Sault author's Bruce Cockburn book wins indie publishers award

A book by a Sault-based musician and author has won an "IPPY" award.

Fermata Press says that its first title, You Get Bigger as You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution by M.D. (Mark) Dunn, with photography by Daniel Keebler, has been awarded the 2024 bronze medal for Best Book in Performing Arts from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (The IPPYs).

Established in 1996, The IPPYs are the longest-running award for independent publishers with thousands of titles from 2,400 English-language publishers worldwide considered each year, the publisher said in a release.

The book has been an Amazon bestseller in multiple categories since its publication, Fermata Press said.

It has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Literary Review of Canada, Cashbox Canada, on CTV News, CBC Radio, many podcasts and radio programs, as well as on SooToday.

The book is described as "a beginner’s guide to and celebration of the music and cultural presence" of the Canadian songwriter, guitarist, and activist.

"It is also an eclectic and humorous look at the ways music can transform the individual and society," Fermata Press said.

Written over seven years, the book features original interviews with Cockburn, his manager Bernie Finkelstein, and musicians and producers who have worked with Cockburn over his five-decade career.

"Fermata Press and M.D. Dunn are grateful to the selection committee and to the many readers worldwide who have embraced the book," the publisher said. "Special thanks to editor Allister Thompson and designer Laura Boyle for their invaluable contributions."

For more information about the IPPY Awards, visit https://ippyawards.com/178/2024-medalists.

To learn more about Fermata Press and You Get Bigger as You Go check out www.fermatapress.com.

Visit M.D. Dunn's website for music and other writings at www.mddunn.com