The Reader Views Literary Awards Program – Meet Our Sponsors!

• May 1, 2021
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It’s official, the 2021-2022 Reader Views Literary Awards are now open for submissions! Last week we unveiled a number of enhancements to the program and are happy to report these changes have been well received by all. This week we want to introduce you to the folks that help us make this event possible – our sponsors.

We are excited to be working with this amazing group of writers, publicists, media, and other friends of indie authors We are deeply grateful for their contributions to our awards program and the independent author world in general!

BOOKFUNNEL – GOLD SPONSOR

Founded by an indie author who just wanted to send his book to his mom. In the beginning…Damon Courtney (writing under the alias Damon J. Courtney) wrote an epic Fantasy series that he desperately wanted to give to the world (whether they liked it or not). He had already published two books, and now the third and final book in his (to him) magnificent trilogy was complete. But, how to find readers…

Self-publishing gurus (then as now) were preaching the importance of building a mailing list and a reader magnet. “Give them a taste of your writing,” they said. “Send them the first book in your series for free,” they said. “Email them a zip file,” they said!

Wait, a zip file?? Was that really the path new readers would have to traverse in order to read his “free” book? Who was going to figure that out?? There had to be a better way—a simple, direct method to help people get a book to their favorite e-reader or app with super friendly help available if they had any trouble. That’s what the world needed! Alas…it didn’t exist.

The world cried out for a hero. Indies needed a way to deliver their books without the shackles of the bookstores. Older folks everywhere needed knowledgeable experts to help them understand how their Nook Glowbright Kindle worked! Two decades in software development had prepared Damon for just this task. And, best of all, he would have it ready to go in just a couple of weeks. Ten months later, BookFunnel was born.

And, now…BookFunnel delivers more than 2 million ebooks every month for indie authors just like you. We’re a small, independent software company who has grown a bit since the days when Damon made everything in his tiny office (we don’t have basements in Texas, and a garage would be way too hot)—but we’re still small and scrappy. 

We’ve added tons of features, we’ve hired a couple of folks, and we’ve still got that can-do spirit! We are constantly working with authors to develop tools that make your life easier. That’s the BookFunnel story. What’s yours?

BookFunnel joins Reader Views as a new sponsor in 2021. WELCOME!

Learn more about BookFunnel

B.A. BELLEC’S PRODUCTION STUDIO – GOLD SPONSOR

B.A. Bellec’s Production Studio is where award-winning author B.A. Bellec posts his creative content. B.A. has been shocking readers everywhere with his emotional and inventive writing style. B.A. also produces original music to go with his books. This channel is home to his music, his other book promotional material, and his monthly book reviews.

A graduate of Lights Film School and a proud recipient of a grant from The Canada Council for Arts, B.A. has shown a knack for utilizing his skills and background to cast a wide net and attract talented partners. He has completed two very different novels and produced an eclectic mix of songs to accompany them.

B.A. Bellec’s debut novel, Someone’s Story is a Young Adult Coming of Age novel about teen depression and mental health. It won the Reader Views Young Adult Book of the Year in 2020. His second novel, Pulse is a Dystopian Sci-Fi Horror Thriller about a creature and a music festival in the year 2040. It is coming on December 1, 2021.

B.A. Bellec’s Production Studio joins Reader Views as a new sponsor in 2021. WELCOME!

Learn more about B.A. Bellec and B.A. Bellec’s Production Studio.

CONVERSATIONS MEDIA GROUP – SILVER SPONSOR

Founder of the Conversations Media Group, Cyrus Webb (aka C. A. Webb) has been active in the arts since 1999, hosting art shows and poetry readings around the United States while also building the Conversations brand. Today Conversations includes a daily radio show, magazine and nationally-recognized book club. Outside of the work Webb does for himself he is also a celebrated publicist for authors, entertainers and businesses who entrust him with the task of getting their message and product noticed.

For over a decade Cyrus Webb has given the world the conversations with the artists, authors and entertainment industry professions that the world can’t get enough of. Host Cyrus Webb introduces you to movers and shakers around the world who are living their dreams, overcoming challenges and showing others what is possible for them as well.

