Annual Self-Publishing Literary Award goes to crime thriller Your Turn.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) has promoted and developed library services for the African American community since 1970. For over twenty years, BCALA has given awards for traditionally published poetry and prose by African American authors. Then, in 2016, the BCALA launched the Self-Publishing Literary Award in partnership with the Indie Author Project, a self-publishing community that helps authors get their books into library catalogs. Awarded for fiction and poetry, the BCALA self-publishing prizes recognize outstanding achievements in the presentation of the cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.

  Nashville-based Lavelle Andrew Miller Sr. won this year’s award for Your Turn, his debut novel. Your Turn features Seven House, a former police officer jailed for ten years for the murder of a fellow officer. When he is unexpectedly released from prison, House partners with an old friend to find the people who framed him for the crime. House discovers a decades-old conspiracy with the help of an advanced intelligence network. The trail of clues leads back to his police department and a high-profile political campaign.

Miller originally wrote Your Turn for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). He rose to the challenge of writing a 50,000-word novel in less than ten days. The BCALA has now rewarded his efforts with $2,500 and the use of the BCALA Ebook Award Digital Seal.

“Winning the award provided additional validation that I belong in the writing space. It’s motivated me to continue writing and take more risks with my writing,” says Miller. “When I wrote Your Turn, I didn’t expect for all the positive things that happened to happen—and now it will forever live on as an award-winning novel.”

Miller is a member of Crime Writers of Color, an association of self-identified crime/mystery writers from traditionally underrepresented racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Award-winning authors Walter Mosley, Gigi Pandian, and Kellye Garrett founded this 350-member group in June of 2018. “Crime Writers of Color is an engaging community that lifts each other up, celebrates wins, helps navigate losses, promotes, provides opportunities you may otherwise be unaware of, and much more,” explains Miller. “I’m so thankful I was made aware of CWoC.”

Miller hopes the success of Your Turn will inspire up-and-coming writers “by letting them know someone, somewhere, is waiting to read their novel. You never know what could be unless you try. This isn’t limited to writing. Greatness is earned. Go out there and be great.”

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and served as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army. “With my background and education in law enforcement and love of TV shows like Law & Order and The Wire, it was easy for me to lean into crime writing,” says Miller. “Being in the Army, even though it was a short time, reinforced accountability and the importance of details. I know how report-writing and investigations should look.”

Election year politics features prominently in the plot of Your Turn. The book illustrates the pressure to manipulate crime statistics to benefit political officeholders. Plus, a key moment occurs at a gubernatorial campaign rally. “The influence of politics on policing wasn’t directly covered [in my criminal justice degree program]. However, from experience, you can see a difference between what’s taught and what’s practiced. Media has a large impact on how we view things. This can cause issues for police officers and the public if you don’t do your own research.”

This fall, Miller will be one of thirteen writers of color featured in the fourth edition of Festive Mayhem. This crime, thriller, and suspense anthology will include new short stories centered around the winter holidays. Miller also covers self-publishing, book promotion, and writing tips on his Substack and podcast, The Brave Way. “For podcasting, I need to increase the frequency of episodes. Podcasting is a great way for people to learn about you and inform them or provide a different perspective,” says Miller. “As for writing, I need to release or be a part of a release each year. The more content, the better.”

If Your Turn has the opportunity to get a screen adaptation, Miller plans to lift up new local talent and give them a chance to shine: “If I was so lucky to have my book selected to be a movie, I hope the actors would be local to Nashville. If not a local, then a rising star. Someone who is still hungry and reaching for the moon.“

To view and share the BCALA contest submission page, please visit https://bcala.librariesshare.com/bcala-ebook-contest/.

To learn more about Miller and purchase Your Turn, visit his website https://www.lavelleamiller.com/.

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