Connie Boyd’s debut wins top indie book award

Las Vegas magician and author Connie Boyd won the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Award in Women’s Literature Non-Fiction for The Power of Magical Women. The recognition spotlights more than 70 women magicians and could broaden attention on women working in a field long overlooked.

Why it matters: - The award gives mainstream visibility to women magicians, a group Boyd says has been overlooked for generations. - The win could help the book reach readers beyond the magic community and broaden interest in women’s stories in the arts. - The recognition also validates Boyd’s pivot from live performance work during the pandemic to documenting female magicians in print and online.

What happened: - Connie Boyd’s debut book, The Power of Magical Women, won the Women’s Literature Non-Fiction category at the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. - Boyd is a Las Vegas author and veteran magician. - The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is billed as the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. - Winners will be honored at a gala on June 26, 2026, at the Newberry Library in Chicago, alongside the American Library Association Annual Conference.

The details: - The Power of Magical Women profiles more than 70 women transforming magic today. - The book uses interviews and behind-the-scenes biographies to show the artists’ work, struggles and triumphs. - Boyd started the project during the 2020 shutdown, after her career producing magic shows for global cruise lines was put on hold. - She launched Magical Women, a YouTube channel and a monthly column for VANISH International Magic magazine, to document female magicians. - The project has grown to more than 300 uploads. - VANISH founder Paul Romhany told Boyd she had enough material for a book. - Boyd said the award will help shine a deserved spotlight on women performing magic around the world. - Boyd also said she hopes the book will encourage new generations to see the arts differently. - More information on the American Library Association is available at More information on the ALA. - Boyd will be at ALA in Chicago June 27-28 at Zoom into Books booths 4044-4045. - Connie Boyd is available for interviews at thepowerofmagicalwomen@gmail.com. - Boyd’s social channels include LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The book’s appeal appears to extend beyond magic because its themes include resilience, reinvention and rebuilding after setbacks. - The award suggests independent publishing can elevate niche cultural histories to a wider audience. - Boyd’s pandemic-era shift from live production to digital and written storytelling helped create the material that became the book.

What’s next: - Boyd will appear at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago on June 27-28. - The award gala is set for June 26, 2026, in Chicago. - Boyd is likely to use the win to promote the book and expand attention on women in magic.