Winners- Clash of Champions 2023

Summer-Fall 2023 Super Contest

* Featuring 31 returning champions

* 141 total contestants

* The biggest and most competitive OCA contest of all time

GRAND-PRIZE/OVERALL WINNERS
(Medalists)

Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Fiction Book of Clash of Champions 2023

1st Place

“Canvas of Healing” Suzette Welling

“Over the Fence” Debbie Schrack

“Not My War” Valerie Anne Hudson

2nd Place

“Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” John Daze

“Mice” Jackie Sonnenberg

“Tales of Monstrosity” Marx Pyle et al.

“Cheerful Obedience” Patrick McLaughlin

“Fractured Shards” Shaun Keenan et al.

“It Eats What Feeds It” Max Hoven

“Dar & Earth: Oraculi” Athena Kaiman

“Gothic Revival” Michael Mullin

“Grave Secrets” Cassandra Aston

“Changing Tide” Robert Joncas

“The Superhero of Emotion” Emiliano Forino Procacci

“Delicatus” SP Somtow

“Corruption” Parker Samuels

"Culver City" Brant Vickers

3rd Place

“Kaw Lake” Ethan Richards

“The Soul Machines” Alexandru Czimbor

“Prometheus’ Gift” John Sangster

“An Enemy Like Me” Teri Brown

“Eleonora and Joseph” Julieta Rodrigues

“The Oasis King” Mark David Pullen

“White Sands Gold” Mike Torreano

Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Non-Fiction Book of Clash of Champions 2023

1st Place

“Taking Stock” Peter J. De Silva

“The Off-Balance Theory” Dan Diaconu

“The Old Man and Me” RC Larlham

“The Power of Being Seen” Roger Saillant

“Halloween Horror: True ER Terror” by Dr. Adam Ankrum

“You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

“My Place Among Them” J. Stanion

2nd Place

“Tales of the Profitable Trader” James Harris

“The Power of Wholeness” Dr. Verlaine Crawford

“Growth” Karen DeBonis

“The Finn Chronicles: Year Five” Gwen Romack

“Unhunched” Aesha Tahir

“Teens’ Guide to Making Friends” Kev Chilton

“Setback or Stepping Stone?” Wayne Faulkner

“Genesis of a Genre” Joe Markko

“You Can’t Get a Racehorse Out of a Mule” Brenda and Shari Culpepper, Casey Carter

3rd Place

“Zaidy’s War” Martin Bodek

“Marching Through Time” Frankie Billie Tadius

“How I Lost My Kidneys in China” Randall Flores

“Voices of Diversity” Vanessa Caraveo

“The Overthinking Orbit” Erin George

“You Will Never Be Normal” Catherine Klatzker

Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Children's Book of Clash of Champions 2023

1st Place

“What I See is Love” Gabriella Fiorletta

“Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” Miki Taylor

“Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic” Kendra Fogarty

“Where are you, Alfie?” Mary Jean DeSantis

“ABC for Future CEOs” Chris Folayan

“Puppy Comes Home” Diane Capogna

“Henri and the Magnificent Snort” Samantha Childs

“Cate and the Garden Bandits” Betsy Coffeen

“Welcome Home, Pearl” Tuula Pere

“The Caring Crab” Tuula Pere

“Frankinschool” Caryn Rivadeneira

“Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze” Sheryl Bass

2nd Place

“The Vampire’s Missing Cape” Steve Stables

“What Is the Shape of My Egg?” Lisa Weckbacher

“The Fox’s Tower” Tuula Pere

“Pearl’s Life” Tuula Pere

“Pearl, Our Butterfly” Tuula Pere

“Digger the Colony Worker Ant” Dr. Christian Kueng

“Edgar Allan Know and His Busy Brain” Rahni Davies

“ABC Bible Adventure” Leslie Mae

“A Butterfly’s Song” Tuula Pere

“The Gnatural” Mark & Ryan Bryson

“Colorworld” Anthony Richichi

“Mysteries of the Mist” Cynthia Rand

“Night Watchers” Conrad J. Storad

3rd Place

“Pedro Penguin Let’s Go to the Beach” Pedro Samuel Saquic & Annie Saquic

“Bedtime Fables” Raymond Johnson

“Fun with Mathematics” Sumita Bose

“Haunted House: Day & Night” Jaybie D

“Tammy the Troll” Dina McDermott & Once Upon a Dance

“Raccoons Go Rafting” Rachel Vogel

Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Art of Clash of Champions 2023

