ForeWord Magazine, which was established to bring attention to independent publishers and their authors, announced its sixth annual award winners in various categories at last weekend's BEA, with Archaia Studios Press' Artesia winning the 2003 Graphic Novel Book of the Year award.

Competing against nine other graphic novels from publishers such as Dark Horse, TokyoPop and Top Shelf, and winning, left writer, artist and publisher Mark Smylie extremely pleased.  Smylie said, 'I was just proud to have Artesia picked as a finalist and be mentioned in the same category with such outstanding books.  And now for it to be chosen as the Gold level winner...It's both gratifying and exciting to have my work honored by ForeWord Magazine's selection committee.'