Outstanding Creator Awards
Fall 2022
GRAND-PRIZE/OVERALL WINNERS
(Medalists)
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Non-Fiction Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Honorable Mentions:
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Fiction Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
3rd Place
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
“Of All Faiths and None” Andrew Tweeddale
Honorable Mentions:
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Children's Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats” Julie Chapman
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
2nd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
“Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook” Maria Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
3rd Place
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
Honorable Mentions:
“Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug” Kimberly Becker
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
Best Non-Fiction Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Honorable Mentions:
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Fiction Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
3rd Place
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
“Of All Faiths and None” Andrew Tweeddale
Honorable Mentions:
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Children's Book of Fall 2022
1st Place
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats” Julie Chapman
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
2nd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
“Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook” Maria Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
3rd Place
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
Honorable Mentions:
“Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug” Kimberly Becker
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
CATEGORY WINNERS
Outstanding Creator Award for
Autobiographies, Biographies, and Memoirs
1st Place
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
2nd Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Honorable Mentions:
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Outstanding Creator Award for
Addiction, Alcoholism, and Recovery
1st Place
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children’s Chapter Books
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
2nd Place
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Petila
3rd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Historical Fiction
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
3rd Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Audiobook
1st Place
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
Outstanding Creator Award for
Thrillers (Includes Paranormal, Medical, Political, and Legal Thrillers)
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
2nd Place
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
3rd Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
Honorable Mention:
“Coldwater Confession” James Ross
Outstanding Creator Award for
Paranormal
1st Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
Fantasy (Includes Epic & Futuristic Fantasy)
1st Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
3rd Place
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“The Secrets of the Kings” Sandra Austria
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
Honorable Mention:
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Business (Entrepreneurship / Sales & Marketing / Management / Investing / Career)
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“The Human Paradox” Gilbert E. Mulley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Horror
1st Place
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
2nd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Workbooks & Activity Books
1st Place
“The Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
2nd Place
"Queen Bee's Alphabet Cookbook" Mariah Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol .2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Science-Fiction
1st Place
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Honorable Mention:
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
Outstanding Creator Award for
Romance
1st Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
3rd Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
Outstanding Creator Award for
Middle Grade Books
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
2nd Place
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
3rd Place
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
“The Ghost of the Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Dystopia
1st Place
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
3rd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Sports (Non-Fiction)
1st Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
Outstanding Creator Award for
Performing Arts Books
1st Place
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
Outstanding Creator Award for
Illustrated & Picture Books (*This category is judged primarily on illustration quality)
1st Place
“Dragon Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
2nd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
3rd Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats” Julie Chapman
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“The Rapping Astronaut” Sonia Marta
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Non-Fiction
1st Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
Outstanding Creator Award for
Space Operas
1st Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
2nd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Fiction
1st Place
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
"Lethal Decree" Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
2nd Place
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
Outstanding Creator Award for
How-to Books
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Suspense
1st Place
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Educational & Reference Books
