May 23, 2011 – Bringing Home the GOLD (and the SILVER)! – 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards — Aquila Polonica won one gold and three silver awards at the 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards, the premier awards competition in independent publishing, on Monday night, May 23, in New York City.

303 Squadron won the 2011 Benjamin Franklin Award for History—so our second printing (first printing sold out; second printing now at our printer) will be sporting the coveted gold medallion! 303 Squadron also won a Silver Award for Interior Design (1-2 Color).

The Ice Road won a Silver Award for Autobiography/Memoir. The trade paperback version of The Ice Road will be shipping from our printer in early June, with the silver medallion.

Maps and Shadows, already available in both hardcover and trade paperback, won a Silver Award for Historical Fiction.“Maps and Shadows” author Krysia Jopek, by display of her book

Our three books faced competition from nearly 1,300 titles in 50 categories this year. Entries were judged by independent panels of judges, and winnowed down to three finalists in each category.

Aquila Polonica publisher Terry Tegnazian holds History award for “303 Squadron”

Winners were announced at the gala awards dinner Monday night, May 23, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Aquila Polonica co-founder Terry Tegnazian and Maps and Shadows author Krysia Jopek both attended, accompanied by several guests. BookExpo America, the annual U.S. publishing industry trade show, began the following day.

Now in its 23rd year, the Benjamin Franklin Awards competition is sponsored by the Independent Book Publishers Association.