1st Place

“Aschenputtel” Jackie Sonnenberg

2nd Place

“Nancy Grace Roman, Mother of the Hubble Space Telescope” Gayle Cobb

“Glass Reflection/Pigeon Dropping Art for Tahera” Steve Offord

“Kleenah & Mist” from “Mysteries of the Mist” by Cynthia Rand, Illustrated by Danilo Cerovic

3rd Place

“Tonya Harding” Steve Offord

Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Music of Clash of Champions 2023

1st Place

“Story Monsters Theme” Linda Radke, Conrad J. Storad, Erin Rementer, Zachary Simpson

SPECIAL AWARDS

* These are fun, less formal awards intended to recognize the unique accomplishments of each work. For that reason, they are not ranked in order. They are still recognized as Outstanding Creator Awards.

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Book Cover”

Winners:

“An Enemy Like Me” by Teri Brown

“Her Eyes Were on the Stars” by Jennifer Sommer, Cover by Gayle Cobb

Honorable Mentions:

“Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

“Mysteries of the Mist” by Cynthia Rand

“The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier, Cover Illustrated by Tanja Demchenkova

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Fiction)”

Winners:

“Canvas of Healing” by Suzette Welling

“Over the Fence” by Debbie Schrack

Honorable Mention:

“The Vampire’s Missing Cape” by Steve Stables

“The Box” by Fred Falcon

“The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

"Not My War" Valerie Anne Hudson

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Non-Fiction)”

Winner:

“Taking Stock” Peter J. de Silva

Honorable Mentions:

“Tales of the Profitable Trader” James Harris

“Voices of Diversity” Vanessa Caraveo

“Genesis of a Genre” Joe Markko

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Research”

Winner:

“The Off-Balance Theory” by Dan Diaconu

Honorable Mentions:

“The Guitar Decoder Ring” by Asher Black & Barry Gilman

“Any Rhyme at All” by Terri Whitney

“Taking Stock” Peter J. de Silva

“Night Watchers” by Conrad J. Storad

“Eleonora and Joseph” by Julieta Rodrigues

“Halloween Horror: True ER Terror” by Dr. Adam Ankrum

“Colorful Creatures” by Dr. Joe Richichi

“My Place Among Them” by J. Stanion

“Zaidy’s War” by Martin Bodek

“Foundation Repair Secrets” Robert K. Brown

“Marching Through Time” by Frankie Billy Tadius

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best World-Building”

Winners:

“The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

"Culver City" by Brant Vickers

Honorable Mentions:

“Dar & Earth: Revelations” by Athena Kaiman

“Fractured Shards” by Shaun Keenan

“Journeys to Other Planets” by Mary Gallagher Hannigan

“How I Lost My Kidneys in China” by Randall Flores

“The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier

“Endgame on Lunar One” by Isaac Petrov

“Cheerful Obedience” by Patrick McLaughlin

“The Mines of Jedira” by Cal Davis

“The Oasis King” by Mark David Pullen

“Diary of a Martian” by Stephen Haunts

“The Seventh Syndicate” by Dawn Ray

“Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

“The Space Traveller’s Lover” by Omara Williams

“Dar & Earth: Oraculi” by Athena Kaiman

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Character”

Winners:

Larry D. Thornton from “You Have to Live, Why Not Win” by Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

Detective Sebastian Vetro from “Fractured Shards” by Shaun Keenan

Jacob from “Welcome Home, Pearl”, “Pearl’s Life”, and “Pearl, Our Butterfly” by Tuula Pere

Roy from "The Gnatural" by Mark & Ryan Bryson

Honorable Mentions:

Megan Hart from “Canvas of Healing” by Suzette Welling

Colin Crab from “The Caring Crab” by Tuula Pere

Francis Fox from “The Fox’s Tower” by Tuula Pere (* Previous contest winner)

Aschenputtel from “Mice” by Jackie Sonnenberg

John from “My Place Among Them” by J. Stanion

Edgar Allan from “Edgar Allan Know and His Busy Brain” by Rahni Davies

Wren from "Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic" by Kendra Fogarty

Pedro Penguin from “Pedro Penguin Let’s Go to the Beach” by Pedro Samuel Saquic & Annie Saquic

Ila, Roman, Christopher, and Daisy the Deer from “Bedtime Fables” by Raymond Johnson

Mr. Bedell from “8 Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur for Kids” by Darren Henry

Bentley, Betty from “Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” by Miki Taylor

Coralee, Mist from “Mysteries of the Mist” by Cynthia Rand

Eleonora from “Eleonora and Joseph” by Julieta Rodrigues

Josh from “Shadow of the Gypsy” by Shelly Frome

F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald from “Tales of Monstrosity” by Marx Pyle et al.

