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
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
2. Best Series Continuation – Helen Starbuck
3. Best Risk-Taker – Javier De Lucia
4. Best Thematic Exploration – Bibiana Krall
5. Most Innovative Use of Genre – Beth SKMorris
6. Best Author Branding – Marieke Lexmond
7. Best Writing in a New Format – Gloria G. Adams
9. Best Literary Merit – Jim Melvin
10. Lifetime Achievement – Juliet Rose
QUIRKY CATEGORIES ADULT
Best Author Bio – P.A. White
Best Book Club Pick – BB Gabriel – R. Michael Cassidy – K.S. Lynn
Best Book Title – Colin C. Campbell
Best Chapter Titles – Amy van Rijthoven – Kate Sweden
Best for Provoking Philosophical Discussions – Scarlet Ibis James – Diana Button
Best for Reading Aloud – Billie Holladay Skelley
Best Plot Twist – Kim Gravell – Ellis K. Popa
Best Unconventional Love Story – Kahlani B. Steele
Most Likely to Inspire a Sequel – Nora D’Ecclesis – Joni Marie Iraci – Judy Lannon
Most Likely to Make You Cry – Javier DeLuca – K.S. Lynn – Kim Gravell
Most Unlikely Best Seller – BB Gabriel
BEST BOOK TRAILERS
Best Book Trailer – Gail Grant Park
Book Trailer Honorable Mentions in alphabetical order
Ciaran MacLeod
Elias Axel
Ellis K. Popa
Fred Berri
Helen Starbuck
QUIRKY CATEGORIES CHILDREN
Artful Adventures Award – Camille A. Buss
Creative Composition Award – Camille A. Buss
Dazzling Details – Freya Novak
Fanciful Fun Award – Arun Palghat Purushotham – Sara Schroter
Furry Friends Award – Billie Holladay Skelley
Out-of-the-Box Adventures Award – Arun Palghat Purushotham
Visual Vibes – Gloria G. Adams
Whimsical Wonder Award – Sara Schroter
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS
