Sergio de la Pava Wins American Literary Award for His Debut Novel, 'A Naked Singularity'

Author Solutions, LLC, a Penguin Random House company and the world leader in indie book publishing, announced Monday that Sergio de la Pava has been awarded the 2013 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for his novel, "A Naked Singularity," which he self-published with Xlibris in 2008. The novel was acquired in 2012 and republished in the US in 2013 by the University of Chicago Press.

A New York attorney, de la Pava chose to self-publish the 678-page novel-which follows the inner struggles of a Manhattan public defender-after an unsuccessful search for a trade publisher to take on the project. After a series of positive online reviews, the book was picked up by its current US publisher and will be released by MacLehose Press in the United Kingdom on August 29. French and Spanish editions are in the works, and the film rights to the story have been optioned as well.

"We're delighted that Mr. de la Pava used Xlibris self-publishing services to bring this fine work to readers around the world. It's yet another example of self-publishing breaking down obstacles for talented first-time authors, who may otherwise have never become known to the literary world," said Andrew Phillips, CEO of Author Solutions.

The PEN website states, "The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize honors exceptionally talented fiction writers whose debut work-a first novel or collection of short stories-represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.

Only debut novels or collections of short fiction authored by US residents and published through an American trade press are eligible for the Prize, which is selected by a panel of three writers or editors. The Prize, created to honor the memory of Robert. W. Bingham, who died in 1999 at the age of 33, is widely considered to be one of America's most important literary awards.

For more information about self-publishing with any of Author Solutions' imprints or partner imprints, please visit authorsolutions.com. For the latest news, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorSolutions and follow us on Twitter @AuthorSolutions.

About Author Solutions, LLC:
Author Solutions, LLC, is a Penguin Random House company and the world leader in indie book publishing services. Author Solutions' leading self-publishing imprints-AuthorHouse, AuthorHouse UK, iUniverse, Palibrio, Trafford Publishing and Xlibris-have helped more than 170,000 authors self-publish, promote and bring to market more than 200,000 new titles. Through strategic alliances with leading trade publishers, Author Solutions is making it possible to develop new literary talent efficiently and provide authors with a platform for bringing their books to market. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, Author Solutions' global reach includes imprints developed specifically for authors in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India. For more information, please visit authorsolutions.com. For the latest, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorSolutions and follow us on @authorsolutions.