By: Rick Majors
For many authors, recognition is often framed as a single milestone, an award announcement, a launch week, or a brief moment of visibility before attention shifts elsewhere. The Four Seasons Book Awards were created with a different philosophy in mind, one that centers on continuity, timing, and sustained acknowledgment. That vision came into public view on January 9, when the organization hosted its Grand Prize celebration in Times Square.
Set against one of the world’s most recognizable urban backdrops, the event marked the culmination of a year-long awards cycle that recognizes independently and traditionally published books through four seasonal competitions: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Rather than limiting success to a single moment on the calendar, the Four Seasons Book Awards emphasizes progression, allowing authors to enter throughout the year and build recognition over time.
The program operates as an unaffiliated, brand-based awards platform open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books for the North American market. Both newly released and previously published titles are eligible, reinforcing the idea that strong work remains relevant beyond its initial publication window. Each seasonal competition names finalists at the end of its respective quarter, and all finalists automatically advance into consideration for the year-end Grand Prize.
The January 9 gathering in Times Square was a moment of shared recognition, bringing authors together to acknowledge not only individual achievements but also the collective effort that defines a full year of creative work.
Hosted by Michael Beas and Dar Dowling, the event reflected the awards program’s broader intention: to create visible, meaningful touchpoints for authors that extend beyond rankings or sales metrics. Speaking about the motivation behind the Four Seasons Book Awards, Michael Beas emphasized the importance of honoring the long arc of the publishing journey.
“Most books don’t exist in a single moment—they grow, evolve, and find readers over time,” Beas said. “The Four Seasons Book Awards were designed to respect that process by meeting authors where they are, recognizing their work as it unfolds, and giving their stories space to keep moving forward.”
This year’s Grand Prize selections offered a clear example of how that philosophy translates into recognition, with Evan Dash earning top honors for A Dash of Good, while David Cancio and Humbert Cancio were recognized for their joint work Bound by Law.
The celebration also welcomed several Grand Prize Finalists whose work reflects a broad range of subjects and perspectives. Among those in attendance were Jodi Velazquez, recognized for Know the Enemy: Preventing Weight Gain, Diabetes, & Disease; Jenna Guarneri, author of You Need PR: An Approachable Guide to Public Relations for Early-Stage Companies; Vicky Giouroukakis, author of Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants; and Eric Aune, author of The End of the Beginning (The Ripple Effect).
What sets the Four Seasons Book Awards apart is its emphasis on rhythm rather than competition alone. By structuring recognition across four seasons and linking each phase to a cumulative Grand Prize, the program offers authors a framework that mirrors the realities of publishing, where discovery, readership, and relevance often develop gradually.
The Times Square celebration underscored that perspective. Rather than focusing solely on rankings or outcomes, the gathering highlighted the persistence, adaptability, and creativity required to bring a book into the world and sustain its presence. In a public space associated with constant motion and visibility, the event served as a reminder that books remain a vital part of cultural conversation.
As the Four Seasons Book Awards prepares for another annual cycle, the January celebration stood as both a conclusion and a beginning, honoring the achievements of the past year while reinforcing the program’s ongoing commitment to supporting authors across every season of their creative journey.
The complete roster of 2024 Grand Prize winners can be found on the Four Seasons Book Awards website.
