2nd Quarter 2025 Firebird Book Award Winners

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Previous FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD Winners are listed at the bottom of this page.

ANNOUNCING

2nd Quarter 2025

THE INTERNATIONAL

FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD WINNERS

FREQUENT FLYERS

&

QUIRKY CATEGORIES WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS

to all winning authors.

And a huge thank you to all the authors who entered.

Your submission donation allowed us to send hundreds of happy handmade pillowcases and children’s books to women and children in long-term shelters.

You are so appreciated!

(Every entrant was sent a personalized email, regardless of winning status. If you entered, please check your email for the announcement or check your alternative folders if you don’t find it, as we sometimes land in unusual places.)

Three winners per category are possible, based on the judging criteria for each category and the cumulative scores of two independent judges. On occasion, a tie may occur. You may also find that your book is listed in a different category than the one/s you entered.

Honorable Recognitions are listed at the bottom of this page.

COMPLIMENTARY CONTESTS WINNERS

Frequent Flyer Winner

for returning authors

Morley Swingle

Summer Beach Read Winner

Judy Lannon

Nonfiction Winner

Larry Chrysler

Fiction Winner

Brianna MacMahon

Children’s Book Winner

The Tom Tracy Diverse Children’s Book Contest

Linda Laughlin

LISTEN TO THE BOOKSONG

ALL WINNERS, including CHILDREN’S BOOK CONTEST & QUIRKY CATEGORIES CONTEST

LISTED IN ORDER OF FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD PLACE

African American Fiction – Scarlet Ibis James – Chinedu Achebe

Alternative Medicine – Dr. Judy Morgan

Animals – Elisabeth Marie Fowler – Dr. Judy Morgan

Audiobook – Lisa Monde – Michael Hickman

Biography Historical – Barbara Daddino

Book Cover Design Fiction – Matt Ozanich – Gail Grant Park – Kelda Lang Poynot

Book Cover Design Nonfiction – Steven Howard

Business General – Steven Howard and Ali Shami – Todd Hagopian – Craig Cooke

Business/Entrepreneurship & Small Business – Colin C. Campbell – John Kelly Chrisbens – Dr. Annise Mabry

Business/Motivational – Ashwin Gulati – John Chrisbens – Eleni Kelakos

Chick Lit – Kate Sweden

Children Adventure – Margaretta James – Jane E. Ruth – Fred Berri

Children Animals/Pets – Freya Novak – Lisa Jacovsky – Susan Montgomery

Children Bilingual – Jane E. Ruth – Patty York Raymond

Children Education – Elizabeth Higgins – Patty York Raymond – Jane E. Ruth

Children Emotional Intelligence/Learning – Deana Plaskon, PhD, LMHC – Jane Wellson – Jessica Ann

Children How to – Nicholas Seidler, Libby Shea, Robert Warnock, Steven Warren Hill

Children Picture Book – Julia Kolouch – Peni Clark – Billie Holladay Skelley

Children Realistic Fiction – Christal Majestic – Kathleen M. Favaloro – Elizabeth Higgins

Children Special Needs – Andrea M. Zeddies PhD

Christian Fiction – Lana Christian – Elisabeth Nadler

Christian Nonfiction – Rachel Kerr Schneider

Coming of Age – Brianna MacMahon – Susan Knecht – Kelda Lang Poynot

Country Noir – P.A. White

Cozy Mystery – Marlene Bell – Bonnie Hardy – Gail Grant Park

Dark Fantasy – Jim Melvin

Death & Dying – Amy van Rijthoven – Javier De Lucia – Donna M. Young

Environment – Cheryl Leutjen

Fantasy – Benji Wyvern – Marieke Lexmond – TIE: J.D. Penndagger – Matt Ozanich – Nyron Bovell

Fiction – Brianna MacMahon

Foodie Romance – MiLFY

Guide Book – David W. Craig

Health/Wellness – Glen Alex – Linda Cunningham

Historical Fiction – Susan Knecht – Joni Marie Iraci – Lana Christian

Holocaust – Susan Knecht

Home & Garden – Jaden Rivers

Horror – Bryn Grover – Juliet Rose

Humor – John J Jessop – Boni Wagner-Stafford – D.A. Mintaka

Illustration – Stephen Barany – Deana Plaskon, PhD, LMHC

Leadership – Sam Goodner – Eleni Kelakos

Legal Thriller – Morley Swingle

LGTBQ Nonfiction – Larry Chrysler

Literary Fiction – Scarlet Ibis James – Chinedu Achebe

Marriage – Polly Merritt Ingraham

Memoir – Beth SKMorris – Mia Bolton – BB Gabriel

Mental Health – Ben Duelley – D.A. Mintaka – MJE Clubb

Mind/Body/Spirit – Glen Alex – Mia Bolton

Movies and Television – Bernie Dowling

Multicultural Fiction – Scarlet Ibis James – Ellis K. Popa

Mystery – Arnaud van Rietschoten – Helen Starbuck – TIE: Carolyn Summer Quinn – Stacy Walsh