1st Place
““The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2" Michael Cook
“Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook” Maria Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
3rd Place
“Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug” Kimberly Becker
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Personal Growth
1st Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
2nd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
3rd Place
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Outstanding Creator Award for
Speculative Fiction
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
LGBTQIA+
1st Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
"Fictionally Nonfiction" Wynn Thanh Phi
3rd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Christianity
1st Place
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
2nd Place
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
Honorable Mention:
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Religion
1st Place
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
"Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays" Leonard & Linda Chesler
2nd Place
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
3rd Place
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
Outstanding Creator Award for
Devotionals
1st Place
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cookbooks
1st Place
"Queen Bee's Alphabet Cookbook" Mariah Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
Outstanding Creator Award for
Friendship
1st Place
“Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
2nd Place
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
Outstanding Creator Award for
Poetry
1st Place
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Bats” Julie Chapman
“Applauding Life” Barry S Savits, MD (Nom. David A.J. Richards)
2nd Place
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
3rd Place
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
Outstanding Creator Award for
Self-Help Books
1st Place
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
3rd Place
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Action & Adventure
1st Place
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Blue Fire” by Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
2nd Place
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Trailer Trash Havana” Junio Carols
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Petila
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
LITRPG & Gamelit
1st Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Time-Travel
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
Outstanding Creator Award for
Literary & Contemporary Fiction
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
2nd Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
“Trailer Trash Havana” Junio Carols
Outstanding Creator Award for
Multicultural, Multi-Lingual, and Bilingual Books
1st Place
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
2nd Place
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Fiction
1st Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
2nd Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Non-Fiction & Women's Issues
1st Place
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
2nd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children's Motivational & Inspirational Books
1st Place
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
“Do You Know the One” Michelle Bentley
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
2nd Place
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
3rd Place
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“The Rapping Astronaut” Sonia Marta
Honorable Mentions:
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
“Peace in War” Lindsay Ann Fink
Outstanding Creator Award for
Parenting and Family
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
2nd Place
“Do You See Me When We Travel?” Tuula Pere
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Honorable Mention:
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“Adventures of Dragons Den” Ann Allison
“Peace in War” Lindsay Ann Fink
Outstanding Creator Award for
Motivational and Inspirational Books (For Adults)
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“WINX” Irma Parone
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
2nd Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend”
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
3rd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
Honorable Mentions:
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
“Powerless But Not Helpless”
“Flame of Healing” Fred Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Native American Books
1st Place
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Puzzle Books
1st Place
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Teen & Young-Adult Fiction
1st Place
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
Outstanding Creator Award for
Short-Stories
1st Place
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
2nd Place
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
Honorable Mention:
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Mystery
1st Place
‘Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
2nd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
3rd Place
“Coldwater Confession” James Ross
Outstanding Creator Award for
Animals & Pets
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
2nd Place
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
3rd Place
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales
1st Place
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya & Howard Haugom
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
2nd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
3rd Place
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
Outstanding Creator Award for
Psychiatry & Psychology
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
2nd Place
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
3rd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
Outstanding Creator Award for
Parallel Reality
