This weekend has been one of those rare moments in a writer’s life when everything pauses—just long enough—for you to look back at the long, jagged road behind you and realize how far you’ve climbed.

For those who’ve walked beside me, supported me, read my words, or simply believed in the story I was trying to tell, today’s update is as much yours as it is mine.

This Weekend’s Honors: Standing Among Finalists and Winners

This Saturday, I learned that Reborn In Shadows: From the Ashes has officially been named a Finalist in the 2025 American Writing Awards in the LGBTQ Fiction category. The badge arrived—sleek, deep blue, and unmistakably official—and I felt that familiar mix of shock, gratitude, and disbelief that seems to accompany every accolade this book has received.

But this wasn’t the only recognition.

The 2025 Positive Impact Book Awards released their Finalists list, and not only is Reborn In Shadows included—it was featured prominently in the official finalist collage. I entered three categories for this competition, and I’ll find out in December whether this story is crowned a winner in one (or more) of them.

Seeing my cover among books centered on community, resilience, healing, and purpose was deeply validating. It reminded me of why I wrote this book: to reach those who live at the intersections of pain, identity, and rebirth. And to show them that survival is not only possible—it can be radiant.

The Growing List of Honors

Every time a new award notification arrives, I’m reminded that this book—born out of some of the hardest years of my life—is standing tall in spaces I never imagined it would reach.

Here is the full, updated list of accolades:

🏆 Current Awards & Honors

Winner — 2025 National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA)
Best LGBTQIA Fiction
First Place — 2025 BookFest Awards
LGBTQ+ Romance
Distinguished Favorite — 2025 NYC Big Book Award
LGBTQ Fiction
Finalist — 2025 American Writing Awards
Fiction: LGBTQ
Finalist — 2025 Positive Impact Book Awards (Fall/Winter)
(Three categories entered; winners announced in December)

📚 Historic Recognition

Selected for Inclusion in the Library of Congress
Not just once—but twice.
Both Reborn In Shadows: From the Ashes and my newly released sequel Through the Fire have been accepted into the permanent national collection.

To say this is surreal would be an understatement.

The Journey to This Moment

This book didn’t arrive in the world quietly.

It was written by a woman who started over at 44, who came out in a place where visibility still comes with a cost, who lost family and community, who rebuilt herself as an amputee, as a mother, as a storyteller, and as someone determined to carve out a place for queer Appalachian voices.

When I founded One-Legged Woman Publishing LLC, I didn’t know if anyone would take my imprint seriously. I didn’t know if readers would open their hearts to Miriam Ryder’s journey. I didn’t know if Appalachian trans women were allowed to take up literary space.

But I wrote it anyway.
I published it anyway.
I refused to dim the truth of this story.

And now, awards committees, librarians, bookstores, reviewers, Pride organizations, and individual readers have echoed something back to me that I struggled to believe for decades:

Your story matters. Your voice belongs here.

Looking Ahead: December and Beyond

December looms with possibility.

The Positive Impact Book Awards will announce their category winners, and while I’m already honored to be a finalist, the chance to receive further recognition is a dream I’m allowing myself to hold lightly, knowing that even this moment—this weekend—is enough.

In 2025 and 2026, I’ll be:

Continuing to push Reborn In Shadows: Through the Fire
Appearing at multiple Pride events, book fairs, and indie festivals
Expanding my storefront, author presence, and merchandise
Preparing Book Three Reborn In Shadows: Phoenix Rising for a planned March 31, 2026 release
Growing One-Legged Woman Publishing into something larger than myself

But today?
Today I’m letting myself feel proud.

To Everyone Reading This

Thank you for supporting an indie author from a rural holler in southwest Virginia.

Thank you for giving space to a trans woman’s voice in a world that often tries to silence us.

Thank you for helping this story reach libraries, award committees, bookstores, Pride tables, and—most importantly—readers who need it.

The world is still full of shadows.
But together, we’re helping stories rise from the ashes.

— Maya

A Weekend of Honors, and the Road That Led Here