The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD, one of the most prestigious book award programs globally for independent authors, publishers, and illustrators, recognized “Perseverance a Memoir: One Woman’s Journey from Ghana to the United Nations” by Emelia Timpo, Ph.D. as the winner in the African American Nonfiction category.
The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected IPA Award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.
“Such vivid descriptions that the reader is transported… Her struggles and triumphs, described with remarkable honesty and courage, provide insight to strong women rais[ing] strong, resilient women.” — Amazon review
“Perseverance a Memoir: One Woman’s Journey from Ghana to the United Nations” by Emelia Timpo, Ph.D. is a story of a young child growing up in a meagre but loving environment surrounded by strong affirming women, most with limited education, in the Garden City of Kumasi, Ghana. It demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of all odds and presents a refreshing new look on the importance of ensuring the mind’s freedom from external limitations and prejudices.
In 2025, the INDEPEN-DENT PRESS AWARD saw participation from journalists, well established authors, and
small, medium and large publishers across the globe, including those residing in Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Winners were chosen from publishers such as Amplify Publishing Group, Black Rose Writing, Blackstone Publishing, BookBaby, Calumet Editions, Globe Pequot, Finishing Line Press, Gatekeepers Press, Hachette Go (Blanco of Grand Central Publishing), Harper-Collins Leadership, Ideapress Publishing, IVP Kids, Koehler Books, Mad Cave Studios, North Dakota State University Press, Oceanview, Publishing Old Stone Press, Pegasus Books, Post Hill Press, Red T Kid’s Media, Rowman & Littlefield, She Writes Press, University of California Press, and University of Georgia Press.
“The 2025 INDEPEN-DENT PRESS AWARD awardees included the excellence and diversity of global independent publishing,” said Gabrielle Olczak, IPA President and Award Sponsor. “There is no stopping independent publishing. It provides unparalleled content and quality to consumers worldwide and we are excited to showcase this year’s honorees to the world.”
Dr. Emelia Timpo, Ph.D will be recognized, along with other award-winning authors from four different continents, at the Awards Dinner & Ceremony, https://www.independentpressaward.com/awardsdinner held on May 2, 2025.
