Iβm thrilled to announce that Chained Birds has been recognized as a True Crime finalist in the 2025 National Indie Excellence Awards! Thank you, NIEA, for this literary honor and for adding to my Spring collection of True Crime awards! πΈππ
The NIEA is a prestigious program that celebrates independent publishing across a wide variety of genres. With a mission to recognize exceptional books that demonstrate excellence in presentation, content, and overall quality, the NIEA provides a platform for authors and publishers to shine. Itβs an honor to see Chained Birds acknowledged by a program so highly regarded in the indie publishing world.
This recognition is especially meaningful to me because of NIEAβs commitment to amplifying unique and diverse voices that might not otherwise find a spotlight in mainstream publishing. To have Chained Birds stand out in the True Crime category among so many talented authors is deeply humbling.
This has been an unforgettable season of accolades for Chained Birds, and Iβm so grateful for every reader, reviewer, and award program that has supported it. It means the world to have Chained Birds recognized once again as an award-winning story of justice, survival, and redemption.
Congratulations to all the other finalists and winners in this yearβs NIEA awards, and especially to my fellow True Crime prize writers! π Hereβs to celebrating more stories that captivate, inspire, and shed light on the truth ππ₯³π
As always, thank you for supporting Chained Birds and spreading the word about this story. If you havenβt read it yet, nowβs the perfect time to check it out!
Carla Conti is a true crime journalist, storyteller, and prison reform advocate. Her debut book, Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir of Justice, Survival and Redemption Behind Bars, is out now with WildBlue Press.
