Press Release - Literary News

Leadinglesbian publisher wins Gold & Bronze in prestigious international literary IPPY awards

London, United Kingdom, April 24^th2017: Leading international lesbianfiction publisherYlva Publishingis celebrating a double achievement as two of their books win Gold and Bronze Awards in the prestigious, international Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).

In its 21^styear, this is the world's largest book awards competition attracting entries from more than 2,400 publishers. The winners will celebrate their victories next month (May 2017) at a ceremony in New York during BookExpo America.

Astrid Ohletz, director of Ylva Publishing, says:"For Ylva, being recognised with Gold and Bronze IPPY Awards for two of our books is a major win, as this is a mainstream award not only focused on LGBT literature. We are thankful that we are regulars on the LGBT literary awards scene and are very proud of our ongoing achievements in the likes of the GCLS Awards. The IPPY Awards is a landmark, global, mainstream achievement for our publishing house and one we are very proud of."

GOLD AWARD IN THE NATIONAL EROTICA CATEGORY:

‘Don't Be Shy', edited by Astrid Ohletz and Jae (Ylva Publishing)

BRONZE AWARD IN THE AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND YOUNG ADULT FICTION CATEGORY:

‘Here's the Thing', by Australian author Emily O'Beirne (Ylva Publishing)

And yet more awards...

Australian YA fiction ‘Here's The Thing' by author Emily O'Beirne is one of a dozen Ylva books to have been shortlisted as finalists across nine categories in this year's Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) Awards. This follows in the footsteps of ‘Don't Be Shy' winning the erotica GCLS Award in 2016(http://www.goldencrown.org/page/2017Finalist).

‘Don't Be Shy' edited by Jae and Astrid Ohletz

https://www.ylva-publishing.com/product/dont-be-shy-volumes-1-and-2-in-one-compendium/

http://jae-fiction.com/

Sultry, sensual, kinky erotica with a smart, sexy twist: these 25 lesbian erotica stories that first appeared in Don't Be Shy Volumes 1 and 2 are nowavailable in one compendium. A woman talks her girlfriend into an arduous mountain hike, only to reveal a naughty al fresco birthday surprise when they reach the peak; a tempestuous opera diva finally makes her longsuffering servant remember why she continues in her mistress's employment; in the shadow of a rocket launch, a bed-and-breakfast owner reaches new heights of sexual satisfaction from a guest she almost turned away; a woman takes a risk with a compelling stranger in a dive bar and is rewarded with an unforgettable night with an experienced dom. Celebrate the pleasures of the female flesh without having to check your mind at the door.

Prolific lesbian fiction author Jae grew up amidst the vineyards of southern Germany. She spent her childhood with her nose buried in a book, earning her the nickname "professor." The writing bug bit her at the age of 11. For the last eight years, she has been writing mostly in English. Jae used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in December 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. When she's not writing, she likes to spend her time reading, indulging her ice cream and office supply addiction, and watching way too many crime shows.

‘Here's The Thing' by Emily O'Beirne

https://www.ylva-publishing.com/product/heres-the-thing-by-emily-obeirne/

https://emilyobeirne.com/

It's only for a year. That's what sixteen-year-old Zel keeps telling herself after moving to Sydney for her dad's work. She'll just wait it out until she gets back to New York and Prim, her epic crush/best friend, and the unfinished subway project. Even if Prim hasn't spoken to her since that day on Coney Island. But Zel soon finds life in Sydney won't let her hide. There's her art teacher, who keeps forcing her to dig deeper. There's the band of sweet, strange misfits her cousin has forced her to join for a Drama project. And then there's the curiosity that is the always-late Stella.As she waits for Prim to explain her radio silence and she begins to forge new friendships, Zel feels strung between two worlds. Finally, she must figure out how to move on while leaving no one behind.

Thirteen-year-old Emily O'Beirne woke up one morning with a sudden itch to write her first novel. All day, she sat through her classes, feverishly scribbling away (her rare silence probably a cherished respite for her teachers). And by the time the last bell rang, she had penned 15 handwritten pages of angsty drivel, replete with blood-red sunsets, moody saxophone music playing somewhere far off in the night, and abandoned whiskey bottles rolling across tables. Needless to say, that singular literary accomplishment is buried in a box somewhere, ready for her later amusement. From Melbourne, Australia, Emily was recently granted her PhD. She works part-time in academia, where she hates marking papers but loves working with her students. She also loves where she lives but travels as much as possible and tends to harbour crushes on cities more than on people.

Notes to Editors

Ylva Publishing, based near Frankfurt in Germany, is globally renowned as a publisher of quality women's literature with a focus on lesbian fiction. The company works with authors from around the world and at the end of 2016 opened a new imprint,Queer Pack, that gives a home to the amazing stories that struggle to find a platform, be they about characters who are trans, non-binary, genderfluid, asexual, pansexual, and bisexual.

Ylva is a woman-owned, women-run publisher, directed and founded by Astrid Ohletz, that seeks out stories about strong female characters who are lesbian or bisexual. The company, founded in 2011, publishes romance and erotica, mystery, paranormal, YA and historical fiction. Since 2011, Ylva has published more than 150 books (digital and/or print) and plans to release 45-plus books in 2017.

Review copies of ‘Here's The Thing' and ‘Don't Be Shy', plus access to the authors and publisher for interviews and editorial commissions, and speaking / events enquiries can be requested viainfo@literallypr.com.

Press enquiries regarding Ylva Publishing tohelenlewis@literallypr.com/ +44 (0) 7904801669.

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