You know when there’s a 90% chance against, but you do succeed?
Well, that.
Book 4 in the Roma Nova series, AURELIA, has just been awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion.
The what?
In the large sea of self/independently published work, there is a lot of flotsam and jetsam and, sadly, a good proportion of it that isn’t worth picking up. How to tell? Well, indieBRAG, a privately held organisation, has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States, Canada, and the European Union to address this.
Their mission is to recognise quality on the part of authors who self-publish both print and digital books, principally fiction. They are looking for ‘a good, quality read’ that’s commercially and widely available.
So how do they do it?
After the initial selection process to screen out the obvious ‘no’ candidates of the unedited first draft kind, Indie BRAG choose ten members from their reader group to evaluate and judge the merits of each book based on their list of criteria (plot, characters, dialogue, writing style, copy editing, cover/interior layout). The single most important criterion they ask their readers to use in judging a book is whether or not they would recommend it to their best friend.
And all ten have to agree!
Once a book meets this standard of quality, they award it the B.R.A.G. MedallionTM. IndieBRAG have gained considerable traction now as a gatekeeper and because of the flood of demand, they are evolving their structure. Read more here
You can gather how passionate IndieBRAG is about quality in my interview with Geri Clouston, their president. And I had the pleasure of meeting Geri in person at the Historical Novel Society conference in Denver this year when we were both members of an expert panel on self-publishing.
So, yes, the bubbly’s out again tonight…
And here are the other B.R.A.G. Medallion holders INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA
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Congratulations Alison, and enjoy the bubbly! :-)x
Thank you! Santé!
Hi Alison x Well done you!!!! As always my comment is that your award is 100% deserved. The quality of your writing is first class and the subject matter is fascinating. I love your books and each one for me has been a five star rating. I would also thank you for the time and effort you put in to send out so many fascinating and high quality newsletters; accompanied always with lots of photos to browse over. I think the B.R.A.G. Medallion award is a brilliant idea too.
You’re very kind, Leila. I bet you can feel me blushing. I’m delighted you enjoy the books as much as I like writing them. The next one is on its way… 😉
You’ve done it again! Great news. AURELIA deserves it!
Quite terrifying submitting the fourth one! But I’m so delighted.
Congratulations! Your meticulous attention to craft is the mark of a pro.
Thank you, Mary Ann. I wonder sometimes if I’m too much of a fussy boots, but things like the B.R.A.G.Medallion and comments like yours are the reward.
As a former textbook proofreader, I can relate. It’s not obsessive-compulsive disorder, it’s professionalism.
I was a career translator for 20 years and ran my own translation business for 10 of them. I have edited and proofread so many words my head aches with thinking about it. 🙂
Fascinating. How’s your neck? I always found the neck pain from long hours proofreading in a cubicle to be one of the toughest parts of the job.
Neck is fine, thank you, but the back is protesting as usual – a hazard of the job!
Congratulations Alison! Enjoy the bubbly ALL weekend.
Thank you! Re the bubbly – if you insist…!
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