A Journey Through Deposits from the Deep

I am grateful to share that Deposits from the Deep has been named a finalist in the Overall Best Design category of the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the world's largest awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. Now in its 20th year, the program recognizes exceptional books across more than 80 categories and is judged by experienced professionals from the publishing industry.

As an independent author, this recognition is especially meaningful. Deposits from the Deep was born out of quiet moments with the Lord—reflections, prayers, and spiritual insights gathered over time. To see the book acknowledged in this way is both humbling and encouraging.

This recognition for design would not have been possible without the extraordinary contributions of Marsha Vosburg, whose beautiful artwork brought depth and visual expression to the pages, and Amanda Sneed, whose thoughtful design transformed the manuscript into the beautiful book it is today. Their creativity, talent, and care helped bring this vision to life in a way that far exceeded what I could have imagined.

Another unique aspect of the awards program is that finalist and winning titles are reviewed by literary agents for potential opportunities related to distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other publishing avenues that may help these books reach a broader audience.

Thank you to each of you who has supported this journey, read the book, shared it with others, or encouraged me along the way. I am deeply grateful and excited to see what lies ahead.

I am especially pleased that this recognition celebrates the design of the book, as it truly reflects the collaborative work of gifted women who helped bring Deposits from the Deep to life.