Lee from “Hell's Half Acre” by Richard Lee Cook

Peaches, Jake from “Peaches and Jake Celebrate Christmas” by Paula Bailey

Father from “The Old Man and Me” by RC Larlham

Randall “Thunder”/”Mr. Thunder” from “How I Lost My Kidneys in China” by Randall Flores

Conor Patrick McKall from “Cheerful Obedience” by Patrick McLaughlin

Alfie from “Where Are You, Alfie?” by Mary Jean DeSantis

Vampire from “The Vampire’s Missing Cape” by Steve Stables

Erin/Shaillah from “The Space Traveller’s Lover” Omara Williams

Kyle, Mandy from “Haunted House: Day & Night” by Jaybie D

Hopper, Cassie from “The Box” by Fred Falcon

Wayne Adams from "A How Pretty Town" by Bruce Evans

Bannigan Novak from “Meth Gator” by Ethan Richards

Dr. Mwara Muthoni from “Endgame on Lunar One” by Isaac Petrov

Roger from “The Power of Being Seen” by Roger Saillant

Bill Arena from “The Angel Theory” by John Morelli

Susi Van Husen (cat lady) from “Chato, the Puppy-Cat” by Anita Haas

Abbey Rose from “Puppy Comes Home” by Diane Capogna

Lemons, Grapes from “Please Grow Away” by Amy Gerardi & Brenda Umbrianna

Kyle and Cassady from "Culver City" by Brant Vickers

Alex from “Finding the Blaze” by Maryellen Eyer

Fred/Frankinschool and Luisa/Princesa Luisa from “Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

Baby Dragon, Mirabelle from “Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze”by Sheryl Bass

Kenny from “It Eats What Feeds It” by Max Hoven

Silkie from “What Is the Shape of My Egg?” by Lisa Weckbacher

Allie from “Grave Secrets” by Cassandra Aston

Jade, Teddy from “The Adventures of Mulberry Manor” by Jay Foreman

Oscar, Nicola from “The Superhero of Emotion” by Emiliano Forino Procacci

Eddie (Eduardo E. Owlington VIII) from “Night Watchers” by Conrad J. Storad

Bill from “Prometheus’ Gift” by John Sangster

Azoria from “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

Edgar Allan from “Edgar Allan Know and His Busy Brain” by Rahni Ravies

Finnegan Count Smooshie Tushie from “The Finn Chronicles: Year Five” by Gwen Romack

Skye from “Changing Tide”by Robert Joncas

Sporus, Gaius Petronius Arbiter from “Delicatus” by S.P. Somtow

Aelish and Isabela from “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” by Athena Kaiman

Brian and Duke from “Surfer Moon” by Domenic Melillo

Roy, Phoenix, and Orchid from “Always Orchid” by Carol Van Den Hende

Lydia from “Bloodlines & Betrayals” by Sarah Hualde

Hefflin from “Bucharest Legacy” by William Maz

Digger from “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” by Dr. Christian Kueng

June from “Falling Stars” by Julie Rogers

Herbie Snoodleman and Sour Croodleman from “Snoodles in Space” by Steven Joseph

Freya, Luna, and Lucy from “The Cup” by Marieke Lexmond

Princess Elhi-Nikkal from “The Age of Heroes” by Mikhail Gladkikh

Eve (Katie) and Emma from “Over the Fence” by Debbie Schrack

Jean from “Nurse Florence, What is Asthma?” by Michael Dow

Cate from “Cate and the Garden Bandits” by Betsy Coffeen

Vogt Tudor from “The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

Pearl from “Welcome Home, Pearl”, “Pearl’s Life”, and “Pearl, Our Butterfly” by Tuula Pere

Lillian from “Scared to Swim” by Tuula Pere

Ernesto Cannelloni, Rosita Cannelloni from “Circus Cannelloni Invades Britain” by Tuula Pere

Pupa from “A Butterfly’s Song” by Tuula Pere

Landon and Aurora from “Senior Thesis” by Darren Greninger

Lottie Durham from “White Sands Gold”by Mike Torreano

Louise ("Lulu") from "Not My War" by Valerie Anne Hudson

Mist and Coralee from “Mysteries of the Mist” by CA Rand

Detective Griffin Knight from “The Windy City Terror” by Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.

