Mariam Kobras Wins Third Independent Publisher’s Book Award

Song of the Storm Takes the 2014 IPPY Silver Medal

Buddhapuss Ink LLC announced today that Mariam Kobras, of Hamburg, Germany, has won the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards’ Silver Medal in Romance for her book: Song of the Storm: Book III of the Stone Trilogy. Kobras said she was “stunned and crazy happy” with the news. Song of the Storm released in July 2013. This is Kobras’ third book, and third IPPY. Her first book, The Distant Shore: Book I in the trilogy took the Bronze in 2012, and her second book, Under the Same Sun, Book II took the Silver last year. “Winning three years in a row…even I'm speechless!” said Buddhapuss Ink Publisher, MaryChris Bradley. “Her writing is lyrical, lush, and gorgeous. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mariam for this third well-deserved award! ”

Song of the Storm continues the story of Jon Stone, rock superstar, and Naomi Carlsson, the girl he loved, lost, and found again. The story focuses on Jon and Naomi as they deal with her high risk pregnancy, and Jon's desire to leave his life on the road to settle down and write a Broadway musical. The real story though, is what happens on September 11, 2001, to Jon, Naomi, their families, and friends as they are thrown into the storm that enveloped New York City, the country, and the world on that day. "9/11 was, and always will be, a defining day for those who lived through it," said Bradley, "whether they were in NYC or were watching it unfold outside their window or sitting halfway around the world in front of their television or computer screens."

For Kobras, "This novel was a piece of my heart, a gift of love to my friends who had to walk through those dark hours in New York City and who bear the scars even today. I tried to tell their stories the way they told them to me. Driving through Manhattan with them, walking down the streets, visiting the spots where they were on September 11, 2001, brought home the depth of that tragic day in a way that no documentary, no image can. These are the stories of real people, my friends, people I care for a lot, people I love. I incorporated them into Song of the Storm and let the characters tell them in their own voices. By sharing their stories I hope to help them let go of at least some of their grief."

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Mariam and her family lived in Brazil and Saudi Arabia before they decided to settle in Germany. She attended school there and studied American Literature and Psychology at Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen. Today she writes and lives in Hamburg, Germany, with her husband, two sons, and two cats.

Join us as we celebrate this morning on Twitter at #WritersCoffeeBar!