05/16/2026
Incredibly proud of Chef Maricel Gentile for winning SILVER at the 38th IBPA Awards in the AAPI category! And to my amazing team, this one is for you too.
I’m filled with gratitude for the recognition of Chef Maricel’s Simply Asian Cookbook—and for what it represents.
When Chef Maricel began this journey, she had a story that needed to be told. Not the story someone else thought would sell, but *her* story, rooted in her heritage, her experiences, and her voice.
For too long, AAPI authors have had to fit themselves into predetermined narratives or wait for gatekeepers to decide if their stories were marketable enough. Independent publishing changes that equation entirely. It gives us the freedom to tell our truth on our own terms. To honor our culture, our recipes, our wisdom, our way.
As the publisher of , this is precisely why we exist. We believe that the most powerful stories come from authors who maintain creative control, who aren’t compromising their vision or their voice to meet someone else’s expectations. Chef Maricel’s work is a testament to that—authentic, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in who she is. That’s the transformative power of independent publishing.
Thank you again to the Independent Book Publishers Association for recognizing not just Chef Maricel’s excellence, but the value of independent publishing as a pathway for voices that deserve to be heard.