Detective Griffin Hunter from “Corruption” by Parker Samuels (* Previous contest winner)

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Supporting Character”

Winners:

Martin from “The Oasis King” by Mark David Pullen

Jandar from “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

Tabitha from “Canvas of Healing” by Suzette Welling

Honorable Mentions:

Grandma from “Pearl, Our Butterfly” by Tuula Pere

Count Richter from “The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

Bryce Hopper from “The Gnatural” by Mark & Ryan Bryson

Thomas Jefferson from “Eleonora and Joseph” by Julieta Rodrigues

Glens Falls Community from “Where Are You, Alfie?” by Mary Jean DeSantis

Dad from "Scared to Swim" by Tuula Pere

Liam from “Endgame on Lunar One” by Isaac Petrov

Sam Sheppard from “The Space Traveller’s Lover” by Omara Williams

Richard from “The Power of Being Seen” by Roger Saillant

Shannon Shark from “Pedro Penguin Let’s Go to the Beach” by Pedro Samuel Saquic & Annie Saquic

Ashby from "Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic" by Kendra Fogarty

Miss Nichols and Richard Fuller from “You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” by Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

Blaze from “Finding the Blaze” by Maryellen Eyer

Frank from “Frankinschool” Caryn Rivadeneira

Gregg from “It Eats What Feeds It” Max Hoven

Dottie from “What Is the Shape of My Egg?” by Lisa Weckbacher

Simon from “Grave Secrets” by Cassandra Aston

Mabel (“Grammy”) from “The Adventures of Mulberry Manor” by Jay Foreman

Emma from “The Superhero of Emotion” by Emiliano Forino Procacci

Alien Paul from “Changing Tide”by Robert Joncas

Fiona/Woodstock from “Gothic Revival” by Michael Mullin

Ivy, Randy from “Bloodlines & Betrayals” by Sarah Hualde

Princess Antilles from “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” by Dr. Christian Kueng

Gwen from “The Cup” by Marieke Lexmond

Pete the Potato Bug, Davey the Dumb Beetle, Walter the Earthworm from “Cate and the Garden Bandits” by Betsy Coffeen

Ma, Deputy O Sanders from “White Sands Gold” by Mike Torreano

Violet from “The Seventh Syndicate” by Dawn Ray

Dr. Lew from “You Will Never Be Normal” by Catherine Klatzker

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Villain”

Winner:

“Papa” (William Axel Anderson) from “Over the Fence” by Debbie Schrack

Honorable Mentions

Martin from “Bloodlines & Betrayals” by Sarah Hualde

Captain Hans and General Hartman from “Not My War” by Valerie Anne Hudson

The Organization and the Eight from “The Box” by Fred Falcon

Leo and the Council of Lights from “Fractured Shards” by Shaun Keenan et al.

President Jameson and Chairman Pichai from “Endgame on Lunar One” by Isaac Petrov

Mr. McCelland and the Children’s Aid Society from “The Power of Being Seen” by Roger Saillant

Michael Campbell from “The Angel Theory” by John Morelli

Creature from “It Eats What Feeds It” by Max Hoven

Leichtenberg from “The Nocturnal Devil” by Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.

