Charlene Costanzo

Sedona AZ (May 28, 2011)–Sedona resident and author, Charlene Costanzo, was presented with the Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for her new book, The Thirteenth Gift. She won gold in the category of inspiration. Charlene, a member of the Arizona Book Publishing Association, is also a winner of three of its Glyph Awards and a Scotty (Scottsdale Library Association) for The Twelve Gifts of Birth. The “IPPY” Awards, launched in 1996, are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. Established as the first awards program exclusively for independents over 2400 “IPPYs” have been awarded to authors and publishers around the world.Costanzo’s inspirational novella is a cautionary account, poignantly depicting the perilous consequences of greed, arrogance, and the abuse of power. The fictional narrative reinforces the importance of consciousness, community, and most importantly, maintaining a personal sense of wonder.

Costanzo holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. The Twelve Gifts series of fables began in 1987 when Charlene wrote The Twelve Gifts of Birth as a life message for her teenage daughters. The Twelve Gifts for Healing was written while Charlene was in treatment for advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2001. The Twelve Gifts in Marriage comes from the ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and hurts and healings that are part of every long-term marriage. To learn more about The Twelve Gifts series, visit www.charlenecostanzo.com.