Melissa Magner ’20 has been recognized with the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award (IRDA) in the new adult category for her newest book, Of the Sun and Sea. Her novel is a fantasy adventure that doubles as a powerful metaphor for grief and mental health. The IRDAs spotlight standout independent books and help connect them with top publishing professionals, including judges from Penguin Group USA, Simon & Schuster, and ICM. IndieReader reviewers praised Magner’s novel as “dense and dramatic yet heartfelt and relatable,” solidifying her place as a rising voice in independent publishing.