In an era of endless external "hacks" for happiness, the 2026 Independent Press Award (IPA) for Spirituality has been awarded to a book that points firmly in the opposite direction. Accept Who You Are: And Witness Your Reality Transform by Natasha Sumner is a metaphysical promise.

Since its win in early 2026, https://www.independentpressaward.com/2026-winners/9798999265609, the book has become a beacon for those navigating the transition from performance-based living to authentic existence. What makes the book’s perspective so grounded is the woman behind it.

Natasha is signing at AWP, March 7th, 1pm at booth 521 inside the Baltimore Convention Center.

Natasha Sumner leads a dual life that bridges the logical and the mystical. First, the professional: An engineer and program manager (BSEE, MBA) who understands the mechanics of how things work. Second, the intuitive: A spiritual coach, medium, and psychic who understands the mechanics of how the soul works.

Sumner grew up in South America, influenced by her mother’s love for literature. This blend of technical precision and creative storytelling allowed her to write a spiritual guide that feels both structured and ethereal. She didn't just write this book; she “channeled” it during a pivotal transition from corporate burnout to spiritual alignment.

The central argument of Accept Who You Are is that self-acceptance is the ultimate engine of reality. Sumner challenges the reader to view their life not as a series of random events, but as a reflection of their internal “frequency.”

Sumner famously writes, “The greatest love story begins within.” She posits that the “spark” we often chase in romantic partners is actually our own divine essence reflected back at us. By becoming the “object of your own adoration,” you dissolve the desperate need for external validation.

The book provides a roadmap for identifying “subconscious programs,” the invisible scripts of shame and people-pleasing we inherit from society. Sumner uses her background in healing modalities like past life regression and remote viewing to explain how these layers can be peeled back to reveal the “inner artist.”

The Independent Press Award is known for highlighting books that exhibit “courage and alignment.” Accept Who You Are stood out in the 2026 Spirituality category for its practical mysticism as it offers both a “shield and a compass,” providing spiritual protection from external pressures while guiding the reader toward their innate power. And then there’s the “Walsch” Endorsement, featuring a foreword by Neale Donald Walsch (Conversations with God), the book carries the mantle of modern spiritual classics, appealing to those ready for “New Earth” consciousness. Accept Who You Are is a homecoming. A remembrance that “you are love itself.”

As Natasha Sumner continues to mentor seekers through her Dallas practice and her platform, Ascend 5D, her award-winning book serves as a definitive manual for anyone ready to stop searching and start becoming.