is a college text.  All of her books are on Amazon.com.

Runners-Up Worth Mentioning

Sharp Writ Book Awards received several hundred books for the 2012 awards. Given the intense competition, many excellent books had to settle for second or third place. Nonetheless, they are so good that they are still worth mentioning.

These excellent runners up include the following books:

• The Wedding Shroud, by Elisabeth Storrs. A Roman treaty bride is married to an enemy Etruscan nobleman. Will she remain true to her Roman virtues or be seduced by the sinful freedoms of his liberal society?
•  A Shortage of Bodies, by Dr. Gary McKay. A semi-retired Arizona psychologist turns into an amateur criminal psychologist and becomes involved in an unusual murder case with a disturbing lack of cadavers. Eventually, the experience becomes unbearably personal.
• Assassin Hunter, by August Palumbo. Get chills with the harrowing true story of the author's undercover work, where he takes us with him through his double life, murder-for-hire adventures, and the Cajun underworld.
• Joni-Pip, by Carrie King. This book offers readers everything: time travel, suspense, mystery, science fiction, history, action, and adventure. The poetic, imaginative prose delivers enthralling reading for all ages. (Midwest Book Review)

ABOUT SMART BOOK LOVERS 
Smart Book Lovers is an international high-IQ society whose membership requires a love for books, an IQ score higher than 97.88% of the general population, and legal sanity. It has more than 1,300 members around the world. Members range in age from 9 to 85 years old and participate in many activities related to their passion for books. These include sharing their feedback on their favorite books and authors, conducting book reviews, meeting with fellow Smart Book Lovers members at regional and national gatherings, and organizing Sharp Writ Book Awards. You can find out more about Smart Book Lovers at its website.

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SOURCE Smart Book Lovers