Father from “Hell's Half Acre” by Richard Lee Cook

Ebo the Eagle from "The Merry Meerkats Go!" by Ty Loyd-Calhoun

Henry Anderson, Quinn (arguably) from “Death to the Soul” by River Polsgrove

Mayor Higgins, Reptivians, Lord Scrynthor from “The Adventures of Mulberry Manor” by Jay Foreman

Edna Dusseau, Aschenputtel (arguably) from “Mice” by Jackie Sonnenberg

Zeke from “My Autobiographies” by John Koenig

The Burner, Ricardo from “Prometheus’ Gift” by John Sangster

The Bahlari from “Changing Tide”by Robert Joncas

Nero from “Delicatus” by S.P. Somtow

Komprathians, Gideon from “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” by Athena Kaiman

Eric Asher from “Gothic Revival” by Michael Mullin

Wind from “The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier

Shantelle, Dante, and Grant from “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” by Dr. Christian Kueng

Replicators from “Kaw Lake” by Ethan Richards

Evil Kidoodle, Grand Doodle Cloodle from “Snoodles in Space” by Steven Joseph

Jack Armstrong from “Over the Fence” by Debbie Schrack

The Bishop and Karoly from “The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

El Cucuy and the Jersey Devil from “Tales of Monstrosity” by Marx Pyle et al.

Dolan and Bart Richards from “White Sands Gold” by Mike Torreano

Sirens from from “Mysteries of the Mist” by CA Rand

Desert King from “Journeys to Other Planets” by Mary Gallagher Hannigan

Cat (arguably) from “You Will Never Be Normal” by Catherine Klatzker

Donovan from “Corruption” by Parker Samuels

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Hottest Character”

Winners:

Christopher Dunn from “Search for Complete” by Stephen Hardy

Detective/”Captain” Crunch from “Corruption” by Parker Samuels

Francois from “It Eats What Feeds It” by Max Hoven

Honorable Mentions:

Captain Hans, Louise (“Lulu”) from “Not My War” by Valerie Anne Hudson

Sheila from “Meth Gator” by Ethan Richards

Shelley Whitting from “You Can’t Get a Racehorse Out of a Mule” by Brenda and Shari Culpepper, Casey Carter

Liam, Dr. Mwara Muthoni from “Endgame on Lunar One” by Isaac Petrov

Vivian Leigh, Leslie Howard, and Sir Lawrence Oliver in "Culver City" by Brant Vickers

Red Trenchcoat Mom from “You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” by Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

Viila from “Viila and the Doomsday Affair” by Roger Danchik

Simon from “Grave Secrets” by Cassandra Aston

Sylvie, Seamus from “Taken” By E.C. Roderick

Emma from “The Superhero of Emotion” by Emiliano Forino Procacci

Anita from “Prometheus’ Gift” by John Sangster

Paul from “Changing Tide”by Robert Joncas

Para and Hereu from “The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier

Jill, Vickie, Karen, and Black Widow from “Vampire Stories” by Glenn Stevens

Catherine from “Bucharest Legacy” by William Maz

Orsolya from “The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

Elena from “Tales of Monstrosity” by Marx Pyle et al.

Lottie Durham from “White Sands Gold”by Mike Torreano

Sporus from “Delicatus” by SP Somtow

Maggie (Marjorie McClaff), Armaud, and Lenora from “The Seventh Syndicate” by Dawn Ray

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Cutest Character”

Winners:

Abbey Rose from “Puppy Comes Home” by Diane Capogna

Luisa/Princesa Luisa from “Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

Finnegan Count Smooshie Tushie from “The Finn Chronicles: Year Five” by Gwen Romack

Honorable Mentions:

Tammy from “Tammy the Troll” by Dina McDermott & Once Upon a Dance

Alfie from “Where Are You, Alfie?” by Mary Jean DeSantis

Baby Dragon from “Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze”by Sheryl Bass

Silkie from “What Is the Shape of My Egg?” by Lisa Weckbacher

Henri from “Henri and the Magnificent Snot” by Samantha Childs

Chato from “Chato, the Puppy-Cat” by Anita Haas

Peaches and Jake from “Peaches and Jake Celebrate Christmas” by Paula Bailey

Shirley Meerkat from “The Merry Meerkats Go!” by Ty Lloyd-Calhoun

Nugget Raccon from “Raccoons Go Rafting” by Rachel Vogel

Digger from “Digger the Colony Worker Ant” by Dr. Christian Kueng

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Dynamic Duo”

Winners:

Roy (the gnat) & Bryce Hopper from “The Gnatural” by Mark & Ryan Bryson

Frankinschool & Princesa Luisa from “Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

Honorable Mentions:

Ryane & Quinn from “Death to the Soul” by River Polsgrove

Aelish & Isabela from “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” by Athena Kaiman

Elena & Ned from “Tales of Monstrosity” by Marx Pyle et al.

