Local Ottawa Authors Receive Recognition through National Indie Excellence Book Awards

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- The Sixth Annual National Indie Excellence Book Awards recognized WALKING FOR PEACE, AN INNER JOURNEY by local authors Mony Dojeiji and Alberto Agraso in the category of Adventure as a Finalist.

This national award, based in Los Angeles, CA is open to all English language books including small presses, university presses, independent publishers and self-published authors. Works published in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were eligible for consideration.

The competition is judged by independent experts from all aspects of the indie book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation.

WALKING FOR PEACE, AN INNER JOURNEY is the true story of the authors’ 5000-kilometre, 13-month, 13-country walk for peace.

“We had no sponsors or affiliations of any kind,” states Mony. “We were merely two individuals who believed that to change the world, we must have the courage to change ourselves. Walking was our contribution to the voices of peace in the aftermath of 9/11.”

“We are all looking for the easy answers,” adds Alberto, “for someone else to solve our problems. We don’t realize that the power to create change in the world resides within us.”

The couple met on the Camino pilgrimage path in northern Spain. Accustomed to walking on marked trails, they would now face the hardships of walking along the side of the open road, over mountains and across cities, sleeping in whatever accommodations are offered them that night– cold floors, long tables, warm beds– and suffering through bitter cold and unforgiving heat.

More than physical hardships, however, their journey would be a transformational one, challenging them to overcome their deepest fears and conceptions of the world, and to find what unites rather than separates us. Although their odyssey would physically end in Jerusalem, it would bring them to what was perhaps the intended destination all along: their own inner selves.

Told from a deeply personal perspective, in a refreshingly honest narrative, this book speaks to the longing in the heart of each one of us to create meaningful lives and make the world a better place. It also reminds us that it’s never too late to listen to our hearts and follow our dreams.

“We appreciate you; we applaud you and thank you for your great work. You are contributing to make independent publishing a great sector in the literary community,” said Ellen Reid, President of the National Indie Excellence Book Awards.

Mony formalized her studies with an MBA and, for ten years, pursued a marketing career in the software industry, until she left it in 2001 to embark in earnest on a search for self.

Alberto, a naturally gifted artist and sculptor, set aside his innate abilities to work in the insurance industry, until his personal “dark night of the soul” impelled him to seek a more fulfilling path. His explorations would eventually lead him to the Camino, where he would fatefully meet Mony and her plans to walk for peace.

“Walking for Peace, an inner journey” was also nominated earlier this year for Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards. The winners will be announced in July of this year. http://globalebookawards.com/.

Kirkus Reviews says: “In their first novel, Dojeiji and Agraso take readers through the story of their fascinating pilgrimage while offering a glimpse of their unique spiritual, physical and emotional journey….An intriguing story that colorfully illustrates one couple’s spiritual journey and the path we all must take to find our way.” Full review here: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mony-dojeiji/wa....  

The book is available in paperback and all popular Ebook formats. To order, please visit your favourite bookstore, online retailer, or http://walkingforpeace.com for details.

For more information on the National Indie Excellence Book Awards, please visit www.indieexcellence.com/index.html.

Book and author images available upon request.