Award Winning Author Paula Paul's Fantasy Novel, 'Wizard', Takes First Place In 2012 Readers Favorite Book Awards

SHALLOTTE, NC, September 13, 2012 (Press-News.org) 'Wizard', award winning author Paula Paul's latest fantasy novel, was named a Gold Medal First Place winner in the General Fantasy category in the 2012 Readers Favorite Book Awards.

"I'm happy and excited," stated Ms. Paul, "to have won this award, particularly because the judges are readers, not publishers and editors. Those of us who don't self-publish have to get past the editors and publishers, of course, but it's the readers all writers are aiming to communicate with. This is the best kind of award to win."

Paula Paul is a writer who touches the hearts of her readers but also challenges their minds. She writes novels with both historical and contemporary settings, but all of her novels deal with the foibles, prejudices, misdemeanors and benevolences of humanity that transcend time. Most of her books, both contemporary and historical, examine social issues. Although some of her novels have told the stories of some of the great figures of history, she is best known for her stories of ordinary people, specifically the people of the southwestern U.S. where she was born and has spent all of her life.

'Wizard' is the story of Merlin's 15-year-old sister Meghan, who is accidentally transported to twenty-first-century America. She is happy to be out of Avalon where she was being bullied for being a wizard because females are supposed to be witches. She finds modern America just as dangerous in some respects for those who are different, and there is no doubt that the new time and place are confusing to her. Since she's out of practice with her wizardry skills, she finds herself in plenty of trouble. Although the book is written with a teenage protagonist, it was named a Gold Medal First Place winner in the General Fantasy category.

Paul's literary novels include 'Inherited Sins', in which a young widow falls in love with a minister who is married, and 'Crazy Quilt', her first literary novel. One third of the royalties from 'Crazy Quilt' go to cancer research.

In addition, Paula is the author of 'The Kings Nun', an historical fiction novel that is the story of Charlemagne's love for the nun, Amelia of the Ardennes, and an historical novel, 'Barefoot Girl', a deep look at a courageous heroine. Mysteries include 'Half A Mind To Murder', 'An Improper Death', 'Symptoms of Death', 'Leading An Elegant Death', 'Deathday Party' and 'Red Wine Goes With Murder'.

Winners for the 2012 contest were announced September 1, 2012. The awards ceremony will be held at 1 P.M. November 17 at the Regency Hotel in Miami, FL. The ceremony is being held in conjunction with the Miami Book Festival International which runs November 16-18 at the Regency Hotel.

Readers Favorite is one of the fastest growing book review and award contest sites on the Internet. Readers Favorite has earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Penguin and Harper Collins and has received the Best Websites for Authors and Honoring Excellence awards from the Association of Independent Authors. In addition to providing free reviews to authors who range from the first-time self-published authors to seasoned professionals like James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks, the company also hosts a respected annual award contest.

Submissions for the contest are received from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants like HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times best-selling authors like Liz Curtis Higgs, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva. They also receive entries from celebrity authors like three-time Emmy award-winner Michael Brown, Paul Michael Glaser from "Starsky & Hutch" fame, and Dr. Ariel Ortiz, featured on Oprah, Dr. Oz and Dateline.

Ms. Paul is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at paulapaul7@yahoo.com. More information regarding the above works, and many more, is available at her website. All of Ms. Paul's works are available at her website and at Amazon.com.

Paula Griffith Paul was born on her grandparents' cotton farm near Shallowater, Texas, and graduated from a country high school near Maple, Texas. She earned a B.A. in journalism and has worked as a reporter for newspapers in both Texas and New Mexico. She's been the recipient of state and national awards for her work as a journalist.