Outstanding Creator Awards
Winter 2023 Results
OVERALL WINNERS
(Medalists)
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Non-Fiction Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
2nd Place
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
3rd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Fiction Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
2nd Place
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
“Dyami and the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Children's Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern OBrien
“Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
“Hide and Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
2nd Place
“The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
“Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
“The Princess Who Can't Sit Still” Cherise Hurt
Honorable Mention:
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“Handy Dandy Randy McCrandy” Jeffrey Schoenherr
Best Non-Fiction Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher Volk
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
2nd Place
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
3rd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Fiction Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
2nd Place
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
“Dyami and the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
Outstanding Creator Award for
Best Children's Book of Winter 2023
1st Place
“Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern OBrien
“Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
“Hide and Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
2nd Place
“The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
“Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
“The Princess Who Can't Sit Still” Cherise Hurt
Honorable Mention:
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“Handy Dandy Randy McCrandy” Jeffrey Schoenherr
CATEGORY WINNERS
Outstanding Creator Award for
Autobiographies & Memoirs
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
2nd Place
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
"Unbearable Burden" Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Historical Fiction
1st Place
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cozy Mystery / Murder Mystery
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Relationships, Marriage, and Couples
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
Outstanding Creator Award for
Thriller
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
2nd Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Fantasy (Includes Epic Fantasy , Urban Fantasy & Other Fantasy Sub-Genres)
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Dyami & the Gobie Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
Outstanding Creator Award for
Business (Includes Entrepreneurship / Sales & Marketing / Management / Investing / Career / Finance)
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher H. Volk
2nd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
Outstanding Creator Award for
Science-Fiction
1st Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
2nd Place
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
3rd Place
“Managed Paranoia” Finlay Beach
Outstanding Creator Award for
Romance
1st Place
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Drama
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
“Fifty-Three Tuesday” GK Nakata
2nd Place
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
Outstanding Creator Award for
Comedy / Humor
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
Outstanding Creator Award for
Middle Grade Books
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
Outstanding Creator Award for
Music Fiction
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
Outstanding Creator Award for
Dystopia / Apocalyptic Fiction / Near-Future
1st Place
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
3rd Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Honorable Mention:
“Managed Paranoia” Finlay Beach
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cookbooks
1st Place
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
Outstanding Creator Award for
Illustrated & Picture Books (*This category is judged primarily on illustration quality)
1st Place
“The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
“Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
“Hide & Seek Alphabet: Australian Animals” Anna Finch
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
"Marky the Magnificent Fairy" Cynthia Kern OBrien
3rd Place
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
Honorable Mention
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
Outstanding Creator Award for
Health
1st Place
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
Outstanding Creator Award for
Crime
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military (Non-Fiction)
1st Place
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Fiction (Includes Military Fiction Sub-Genres)
Honorable Mentions
“The Dark Elf of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
“The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
Outstanding Creator Award for
Religion & Spirituality
1st Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Self-Help & How-to Books
1st Place
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Educational & Reference Books
1st Place
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher H. Volk
2nd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“Hide & Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
3rd Place
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
Outstanding Creator Award for
Christianity
1st Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
2nd Place
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
Outstanding Creator Award for
Friendship
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
2nd Place
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
Outstanding Creator Award for
Family
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
"When I Was Her Daughter" Leslie Ferguson
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
3rd Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Poetry
1st Place
“Violet” Sabrina Simon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Action & Adventure
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
