Congratulations to all of our amazing nominees and winners in 2025!
Below are some of the best of the best!
* All entries from all three of our 2025 contests (≈300 entries) were considered for this bonus contest
Best Publishers of 2025
2025 Publisher of the Year
Story Monsters LLC
2025 Publisher of the Year
(1st Runner-Up)
Saratoga Springs Publishing
2025 Publisher of the Year
(2nd Runner-Up)
Book Launchers
2025 Publisher of the Year
Story Monsters LLC
2025 Publisher of the Year
(1st Runner-Up)
Saratoga Springs Publishing
2025 Publisher of the Year
(2nd Runner-Up)
Book Launchers
Best Non-Fiction Books of 2025
2025 Non-Fiction Book of the Year
(Co-Winners)
“Steel Soldier” James J. Messina, Charles Messina
“Confidence Constellations” Lois van Waardenberg
“Self-Publishing with Dale Omnibus” Dale L. Roberts
“Kings of Stone” R Jay Driskell
2025 Non-Fiction Book of the Year
(1st Runner-Up)
“One Man’s Journey” Donald T. Hardison
“The Ominous Struggle” George Beasley
“Dear Orchid” Carol Van Den Hende
2025 Non-Fiction Book of the Year
(2nd Runner-Up)
“Tesla’s Cottage” Barbara Daddino
“Unpacking the Attic” Ann Mracek
“Certainty” Mike Mears
Best Fiction Books of 2025
2025 Fiction Book of the Year
(Co-Winners)
“Crown Prince” W.D. Kilpack III
“Worldwide Crush” Kristin Nilsen
“The Philly Phenoms” Nate Oxman
“Chasm of Night” Peter Eliott
2025 Fiction Book of the Year
(1st Runner-Up)
“The Light of Faded Stars” Francis-Adrien Morneault
“When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy” D.A. Mintaka
2025 Fiction Book of the Year
(2nd Runner-Up)
“Jake Fox: Ties That Blind” Michael Stockham
“The Warrior’s Shade” Ingrid Moon
Best Children's Books of 2025
2025 Children's Book of the Year
(Co-Winners)
“The Girl and the Ocean” Lei’a Haff, Illustrated by Julia Moroko
“Cora’s Garden Rescue” Sally Kashner
“Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad” Dr. Christian Kueng
2025 Children's Book of the Year
(1st Runner-Up)
“Cora’s Magic Melodies” Sally Kashner
"Bentley Finds a Hippopotomonsterous" Miki Taylor, Eunhye Shin
"Marky the Magnificent Fairy" Cynthia Kern Obrien, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh, Narrated by Immy Dymott
2025 Children's Book of the Year
(2nd Runner-Up)
“Liliana’s Match: Finding Bella” Victoria Smith
“Poo and Order” Angeli Fitch
“What Mommy Doesn’t See” Karen Ledbetter, Illustrated by Kassy Keppol
“Our Song, Our Voice” Tuula Pere, PhD
2025 Rankings
Top 25 Ranked Children's Books of 2025
1. “The Girl and the Ocean” Lei’a Haff, Illustrated by Julia Moroko
1. “Cora’s Garden Rescue” Sally Kashner
1. “Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad” Dr. Christian Kueng
2. “Cora’s Magic Melodies” Sally Kashner
2. "Bentley Finds a Hippopotomonsterous" Miki Taylor, Eunhye Shin
2. "Marky the Magnificent Fairy" Cynthia Kern Obrien, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh, Narrated by Immy Dymott
3. “Liliana’s Match: Finding Bella” Victoria Smith
3. “Poo and Order” Angeli Fitch
3. “What Mommy Doesn’t See” Karen Ledbetter, Illustrated by Kassy Keppol
3. “Our Song, Our Voice” Tuula Pere, PhD
4. "The Great Animal Escape" Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh, Narrated by Stewart Davis
4. "Cooper's Campervan Adventures: Montana" Bridget Farry, Illustrated by Dave Globerson
5. “Singing Surya Dreams to Dance” Suchi Sairam
6. “Hello, Japan!” Ekaterina Otiko
7. “Gigglet Goes to School” Amber Berkowitz
8. “Welcome, Baby Wigglet” Amber Berkowitz
9. “A Tail of Twirls” Once Upon a Dance
10. “The Legend of Ranger” Maj. General Alan Salisbury
11. “You Can’t Stop Me” Allison Aller
12. “Seeking the Lost Sheep” Daniel Cramton
12. “Why?” Elena Kayne
13. “Colin the Crab Gets Married” Tuula Pere, PhD
14. “Stormy Sailing” Tuula Pere, PhD
15. “The Fisherman and the French Flounder” Raven Howell, Narrated by Immy Dymott, Illustrated by Pamela C. Rice
16. “Desert Friends” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick, Narrated by Jeremiah Acevedo
17. “A Parrot Tail Lily” Tuula Pere, PhD
18. “The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp” Tuula Pere, PhD
