Local Author Receives National Recognition

Hosted by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, this prestigious national award was open to books published between 2023 and 2025. The judges for this national competition are librarians, educators, and publishing professionals.

The FAPA President’s Book Awards recognize book publishing excellence and creativity in design, content, and production for authors, illustrators, cover designers, and publishers. This contest isn’t limited to Florida; it is open to anyone worldwide, as long as the book is written in English. We encourage entries from all who share our complex and wonderful language.

Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time is a non-fiction book which shares personal interviews from people from all walks of life, some of their deepest and darkest days, and their hopes to survive.

“I wish to congratulate all of our winners. Award programs such as ours are vital to the publishing industry because they serve to recognize excellence and creativity not just for authors, but for everyone involved. It also serves as a tremendous boost to the confidence of beginning authors who win. This year, we had the finest quality of books in recent memory. Earning a medal is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to each winner’s skill and talent,” said FAPA’s President, Ginger Marks.

The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers, and other professionals involved in the publishing industry. It focuses on providing the highest quality of information, resources, and professional development to members and others interested in the writing and publishing profession.

Amazon Reviews

5 Stars - Another well written book by Sara Shaw

"Life has many struggles but reading this book you know you are not alone. So many interesting stories of hardship and abuse but you realize you get through it and in the end you are a better person and with the help of God and friends you know you will be ok."

5 Stars - Life can be so hard but inside us all there is hope for better days ahead

"Sara has a great sensitivity in her writing that captures life in a very real way. The stories about the people who endured such tremendous hardships brings to light the awareness that we truly never really know what crosses some people have to bear! Each story puts you inside the circle of very real people who have very difficult decisions to make. All of us can identify to some degree with the burden, shame, regret, and intense hurt that life changing choices can cause. Thank you to Sara for opening our eyes to the reality of what many people endure. You always show that by the grace of God, there is always hope for better days to come! Thank you, Sara and each of you who shared your stories, we are humbled to know how you did not give up!"

5 Stars - Inspirational

"Sara Shaw’s Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time offers an emotional and reflective journey through stories of personal tragedy and recovery. As a man reading this book, I found its universal message of healing and hope powerful, even though many of the stories are deeply personal and sometimes focus on issues like abuse, which might seem more directed toward female experiences. That being said, the insights and lessons are relatable to anyone dealing with life’s struggles, regardless of gender.

The book is structured around a series of personal interviews with people who have faced significant hardships—addiction, trauma, and loss are recurring themes. Shaw presents these stories with care, providing not just the details of their darkest moments, but also how they found their way through and what they learned in the process. One of the strengths of the book is its wide range of perspectives, which makes it easy to connect with at least one story, no matter who you are. This inclusivity feels intentional, designed to ensure the book resonates with all readers."

Amazon Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Your-Life-Leaf-Time/dp/B0D53QFRNS

About Sara Shaw

As a child, Sara Shaw dreamed of becoming a writer someday. Later in her life, after the death of her mother, she connected with her mother’s sister’s children, whom she had been separated from all of her life. This uncovered shocking family secrets. Their experiences inspired her to recount their stories to help them heal and offer hope for others to heal from similar dark situations. Her first book, Two Sisters and the Four Leaf Clover (Trilogy Publishing/2021), is a true story of a family’s tragedies, desperation, and strong will to survive. By telling their stories, others came forward, which led to Sara’s second book, Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time (Trilogy Publishing/July 2024), a compelling compilation of personal interviews of people from all walks of life who shared some of their darkest days, how they survived. The importance of recognizing red flags, knowing where to turn for help, and knowing you are not alone.

Sara is a member of the South Florida Writers Association, the Florida Author & Publishers Association, the Florida Writers Association, and the Ohio Writers Association. She works with various organizations and businesses, including non-profits, and sponsors events for ALS, Child & Domestic Abuse, Grief Groups, Prison Ministries, Foster Care, Drug & Alcohol Addictions, and Churches. In April 2025, she launched a Podcast called Chapter Chat With Sara, where she cracks the door open with guests to talk about real life and navigating the journey through life's challenges and difficult times.

Her home is in Highland Beach, where she spends winters and heads back to her roots in Ohio for the summers, where she spends as much time as possible with her family and friends. She has six children and 11 grandchildren and has been married for 45 years.

Find out more about her books and podcast at: www.SaraShaw.org