WASHINGTON - s4story -- The Encore: A Transformational Thriller by Lauren Holmes has been named one of the best indie books of 2019 by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group.

The Encore is the winner of the "Inspirational Fiction" category in the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world's largest not-for-profit book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors.

The industry leaders who judged the awards applaud Lauren's "superb writing" and claim "Action, dark mystery, this page-turner has it all."

The Encore transpires on a planet being xenoformed by hostile extraterrestrials using an algae cocktail. The doomed civilization kidnaps a renowned creator of worldbuilders from future Earth to cultivate a legion of lovable breakthrough experts to save the planet in time.

According to award-winning author Lauren Holmes, "This sci-fi ecothriller was inspired by the explosion in toxic algae blooms globally.  Poorer countries without the financial wherewithal to deter toxic algae growth or countries with politicians under the control of powerful agriculture lobbyists are infecting the waterways that connect populations around the world. Few nations will remain immune.

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Harmful algae blooms (HABs) can expand many miles in a matter of hours. Algae have become a much greater threat to the survival of human beings and wildlife than most people realize.  Hopefully, the Encore can be an eye-opener for both the looming disaster and viable solutions if preventions are ignored."

A review by the IndieReader 2019 Discovery Awards reinforces Lauren's warning, "The Encore, a sci-fi thriller by Lauren Holmes, takes a fascinating look into our inter-connectedness and the future of earth through well-researched details, making it a must-read for those who care about our continued existence."

Fortunately, this thriller won the award for "Inspirational Fiction" which suggests that a happy ending may be possible should we choose to take the actions necessary to survive.

Catherine Goulet, Co-Chair of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, proudly proclaimed, "Our program has become known as the Sundance of the book publishing world." Sundance is the famed independent film festival which is now described on its website as "the ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives."

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The NGIBA awards will be presented on June 21 in a ceremony at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, coinciding with the American Library Association Annual Conference.

About IBPPG
The Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group provides standards, support, and recognition to the "indie" book publishing profession.

2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (NGIBA)
Top books were named as winners and finalists in over 70 publishing categories.
Winners List:        https://www.indiebookawards.com/winners/list
Judges Reviews:  https://indiebookawards.com/winners/reviews

2019 IndieReader Discovery Awards Review:
https://indiereader.com/2019/02/the-encore

MEDIA CONTACT:  laurenholmes.com/contactlaurenholmes