19. “The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick
19. “John Visits San Francisco” O’Cyrus
20. “The Jellybean Gospel and the Born Again Bunny” Wanda Roush
20. “Macie and the Magic Veggies” Peter Contardo
20. “Gertie Saves the Day” Karen Patricia Nespoli, Narrated by May Webster, Illustrated by Daniela Massironi
21. “Oh Little One, Who Will You Be?” Sharon Varney, Illustrated by Anthony Richichi
22. “Chatty the Hen Pheasant” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick, Narrated by Stewart Joiner Davis
23. “Not Everyone Walks the Stage” Sierra Andrews, Nicholas Seidler
24. “Turkey Ham Dog” Lisa Giknis
25. “Lucky’s Adventure: The Saratoga Rescue” Elizabeth Macy, Illustrated by Anthony Richichi
1. “The Girl and the Ocean” Lei’a Haff, Illustrated by Julia Moroko
1. “Cora’s Garden Rescue” Sally Kashner
1. “Caleb’s Adventures with Granddad” Dr. Christian Kueng
2. “Cora’s Magic Melodies” Sally Kashner
2. "Bentley Finds a Hippopotomonsterous" Miki Taylor, Eunhye Shin
2. "Marky the Magnificent Fairy" Cynthia Kern Obrien, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh, Narrated by Immy Dymott
3. “Liliana’s Match: Finding Bella” Victoria Smith
3. “Poo and Order” Angeli Fitch
3. “What Mommy Doesn’t See” Karen Ledbetter, Illustrated by Kassy Keppol
3. “Our Song, Our Voice” Tuula Pere, PhD
4. "The Great Animal Escape" Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh, Narrated by Stewart Davis
4. "Cooper's Campervan Adventures: Montana" Bridget Farry, Illustrated by Dave Globerson
5. “Singing Surya Dreams to Dance” Suchi Sairam
6. “Hello, Japan!” Ekaterina Otiko
7. “Gigglet Goes to School” Amber Berkowitz
8. “Welcome, Baby Wigglet” Amber Berkowitz
9. “A Tail of Twirls” Once Upon a Dance
10. “The Legend of Ranger” Maj. General Alan Salisbury
11. “You Can’t Stop Me” Allison Aller
12. “Seeking the Lost Sheep” Daniel Cramton
12. “Why?” Elena Kayne
13. “Colin the Crab Gets Married” Tuula Pere, PhD
14. “Stormy Sailing” Tuula Pere, PhD
15. “The Fisherman and the French Flounder” Raven Howell, Narrated by Immy Dymott, Illustrated by Pamela C. Rice
16. “Desert Friends” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick, Narrated by Jeremiah Acevedo
17. “A Parrot Tail Lily” Tuula Pere, PhD
18. “The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp” Tuula Pere, PhD
19. “The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick
19. “John Visits San Francisco” O’Cyrus
20. “The Jellybean Gospel and the Born Again Bunny” Wanda Roush
20. “Macie and the Magic Veggies” Peter Contardo
20. “Gertie Saves the Day” Karen Patricia Nespoli, Narrated by May Webster, Illustrated by Daniela Massironi
21. “Oh Little One, Who Will You Be?” Sharon Varney, Illustrated by Anthony Richichi
22. “Chatty the Hen Pheasant” Linda Harkey, Illustrated by Mike Minick, Narrated by Stewart Joiner Davis
23. “Not Everyone Walks the Stage” Sierra Andrews, Nicholas Seidler
24. “Turkey Ham Dog” Lisa Giknis
25. “Lucky’s Adventure: The Saratoga Rescue” Elizabeth Macy, Illustrated by Anthony Richichi
Top 25 Ranked Fiction Books of 2025
1. “Crown Prince” W.D. Kilpack III
1. “Worldwide Crush” Kristin Nilsen
1. “The Philly Phenoms” Nate Oxman
1. “Chasm of Night” Peter Eliott
2. “The Light of Faded Stars” Francis-Adrien Morneault
2. “When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy” D.A. Mintaka
3. “Jake Fox: Ties That Blind” Michael Stockham
3. “The Warrior’s Shade” Ingrid Moon
4. “A Thousand More” K.S. Lynn
4. “Where the Mountains Whisper” Jenny Cafaro
5. “The Life After” Deidra Lookingbill
6. “Angels Deployed” Sophia Pavlou
7. “The Son of Poetry” P.M. Gill
8. “Losing Austin” Michael J. Bowler
8 . “Jamie’s Journey: Cancer from the Voice of a Sibling” Sharon Wozny, Melissa Bailey
9. “Something in the Blood” H.H. Mika
9. “Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder” Erika Lynn Adams
10. “Slaying Paradise” T.V. Holiday
11. “The Tempest’s Fury” Ingrid Moon
12. “Blood of the Raej” Hayley Rae Johnson
13. “Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore” Marx Pyle et al.
