Eleven Savant Books Authors to be Recognized at 2016 Pacific Rim Book Festival Awards Presentations

HONOLULU - March 23, 2016 - PRLog -- On Saturday, 9 April 2016, from 6 to 9 p.m., eleven Savant Books and Publications authors and their works will be presented 2016 Pacific Rim Book Festival Awards in the Parlor Room of the famous Moana Surfrider Hotel. Awarded author/works include (* indicates a Hawaii author or poet):

Category Winners

1. William E. Sharp, Jr.* for RANDOM VIEWS OF ASIA FROM THE MID-PACIFIC (Savant 2011) - General Non-Fiction - "RANDOM VIEWS OF ASIA FROM THE MID-PACIFIC is a collection of essays written for the general reader who wishes to know more about contemporary Asian affairs. The focus is largely on geo-strategic issues in Northeast Asia, although attention is given to Central Asia, Tibet, Vietnam, and India."

2. Francis H. Powell for FLIGHT OF DESTINY (Savant 2015) - Compilations/Anthologies - "A collection of 30 short stories about misfortune characterized by unexpected final twists at the end of each tale."

3. Tima Z. Newman for ELAINE OF CORBENIC (Savant 2015) - History - "Based on Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur," ELAINE OF CORBENIC is the story of Launcelot and the Fisher King's daughter, who bears him the son who will one day find the Grail. Offering the poetry of medieval legend, it speaks also to contemporary themes of love, betrayal, abandonment, and the quest for meaning."

4. A. G. Hayes for THE CHEMICAL FACTOR (Savant 2015) - Regional Literature Category Winner - "A stolen weapon of mass destruction hidden years ago on board the Queen Mary, has remained there unknown and undisturbed. That is, up to now. Agents Falk and Koski are called in to evacuate the ship and somehow locate the bomb. Running out of time, they risk their lives to locate the weapon, not knowing that a Girl Scout strayed from her group during evacuation and is hiding in the ship's Trafalgar Square gift shop."

Category Runners-Up

5. Helen R. Davis, editor of RUNNING FROM THE PACK - 2015/16 Savant Poetry Anthology (Savant, scheduled for release on 1 April 2016) - Poetry Category Runner-Up - "Thirty-five selected poems by fifteen outstanding poets including Dylan DiMarchi, Teuta S. Rizaj, Uhene*, Marianne Smith, Danny Smith, Manal Hamad, Thomas Koron, J. Okajima*, A. G. Hayes, Kelsea Kennedy, C. P. Little. Helen R. Davis, Doc Krinberg*, Kaethe Kauffman* and Daniel S. Janik*"

6. Jim Currie for IN DIRE STRAITS (Savant 2011) - Spiritual - "In Dire Straits is a healing memoir about the challenges of coping with and recovering from an incapacitating rheumatoid disease. Told from the perspective of a solo world traveler, it reads like a travel book, full of edifying adventures and quirky discoveries. Each encounter prompts reflection on self-empowerment through greater mindfulness, curiosity and imagination."

7. Ronald Klueh for PERILOUS PANACEA (Savant 2010) - Science Fiction - "Despite repeated assurances by the United States government that security surrounding weapons grade plutonium is invulnerable, that Department of Energy security is nonetheless breached by a computer wizard. Bankrolled by Iranians, some of the plutonium is actually stolen, enough to manufacture at least one atomic bomb. Now a blackmailed Iranian expatriate and two kidnapped American scientists are all that stand between the world and nuclear catastrophe."

8. Cate Burns* for LIBIDO TSUNAMI (Savant, scheduled for release in 2016) - Unpublished Manuscript - "LIBIDO TSUNAMI salutes the droll in life in a collection of thirty-five humorous short stories."

Category Honorable Mentions

9. Leon Puissegur for THE OIL MAN (Savant 2011) - Wild Card - "Avid conspiracy theorist John Marx, supervisor on an oil derrick in the Gulf of Mexico, comes into possession of an email and box that changes first his, then the world's point of view about oil. It all comes down to not who controls the world's petroleum supply, but who people, corporations and governments think control it. Tempers explode, guns flare, people die, all due to an email and a shard of crystal."

10. George Hudson for PURPLE HAZE (Savant 2013) - General Fiction - "A skull discovered in a lake leads FBI investigators Bryan Langston and Joe Mallory on a dangerous search for answers to a thirty-year-old unsolved murder. What they don't know is that there is someone still alive who will do whatever it takes to keep the truth buried, even if that means killing again."

11. Marina Yamamoto* for BALLERINA BIRDIES (Savant 2015) - Children's Books Honorable Mention - "Ballerina Birdies is a lively presentation of young birds dancing ballet. Training begins as soon as they leave the nest. Parrot feels better when he dances, Little Quail prefers water ballet, and the ducklings thoroughly enjoy the performance! A poetic and educational work that introduces some basic ballet terminology, Ballerina Birdies encourages stick-to-it-ness and sincere effort. A fun book for toddlers to tweens."

The awards are open to the public. Tickets are $110 and can be purchased from the Pacific Rim Book Festival website at http://www.pacificrimbookfestival.com or by emailing bruce@pacificrimbookfestival.com (phone 323-665-8080).

The Pacific Rim Book Festival Awards Presentations will be immediately preceded by the 2016 HONOLULU WRITERS, AUTHORS AND POETS GATHERING. Open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. the same day and location, tickets are $25. For more information visit http://www.honoluluwritersauthorsandpoetsgathering.com