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr, Joanne Reid
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
Judaism
1st Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Politics
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
2nd Place
“The Human Paradox” Gilbert E. Mulley
Outstanding Creator Award for
History & Historical True Stories
1st Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
2nd Place
“WINX” Irma Parone
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
3rd Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Medical Fiction
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
Autobiographies, Biographies, and Memoirs
1st Place
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
2nd Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Honorable Mentions:
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Outstanding Creator Award for
Addiction, Alcoholism, and Recovery
1st Place
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children’s Chapter Books
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
2nd Place
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Petila
3rd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Historical Fiction
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
3rd Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Audiobook
1st Place
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
Outstanding Creator Award for
Thrillers (Includes Paranormal, Medical, Political, and Legal Thrillers)
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
2nd Place
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
3rd Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
Honorable Mention:
“Coldwater Confession” James Ross
Outstanding Creator Award for
Paranormal
1st Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
Fantasy (Includes Epic & Futuristic Fantasy)
1st Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
3rd Place
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“The Secrets of the Kings” Sandra Austria
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
Honorable Mention:
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Business (Entrepreneurship / Sales & Marketing / Management / Investing / Career)
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“The Human Paradox” Gilbert E. Mulley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Horror
1st Place
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
2nd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Workbooks & Activity Books
1st Place
“The Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
2nd Place
"Queen Bee's Alphabet Cookbook" Mariah Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol .2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Science-Fiction
1st Place
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Honorable Mention:
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
Outstanding Creator Award for
Romance
1st Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
2nd Place
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
3rd Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
Outstanding Creator Award for
Middle Grade Books
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
2nd Place
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
3rd Place
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
“The Ghost of the Dream Gully” Jon Coley
Outstanding Creator Award for
Dystopia
1st Place
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
3rd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Sports (Non-Fiction)
1st Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
Outstanding Creator Award for
Performing Arts Books
1st Place
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
Outstanding Creator Award for
Illustrated & Picture Books (*This category is judged primarily on illustration quality)
1st Place
“Dragon Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
2nd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
3rd Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats” Julie Chapman
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“The Rapping Astronaut” Sonia Marta
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Non-Fiction
1st Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
Outstanding Creator Award for
Space Operas
1st Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
2nd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Fiction
1st Place
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
"Lethal Decree" Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
2nd Place
“Of All Faiths & None” Andrew Tweeddale
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
Outstanding Creator Award for
How-to Books
1st Place
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Suspense
1st Place
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Educational & Reference Books
1st Place
““The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2" Michael Cook
“Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook” Maria Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
3rd Place
“Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug” Kimberly Becker
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Personal Growth
1st Place
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
2nd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
3rd Place
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Outstanding Creator Award for
Speculative Fiction
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
LGBTQIA+
1st Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
2nd Place
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
"Fictionally Nonfiction" Wynn Thanh Phi
3rd Place
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
Outstanding Creator Award for
Christianity
1st Place
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
2nd Place
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
Honorable Mention:
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Religion
1st Place
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
“Do You Know the One?” Michelle Bentley
"Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays" Leonard & Linda Chesler
2nd Place
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
3rd Place
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
Outstanding Creator Award for
Devotionals
1st Place
“Flame of Healing” Freda Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cookbooks
1st Place
"Queen Bee's Alphabet Cookbook" Mariah Ecker (RD) and Teri Ecker
Outstanding Creator Award for
Friendship
1st Place
“Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
2nd Place
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
Outstanding Creator Award for
Poetry
1st Place
“Witches, Bats, and Mystical Bats” Julie Chapman
“Applauding Life” Barry S Savits, MD (Nom. David A.J. Richards)
2nd Place
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
3rd Place
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
Outstanding Creator Award for
Self-Help Books
1st Place
“WINX” Irma Parone
2nd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
“Powerless But Not Helpless” Buddy C
3rd Place
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Action & Adventure
1st Place
“Lethal Decree” Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Blue Fire” by Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
2nd Place
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
"Ring Fold" Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Trailer Trash Havana” Junio Carols
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Petila
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
LITRPG & Gamelit
1st Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Time-Travel
1st Place
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
Outstanding Creator Award for
Literary & Contemporary Fiction
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
2nd Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
“Trailer Trash Havana” Junio Carols
Outstanding Creator Award for
Multicultural, Multi-Lingual, and Bilingual Books
1st Place
“Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
2nd Place
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
3rd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Fiction
1st Place
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
2nd Place
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
3rd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Non-Fiction & Women's Issues
1st Place
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
2nd Place
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children's Motivational & Inspirational Books
1st Place
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
“Do You Know the One” Michelle Bentley
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“The Kids Gratitude Journal and Activity Book Series” Apryl Monte
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
2nd Place
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
“Snowphie” Howie Groff
3rd Place
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“The Rapping Astronaut” Sonia Marta
Honorable Mentions:
“Noah’s Quest” Sev Emanuel Pretila
“Peace in War” Lindsay Ann Fink
Outstanding Creator Award for
Parenting and Family
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” Michael Stockham
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
2nd Place
“Do You See Me When We Travel?” Tuula Pere
“The Adventures of C.W.: Choices” Sandy Meeks
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
Honorable Mention:
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
“Adventures of Dragons Den” Ann Allison
“Peace in War” Lindsay Ann Fink
Outstanding Creator Award for
Motivational and Inspirational Books (For Adults)
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
“Mia’s Odyssey” Mia Odeh
“WINX” Irma Parone
“Ninety Nine Fire Hoops” Allison Hong Merrill
“Letters from Vietnam” Dennis Hoy
2nd Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend”
“Poetry of a Life” Sharon Romero
“Fictionally Nonfiction” Wynn Thanh Phi
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
“Midnight Blue” Margaux J. Detterer
3rd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
“Second Harvest” Don Agey
Honorable Mentions:
“The Journey Home” Gabriel Bron
“Powerless But Not Helpless”
“Flame of Healing” Fred Emmons
Outstanding Creator Award for
Native American Books
1st Place
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Puzzle Books
1st Place
“Passamaquoddy Legends Puzzle Book Vol 2: Lox the Mischief Maker” Michael Cook
Outstanding Creator Award for
Teen & Young-Adult Fiction
1st Place
“Blood for the Fisher King” Endy Wright
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“I Love You Just the Way You Are” Riley Rian
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
3rd Place
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“Tosher” Adrian Winney
Outstanding Creator Award for
Short-Stories
1st Place
“Dragon’s Breath” Dr. Dawn Menge
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“Dancing Deepa” Suchi Sairam
2nd Place
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“What is Heaven Like?” Richard R. Eng
3rd Place
“The Tree House Night” Tuula Pere
Honorable Mention:
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Mystery
1st Place
‘Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
2nd Place
“The Ghost of Dream Gully” Jon Coley
3rd Place
“Coldwater Confession” James Ross
Outstanding Creator Award for
Animals & Pets
1st Place
“The Adventures of Angel” Ross Alan Hahn
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
2nd Place
“Zoey Meets David” Pat Tolve
3rd Place
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“Stone Garden” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales
1st Place
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya & Howard Haugom
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
2nd Place
“The False Queen” Tuula Pere
3rd Place
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
Outstanding Creator Award for
Psychiatry & Psychology
1st Place
“Fostering” Carmen Maria Navarro
2nd Place
“Poetic Injustice” Jonathan Sure
3rd Place
“Finding Happiness in the Dark” Kenneth Liddane
Outstanding Creator Award for
Parallel Reality
