KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 16

US-based Nepali author Passang Nuru Sherpa's memoir Behind the Mask: A Pandemic Memoir has been selected as a finalist in the Nonfiction: Creative category at the 22nd Annual Best Book Awards (BBA), one of the world's largest international book award programs.

American Book Fest, which announced over 400 winners and finalists across more than 100 categories for titles published between 2020 and 2025, said the competition drew thousands of entries from around the globe.

'Over our 23-year history, thousands of self-published and indie authors have leveraged the promotional power of their Best Book Award,' said Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of American Book Fest.

Sherpa's 449-page memoir documents the darkest days of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, the pandemic's epicenter in the US, capturing frontline experiences, community struggles, and collective resilience.

'It's a proud moment for me to get my book selected as a finalist in America's Best Book Awards,' Sherpa said, noting that the memoir 'is not my personal story; it covers the struggles, collective efforts, and community strength.'

Published last August, the book is available in paperback and hardcover across 55 online platforms, including Amazon.

Sherpa, based in New York since 2004, is also known in the Nepali diaspora as a popular lyricist and hairstylist. His song 'Narou Timi' has garnered more than 7 million views on YouTube. His transition from working various jobs to becoming a community responder during the pandemic and now an award-finalist author reflects his multifaceted career and resilience.

The category's top honor went to The Non-Obvious Guide to Drawing Your Future by Patti Dobrowolski, published by Ideapress Publishing.