ANNOUNCING
3rd Quarter 2026
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!
(We sent every entrant 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 it sometimes lands in unusual places.)
Up to three winners per category are possible, based on category-specific judging criteria and the cumulative scores of two independent judges. On occasion, a tie or a fourth winner 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
STEPHEN WATTS
Searching for Harold: One Family’s World War II Story in Letters
Fiction Winner
RAGHAVAN JAYAKUMAR
Gods and God Particles: The Silence Equation
ALL WINNERS, including CHILDREN’S BOOK CONTEST, QUIRKY CATEGORIES, BOOK TRAILERS, & FREQUENT FLYERS CONTEST
LISTED IN ORDER OF FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, and an occasional FOURTH PLACE
Action/Adventure – Christopher Walker – Lynda R. Edwards – Scott Wells
African American Fiction – David L. Wadley – David L. Wadley – David L. Wadley
Aging – Marysue Moses
Biography Historical – Stephen Watts
Book Cover Design – Kurt Springs – Theresa Leyes
Book Interior Design Cheri Strange
Business General – Taylor McCarthy – David L. Wadley
Business Motivational – Morgan Sage Norman – Maranda Dziekonski – Tamika Tyson
Career – Randolph Arslanian – Will Lukang
Children Bedtime – Emily Dittmar
Children Bilingual/Dual Language – Mar Andersons
Children Early Readers 5-8 – Pamela J Howard – Juju Davis
Children Educational – Dr. Katherine E.A. Korkidis
Children Fiction – J. R. Moehring
Children Health/Mental Health – Mar Andersons – Jessica Ann
Children Holiday – Susan Marie Chapman
Children Neurodiversity – Jessica Carbajal
Children Inspirational – Julia Cook – Faith Steinberg
Children Picture Book – Emily Dittmar – Alisa Hope Wagner – Susan Marie Chapman – Susan Marie Chapman
Children Preschool Ages 2-4 – Susan Marie Chapman
Children Special Needs – Jessica Carbajal
Christian Fiction – Laura DeNooyer – Donna M. Young
Christian Nonfiction – Ben Duelley – D. T. Wilson – Cheri Strange
Contemporary Novel – Patricia Leavy
Cozy Mystery – N E Carlisle – Marty Eberhardt – A. Piper Burgi
Cross Genre – Maxime Trencavel – William Robert Carey
Dystopian – Raghavan Jayakumar
Fantasy – Theresa Leyes – Katerina Schafer – Bernard Lightfoot – HL Bernabe
Fiction – Raghavan Jayakumar
Finance – Trevor B. Hanson and Caleb O. Pinegar
Grief – Barry Hoffner – Brant L. Thompson
Healthcare – Joseph A. Rotella, MD, DC – Jerome Puryear, MD
Historical Fiction – Rachel Elwiss Joyce – Catherine Hughes – David R. Leng
Historical Nonfiction – Stephen Watts
History United States – Stephen Watts – Jerry Morton
Holiday – Justin Kratzmeyer
Horror – Bernard Doucette
Leadership – Shawn Gaffney – Zsuzsa Czagler
LGBTQ Fiction – Jean Thesquare – Lisa Acerbo – Kenneth Penn
LGBTQ Nonfiction – Jacob Anthony Rose – C. J. Canino
Literary Fiction – Nicole Sorrell – D. J. Pratt – Ron Schultz
Magical Realism – David de Aja – Ron Schultz – Angelique Jamail
Memoir – Melissa Owens – Andrew Radu – Donna Hills Patrick
Military – Bernard Leo Remakus – Zagloul Kadah – Kurt Springs
Multicultural Fiction – David A. Dummer – Daniel OConnell – Angelique Jamail
Mystery – S. A. Reeves – Fred Benson – Marty Eberhardt – John J Jessop
Narrative Nonfiction – Jennifer J. Lehr – Ben Duelley – Jerry Morton
New Fiction (First time published) – en park – Christopher Walker – Bill Rabbitt – M. S. West
Nonfiction – Stephen Watts – Susan Shapiro Barash
Novella – Terrence W Walsh – Angelique Jamail – T.V. Holiday – Kurt Springs (TIE)
Personal Growth – Chris Bertram PhD & Mark Guadagnoli PhD Chris Sund
Pop Culture Fiction – Patricia Leavy
Post-Apocalyptic Fiction – D. L. Orton
Religion – Ben Duelley – Lynne Golodner
Romance – Patricia Leavy – Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
Science Fiction – Raghavan Jayakumar – Bernard Doucette – Robert F. Glahe
Self Help/Motivational – Martin Tiongson – Christopher Ancona – Will Lukang
Series – Michael Pandolfo – Michael Pandolfo
Social/Political Change – Shira Sebban – Mario Cartaya – Jerry Morton
Spiritual/Spirituality – Jennifer J. Lehr – Steve Lindahl – Jerry Morton
Sports – Ryan Bisio – Andrew Radu
Summer Beach Read – Patricia Leavy
Supernatural – Wouter van Wyk – Kurt Springs – Kenneth Penn
Suspense – David A. Dummer – Wouter van Wyk – Scott Wells
Thriller – Henry Cox – David A. Dummer – Kendall C. Stark – David Wadley
Travel – Barry Hoffner
War Nonfiction – Stephen Watts
Women’s Fiction – Catherine Hughes – Laura DeNooyer – Susannah Marren
Women’s Issues – Nicole Sorrell – Jennifer J. Lehr
Young Adult Fantasy – Zoe Nauman – Kirt Seuchan
Young Adult Romance – Michael Thomas Perone
Young Adult Fiction – Theresa Leyes – Bernard Doucette – Lisa Acerbo
ADDITIONAL CONTESTS
These additional contests use distinct judging criteria so that participants may be evaluated on different factors or qualities than those used in the primary competition above.
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 outstanding, consistent participation.
Best Risk Taker Award – Laura DeNooyer
Best Thematic Exploration Award – Stephen Watts
Emotional Impact Award – Melissa Owens
Exceptional Character Development Award – Susan Shapiro Barash
Firebird Legacy Award- Will Lukang
Masterful Storytelling Award – Ben Duelley
Most Innovative Use of Genre Award – Scott Wells
Most Original Concept Award – Bernard Leo Remakus
Signature Voice Award – Jennifer J. Lehr
QUIRKY CATEGORIES
Best Book Club Pick – Patricia Leavy
Best Book Trailer Award – Jerry Morton
Best Chapter Titles Award – Jonathan DeCoteau
Best Food Scene Award – HL Bernabe
Best for Provoking Philosophical Discussions Award – Wouter van Wyk
Best for Reading Aloud Award – Sarah Tinney
Best Plot Twist Award – Patricia Leavy
Title Most Likely to Say Out Loud – Henry Cox
Best to Read on a Rainy Day Award – Sarah Tinney
Best Underrepresented Perspective Award – Veronica Faline
Best Use of Poetry in a Novel Award – Terrence W Walsh
Book That Feels Like a Work of Art Award – Cheri Strange
Most Likely to Make You Cry Award – Brant L. Thompson
Most Unconventional Love Story Award – Mari Jane Law
Most Unusual Setting Award – Kurt Springs
QUIRKY CHILDREN’S CATEGORIES
Artful Adventures Award – Faith Steinberg
Illustration Innovation Award – Faith Steinberg
Fanciful Fun Award – Liam G. Martin
Furry Friends Award – Mar Andersons
Picture Perfect Pizzazz Award – Joanie Hulse
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS
