Pownal Street Press is thrilled to announce that Kindling Hope: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light by Zhen-Ru has been named as a Finalist in both the POETRY and INSPIRATIONAL categories for the annual Independent Book Publishers’ Association (IBPA) Awards.
Kindling Hope: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light
ISBN:9781998129294
$CAD 29.95| Hardback
Published in 2025 by Pownal Street Press, Kindling Hope is a collection of meditative and consciousness-opening, short passages by renowned Buddhist teacher Zhen-Ru. As humans we have the exceptional abilities to learn and to choose. This book is filled with insight and encouragement: to be kind, to be ethical, to be forgiving, to be loving. Beautifully designed and full of uplifting wisdom, this collection of everyday reflections reminds us we have the potential to grow beyond our greatest aspirations.
The IBPA Book Awards (formerly the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards) are regarded as one of the highest national honours for independent publishers since 1985. The awards are administered by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) with help from over 170 book publishing professionals including librarians, bookstore owners, reviewers, designers, publicity managers, and editors. Pownal Street Press is privileged to have published Kindling Hope and we wish the book luck at the upcoming awards ceremony at the IBPA Publishing University conference. Gold and Silver winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on May 15, in Portland, Oregon.
We are thrilled to have Kindling Hope recognized as IBPA Book Award finalists in both the Poetry and Inspirational categories by our fellow independent publishers. As a small press it was an honour to publish this collection and we hope it continues to uplift readers for many years to come.”
—Genevieve Loughlin, Publisher Pownal Street Press
About the Author
Zhen-Ru was born into a family of educators. As a child, she began thinking deeply about existential questions. After extensive reading and research, she was determined to raise her consciousness by instilling the Buddha’s teaching into her own life. Despite being top of the class in her youth, she left the traditional education system and traveled extensively throughout Asia, studying and learning from great Buddhist teachers.
About the Translators
Amrita Translation Foundation
Based on Prince Edward Island, Amrita Translation Foundation is a group committed to creating a happier, more peaceful world. By preserving and translating Zhen-Ru’s work, Amrita aims to make this collection of Buddhist teachings more accessible to a wider audience. To ensure the highest level of accuracy, this team of monastic translators has dedicated their lives to the study and practice of Buddhist teachings. They are educated and trained in the Five Great Treatises curriculum, a rigorous Buddhist curriculum with roots tracing to the Tibetan and ancient Indian Nalanda traditions.
Kacy Lin
Kacy Lin is a translator who specializes in the translation of Buddhist works from Mandarin to English. She holds a Master’s degree in Psycho-Spiritual studies from the University of Toronto, and has dedicated many years to the translation and practice of Buddhist teachings. Kacy’s deep understanding of both Buddhist philosophy and Western spirituality has enabled her to translate and render Zhen-Ru’s complex teachings with clarity and precision, making it accessible to a global audience, and fostering a greater cross-cultural understanding and a deeper appreciation for Buddhist spirituality. In addition to her translation work, Kacy practices Spiritual Care and spiritually integrated counseling in hospitals around the Greater Toronto Area, providing guidance and support to those who are undergoing difficult life transitions.
Pownal Street Press is PEI’s newest publishing house. Women-owned and women-led, friendly, warm and professional: We exist to give rise to brave stories, and to be a light for community and connection. With distribution through Raincoast Books (Canada) and Orca Books (US), Pownal Street Press’ titles have national reach but local heart. For more information about the Press and its books, please visit: www.pownalstreetpress.com.