Local author Raffaela Marie Rizzo (Fenn) receives national recognition

The Annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards recognized “Thank You for the Shoes,” anniversary edition by Raffaela Marie Rizzo (Fenn) in the category of Biography as a gold medal winner.

Hosted by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, this prestigious national award was open to books published between 2024 and 2026. The judges for this national competition are librarians, educators, and publishing professionals.

The FAPA President’s Book Awards recognize book publishing excellence and creativity in design, content, and production for authors, illustrators, cover designers, and publishers. This contest isn’t limited to Florida; it is open to anyone worldwide, as long as the book is written in English.

“Thank You for the Shoes” is a book of literary nonfiction, published by Giro di Mondo Publishing. It is a story based on one person’s life, but it’s an everyman story about immigrants who came to the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is a poignant, beautiful, and at times extremely painful description of the life many immigrants face when they begin again in a new land. It is incredibly timely. It is a reminder that we are a nation of immigrants participating in this great experiment in prosperity and freedom.

“I wish to congratulate all of our winners. Award programs such as ours are vital to the publishing industry because they serve to recognize excellence and creativity not just for authors, but for everyone involved. It also serves as a tremendous boost to the confidence of beginning authors who win. This year, we had the finest quality of books in recent memory. Earning a medal is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to each winner’s skill and talent,” said FAPA’s President, Anne Jacob.

The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers, and other professionals involved in the publishing industry. It focuses on providing the highest quality of information, resources, and professional development to members and others interested in the writing and publishing profession.