Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann have been awarded a 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award in True Crime for their book The Girls Are Gone. The gold medal win was announced yesterday.

The Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs) are one of “the oldest, most established independent book awards in operation” and have been awarded annually for over 20 years. The IPPYs “reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing.” The judging criteria for IPPY Awards “is based on quality of content, originality, design, and production with an emphasis on innovation and social relevance.”

Published by Wise Ink Creative Publishing, The Girls Are Gone was released on October 23, 2018. The book provides new details about the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki and the adults who conspired to keep the missing sisters and the truth hidden.

Since being released  The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. Brodkorb and Mann announced last month that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone has appeared on multiple “best seller” lists by Amazon. Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 25 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events in Minnesota and other states will be announced in the next week.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

The 23rd Annual IPPY Awards ceremony will be held in New York City on May 28, 2019.