3rd 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.

COMPLIMENTARY CONTESTS WINNERS

Nonfiction Winner

TISSA RICHARDS

Fiction Winner

DAN SCHORR

Children’s Book Winner

SIERRA ANDREWS and NICHOLAS SEIDLER

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

LISTED IN ORDER OF FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD PLACE

Action/Adventure – Ellis K. Popa – Cathryn deVries – Melissa Widmaier

Addiction and Recovery – Douglas Smith – Kathleen Higgins – Jeffrey Cummins

Animals/Pets – Carrie O’Neill – Dr. Allison Brown, editor

Anthology – Dr. Allison Brown, editor

Artificial Intelligence – Danielly Kaufmann

Audiobook – Michael W. Hickman (Narrator – Ron Allan Fouts)

Book Cover Design Nonfiction – Dot Brovarney – Bob Mcglincy – Thomas Trimble

Book Interior Design Nonfiction – Dot Brovarney

Cancer – Jeffrey Reynolds

Children Bedtime – Kristi Shimada

Children Christian Fiction – Robin Currie

Children Educational – Martha Goldner – Jane E. Ruth

Children Picture Book – Robin Currie – Christian Kueng – Sarah Tinney

Children Picture Book Ages 4 to 8 – Sally Kashner – Miki Taylor – Dr. Samantha Pillay

Children Special Needs – Sierra Andrews and Nicholas Seidler – Lisa Jacovsky

Comedy – Steven Joseph

Comics and Graphic Novels – Steven Joseph

Contemporary Novel – Patricia Leavy

Cozy Mystery – Carolyn Summer Quinn

Crime – S. Lee Funk, Ed.D. – Bill Bennett – Fred Berri

Cross Genre – Richard Davis – Maxime Trencavel

Dark Fantasy – Dap Dahlstrom – Kent Priore – R.M. Schultz

Death and Dying – Marie Lisette Rimer – Kristina Amelong – Debbi Flittner

Devotionals – Donna M. Young

Education – Rich Tola

Family Drama – Laura DeNooyer

Fantasy – Dap Dahlstrom – Tom Klehm – S.D. Huston

Fiction – Dan Schorr – Tom Trabulsi

Foodie Romance – M Jacqueline Murray

Friendship – Stefanie Nici – Iris Dorbian

Grief – Kristina Amelong – Marie Lisette Rimer

Health/Health & Wellness – Nidhi Pandya – Jeffrey Reynolds

Historical Fiction – Sabrina Lund – Jodi Lea Stewart – Nan Evenson

Historical Nonfiction – Bob Mcglincy

Holocaust – Iris Dorbian

Horror – Dust Kunkel – Marsha L Ceniceros

Illustration Adults – Steven Joseph

Inspirational/Motivational – N Laughlin

Juvenile Fiction – Debbie Jenae – Sue Lamoree

Leadership – Paul O’Neill – Tony Jeton Selimi – Paul Petera

LGBTQ Fiction – Lucas Ryker

LGBTQ Nonfiction – Marie Lisette Rimer

Literary Fiction – X. Ho Yen – Dan Schorr – Helen Winslow Black

Medical Thriller – Elizabeth Reed Aden, PhD

Meditation – Cathie Frank

Memoir – Cole Crocker – Tim Koch – Douglas Smith

Mental Health – Jerome Puryear MD – Tanya Lynn – Kathleen Higgins

Military Romance – E. A. Coe

Mind/Body/Spirit – Nil Demircubuk – Debbi Flittner – Jennifer J. Lehr

Multicultural – Jeannee Sacken – Julissa S. Germosen – O’Shan Waters

Multi-Generational – Nora D’Ecclesis

Narrative Nonfiction – D.H. Hutton

Neurodiversity – Kathleen Somers

New Adult Fiction – Ellis K. Popa

New Fiction – Susan Poole – Bea Waters – Diana Colleen

New Fiction (First Time Published) – Elizabeth Reed Aden PhD – Sabrina Lund

New Nonfiction (First time published) – Eli Champion – Nil Demircubuk – Bob Mcglincy

Nonfiction – Tissa Richards – Wilma MacLiver – Evan M. Butterfield

Novella – Nora D’Ecclesis – Cathryn deVries

Parenting & Family – Kyle Thiermann – Helen Winslow Black – Kathleen Somers

Personal Growth – Stephen Rue – Tissa Richards – Lisa Gilbert, MD

Poetry – Esperanza Pretila

Political – Edwin C. Hagenstein

Political Thriller – Dan Schorr

Pop Culture Fiction – Patricia Leavy

Realistic Fiction – Dorothy Deene

Romance – Eve M. Riley – Patricia Leavy

Romantic Suspense – Sophie Bartow

Science Fiction – E.F. Nordmed – B.D. Murphy – Michael Colon

Self Help General – Nil Demircubuk

Self Help/Motivational – Tissa Richards – Debbie Jenae

Small Town Romance – E. A. Coe

Social Issues – Carla Damron

Special Needs – Ange Anderson

Spiritual/Spirituality – David Hutton – John Russell – Donna M. Young

Summer Beach Read – Patricia Leavy

Suspense – Carla Damron – Jeannee Sacken – Ruben Elustondo

Technology – C. V. Wooster – Michael M. Karch, MD – Dr. Thomas Trimble

Thriller – Diana Louise Webb – Bill Bennett – Ruben Elustondo

Visionary Fiction – Maxime Trencavel – Tanya D. Dawson

Western Nonfiction – Dot Brovarney – Debra Flittner

Women’s Fiction – Laura DeNooyer – Helen Winslow Black – Susan Poole

Women’s Issues – Jennifer J. Lehr – Julissa S. Germosen

Young Adult Fiction – Rose M. Delorane – Marsha L Ceniceros – Melanie King-Smith

HONORABLE RECOGNITION

“B-Cide” Cardillo II – Myelin My Shoes

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 – Tissa Richards

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 – Steven Joseph

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 – Carrie O’Neill

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 – Laura DeNooyer

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 – Dap Dahlstrom

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 – Miki Taylor

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 – Rich Tola

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.

8. Best Multi-Platform Author – Samantha Pillay

Description: This is for returning authors who have expanded their storytelling beyond books. This could include creating podcasts, writing blogs, developing social media accounts for storytelling, or creating videos that engage their fanbase.

Purpose: To recognize those who have effectively used different platforms to build a broader presence in the literary world.

9. Best Literary Merit – Patricia Leavy

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.