Drake's Coffin by Michael D. Urban Named Finalist by Next Generation Indie Book Awards

June 7, 2012 - PRLog -- (Dateline)  Boston, MA  - - Wellesley author and resident Michael D. Urban was named a Finalist in Action/Adventure by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for his first novel, Drake’s Coffin.  Mr. Urban received his Silver Medal at a ceremony at The Plaza in New York City on June 4, 2012.  Award winners attended from around the world.

Drake’s Coffin is a thrilling adventure tale featuring rich history, exotic locales, fascinating characters and rapid-fire action.  Four hundred years ago the English adventurer Sir Francis Drake stole it from the Spanish and buried it in the jungles of Panama.  Thirty years ago an unsuspecting group of teenage boys stumbled upon it in a night of violent death that would change their lives forever.  Now, as adults, they’ve come back for Drake’s legendary lost treasure, in a race against time, old enemies and modern pirates.  Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Urban’s debut novel [is] … fast-paced … real and intense … A coming-of-age story and thrilling adventure rolled into one.”

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest not-for-profit book awards contest for independent authors and publishers.  It has sometimes been called the “Sundance” of the book industry due to its emphasis on fresh, independent and undiscovered talent.  Now in its fifth year of operation, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books of the year.  It is presented by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group in cooperation with Marilyn Allen of Allen O’Shea Literary Agency.  Judges include expert editors, writers and publishers in the book publishing industry.

Drake’s Coffin is available as an ebook from Smashwords, Amazon, the iTunes Bookstore, Barnes & Noble and other ebook retailers..  A paperback version may be purchased directly from the author’s website, http:// www.michaeldurban.com.

Mr. Urban was born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  A  Dartmouth College graduate, he now lives in New England with his wife, daughter and Portuguese Water Dog (who happens to have the same grandfather as Bo Obama).  Drake's Coffin is the beginning of a planned series of several adventures featuring his Drake’s Coffin hero, Zach Colt.  For over a decade Mr. Urban lived and traveled throughout Central America.  He worked in federal law enforcement both in the States and overseas.  Most recently, he was a trial lawyer in private practice.  As a boy, he did dive in search of Sir Francis Drake's lead coffin, which has been resting for over 400 years somewhere on the ocean floor near the entrance to Portobelo Harbor, Panama.  He has not found it -- yet.  He may be contacted through his website, http://www.michaeldurban.com.
Contact:
Michael D. Urban
http://www.michaeldurban.com