We are in the thick of awards season now, and last night it was MIPA--the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, which handed out awards in 35 categories.

Nominees came from the whole Upper Midwest, 12 states. Winners included a fair number from Minnesota, including Michael Nordskog and Aaron Hautala, authors of "The Opposite of Cold," that book that is pretty much known by its unofficial title, "The Sauna Book."

Their book, published by the University of Minnesota Press, took first place in the category of Midwest Regional Interest.

Other local winners included Beaver's Pond Press, which won no fewer than 15 prizes (both first prize, and runner up), Tristan Publishing of Golden Valley, and Bethany House.

Self-published authors, take heart; even iUniverse won a prize. A complete list of winners follows:

Arts: First place (a tie): Friendship: The Art of the Practice, Tristan Publishing and The Saint John's Bible: Historical Books, Liturgical Press Finalist: The Prints of Warrington Colescott, University of Wisconsin Press Biography/Memoir First place: John Paul Stevens, Northern Illinois University Press Finalists: A Lifetime Burning, Borderland Books, and Czechs Forever, Penfield Books Business First place: Sacred Ground, Beaver's Pond Press Finalist: Selling It Softly, Grand Oaks Press Children's Picture Book First place: Looking for Lucy, Beaver's Pond Press Finalists: Stranger in the Woods: Snowflake Edition, Carl R. Sams II Photography, and Yafi's Family, Amharic Kids Press Children's Fiction First place: Ben and Lucy Play Pond Hockey, Beaver's Pond Press Finalists: Henry! You're Late Again!, Beaver's Pond Press, and Military Life, Elva Resa Publishing Children's Non-Fiction First place: Be Fit, Be Strong, Be You, Free Spirit Publishing Finalists: Frankie, the Rock 'n Roll Therapy Dog, Joyful Paws Prints Press, LLC, and Pingpong Perry Experiences How a Book Is Made, Picture Window Books/Capstone Young Adult Fiction First place: Wilkinshire, iUniverse Finalists: Siberia John & The Mystery of the Amazing Zoo, Three Towers Press, and The Ugly Tree, Comfort Publishing Coffee Table Books First place: Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Finalist: Like an Old Friend, Beaver's Pond Press Cookbooks First place: Let's Cook, Appletree Press, Inc. Finalists: Café Indiana Cookbook, University of Wisconsin Press, and Cooking Ala Heart, Appletree Press Inc. Crafts/Hobbies First place: Amy Barickman's Vintage Notions, Amy Barickman LLC Finalists: Quilting: The Basics and Beyond, Landauer Publishing, and Threads: The Basics and Beyond, Landauer Publishing Culture First place: Living in Two Worlds, World Wisdom Finalists: Paris from the Heart, Beaver's Pond Press, and Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Current Events First place: Quick Cash, Northern Illinois University Press Finalist: Men of a Single Book, World Wisdom Family/Parenting First place: Heading Home with Your Newborn, American Academy of Pediatrics Finalists: First the Broccoli, then the Ice Cream, Two Fish Books, and Yafi's Family, Amharic Kids Press General Fiction First place: The Peculiar Boars of Malloy, Switchgrass Books (Northern Illinois University Press) Finalists: Cranberry Red, University of Wisconsin Press, and Today's Special! Yes It Is, Tristan Publishing Genre Fiction First place: Girl in the Gatehouse, Bethany House Finalists: Deadly Reunion, North Star Press, and Death's Imperfect Witness, North Star Press Health First place: Mental Health Naturally, American Academy of Pediatrics Finalists: The Reluctant Donor, Beaver's Pond Press, and Yoga for Every Room in Your House, Great Bear Press History First place: Sierra Summer, 1874, Pineneedle Press Finalists: Living in Two Worlds, World Wisdom, and Lost on the Lady Elgin, In-Depth Editions How-To/Do-It-Yourself First place: Amy Barickman's Vintage Notions, Amy Barickman LLC Humor First place: Hitchhiking After Dark, Gale Force Press Finalists: Garage Logic, Beaver's Pond Press, and The Athletic Benchley, Glendower Media Inspiration/Gift Book First place: I'm New at Being Old, Temuna Press Finalists: Bringing Jon Home, Beaver's Pond Press, and Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Midwest Regional Interest First place: The Opposite of Cold, University of Minnesota Press Finalists: H. H. Bennett, Photographer, University of Wisconsin Press, and Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Nature First place: Nature's Garden, Forager's Harvest Press Finalists: Amazing Hummingbirds, Adventure Publications, and Common Dragonflies of Northern Door County, Stonehill Publishing Poetry First place: Beso the Donkey, Michigan State University Finalists: Jackson, Jesse, and the Almost Free Lunch, Beaver's Pond Press, and The Wind Blows. The Ice Breaks, Nodin Press Recreation/Sports First place: A Grouse Hunter's Almanac, University of Wisconsin Press Finalists: Live Happily Ever Active, Jabberwocky Books, and Raising Stanley: What It Takes to Claim Hockey's Ultimate Prize, Triumph Books Reference First place: A Handbook of Scandinavian Names, University of Wisconsin Press Finalists: 2011 Saint Paul Almanac, Arcata Press, and MFA in a Box, Dream of Things Religion/Philosophy First place: The Saint John's Bible: Historical Books, Liturgical Press Finalists: Circle of Catholic Women, Juloya, and Kierkegaard, Lutheran University Press Self-Help First place: Living with the Enemy, Beaver's Pond Press Finalists: The Joyful Professor, MavenMark Books, and Yoga for Every Room in Your House, Great Bear Press Social Science First place: Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Finalists: Spirits of Earth, University of Wisconsin Press, and Stalking Mary, Beaver's Pond Press Travel First place: Lake Superior: The Ultimate Guide, Lake Superior Port Cities, Inc. Finalists: 2011 Saint Paul Almanac, Arcata Press, and Paris from the Heart, Beaver's Pond Press Illustration First place: Whispers of the Ancients, University of Michigan Press Finalists: An Illustrated Introduction to Taoism, World Wisdom, and Stranger in the Woods: Snowflake Edition, Carl R. Sams II Photography Interior Layout First place: Living in Two Worlds, World Wisdom Finalists: Live Happily Ever Active, Jabberwocky Books, and Sacred Ground, Beaver's Pond Press 1-2 Color Cover First place: The Butterfly Key, Butterfly Publishing Press Finalist: Legacy of Life, MavenMark Books 3 or More Color Cover First place: Living in Two Worlds, World Wisdom Finalists: An Illustrated Introduction to Taoism, World Wisdom, and Marilyn and Me, Augusta Wind Press Total Book Design First place: Wisconsin's Own, Wisconsin Historical Society Press Finalists: An Illustrated Introduction to Taoism, World Wisdom Living in Two Worlds, World Wisdom Publisher's Website First place: Beaver's Pond Press Finalists: Granny Girl Press and World Wisdom