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
“When All Hope is Lost” Alyce Elmore
“Escaping the Future” Adam Crozier
2nd Place
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr, Joanne Reid
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
3rd Place
“Life is Inevitable” Daniel Santos
Outstanding Creator Award for
Judaism
1st Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Politics
1st Place
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
2nd Place
“The Human Paradox” Gilbert E. Mulley
Outstanding Creator Award for
History & Historical True Stories
1st Place
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
2nd Place
“WINX” Irma Parone
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
3rd Place
“Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays” Leonard & Linda Chesler
Outstanding Creator Award for
Medical Fiction
1st Place
“The Lambda Factor” Dimple Desai
SPECIAL AWARDS
* These are fun, less formal awards intended to recognize the unique accomplishments of each work. They are still recognized as Outstanding Creator Awards.
.
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Book Cover”
Winners:
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
Honorable Mentions:
“Simon Hunter” Kathryn Cain
“Everything is Everything” Sally Kingman
“Grandma I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep” Richard Ceasor
“Cupid’s Arrow” Susan English
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
“Betty Cries” James A. Leyshon
“Lacie’s Moon” Natcole Staskiewicz
“The Secrets of the Kings” Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
“Genesis Awakens” Akorede Adekoya & Howard Haugom
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Fiction)”
Winners:
“Blue Fire” Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
"Witches, Bats, and Mystical Cats" Julie Chapman
Honorable Mentions:
“Justifiable Deceit” Mikael Carlson
“Rosemary for Remembrance” Nikki Broadwell
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Non-Fiction)”
Winner:
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
Honorable Mentions:
“WINX” Irma Parone
“Applauding Life” Barry S. Savits, MD (Nominated by David A.J. Richards)
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Research”
Winners:
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“WINX” Irma Parone
Honorable Mentions:
“The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6 and Towny Townsend” Patrick Montgomery
“Season of the Swords” Domenic Melillo
“Ring Fold” Scott Swisher
“Of All Faiths and None” Andrew Tweeddale
"The Human Paradox" Gilbert E. Mulley
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best World-Building”
Winner:
“The Last Keeper of the Light” Nikki Broadwell
Honorable Mentions:
“Academy Bound” J.C. Mastro
“The Eves” Grace Sammon
“Gilraen and the Two Cities” Dr. Joanne Reid
“The Final Days of Doggerland” Mike Meier
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Character”
Winner:
Sandal from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
Honorable Mentions:
Dr. John Cameron from “Blue Fire” by Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
Sebastian Storm from “Lethal Decree” from Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
Daniel Simmons, Emmett from “Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” by Michael Stockham
Gilraen Gulamae from “Gilraen and the Two Cities” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Viggo from “The Final Days of Doggerland” by Mike Meier
Jordan, Steffi from “Ring Fold” by Scott Swisher
Zach Aurelian from “Academy Bound” by J.C. Mastro
Dylan from “Rosemary for Remembrance” by Nikki Broadwell
Olivia Benning, Brennan Claufield from “Life is Inevitable” by Daniel Santos
Angel the Kitten from “The Adventures of Angel” by Ross Alan Hahn
Kellen from “I Love You Just the Way You Are” by Riley Rian
Tierra, Victoria Larsen from “Justifiable Deceit” by Mikael Carlson
Viola from “The False Queen” by Tuula Pere
Coupe, Cooper from “Blood for the Fisher King” by Endy Wright
Emma from “Treehouse Night” by Tuula Pere
Deepa from “Dancing Deepa” by Suchi Sairam
Austro from “The Rapping Astronaut” by Sonia Marta
Sally from “Everything is Everything” by Sally Kingman
Alex Kincaid from “The Secrets of the Kings” by Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
Robbie from “Season of the Swords” by Domenic Melillo
Genesis from “Genesis Awakens” by Akorede Adekoya & Howard Haugom
Dr. Danica Diza from “The Lambda Factor” by Dimple Desai
Monika Thomas from “When All Hope is Lost” by Alyce Elmore
Tosher from “Tosher” by Adrian Winney
Nic, Sophia, Zoe from “Escaping the Future” by Adam Crozier
Adrian from “Of All Faiths and None” by Andrew Tweeddale
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Supporting Character”
Winners:
Zoe from “Escaping the Future” by Adam Crozier
Steffi from “Ring Fold” by Scott Swisher
Mr. Rainbow Pie from “Noah’s Quest” by Sev Emanuel Pretila
Jack/Da from "Tosher" by Adrian Winney
Honorable Mentions:
Goose from “Snowphie” by Howie Groff
Colb from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
Daniel from “The False Queen” by Tuula Pere
Evelyn, Everett, Cooper, Cory, Corwin, Carrick, Cotavatre from “Blood for the Fisher King” by Endy Wright
Deidre, Tobias from “The Eves” by Grace Sammon
Gabriel from “Secrets of the Kings” by Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Villain”
Winners:
Ryan Baino & Caleb from “Justifiable Deceit” by Mikael Carlson
The Reds from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
Honorable Mentions
The Dragon from “Dragon’s Breath” by Dr. Dawn Menge
Viggo from “The Final Days of Doggerland” by Mike Meier
The Swords of Terror from “Season of the Swords” by Domenic Melillo
Tobias from “Lethal Decree” by Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
Lars from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
Cameron from “Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops” by Allison Hong Merrill
Fayed from “Mia’s Odyssey” by Mia Odeh
Adjudicars and Machister from “Gilraen and the Two Cities” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Nurse Hatcher from “Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” by Michael Stockham
