Laura E. Garrard

Paddling the Sweet Spot has been Selected as a 2026 Finalist!

This week, the American Book Fest named Laura E. Garrard’s debut chapbook, Paddling the Sweet Spot Between Life and Death a Finalist in its 23rd annual Best Book Awards in the category of Health: Cancer.

Here you may link to the complete list of winners and finalists. National and international, traditional to indie, publishers and authors submitted thousands of book entries.

Paddling the Sweet Spot Between Life and Death illuminates living in the “narrow exception of movement” during a time of acute uncertainty, a rare blood cancer diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Through lyricism and vivid narratives, readers journey with the poet and her body through grief, surrender and recovery to plant their hands in earth, swim with dolphins, and run with the salmon. Laura E. Garrard’s free-spoken style and vulnerable honesty invite readers into her desperation, determination, entreaty and joy.

“I am so happy that Paddling the Sweet Spot Between Life and Death crosses over from poetry narrative into the health-cancer genre, to reach and validate readers living/dying with cancer. I am blown away by this Best Book Award Finalist honor and hope it helps more people find and enjoy my little book.” —Laura E. Garrard

Here is the official Press Release:

LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 2026 – American Book Fest announced the winners and finalists of THE 23rd ANNUAL BEST BOOK AWARDS (BBA), one of the world’s largest international book award programs for mainstream, indie, and self-published titles. Over 400 winners and finalists were announced in over 100 categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2021-2026.

Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of American Book Fest, said this year’s contest yielded thousands of entries from authors and publishers around the world, which were then narrowed down to the final results.

Keen says of the awards, “Over our 24-year history, thousands of self-published and indie authors have leveraged the promotional power of their Best Book Award to increase online recognition, enhance their title’s credibility, and garner more attention in the crowded book buying marketplace.”

Winners and finalists of this year’s contest join a prestigious group of past laureates, including Pope Francis, George Saunders, Vanessa Williams, Kitty Kelley, Anne Geddes, Daymond John, Mark Nepo and many others. Visit the Award Laureate page for an expanded list.

American Book Fest covers books from all sections of the publishing industry—mainstream, independent, & self-published. A 24-year timeline and award archives can be found here.

American Book Fest has an active social media presence, with over 130,000 current Facebook fans.

Find Paddling the Sweet Spot Between Life and Death at all major outlets and through its publisher, Finishing Line Press. Click here.