Comic Book News
Artesia Afire wins Silver in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards
By Patrick Luce
Jun 14, 2005, 13:23 GMT

Archaia Studios Press (ASP) third book in the acclaimed Artesia series, Artesia Afire, placed second in the ForeWord Magazine's 2004 Graphic Novel Book of the Year Awards and earned a Silver Medal.

This award follows last year's first-place Gold finish for the first book in the series, Artesia. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were awarded at Book Expo America during the first weekend in June. Artesia Afire was up against eight other finalists in the graphic novel category.

"I can't tell you how delighted---and, indeed, relieved---I am to hear this," said Artesia creator Mark Smylie in a press release. "When I take a look at the other great books, creators and publishers that Afire was up against, I feel incredibly lucky that my work was honored again by ForeWord."

Written and painted by Smylie, Artesia is a comic book rich in fantasy, mysticism, and mythology, an epic and strange tale of war and magic set in the strife-riven realms of the Known World. It tells the ongoing adventures and exploits of the warrior-witch Artesia.

Smylie founded Archaia Studios Press (ASP) in 2002 as a new home for his epic fantasy comic book, Artesia (first published by Sirius Entertainment). The next installment, Artesia Besieged, is slated for a winter 2005/2006 release and an Artesia roleplaying game, Artesia: Adventures in the Known World, is due in summer 2005. Film rights were recently sold to celophaine, inc. to develop Artesia for the big screen.

ForeWord Magazine is the only review trade journal devoted exclusively to covering books from independent publishing houses. Seven years ago, ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards was established to bring increased attention to the literary achievements of independent presses and their authors. This year, a record number of 1,500 entries were received for the 52 different Book of the Year Award categories.

"This year's awards reflect the diverse quality of writing and production in the independent press industry, and ForeWord's ongoing mission to champion those efforts," said ForeWord publisher Victoria Sutherland in a press release.
 
The first Artesia graphic novel, which retails for $24.95 and is 192 pages, and its sequels: Artesia Afield, which retails for $24.95, and is 192 pages, and Artesia Afire, which retails for $24.95 and is 240 pages, are available at finer bookstores and comic book shops everywhere.

Visit Archaia Studios Press for more information on the graphic novels.