2nd Place
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Outstanding Creator Award for
LitRPG & Gamelit
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Literary & Contemporary Fiction
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
2nd Place
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Multi-Cultural, Multi-Lingual, and Bilingual Fiction
1st Place
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Fiction & Women's Literature
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Non-Fiction & Women's Issues
1st Place
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
“When the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
2nd Place
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
3rd Place
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children's Motivational & Inspirational Books
1st Place
“Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern Obrien
2nd Place
“The Princess Who Can't Sit Still” Cherise Hurt
3rd Place
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Motivational / Inspirational
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
2nd Place
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
3rd Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Teen & Young-Adult Fiction
1st Place
“Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
3rd Place
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Mystery (Includes Paranormal Mysteries)
1st Place
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
2nd Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Pets
1st Place
“Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
3rd Place
“Marvin the Math Cat & the Mysterious Patio Garden” Heather & Nick Blackburn
Outstanding Creator Award for
Myths & Legends / Fairy Tales / Mythical Creatures / Cryptids
1st Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
2nd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“Handy Dandy Randy McCrandy” Jeffrey Schoenherr
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
“The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
Outstanding Creator Award for
Political
1st Place
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
Outstanding Creator Award for
History
1st Place
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
2nd Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
3rd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
Autobiographies & Memoirs
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
2nd Place
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
"Unbearable Burden" Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Historical Fiction
1st Place
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cozy Mystery / Murder Mystery
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Relationships, Marriage, and Couples
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
Outstanding Creator Award for
Thriller
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
2nd Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Fantasy (Includes Epic Fantasy , Urban Fantasy & Other Fantasy Sub-Genres)
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Dyami & the Gobie Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
Outstanding Creator Award for
Business (Includes Entrepreneurship / Sales & Marketing / Management / Investing / Career / Finance)
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher H. Volk
2nd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
Outstanding Creator Award for
Science-Fiction
1st Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
2nd Place
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
3rd Place
“Managed Paranoia” Finlay Beach
Outstanding Creator Award for
Romance
1st Place
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Drama
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
“Fifty-Three Tuesday” GK Nakata
2nd Place
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
Outstanding Creator Award for
Comedy / Humor
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
Outstanding Creator Award for
Middle Grade Books
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
Outstanding Creator Award for
Music Fiction
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
Outstanding Creator Award for
Dystopia / Apocalyptic Fiction / Near-Future
1st Place
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
3rd Place
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Honorable Mention:
“Managed Paranoia” Finlay Beach
Outstanding Creator Award for
Cookbooks
1st Place
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
Outstanding Creator Award for
Illustrated & Picture Books (*This category is judged primarily on illustration quality)
1st Place
“The Fox's City” Tuula Pere
“Mellie the Mermaid” Anna Finch
“Hide & Seek Alphabet: Australian Animals” Anna Finch
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
"Marky the Magnificent Fairy" Cynthia Kern OBrien
3rd Place
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
Honorable Mention
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
Outstanding Creator Award for
Health
1st Place
“Irresistibly Vegan” Elvira Rodriguez Alonso
Outstanding Creator Award for
Crime
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military (Non-Fiction)
1st Place
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Military Fiction (Includes Military Fiction Sub-Genres)
Honorable Mentions
“The Dark Elf of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
“The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
Outstanding Creator Award for
Religion & Spirituality
1st Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Self-Help & How-to Books
1st Place
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Educational & Reference Books
1st Place
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Mission Transition” Matthew Louis
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“The Value Equation” Christopher H. Volk
2nd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
“Heartspoken” Elizabeth Cottrell
“Hide & Seek Alphabet: With Australian Animals” Anna Finch
3rd Place
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
Outstanding Creator Award for
Christianity
1st Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
2nd Place
“Left Alive” Adam & Stephanie Parker
Outstanding Creator Award for
Friendship
1st Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
2nd Place
“Freeze Frame” Tyler Beauchamp
