BET Co-founder Sheila Johnson, Fox News Host Bret Baier Headline 2025 Andy Awards Finalists
April 9, 2025
CONTACT: ASJA staff, asjaoffice@asja.org
NEW YORK (April 9, 2025) – Gotham Ghostwriters and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) announced the 2025 shortlist of finalists for the Andy Awards, the first and only national awards program dedicated to book collaborations.
Finalists include “Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Triumph,” BET co-founder Sheila Johnson’s inspiring story of overcoming toxic influences, discovering her true self, and becoming one of the most accomplished businesswomen in America; and Fox News host Bret Baier’s “To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment,” which recounts Washington’s return from retirement to lead the Constitutional Convention.
Other shortlisted works feature a shocking chronicle of what a former FBI informant found when he infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan; insights on management strategies of the best performing organizations; and a toolkit in book form on reversing Alzheimer’s.
Launched in 2024, the Andy Awards honor the spirit of collaboration — the AND — in many high-profile and impactful books published today. Both author and paid collaborator must co-submit their book for consideration and agree to share the award.
“The Andys celebrate the partnership between author and paid collaborator that not only elevates the quality of the work, but also brings to life narratives and ideas that may have otherwise remained undiscovered,” ASJA President Darcy Lewis said. “ASJA is proud to help recognize these special collaborations, a bright spot in the publishing industry.”
“We created the Andys to spotlight the invaluable yet overlooked contributions that collaborators make to creating compelling stories, and we could not be happier with the response to this experiment,” said Gotham Ghostwriters CEO Dan Gerstein. “This year’s submissions increased by 30 percent; entries in the memoir and narrative nonfiction categories were especially strong, leading to their recognition as stand-alone categories.”
Winners of the 2025 Andy Awards will be announced at a later date. They will also be honored at the Gathering of the Ghosts conference, November 10–11, in New York City. Madeleine Morel, President of 2M Communications Ltd., will present the awards. Select finalists will talk about their work in conference sessions.
2025 Andy Awards Finalists
The 2025 awards have been expanded to four categories: business and thought leadership; memoir; narrative nonfiction; and prescriptive nonfiction.
Business and Thought Leadership
“Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts From Leadership to Teamship,” Harper Business, Keith Ferrazzi in collaboration with Paul Hill; agent: Esmond Harmsworth, Aevitas Creative Management
“Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat: Serial Entrepreneurs’ Secrets Revealed!,” Forbes Books, Colin C. Campbell in collaboration with Jonathan Jordan
“The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” Sentinel (Penguin Random House), Benji Backer in collaboration with Salwa Emerson; agent: Jonathan Bronitsky, Athos PR
Memoir
“Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph,” Simon & Schuster, Sheila Johnson in collaboration with Lisa Dickey; agent: Bob Barnett, Williams & Connolly
“Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms,” Gallery Books, Shaunie Henderson in collaboration with Tim Vandehey; agent: Jan Miller, Dupree Miller & Associates
“Counting the Cost: A Memoir,” Gallery Books, Jill Duggar Dillard in collaboration with Craig Borlase; agent: Anthony Mattero, CAA
Narrative Nonfiction
“To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment,” Mariner Books, Bret Baier in collaboration with Catherine Whitney; agent: Byrd Leavell, UTA
“White Robes and Broken Badges: Infiltrating the KKK and Exposing the Evil Among Us,” Harper, Joe Moore in collaboration with Jon Land; agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit
“Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty,” William Morrow, Mandy Matney in collaboration with Carolyn Murnick; agent: Meredith Miller, UTA
Prescriptive Nonfiction
“Connected: Building Relationships to Achieve Success and Make a Lasting Impact,” Amplify Publishing Group, Patricia Bathory in collaboration with Toni Robino
“Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health,” Harper, Dr. Heather Sandison in collaboration with Kate Hanley; agent: Stephanie Tade, Stephanie Tade Agency
“Outsmarting Obesity: A Doctor Reveals Why We Gain Weight, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do About It,” Greenleaf Book Group, Stewart Lonky MD, in collaboration with David Nayor
2025 Andy Award Judges
The judges for the 2025 Andy Awards represent the book publishing industry, journalism, authors, agents, as well as last year’s winners. They are: Joanne Gordon, author, ghostwriter, Forbes journalist; Stephanie Hitchcock, senior editor, Atria/Simon and Schuster; Serena Jones, vice president and executive editor, Holt/Macmillan; Holly Robinson, author, journalist and ghostwriter; Zachary Schisgal, executive editor, Wiley; Michael Signorelli, Aevitas Creative Management; Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, author, ghostwriter; Alia Habib, vice president, agent, The Gernert Company; Genevieve Field, ghostwriter, editor, and journalist; Tom Miller, Liza Dawson Associates; David Moldawer, senior agent, Writers House; and Howard Yoon, WME.
About the Andy Awards for Nonfiction Collaboration
The Andy Awards honor the spirit of collaboration—the AND—in nonfiction book writing. The only award for ghostwriters and paid collaborators, the Andy Awards are jointly presented by Gotham Ghostwriters and ASJA, bringing collaboration out of the shadows and into a well-deserved spotlight. Both author and paid collaborator must jointly submit the book for consideration and agree to share the award. Last year’s finalists and winners included books by country music star Miranda Lambert, an abuse survivor turned Hollywood stuntwoman, IBM’s former CEO, and the host of the award-winning podcast Therapy for Black Girls.
About Gotham Ghostwriters
With a network of 4,000-plus editorial specialists — and connections to a larger universe of 20,000 freelance professionals — Gotham offers authors, thinkers, and speakers the unparalleled ability to find the right writing partner for their priorities. Gotham also helps its clients find the right publishing path and get the most impact for their ideas through its extensive industry relationships with literary agents, publishers, media outlets, and PR and marketing consultants.
About American Society of Journalists and Authors
The American Society of Journalists and Authors is the nation’s premier organization of professional freelance nonfiction writers. ASJA members write books, journalism and content marketing and have met ASJA’s objective standards of professional achievement by publishing with national magazines, publishers and clients. As First Amendment and right-to-freelance advocates, ASJA stands up for writers’ rights and offers extensive networking and educational opportunities that benefit members and the freelance writing profession as a whole. ASJA believes in diversity and inclusion and actively works to attract members from all backgrounds and experience levels while continuing to emphasize excellence in nonfiction writing. For more information about the organization, contact ASJA staff, asjaoffice@asja.org.Learn more at www.asja.org.