Michael from “Betty Cries” by James A. Leyshon
Armand Vleisteter from “Blood for the Fisher King” by Endy Wright
Set from “Secrets of the Kings” by Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Hottest Character”
*A character with attractive characteristics*
Winners:
Sally from “Simon Hunter” by Kathryn Cain
Steffi from “Ring Fold” by Scott Swisher
Honorable Mentions:
Jacob, Colb from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
King Teddy & Queen Giggles from “Dragon’s Breath” by Dr. Dawn Menge
Gilraen Gulamae, William from “Gilraen and the Two Cities” by Dr. Joanne Reid
All the Random Women in “Blue Fire” by Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis
Lacie’s Mom from “Lacie’s Moon” by Natcole Staskiewicz
Miss Molina (the Teacher) from “Dancing Deepa” by Suchi Sairam
Sebastian Storm from “Lethal Decree” by Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Couple”
Winners:
Dylan & Rosemary from “Rosemary for Remembrance” by Nikki Broadwell
Sandal & Jacob from “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
Honorable Mentions:
Evelyn & Everett from “Blood for the Fisher King” by Endy Wright
Betsey & Eric from "Simon Hunter" by Kathryn Cain
Kellen & Maggie from “I Love You Just the Way You Are” by Riley Rian
Emma & Oliver from “The Treehouse Night” by Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Moment”
(WARNING: May Contain Spoilers)
Winner:
Sebastian .vs. Tobias in “Lethal Decree” by Dr. Trent W. Smallwood
Honorable Mentions:
* Joan of Arc and the brothers accepting Joan’s grim fate in “Season of the Swords” by Domenic Melillo
* The opening page + the big conspiracy is revealed in “Justifiable Deceit” by Mikael Carlson
* The Omicron Six and a family of killer whales take on Vleisteter and his mercenaries in “Blood for the Fisher King” by Endy Wright
* Mia finally escapes with her children in “Mia’s Odyssey” by Mia Odeh
* The drunken restaurant brawl in "Trailer Trash Havana" by Junio Carols
* The death of Viggo in “The Final Days of Doggerland” by Mike Meier
* The death of Lars in “The Last Keeper of the Light” by Nikki Broadwell
* Gilraen & Allies .vs. Machister in “Gilraen and the Two Cities” by Dr. Joanne Reid
* Kellen standing up for Maggie in “I Love You Just the Way You Are” by Riley Rian
* Alex .vs. Set in “The Secrets of the Kings” by Nora Delzelle (Sandra Austria)
* The tragic stories about Ford and NASA from “WINX” by Irma Parone
* The interesting stories about Elon Musk, Daymond John, Warren Buffet, and Aaron Krause from “The Value Equation” by Christopher Volk
* Flourishing passages from “Applauding Life” by Barry S. Savits, M.D. (Nom. David A.J. Richards)
* The "I am..." and "It's not like..." statements in "Fictionally Nonfiction" by Wynn Thanh Phi
*Angel the Kitten gets to play hide and seek with the barn kittens and encounters a fox in “The Adventures of Angel” by Ross Alan Hahn
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Funny & Bizarre Moment(s)”
(WARNING: May contain spoilers)
Winners:
In some sort of delaying tactic to build anticipation, K Dot (the ladybug) keeps asking the reader if they’re sure they’re ready to begin the book in “Count and Play with K Dot” by Kimberly Becker
Honorable Mentions:
* Hannah’s constant complaining in light of more serious matters in “Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer” by Michael Stockham
* “The Final Days of Doggerland” by Mike Meier being narrated by two ravens, Tanka and Sinne, who have a limited grasp of human language and practices + Viggo is mentioned over 900 times and the repetition of his name (i.e. “Viggo, Viggo” or “Viggo, Viggo, Viggo”) is used over 20 times!
* The amount of time and attention the pika/quokka-cloning subplot gets in “Cupid’s Arrow” by Susan English
* In “Betty Cries” by James A. Leyshon, Jake St. John throws a tantrum and creates a psychic energy storm over not being able to trade his store credits for rare comic books that he intends to resell at jacked up prices; he then frames the comic book store owner and makes it look like entrapment + Jake being mean, rude, awkward, and annoying to everyone including the waitress, comic book store owner, and the cab driver. Why are we cheering for this guy again? + Jake seems to be like five different characters with five different jobs/hobbies
* “Of All Faiths and None” by Andrew Tweeddale feels like a 600+ page novel written by Leo Tolstoy, but it's less than 200 pages long
* Hopping from continent to continent, city to city, character to character, and thing to thing in “The Eves” by Grace Sammon
* Noah seems to always have the same look and expression no matter what’s happening in “Noah’s Quest” by Sev Emanuel Pretila
* Jason's account of American soldiers abusing Iraqi POWs in "The Lambda Equation" by Dimple Desai seems to be directly lifted from a documentary account of American soldiers during the Vietnam War, a different conflict entirely
* The chaotic randomness and subliminal messaging of “The Rapping Astronaut” by Sonia Marta, presumably in an attempt to circumvent censorship
* The dragon from “Dragon’s Breath” by Dr. Dawn Menge--an otherwise innocuous children’s book–starts acting like a crazy mom or psychotic ex from a Lifetime movie
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Most Unique & Different”
Winner:
“The Rapping Astronaut” by Sonia Marta
"The Final Days of Doggerland" by Mike Meier
Honorable Mention:
“Peace in War” Lindsay Ann Fink
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Quote”
Winners:
“...because it’s my job to be your sunlight”
- Mia Odeh from “Mia’s Odyssey”
“The tumultuous world raged outside” / “...run the gauntlet of possibilities”
- Barry S. Savits, MD (Nom. David A.J. Richards) from "Applauding Life"
“...there isn’t enough warmth in anyone’s heart to let in all the world’s cold.” / “...machines don’t smile” / “...he was against the whole mechanical assembly line, served up at-the-stroke-of-midnight routine, and the drug-like hypnotic effect--like mob psychology or war--that this day had upon people” (regarding New Years Day)
- Dr. Raymond J. Mikelionis from “Blue Fire”