14. “14 Hours of Saturn” Mike J. Kizman
15. “Once Upon a Twisted Time” Marx Pyle et al.
15. “Lost Blades” Liz Sauco
16. “Animal Revenge” David Bush
17. “Adventures Are Everywhere” Elizabeth Horst
18. “Ring Fold Chronicles: Book 2: Blood of Time” Scott Swisher
19 . “The Dark Mother: Gold Collection” Jamilette Cintron
19. “Passages of Peculiarity” Mark K. McClain
19. “The Real Dreamwalker: El Nino” Ashlyn Jacobs
20. “Diablo Canyon” C. Flemish
21. “Trust on Trial” G.S. Gerry
22. “Water Horse” Ashley Chapman
22. “Beast of Eufaula Lake” Ethan Richards
23. “There Are No Stars Here” J.S. Thompson
23. “Wrecked by You” Kate Sweden
23. "The Pentacle” Marieke Lexmond
24. “The Last First Date” Jay Hall
24. “Last Episode” K.E. Adamus
24. “Sanity Test” K.E. Adamus
25. “A Crown of Gilded Thread” Evangaline Pierce
Others Receiving Votes:
“The Royal Order of the Last Coin” Joyce Crawford
“The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach” Alden Windrow
“Fate Can Toss a Boomerang” Carolyn Summer Quinn
“Reliquary of the Dead” David Falk
“Fearless Vampire” K.M. Taylor
“Charlotte’s Ghost” L.P. Simone
“Time Warped” Micky O’Brady
“The Unlife of Lisa Cooper” J.M. Celi
1. “Crown Prince” W.D. Kilpack III
1. “Worldwide Crush” Kristin Nilsen
1. “The Philly Phenoms” Nate Oxman
1. “Chasm of Night” Peter Eliott
2. “The Light of Faded Stars” Francis-Adrien Morneault
2. “When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy” D.A. Mintaka
3. “Jake Fox: Ties That Blind” Michael Stockham
3. “The Warrior’s Shade” Ingrid Moon
4. “A Thousand More” K.S. Lynn
4. “Where the Mountains Whisper” Jenny Cafaro
5. “The Life After” Deidra Lookingbill
6. “Angels Deployed” Sophia Pavlou
7. “The Son of Poetry” P.M. Gill
8. “Losing Austin” Michael J. Bowler
8 . “Jamie’s Journey: Cancer from the Voice of a Sibling” Sharon Wozny, Melissa Bailey
9. “Something in the Blood” H.H. Mika
9. “Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder” Erika Lynn Adams
10. “Slaying Paradise” T.V. Holiday
11. “The Tempest’s Fury” Ingrid Moon
12. “Blood of the Raej” Hayley Rae Johnson
13. “Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore” Marx Pyle et al.
14. “14 Hours of Saturn” Mike J. Kizman
15. “Once Upon a Twisted Time” Marx Pyle et al.
