MSI Press Blog

  And the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award 2025 for Best Book in Men's Interests go to the popular book,  Racing against Time  by Jeffrey Weiss. Book Description: In  Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s, late bloom...

Following up on last week's post about the categories of book awards and how they affect ROI, this Tuesday we look at the most useful category for small press authors: the minor awards. (The major awards, such as the Pulitzer are generally not a realistic goal for first-time authors, authors without name recognition, and authors whose books have not soared quickly onto the NYT Bestseller lists .)  📊 Why Minor Book Awards Don’t Drive Big Sales Audience Reach : Minor awards don’t have the media amplification or bookstore promotion that major awards do. Their announcements stay within publishing circles rather than reaching the general public. Discoverability Limits : Even with a gold seal, most readers don’t browse Amazon or bookstores by award category. They buy based on recommendations, reviews, or visibility in mainstream outlets. Marketing Dependency : The award itself doesn’t sell books — it’s how the author/publisher leverages it. Without a campaign (press releases, socia...

Authors often ask: Do awards really matter for my book’s success? The answer is yes — but not all awards carry the same weight. For nonfiction, it’s helpful to think of awards in three categories: major, minor (competitive), and less-competitive. Each plays a different role in ROI (return on investment), both financially and in terms of credibility. 📚 Major Awards (Transformative ROI) These are the prizes that can catapult a nonfiction book into bestseller status and secure long-term influence. They attract mainstream media coverage, bookstore promotion, and institutional adoption. Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History) National Book Award (Nonfiction) National Book Critics Circle Award (Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir) PEN America Literary Awards (Nonfiction categories) Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (Nonfiction) Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Nonfiction categories) 👉 ROI impact : Immediate financial spike, sustained visibility, and enduring cultural influen...