Local Authors Awarded Top Honors at 2025 Midwest Book Awards
Cathy Sultan and B.J. Hollars receive accolades at 35th annual MiPA awards gala
Chippewa Valley area authors Cathy Sultan and B.J. Hollars struck gold at the 2025 Midwest Book Awards.
Presented by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MiPA), authors and publishers from across the region gathered in Saint Paul, Minn. to celebrate independent publishing on Saturday, June 28 – also marking the award ceremony's 35th year.
Sultan’s novel, Omar’s Choice, received top honors in the Fiction – Mystery/Thriller category. Known for her thought-provoking novels rooted in Middle Eastern geopolitics, Sultan’s latest work continues her tradition of “blending gripping narratives with complex international themes,” the press release noted. Omar's Choice is the fourth and final installment in “The Syria Quartet,” penned by Sultan.
“Cathy Sultan’s Middle Eastern-based thrillers have widened readers’ understanding of the region, providing both entertainment and information to thousands of readers,” Hollars stated in the release. “How wonderful that she is being recognized for this work.”
Wisconsin for Kennedy: The Primary That Launched a Presidency and Changed the Course of History, penned by Hollars, won the Gold Medal in the Nonfiction – History/Regional category.
Hollars' book revisits the 1960 Wisconsin primary – and John F. Kennedy's campaign visit to Eau Claire, noting the locals who lent a hand along the way – which propelled JFK to his presidency. The story interweaves archival research, oral storytelling, and original written excerpts, resulting in a 250-plus page book which also garnered praise from former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, former Wisconsin Governor James Doyle Jr., and others.
Cathy Sultan's "Omar's Choice" is available to purchase locally at Dotters Books (307 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) or online at dottersbooks.com/products. B.J. Hollars' "Wisconsin For Kennedy" is available at The Local Store (205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire) and online.