15. “Lost Blades” Liz Sauco
16. “Animal Revenge” David Bush
17. “Adventures Are Everywhere” Elizabeth Horst
18. “Ring Fold Chronicles: Book 2: Blood of Time” Scott Swisher
19 . “The Dark Mother: Gold Collection” Jamilette Cintron
19. “Passages of Peculiarity” Mark K. McClain
19. “The Real Dreamwalker: El Nino” Ashlyn Jacobs
20. “Diablo Canyon” C. Flemish
21. “Trust on Trial” G.S. Gerry
22. “Water Horse” Ashley Chapman
22. “Beast of Eufaula Lake” Ethan Richards
23. “There Are No Stars Here” J.S. Thompson
23. “Wrecked by You” Kate Sweden
23. "The Pentacle” Marieke Lexmond
24. “The Last First Date” Jay Hall
24. “Last Episode” K.E. Adamus
24. “Sanity Test” K.E. Adamus
25. “A Crown of Gilded Thread” Evangaline Pierce
Others Receiving Votes:
“The Royal Order of the Last Coin” Joyce Crawford
“The Canceled Life of Zander Wolbach” Alden Windrow
“Fate Can Toss a Boomerang” Carolyn Summer Quinn
“Reliquary of the Dead” David Falk
“Fearless Vampire” K.M. Taylor
“Charlotte’s Ghost” L.P. Simone
“Time Warped” Micky O’Brady
“The Unlife of Lisa Cooper” J.M. Celi
Top 25 Ranked Non-Fiction Books of 2025
1. “Steel Soldier” James J. Messina, Charles Messina
1. “Confidence Constellations” Lois van Waardenberg
1. “Self-Publishing with Dale Omnibus” Dale L. Roberts
1. “Kings of Stone” R Jay Driskell
2. “One Man’s Journey” Donald T. Hardison
2. “The Ominous Struggle” George Beasley
2. “Dear Orchid” Carol Van Den Hende
3. “Tesla’s Cottage” Barbara Daddino
3. “Unpacking the Attic” Ann Mracek
3. “Certainty” Mike Mears
4. “Critical Thinking for Go Getters” Jack Wolf
5. “Little Boy, I Know Your Name” Mitchell Raff
6. “Half a Century Ago” Angela Arias
7. “My Journey as an Author” M.C. Ryder
8. “A Break in the Silence” Donald T. Hardison II
8. “Johnny Vet” Maj. General Alan Salisbury
9. “Bridges of Words” Esperanza Pretila
10. “100 Live Streaming & Digital Media Predictions Volume 5” Ross Brand et al.
11. “Bible Stories That Scared the Hell Out of Me” Jay Foreman
12. “Vademecum of English” Ana Maria Lopez Jimeno, Lexiway Editions
13. "It's Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney" by David W. Craig, Abigail Hayes
14. “The Blessing Book” Francis Shaw
15. “Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Special Education” Ange Anderson
16. “Pulse: Young Authors Project” School Express Press, Sheila Rowe et al.
17. “The Vegan Transformation” Angela L. Crawford, PhD
18. “Behind the Stars” Chad Gregory
19. “Behind the White Beard” Kay Brooks
20 .“Finding Real Yoga” Daren Black
21. “Drums of a Distant Tribe” D.H. Hutton
22. “Hiding in Holland” Shulamit Reinharz (PhD), Max Michael Rothschild
22. “Delaware from Freeways to E-Ways” Dave Tabler
23. “The Beatle Who Vanished” Jim Berkenstadt
23. “Nature Mandalas for Busy Minds” Tela Talise
24. “How to Celebrate Your Fandom” Nicholas Seidler
25. “Ballerina Garden” Once Upon a Dance
1. “Steel Soldier” James J. Messina, Charles Messina
1. “Confidence Constellations” Lois van Waardenberg
1. “Self-Publishing with Dale Omnibus” Dale L. Roberts
1. “Kings of Stone” R Jay Driskell
2. “One Man’s Journey” Donald T. Hardison
2. “The Ominous Struggle” George Beasley
2. “Dear Orchid” Carol Van Den Hende
3. “Tesla’s Cottage” Barbara Daddino
3. “Unpacking the Attic” Ann Mracek
3. “Certainty” Mike Mears
4. “Critical Thinking for Go Getters” Jack Wolf
5. “Little Boy, I Know Your Name” Mitchell Raff
6. “Half a Century Ago” Angela Arias
7. “My Journey as an Author” M.C. Ryder
8. “A Break in the Silence” Donald T. Hardison II
8. “Johnny Vet” Maj. General Alan Salisbury
9. “Bridges of Words” Esperanza Pretila
10. “100 Live Streaming & Digital Media Predictions Volume 5” Ross Brand et al.
