'Across the Mekong River' Wins Four Independent Book Awards

Competing with books from small and university presses as well as other independent publishers, author Elaine Russell's novel, "Across the Mekong River," won four 2013 independent publishing book awards for multicultural fiction over the past few months:

Winner Next Generation Indie Book Award
Silver ForeWord Reveiws Book of the Year Award
Bronze Independent Publishers Book Award
Finalist Readers' Favorite Book Award

The story traces the dangerous journey of one Hmong family escaping war and persecution in Laos after the Vietnam War to a squalid refugee camp in Thailand and eventually a new life in the United States.

Russell traveled down a fascinating path of discovery, learning about Hmong culture and traditions and the Lao civil war. She visited Laos in 2006 to do further research and has returned numerous times.

"Many of the struggles faced by the family in my bookpoverty, prejudice, and conflicting cultural expectationsare timeless themes that run true for all immigrants who come the U.S. filled with hope, only to face a harsh reality," says Russell.

Praised by Kirkus Reviews as "A multifaceted tale of complex characters finding new lives in their new world." Across the Mekong River explores family love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit to overcome tragic circumstances.

Before publication, "Across the Mekong River" was a finalist in the Carolina Wren Press 2010 Doris Bakwin Award, the Maui Writer's Conference 2003 Rupert Hughes Prose Writing Competition, and the Focus on Writers 2001 Friends of the Sacramento Library Awards.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elaine Russell writes fiction for adults and children and has won numerous awards. She graduated with a BA in History at UC Davis, and a MA in Economics at CSU. For more information, visit: http://www.elainerussell.info and watch the book video.

ACROSS THE MEKONG RIVER by Elaine Russell
Date: August 2012 | Paperback; 238 pages; $12.95/ Kindle$2.99
ISBN 978-1466338104; Create Space | http://www.createspace.com

Available through Ingram Distributors, local book stores, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble
Contact Elaine Russell at: elaine(at)elainerussell(dot)info or (916) 425-6414

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