“This is a moment of profound pride for Prince Edward Island. A beautiful testament to what our local independent publishing industry and community collaboration can achieve on the global stage.”(Montague, Prince Edward Island – May 18, 2026)
🏆 Award Highlights
🥇 2 Gold Awards at the 38th IBPA Book Awards
Independent Book Publishers Association Book Awards is judged by a panel of 170 volunteer publishing professionals, including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors.
📚 Award Categories Won: Inspirational & Poetry
🌍 Selected among thousands of entries across North America 🏡 Published in Prince Edward Island
We are absolutely thrilled to share a momentous cultural achievement that brings international recognition to our Island community.
PEI-based author Zhen-Ru has achieved a truly historic literary triumph in the United States, winning two Gold Awards at the prestigious 38th Annual IBPA Awards. Her acclaimed book, Kindling Hope, swept the top honours in both the Inspirational and Poetry categories.
“Several standout titles captured multiple Gold awards, including: Kindling Hope: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light by Zhen-Ru (Pownal Street Press) — Winner in Inspirational, and Poetry.”
— Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Official Announcement, May 16, 2026
The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), which hosts the awards, celebrated Kindling Hope as a “standout title” of the year among thousands of entries across North America.
Official Press Release (Download)
Read the Official Announcement If you would like to review the full details of this historic achievement, you can download the official press release as a PDF document below.
What makes this international acclaim especially meaningful for our province is that Kindling Hope is a completely home-grown success. Published right here on the Island by Pownal Street Press, the book stands as a shining example of the vibrant potential within PEI’s creative sectors and independent publishing industry.
From its conceptualization to its global recognition, this project reflects the deep collaborative spirit and shared dedication of our local community. It is a proud milestone that elevates Island storytelling and proves that world-class art thrives right here in our neighborhoods—from our eastern shores in Cardigan and Montague to the heart of Charlottetown.
Media Inquiries: For community outreach details or further organizational information regarding this release, please contact us directly at info@gebis.org.
About the Author
Zhen-Ru was born into a family of educators. As a child, she began thinking deeply about existential questions. After extensive reading and research, she was determined to raise her consciousness by instilling the Buddha’s teaching into her own life. Despite being top of the class in her youth, she left the traditional education system and traveled extensively throughout Asia, studying and learning from great Buddhist teachers.
Our Teacher
Beyond these achievements, to our community here on the Island, Zhen-Ru is much more than an author; she is a compassionate guide who leads by example. Through her teachings, she inspires us to find kindness in the smallest moments and courage in the face of life’s challenges. For us, Kindling Hope is not just a book—it is a reflection of the warmth and wisdom she brings to our daily lives, and a gift she shares with the world from the heart of our Island.
