Wellington resident and fifth-generation Floridian William Shearouse, writing as Billy Shear, received two medals in the annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) President’s Book Awards. His children’s book The Piper of Lands Ending received a Gold Medal, while his children’s book Kung Fu Princess received a Bronze Medal. Both books were recognized in the Children: Pre-Reader/Picture Book category.
The prestigious national competition was open to books published between 2024 and 2026. Entries are judged by librarians, educators and publishing professionals, and the competition is open to authors worldwide. The FAPA President’s Book Awards recognize excellence and creativity in book publishing, including design, content and production, and honor the work of authors, illustrators, cover designers and publishers.
Set in the Florida Keys, The Piper of Lands Ending follows a boy awakened on a moonless night by a mysterious melody. Drawn from his dreams, he follows the music past whispering ferns, across dark waters and down a long dock to Lands Ending, where he encounters a mystery tied to the sea, courage, destiny and the power of music. Kung Fu Princess is a children’s story centered on martial arts, courage and a young heroine. The two awards recognize Shearouse’s work across two distinct children’s stories.
“I wish to congratulate all our winners,” FAPA President Anne Jacob said. “Award programs such as ours are vital to the publishing industry because they serve to recognize excellence and creativity not just for authors, but for everyone involved. It also serves as a tremendous boost to the confidence of beginning authors who win. This year, we had the finest quality of books in recent memory. Earning a medal is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to each winner’s skill and talent.”
The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers and other industry professionals. Learn more at www.myfapa.org.