Allie & Simon from “Grave Secrets” by Cassandra Aston

Azoria & Jandar from “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Couple”

Winner:

Megan & Samuel from “Canvas of Healing” by Suzette Welling

Honorable Mentions:

Fred & Luisa from “Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

Kenny & Francois from “It Eats What Feeds It” by Max Hoven

Skye & Paul from “Changing Tide” by Robert Joncas

Hereu & Marl from “The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier

Orchid & Phoenix from “Always Orchid” by Carol Van Den Hende

Michael & Adam from “Dear Michael” by Adam Lieber

Orsolya & Tudor from “The Soul Machines” by Alexandru Czimbor

Ernesto & Rosita Cannelloni from “Circus Cannelloni Invades Britain” by Tuula Pere

Josh & Molly from “Shadow of the Gypsy” by Shelly Frome

Jane & Frank from “My Dear Miss Fairfax” by Jeanette Watts

Jacob & Bonnie from “An Enemy Like Me” by Teri Brown

Erin & Sam from “The Space Traveller’s Lover” by Omara Williams

Allie Graves & Simon from “Grave Secrets” by Cassandra Aston

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Weapon”

Winner:

Klarion/Clair (Sword) from “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

Honorable Mentions:

Conch Shell from “Changing Tide” by Robert Joncas

AA-12 from “Kaw Lake” by Ethan Richards (* Previous contest winner)

Zoodle Kidoodles from “Snoodles in Space” Steven Joseph

The Objects from “The Cup” by Marieke Lexmond (* Previous contest winners)

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Moment” (WARNING: May contain spoilers)

Winners:

* Lucy .vs. Mab in “The Cup” by Marieke Lexmond

* A social worker finally recognizes Roger’s plight in “The Power of Being Seen” by Roger Saillant

Honorable Mentions:

* Finding Alfie in “Where Are You, Alfie?” by Mary Jean DeSantis

* “Now works for me” from “Fractured Shards” by Shaun Keenan et al.

* Megan coexisting with Tabitha in “Canvas of Healing” by Suzette Welling

* Richard calms and befriends violent protesters in “Genesis of a Genre” by Joe Markko

* Abbey Rose wearing holidays costumes, marking the passage of time in “Puppy Comes Home” by Diane Capogna

* Nugget Raccoon reacts to Moose helping the raccoons with their raft from “Raccoons Go Rafting” by Rachel Vogel

* Isabela meeting Aelish in “Dar & Earth: Oraculi” by Athena Kaiman

* While overlooking an ornate Mexican cemetery, a local girl named Tanya talks to Tyrel about how her people view death in contrast to how Americans view death, saying, “we have fun in life and death” in “Travels and Tribulations” by Tyrel Nelson

* “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” used as an SOS code in “Bloodlines & Betrayals” by Sarah Hualde

* Adam under arrest and sent to a Filipino prison in “Dear Michael” by Adam Lieber

* Eve talking about what it feels like to be loved by a real family for once in “Over the Fence” by Debbie Schrack

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Funny, Strange, and Bizarre” (WARNING: May contain spoilers)

Winner:

* About 20 too many characters in “The Box” by Fred Falcon

Honorable Mentions:

* The typos in “8 Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur for Kids” by Darren Henry

* The typos in “Colorful Creatures” by Dr. Joe Richichi

* The typos and formatting in "Surfer Moon" by Domenic Melillo

* The excessive use of italics and ALL-CAPS in “Hell's Half Acre” by Richard Lee Cook

* The narrator struggling to pronounce “Nina” in the audiobook version of “The Old Man and Me” by RC Larlham

* The title and cover of “The Angel Theory” by John Morelli seem to have nothing to do with the content of the book

* The word salads in “A How Pretty Town” by Bruce Evans. For example:

“...sporadically, usually, seemingly random or incongruous, often--from his buffering unconscious, his mind, itself a fiction, grasping as many of them as it could as they sought to wriggle free, then consciously buffering and buffing some, rebuffing others, rearranging, rewording, or discarding, he could become a fiction-maker, an orderer, an executor, a self. He waited, scribbled, waited some more, scribbled, revised the scribbles.”