3rd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
Outstanding Creator Award for
Family
1st Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
"When I Was Her Daughter" Leslie Ferguson
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
3rd Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Poetry
1st Place
“Violet” Sabrina Simon
Outstanding Creator Award for
Action & Adventure
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
“Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
2nd Place
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
“Midgard” Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Outstanding Creator Award for
LitRPG & Gamelit
1st Place
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
Literary & Contemporary Fiction
1st Place
“Secrets in the Mirror” Leslie Kain
2nd Place
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Multi-Cultural, Multi-Lingual, and Bilingual Fiction
1st Place
“Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash” Paki Perkins
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Fiction & Women's Literature
1st Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
2nd Place
“Pounding Bass” Kenna Campbell
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
Outstanding Creator Award for
Women's Non-Fiction & Women's Issues
1st Place
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
“When the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
2nd Place
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
3rd Place
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Children's Motivational & Inspirational Books
1st Place
“Marky the Magnificent Fairy” Cynthia Kern Obrien
2nd Place
“The Princess Who Can't Sit Still” Cherise Hurt
3rd Place
“The Polar Bears' Journey” Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
Motivational / Inspirational
1st Place
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
2nd Place
“Born to Survive” Kylie-Anne Evans
3rd Place
“Unbearable Burden” Krista Isaacson
“When I Was Her Daughter” Leslie Ferguson
Outstanding Creator Award for
Teen & Young-Adult Fiction
1st Place
“Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” Maria Hoshaw
“Sword of the Gray Champion” Domenic Melillo
2nd Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
3rd Place
“The Jediran Quest” Cal Davis
Outstanding Creator Award for
Mystery (Includes Paranormal Mysteries)
1st Place
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
2nd Place
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“Death by Saxophone” Debbie Burke
Outstanding Creator Award for
Pets
1st Place
“Zelda the Rescue Dog to the Rescue” Jeffrey Schoenherr
2nd Place
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” Gabriel Bietz
3rd Place
“Marvin the Math Cat & the Mysterious Patio Garden” Heather & Nick Blackburn
Outstanding Creator Award for
Myths & Legends / Fairy Tales / Mythical Creatures / Cryptids
1st Place
“The Silver Coin” Mika Matthews
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” Joe Lyon
2nd Place
“The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” Victoria Winifred
“Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” Jeannie Rivera
3rd Place
“Praesidium” McKinley Aspen
“Handy Dandy Randy McCrandy” Jeffrey Schoenherr
“The Secret Life of Santa's Butterfly Elves” Rose Andria
“The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” Ethan Richards
Outstanding Creator Award for
Political
1st Place
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
Outstanding Creator Award for
History
1st Place
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” Christopher Nelson
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” Williams Kuttikadan
2nd Place
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” Roni Rosenthal
3rd Place
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” Jim Huebner
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”
Winner:
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” by Joe Lyon
Honorable Mentions:
“Praesidium” by McKinley Apsen
“The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” by Gabriel Bietz
“Gilraen Regnant” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Fiction)”
Winner:
“Secrets in the Mirror” by Leslie Kain
Honorable Mention:
“Fifty-Three Tuesdays” GK Nakata
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Writing (Non-Fiction)”
Winners:
“Heartspoken” by Elizabeth Cottrel
“The Value Equation” Christopher H. Volk
Honorable Mentions:
“The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” Dave Liu
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” by Williams Kuttikadan
“From Intent to Impact” Monica Diaz
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Research”
Winners:
“The C.R. Patterson and Sons Company” by Christopher Nelson
“Toward a Model of Constitutions” by Williams Kuttikadan
“The Irrelevant Old Brand” by Jim Huebner
Honorable Mentions:
“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” by Roni Rosenthal
“The Value Equation” by Christopher H. Volk
“From Intent to Impact” by Monica Diaz
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best World-Building”
Winners:
“Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” by Maria Hoshaw
“Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” by Joe Lyon
Honorable Mentions:
“Gilraen Regnant” Dr. Joanne Reid
“The Silver Coin” by Mika Matthews
“Midgard” by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Character”
Winners:
Gavin from “Secrets in the Mirror” by Leslie Kain
Francis from “The Fox's City” by Tuula Pere
Marky from "Marky the Magnificent Fairy" by Cynthia Kern OBrien
Honorable Mention:
Dyami from “Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” by Maria Hoshaw
Dante from “The Silver Coin” by Mika Matthews
Braven & Khara from “The Jediran Quest” by Cal Davis
Sam from “Midgard” by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Gilraen from “Gilraen Regnant” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Asher-Cries-for-War from “The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” by Ethan Richards
Michael from “Left Alive” by Adam & Stephanie Parker
Rebecca “Becka” Rifkin from “Death by Saxophone” by Debbie Burke
Mellie from “Mellie the Mermaid” by Anna Finch
Frederick Moody from “Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” by Jeannie Rivera
Randy McCrandy from “Handy Dandy Randy McCrandy” by Jeffrey Schoenherr
Kassie from “The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” by Victoria Winifred