11. “Bible Stories That Scared the Hell Out of Me” Jay Foreman
12. “Vademecum of English” Ana Maria Lopez Jimeno, Lexiway Editions
13. "It's Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney" by David W. Craig, Abigail Hayes
14. “The Blessing Book” Francis Shaw
15. “Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Special Education” Ange Anderson
16. “Pulse: Young Authors Project” School Express Press, Sheila Rowe et al.
17. “The Vegan Transformation” Angela L. Crawford, PhD
18. “Behind the Stars” Chad Gregory
19. “Behind the White Beard” Kay Brooks
20 .“Finding Real Yoga” Daren Black
21. “Drums of a Distant Tribe” D.H. Hutton
22. “Hiding in Holland” Shulamit Reinharz (PhD), Max Michael Rothschild
22. “Delaware from Freeways to E-Ways” Dave Tabler
23. “The Beatle Who Vanished” Jim Berkenstadt
23. “Nature Mandalas for Busy Minds” Tela Talise
24. “How to Celebrate Your Fandom” Nicholas Seidler
25. “Ballerina Garden” Once Upon a Dance
Best Authors of 2025
1. Donald T. Hardison II (Co-Author of the Year)
1. Sally Kashner (Co-Author of the Year)
1. Dale L. Roberts (Co-Author of the Year)
2. Ingrid Moon (Author of the Year 1st Runner-Up)
2. Tuula Pere (Author of the Year 1st Runner-Up)
3. Linda Harkey (Author of the Year 2nd Runner-Up)
4. George Beasley
4. Dr. Christian Kueng
5. Maj. General Alan Salisbury
5. Amber Berkowitz
6. Once Upon a Dance
7. Nicholas Seidler
7. David Bush
8. O’Cyrus
8. M.C. Ryder
8. Ethan Richards
9. Carolyn Summer Quinn
10. G.S. Gerry
1. Donald T. Hardison II (Co-Author of the Year)
1. Sally Kashner (Co-Author of the Year)
1. Dale L. Roberts (Co-Author of the Year)
2. Ingrid Moon (Author of the Year 1st Runner-Up)
2. Tuula Pere (Author of the Year 1st Runner-Up)
3. Linda Harkey (Author of the Year 2nd Runner-Up)
4. George Beasley
4. Dr. Christian Kueng
5. Maj. General Alan Salisbury
5. Amber Berkowitz
6. Once Upon a Dance
7. Nicholas Seidler
7. David Bush
8. O’Cyrus
8. M.C. Ryder
8. Ethan Richards
9. Carolyn Summer Quinn
10. G.S. Gerry
Best Artists of 2025
1. Julia Moroko (Co-Artist of the Year)
1. Eunhye Shin (Co-Artist of the Year)
1. Ramesh Ram (Co-Artist of the Year)
2. Kassy Keppol (Artist of the Year 1st-Runner Up)
2. Muntasir Dipto (Artist of the Year 1st-Runner Up)
3. Jeff Yesh (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
3. Mike Minick (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
3. Dave Globerson (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
4. Stella Maris
5. Catty Flores
6. Anthony Richichi
7. Roksolana Pachyshyn
8. Nana Melkadze
9. Jose Gascon
10. Mousam Banerjee
1. Julia Moroko (Co-Artist of the Year)
1. Eunhye Shin (Co-Artist of the Year)
1. Ramesh Ram (Co-Artist of the Year)
2. Kassy Keppol (Artist of the Year 1st-Runner Up)
2. Muntasir Dipto (Artist of the Year 1st-Runner Up)
3. Jeff Yesh (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
3. Mike Minick (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
3. Dave Globerson (Artist of the Year 2nd-Runner Up)
4. Stella Maris
5. Catty Flores
6. Anthony Richichi
7. Roksolana Pachyshyn
8. Nana Melkadze
9. Jose Gascon
10. Mousam Banerjee
Congratulations to all winners and participants!
Enter our upcoming 2026 Spring Contest on our home page!