* Christopher Dunn friend-zoning everyone and coming across like an unrelatable, unlikable, disconnected robot or alien in “Search for Complete” by Stephen Hardy

* Shannon Shark considers eating Pedro Penguin because she's hungry in “Pedro Penguin Let’s Go to the Beach” by Pedro Samuel Saquic & Annie Saquic

* Brie Ann can't have a normal conversation without going into a politically and socially-charged diatribe in "Culver City" by Brant Vickers

* Raccoons marking their turf in “Raccoons Go Rafting” by Rachel Vogel

* Luisa drooling while sleeping in “Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

* The entirety of “Viila and the Doomsday Affair” by Roger Danchik

* The title of “The Adventures of Mulberry Manor” by Jay Foreman evokes images of a romance or adventure novel set in the 1800s, however, the novel is a sci-fi story featuring monsters and aliens

* “Zeus” is way too benevolent, humble, selfless, and kind to be Zeus in “The Age of Heroes” by Mikhail Gladkikh

* Sylvie in “Taken” By EC Roderick keeps thinking that the men who captured her are Revolutionary War reenactors

* Could you imagine if a coworker gave you a broken tailpipe or wood from a house fire with a cryptic message like "i could end up alone?" or "i could end up in big big trouble!" (like in "50 Paintings for 50 Coworkers" by Steve Offord)?

* The subtitle (“With All My Might It Shall Be Done”) repeating dozens of times in “Setback or Stepping Stone?” by Wayne Faulkner. This was probably done to show emphasis or to match the hook of a sermon, however, it seemed excessive.

* In “The Merry Meerkats Go!” by Ty Loyd-Calhoun, Shirley Meerkat's introduction sounds very strange and unnatural. First, she exclaims: "What a Great Day to to Be Alive" (with all the words capitalized for some reason). Second, she tells us that she can do anything the boys can do. She says this without any provocation, build, or lead up that would justify her making this statement. Soon after, she tells us that Naomi is a jokester without Naomi demonstrating that fact. It is better to show these things than to tell them.

* “Corporal Reilly” is sometimes written as “Private Riley” in “My Autobiographies” by John Koenig

* While learning about humans flirting, Alien-Paul asks Skye “Does she want to mate with me?” and “Do you want to mate with me?” in “Changing Tide” by Robert Joncas

* Isabela goes from being a precocious character in the first book to being the “SMARTEST PERSON ON EARTH” in book two (“Dar & Earth: Revelations” by Athena Kaiman). Because of this, Isabela goes from being a very sympathetic character in book one to coming across as an insufferable Mary Sue in book two, constantly lecturing and grandstanding while everyone sings her praises.

* “The Wind at Oak Hollow” by Melissa Widmaier is essentially Little House on the Medieval-Fantasy Prairie. There are way too many subplots and characters popping in and out of focus. This is more like a slice-of-life TV series than a cohesive story.

* The coffin of Tommy (a little vampire) is equipped with an entertainment system in “Falling Stars” by Julie Rogers

* “Snoodles in Space” by Steven Joseph features way too many characters with like-sounding names. It’s practically impossible to keep track of all these characters. Also, some characters like Dr. Quack Kidoodle and Voodoo Kidoodle seem superfluous and unnecessary because, unlike Doo Doo Kidoodle (yes, that’s really its name), they don’t advance the plot.

* A seagull poops, compelling a character to view it as a sign to fulfill a prophecy in “The Cup” by Marieke Lexmond. Also, there’s way too much happening in this novel. Bridget (a character) even comments on how she can’t keep track of all the familial and extra-familial conflicts that are happening at once.

* The murder in the book is constantly called an “execution” or an “assassination” in “Click-Click-Click” by Anne Warner & Karen Devanie

* The abrupt ending of “The Fox’s Tower” by Tuula Pere

* Someone shouts “FINISH HER!” at the end of the Nerf fight in “Senior Thesis” by Darren Greninger

* Seemingly endless sex and sexuality in “Journeys to Other Planets” by Mary Gallagher Hannigan. The insect-alien things jump to mating at the earliest opportunity. The angel-alien people poop, pee, and eat in a way that mimics a sexual act. Also, regardless of the planet, time, or situation, the narrator is almost always sexually desirable and/or highly fertile. Freud & Lacan might appreciate this.

* The same information repeats several times in separate chapters in “Marching Through Time” by Frankie Billie Tadius

* Why do so many pages of “Diary of a Martian” by Stephen Haunts need to be on top of a giant, generic photo of space? That just seems like a humongous, gargantuan waste of printer ink. It also makes those particular pages a bit harder to read.