Hank Gunn from “Managed Paranoia” by Finlay Beach
Kathryn “Kate” from “Praesidium” by McKinley Aspen
Will from “Freeze Frame” by Tyler Beauchamp
Mama Bear from “The Polar Bears' Journey” by Tuula Pere
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Supporting Character”
Winner:
Maya & Mama Linh from “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” by GK Nakata
Honorable Mentions:
Cindy from “Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” by Jeannie Rivera
Maurice from “The Princess, the Knight and the Lost God” by Victoria Winifred
Jerry Zolotov from “Death by Saxophone” by Debbie Burke
Chen-Li from “Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” by Joe Lyon
Sabrina from “Freeze Frame” by Tyler Beauchamp
Tate & Zander from “Pounding Bass” by Kenna Campbell
Great-Grandfather Robert Ogilvie Petrie from “Sword of the Gray Champion” by Domenic Melillo
Tamara Ashraf from “Midgard” by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Villain”
Winners:
Devon from “Secrets in the Mirror” by Leslie Kain
Francis from “The Fox's City” by Tuula Pere
Garrett from “Pounding Bass” by Kenna Campbell
Honorable Mentions
Elyon from “Left Alive” by Adam & Stephanie Parker
King Vratt & Queen Adira from “Dyami & the Gobi Crystal” by Maria Hoshaw
The Leviathan Alliance from “Sword of the Gray Champion” by Domenic Melillo
Jacquelyn from “Praesidium” by McKinley Aspen
Rodrigo & the Rod Squad from “Freeze Frame” by Tyler Beauchamp
The Demonic from “Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” by Joe Lyon
THE SHARK from “ Mellie the Mermaid” by Anna Finch
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Hottest Character”
Winners:
Elena from “The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” & “The Dark Elf of Oklahoma” by Ethan Richards
Honorable Mentions:
Gavin from “Secrets in the Mirror” by Leslie Kain
Bex, Tate, and Zander from “Pounding Bass” by Kenna Campbell
Becka from “Death by Saxophone” by Debbie Burke
Gilraen & William from “Gilraen Regnant” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Bella from “Managed Paranoia” by Finlay Beach
Friddie from "Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again" by Roni Rosenthal
Kathryn from “Praesidium” by McKinley Apsen
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Couple” / “Best Dynamic Duo”
Winner:
Frederick & Cindy from “Frederick Moody and the Secrets of the Six Summit Lake” by Jeannie Rivera
Honorable Mentions:
Sam & Tamara from “Midgard” by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Gilraen & William from “Gilraen Regnant” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Marky & Tomo from "Marky the Magnificent Fairy" by Cynthia Kern OBrien
Glenn & Maya from “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” by GK Nakata
Bex & Zander from “Pounding Bass” by Kenna Campbell
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Weapon”
Winner:
Soothsayer from “Temple of Valor: Astar's Blade” by Joe Lyon
Honorable Mentions:
AA-12 from “The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” & ”The Dark Elf of Oklahoma” by Ethan Richards
Sword of St. Peter from “Sword of the Gray Champion” by Domenic Melillo
Soul Blades from “Gilraen Regnant” by Dr. Joanne Reid
Tornado Bomb from “Midgard” by Jeanne Hull Godfroy
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Moment” (WARNING: May contain spoilers)
Winners:
* Cindy spraining her ankle & being cared for by Frederick in ”Frederick Moody and the Secrets of Six Summit Lake” by Jeannie Rivera
* The mission to save John F. Kennedy in “Sword of the Gray Champion” by Domenic Melillo
Honorable Mentions:
* Gavin rejecting Devon in “Secrets in the Mirror” by Leslie Kain
* Glenn in the hospital with Katie in “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” by GK Nakata
* Garrett's delusional perspective on events in “Pounding Bass” by Kenna Campbell
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Funny & Bizarre” (WARNING: May contain spoilers)
Winner:
Jacqueline flapping her arms like a bird before it's established she's an animorph in “Praesidium” by McKinley Aspen). It is a moment that is probably meant to be taken seriously and have mystery surrounding it, however, it made us laugh uncontrollably.
Honorable Mentions:
* The word “ejaculated” being used instead of “said” or “exclaimed” in “The Dark Lord of Oklahoma” by Ethan Richards as in the following examples:
- “Mr. Chance, are you going to take that helmet off,” Julie ejaculated. “'I feel like I'm at a political debate at a cosplay convention.”
- “That's a triangle choke!” she ejaculated, as she realized what Seth was doing, “Chance taught me that.”
* The author's incredible sense of humor throughout “The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” by Dave Liu
* The reoccurring restroom break in "Sword of the Gray Champion" by Domenic Melillo
* Adam & Stephanie Parker cramming all fourteen seal & trumpet judgments into one book in "Left Alive" while featuring Diet Nicolae Carpathia
* THE SHARK terrifying all of our kids in “Mellie the Mermaid” by Anna Finch
* Why don't any of the fighting fish ever fight or feel like fighting in “The Adventures of Arya & Krishna Betta Fish” by Gabriel Betz? And why would a fish need glasses? And why are they as big as the koi & catfish sometimes?
* Francis, who has been a ruthless and manipulative villain deserving of a comeuppance, seems to have been instantly forgiven and redeemed by Mayor Andy Reid at the end of “The Fox's City” by Tuula Pere. Also: Mayor Andy Reid.
* Gilraen stops to fantasize about William's "sword" in "Gilraen Regnant" by Dr. Joanne Reid
* Why does “Fifty-Three Tuesdays” by GK Nakata—a romance—have to be like 700 pages long and involve like ten additional subplots and five additional romantic partners? It could have been like 200-300 pages shorter.
Outstanding Creator Award for
“Best Quote”
Winner:
“If you decided to come back, I’d probably have the door wide open for you, but I don’t think you’d even turn the doorknob for me. If you asked me to, I'd jump hurdles for you, but I don’t think you'd even step over a crack in the sidewalk for me. If you needed me, I’d swim a thousand miles just to see you smile, but I don’t even think you’d get on a boat to see me.”
- From “Violet” by Sabrina Simon
Honorable Mention:
“...getting a handwritten note is like getting a hug by mail.”
- From “Heartspoken” by Elizabeth Cottrel