WINNER BY NAME, WINNER BY NATURE: DENISE O’LEARY MBE’S NEW BOOK HITS AMAZON NO.1 ACROSS SEVEN CHARTS

Wiltshire businesswoman celebrates extraordinary bestseller success as WINNER tops seven Amazon charts and ranks above some of the world’s best-known business authors

Wiltshire, UK – September 2026 – It’s official: WINNER is a winner.

Wiltshire entrepreneur, award expert and author Denise O’Leary MBE is celebrating after the newly updated second edition of her book, WINNER – How to WIN Business Awards, became an Amazon No.1 bestseller across seven charts following its launch on 7 September 2026.

The achievement saw WINNER reach the coveted #1 position in Amazon’s Marketing & Sales bestseller chart, placing it ahead of internationally renowned titles including Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Robert Cialdini’s Influence.

It also took the #1 spot in Public Relations, ahead of Seth Godin’s This Is Marketing.

In total, the book achieved the top position across seven Amazon bestseller charts – an extraordinary result for a specialist UK business book.

For Denise, Founder and Managing Director of Wiltshire-based Purpol Marketing, the result was particularly special because reaching bestseller status had begun as a birthday challenge.

Denise said:

“I called the book WINNER – so there was a certain amount of pressure for it to live up to its name!

“Seeing it at number one was an incredible moment. Then realising we had reached number one across seven different Amazon charts was just extraordinary.

“And when I saw WINNER sitting alongside – and above – books by people such as Malcolm Gladwell, Robert Cialdini and Seth Godin, I had to look twice. These are authors whose books are known around the world.

“I am absolutely thrilled, but more than anything I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.”

A 99p birthday challenge that became a No.1 bestseller

The updated second edition of WINNER officially launched on 7 September – Denise’s birthday. To mark the occasion, Denise set herself an ambitious birthday challenge: could her network help make WINNER an Amazon bestseller in a single day?

For launch day, the Kindle edition was reduced to just 99p, with Denise asking friends, clients, colleagues and her wider business network to support the challenge by buying a copy.

There was another reason for the 99p price tag. Denise pledged to match every 99p Kindle purchase with a 99p donation to Dorothy House Hospice Care, combining her bestseller ambition with support for a charity close to the local community.

The response exceeded expectations.

Denise added:

“I asked people whether they would buy me a 99p birthday present – a copy of WINNER – and they certainly delivered!

“People bought it, shared it, posted about it and encouraged their own networks to get involved. Watching the rankings move was exciting enough, but discovering that WINNER had reached number one across seven charts was the most amazing birthday present.

“So this really isn’t my bestseller achievement alone. Everyone who got behind the challenge helped put WINNER at number one. Thank you.”

Denise’s LinkedIn posts during the launch thanked supporters for buying, sharing and promoting the book, and confirmed that she would match every 99p purchase with a donation to Dorothy House.

Helping other businesses become WINNERS

WINNER – How to WIN Business Awards, Updated Second Edition is a practical guide for businesses that want to gain greater recognition through awards.

Originally published in 2020, the book has been comprehensively revised for 2026. It provides a step-by-step process for choosing the right awards, gathering compelling evidence, understanding judging criteria and creating entries that stand out.

The new edition also tackles one of the biggest changes affecting business writing since the first edition: Artificial Intelligence. It includes guidance on how businesses can use AI to strengthen the awards process without losing the authenticity, evidence and individuality judges need to see.

Denise said:

“The irony isn’t lost on me that a book teaching people how to win has now become a winner itself.

“But the number one ranking isn’t the end goal. What matters to me is what happens when somebody reads the book and realises that their business has a story worth telling.

“There are fantastic businesses everywhere doing innovative, inspiring and valuable things, but many don’t recognise just how award-worthy they are.

“I want WINNER to give them the confidence and the process to go for it.”

WINNER wins again

This is not the first time Denise’s book has achieved recognition.

The original edition of WINNER also became an Amazon No.1 bestseller and went on to receive a Gold Stevie® Award for Best Business Book. Denise herself is an experienced international awards judge, entrant and winner, bringing perspectives from both sides of the judging table. The Stevie Awards has previously described Denise as a 12-time Stevie winner and WINNER as an Amazon No.1 bestseller and Gold Stevie-recognised Best Business Book.

The second edition builds on that experience while bringing Denise’s approach fully up to date for businesses entering awards in 2026 and beyond.

Denise added:

“My philosophy has always been that winning creates opportunities.

“An award can build credibility, create fantastic PR, give your team something to celebrate and help customers understand why they should choose you.

“Now WINNER has its own new award-winning story to tell – and I couldn’t be happier.”

WINNER – How to WIN Business Awards, Updated Second Edition, published by Rethink Press, is available now in paperback and Kindle editions. The paperback RRP is £17.99.