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Illustrated”

Winner:

“Bentley’s Fantabulous Idea” by Miki Taylor, Illustrated by Eunhye Shin

Honorable Mentions:

“Mysteries of the Mist” by Cynthia Rand, Illustrated by Danilo Cerovic

"Wren and the Worry-Vanishing Magic" by Kendra Fogarty

“Where Are You, Alfie?” by Mary Jean DeSantis

“8 Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur for Kids” by Darren Henry

“Fractured Shards” by Shaun Keenan et al.

“Tammy the Troll” Dina McDermott & Once Upon a Dance

“You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” by Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

“Frankinschool” by Caryn Rivadeneira

“Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze” by Sheryl Bass, Illustrated by Ramesh Ram

“It Eats What Feeds It” by Max Hoven, Illustrated by Gabriel Iumazark

“Henri and the Magnificent Snort” by Samantha Childs

“Edgar Allan Know and His Busy Brain” by Rahni Davies, Illustrated by Barbara Owczarek

“Digger the Colony Worker Ant” by Dr. Christian Kueng

“Cate and the Garden Bandits” Betsy Coffeen, illustrated by Ginger Seehafer

“The Fox’s Tower” by Tuula Pere

“A Butterfly’s Song” by Tuula Pere

“The Caring Crab” by Tuula Pere

“ABC for Future CEOs” by Chris Folayan

Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Quote”

Winner:

“The lives we live are so much bigger than the bodies we inhabit.”

- From “Zaidy’s War” by Martin Bodek

Honorable Mentions:

“Just learn whatever lesson trouble was trying to teach you”

- From “You Can’t Get a Racehorse Out of a Mule” by Brenda and Shari Culpepper, Casey Carter

“When you want to know about a man, ask his wife” / “How near to heaven do you imagine Icarus ascended before learning, from waxen-wings, that some things just don't work out? No matter how heroic or daring, no matter purity of purpose, or the size of sacrifice, sometimes things don't work out”

- From “Genesis of a Genre” by Joe Markko

“Not all humans are evil, and not all elves are good”

- From “Rogues of the Crosslands: Azoria’s Blade” by John Daze

“It was said that these early creatures' greatest wish was for Hephaestus to solder them to one another again so that their souls could be as one, and they could share in a common fate once more” / “...sometimes life needs to be shaken up to help one see things in a new light”

- From “Search for Complete” by Stephen Hardy.

“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living. But if you work hard on yourself, you'll make a fortune... most of your fortunes are not financial.” / “I see a man, just a man that is winning, like me.”

- From “You Have to Live, Why Not Win?” by Dave Ketchen, Larry D. Thornton

“…true death arrives when the last person to remember you dies” / “we’re all just broken pencils”

- From “Broken Pencils” J.R. Rice

“From Vinyl 45s to Vinyl LPs
Lest we forget 8-tracks, cassettes and CDs
I listen, I read and collect what I can
Forever I will be a diehard Beatle Fan”

- From “Any Rhyme at All” by Terri Whitney

“...what seems like a coincidence is merely just a ‘hello’ from the Universe to pay attention to whatever is going on”

- From “My Imaginary Friend” Thomas Wermuth

* Authors of "Tales of Monstrosity":
Marx Pyle, Scott A. Johnson, Anne C. Lynch, Sen R.L. Scherb, W.H. Horner, Carrie Gessner, Kevin Plybon, Katharine Dow, Victoria L. Scott, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, J.C. Mastro, Sophia DeSensi, Jeannie Rivera, Michael La Ronn, Marisa Wolf, Jeff Burns, Francis Fernandez, Colten Fisher, and G.K. White

* Authors of "Fractured Shards":
Dan Feurriegel, Stephen Kok, Riccardo Faccini, and Shaun Keenan

Summer-Fall 2023 Super Contest* Featuring 31 returning champions* 141 total contestants* The biggest and most competitive OCA contest of all time

GRAND-PRIZE/OVERALL WINNERS(Medalists)

CATEGORY WINNERS

SPECIAL AWARDS

Summer-Fall 2023 Super Contest

* Featuring 31 returning champions

* 141 total contestants

* The biggest and most competitive OCA contest of all time

GRAND-PRIZE/OVERALL WINNERS
(Medalists)