Conversations Media Group has been a sponsor of our event for many years!

Learn more about Cyrus Webb and Conversations Media Group

MARQUETTE FICTION – SILVER SPONSOR

Marquette Fiction is home to the works of Tyler R. Tichelaar. Tyler has a PhD in Literature and owns Marquette Fiction, his own publishing company and Superior Book Productions, a professional editing, proofreading, and book layout company. He is also the former president of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association. Tyler is especially proud to be a seventh generation Marquette, Michigan resident.

Tyler began writing his first novel at age sixteen. In 2006, he published his first book Iron Pioneers: The Marquette Trilogy, Book One. Numerous books have followed. While Tyler also writes on such diverse topics as nineteenth century Gothic fiction (The Gothic Wanderer) and historical fantasies about King Arthur (The Children of Arthur Series), he remains engrossed in writing about Marquette and Upper Michigan as microcosms for the greater American story. He has many more books in the works.

Tyler R. Tichelaar is the winner of the 2009 Reader Views Best Historical Fiction Award for his novel “Narrow Lives” and has been the award sponsor since 2010.

Learn more about Tyler R. Tichelaar and Marquette Fiction

CARDINAL POINTS CONSULTING – BRONZE SPONSOR

Cardinal Points Consulting provides book publishing consulting and support, branding, and content strategy for self-published authors, business executives, and small to mid-size businesses.

We help with every detail along the way in bringing a book from idea to a bookshelf. Standard services include social media management, book marketing, brand and content strategy, newsletter management, partner publishing, editorial services, and distribution support.

Dayna Anderson is the founder of Cardinal Points Consulting. Dayna spent nearly a decade in, or adjacent to, the book publishing industry as a publisher, associate publisher, director of marketing, and branding and content strategist. Dayna now spends her time directly with authors and small presses, where her passion for publishing diverse, compelling stories can directly impact diverse authors, reach wider audiences, and transform book and author brands into widely recognized names.

Cardinal Points Consulting joins Reader Views as a new sponsor in 2021. WELCOME!

Learn more about Dayna Anderson and Cardinal Points Consulting

AUTHOR MARKETING EXPERTS – BRONZE SPONSOR

Penny Sansevieri is the CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (AME). She’s also an Adjunct Professor at NYU, a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns.

She started Author Marketing Experts because she’s an author too, and wants to give authors a book promotion company that truly understands their challenges and needs.

Author Marketing Experts is a returning sponsor.

Learn more about Penny Sansevieri and Author Marketing Experts

BAREFOOT LIBRARIAN – FRIENDS SPONSOR

Eve Panzer, the Barefoot Librarian, is an experience retired school librarian for pre-K through sixth grade who has a passion for children’s literature. She enjoys working with educators, librarians, schools, parents, and grandparents to select engaging and enriching books that make a difference. She now also professionally reviews picture and middle-grade books, focusing on independent authors and small publishers. You can find her reviews at Blue Ink Review, First Chapter Plus, Reader Views Kids, GoodReads, Facebook, and on her website. Holding a graduate degree in Masters of Library Science from the University of Texas, Eve has been a professional in children’s literature since 1999.

Barefoot Librarian is a returning sponsor.

Learn more about Eve Panzer and Barefoot Librarian

FEATHERED QUILL BOOK REVIEWS – FRIENDS SPONSOR

Feathered Quill Book Reviews publishes reviews of new and backlist books that we feel will be of interest to our readers. We reviews books in over twenty genres and consider books from all size publishers from the one book self-publisher to the large New York houses.

Feathered Quill is a long-time sponsor of our awards program and host of the Feathered Quill Book Awards.

Learn More About Feathered Quill Book Reviews

AFFILIATE SPONSORS

Last, but not least – our affiliate sponsors. These sites all operate under the Book by Book Publicity umbrella of author services.

We hope you’ll take the time to learn more about each one of our sponsors. They are essential to our program and we couldn’t be more proud to work with such a dedicated group.

Learn more about the Reader Views Literary Awards
Learn more about sponsorship opportunities