Narrative Nonfiction – Ben Duelley

Neurodiversity – Elias Axel – Jennifer Celeste Briggs – May Morrissey

New Adult Fiction – Brianna MacMahon – Ellis K. Popa – Elias Axel

New Fiction – G.A. Guzman – L.A. Arbuckle

New Fiction Debut Novel – Ellis K. Popa

New Nonfiction first time published – Polly Merritt Ingraham

Nonfiction – Larry Chrysler

Novella – Diane Wald – Nora D’Ecclesis – Matthew Di Paoli

Paranormal – Avalon O’Clair – Kirsten G. Schuder – Gail Grant Park

Parenting & Family – Donna Webb – Jennifer Celeste Briggs – Leonie Rosenstiel

Performing Arts Theatre – Lisa Monde

Performing Arts Film – Bernie Dowling

Philosophy – Zoltan Cendes

Picture Book – David Catuhe

Poetry – Beth SKMorris – Diana Button – Dina Greenberg

Pop Gothic – Bibiana Krall

Preteen – Gloria G. Adams – Kelda Lang Poynot – Nathalie Iseli-Chan

Religion Fiction – Lana Christian

Religion Nonfiction – Polly Merritt Ingraham

Romance – K.S. Lynn – D.D. Franklin – Elaine M. DeGroot

Romantic Comedy – Alexa Darin

Sales & Marketing – Rakesh Soni

Senior Topics – Linda Cunningham – Leonie Rosenstiel – Debbie C. Miller

Short Stories – Dina Greenberg – Bryn Grover

Social/Political Change – Steven Howard – Bonnie Hardy

Southern Fiction – Blake Gunnels

Space Opera – Michael Hickman

Special Needs – Jennifer Celeste Briggs

Speculative Fiction – Amy van Rijthoven – Kirsten G. Schuder

Spiritual/Spirituality – Diana Button – Dina Greenberg – Donna M. Young

Spiritualism – Gisella Rose

Summer Beach Read – Judy Lannon – Nora D’Ecclesis – Nancy Christie

Supernatural – Bibiana Krall – Deidre Gordon-Hazim – Kirsten G. Schuder

Suspense – Ellis K. Popa – Ian Griffin

Thriller – Joni Iraci – R. Michael Cassidy – TIE: Ian Griffin – Ron Roman

Time Travel – Christopher Corbett

Urban Fantasy – Chris Andrews – Avalon O’Clair – Marieke Lexmond

Writing/Publishing – Sharon Woodhouse

Womens Fiction – Joni Marie Iraci – Jacey Bici – Nancy Christie

Young Adult Fiction – Brianna MacMahon – Kelda Lang Poynot – Tim Rees

Young Author written by age 12 and under – Arun Palghat Purushotham – Camille A. Buss

HONORABLE RECOGNITION

D. J. Mathews – Nature vs. Technology — Who’s Winning?

Jane Foster – One Perfect Daughter: He Was The Perfect Son. Until She Wasn’t

Yuliana Grasman – TAFHEENA: Survival Architecture

ADDITIONAL CONTESTS

These additional contests are characterized by distinct judging criteria, meaning that participants may be evaluated on different factors or qualities than those used in the above primary competition.

FREQUENT FLYER WINNERS

We’re proud to offer exclusive recognition for returning authors through our Frequent Flyer Awards.

These awards recognize authors who consistently support and engage with our book awards year after year.

Unlike our main competition prizes, each category will have a single winner, selected for their outstanding and consistent participation.

1. Best Evolution of Style – Kelda Lang Poynot

Description: This category focuses on how an author’s writing style has evolved. It recognizes growth, experimentation, voice, structure, and technique development.

Purpose: To honor authors who have shown significant improvement or a bold change in their writing approach between their first and most recent submissions.

2. Best Series Continuation – Helen Starbuck

Description: This category is for authors who have submitted multiple works within the same series or universe. It acknowledges the strength and continuity of their narrative arc or world-building across entries.

Purpose: To highlight authors who have crafted compelling, ongoing series that captivate readers through consistency and depth.

3. Best Risk-Taker – Javier De Lucia

Description: This category celebrates authors who have taken creative risks in their work, whether by exploring unconventional narrative structures, experimenting with genre-blending, or tackling bold, new themes.

Purpose: To reward authors who step out of their comfort zones and experiment with innovative ideas, even if the outcome is not traditionally “safe.”

4. Best Thematic Exploration – Bibiana Krall

Description: For authors who have returned with a strong focus on a particular theme or social issue across multiple works. This category honors deep, thoughtful explorations of topics that resonate on a larger scale.

Purpose: To recognize authors who return with a purposeful thematic vision, crafting works that thoughtfully engage with important subjects.

5. Most Innovative Use of Genre – Beth SKMorris

Description: This category honors authors who have skillfully blended or pushed the boundaries of their chosen genre in creative and new ways. For example, mixing mystery with fantasy or blending historical fiction with science fiction.

Purpose: To recognize authors who have taken familiar genres and made them their own by innovating within or across them.

6. Best Author Branding – Marieke Lexmond

Description: For returning authors who have built a strong personal or brand identity through their writing, online presence, or marketing. This category recognizes those who have effectively created a cohesive author persona.

Purpose: To celebrate those who have established a unique, recognizable voice and image in the literary community, both on and off the page.

7. Best Writing in a New Format – Gloria G. Adams

Description: This category rewards authors who have ventured into a new medium, such as short stories, flash fiction, poetry, screenplays, or interactive storytelling

Purpose: To encourage and reward authors who expand their repertoire and embrace new forms of storytelling.

9. Best Literary Merit – Jim Melvin

Description: This category recognizes exceptional literary quality, focusing on technical aspects of writing such as prose style, structure, and eloquence. It’s an acknowledgment of the craft above all else.

Purpose: To honor returning authors who consistently demonstrate excellence in literary technique and craftsmanship.

10. Lifetime Achievement – Juliet Rose

Description: This is a special category for a returning author who has submitted multiple times over the years, showing a long-term dedication to their craft and the contest itself.

Purpose: To recognize sustained excellence, dedication, and perseverance in writing over time.