ANNOUNCING

1st 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!

(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 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

GIL GILLENWATER

Hope on the Border

Fiction Winner

MARK SHAIKEN

For Cause

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 – E.A. Coe

African American Fiction – Jonathan J. Howard

Afterlife – Earl L Carlson

Alternative Medicine – Kateryna Armenta

Anthology – Tejas Desai – Nicholas Seidler

Art Book – Phillippa Cranston Baran

Arts & Entertainment – Nicholas Seidler

Audiobook – Lisa Monde

Book Cover Design/Fiction – Gina Giordano – Valerie Taylor

Book Interior Design Nonfiction – Phillippa Cranston Baran

Business – Jason M. Riggs – D.M. Christensen – Anna Stella

Children Animals/Pets – Laura Filtness – Susan Marie Chapman – Mary Nielson

Children Bedtime – Lolisa Marie Monroe – Alan Dahl

Children Christian Fiction – Mitzi Ocasio

Children Early Chapter Book – Mary Nielsen

Children Educational – Lisa Monde – Stacy Byous Ph.D. – Jane E. Ruth

Children Holiday – Tim Adrian

Children Inspirational/Motivational – Lauren Grabois Fischer – Lolisa Marie Monroe – Lisa Jacovsky

Children Literature – Lolisa Marie Monroe

Children Picture Book – Jeff Dorrill – Alan Dahl – Mary Nielsen

Children Picture Book ages 4-8 – Teri M Brown – Christian Kueng – Dr. Latonya Peterson

Children Spanish Educational – Jane E. Ruth

Children Special Needs – Grace A. Wolf – Mary Aggas – Laura Filtness

Christian – Lydia Friend – C.L. Richardson – Gracie Lynne

Coming of Age – Javier De Lucia – D.L. Bush

Contemporary Novel – Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato – Patricia Leavy

Cozy Mystery – Valerie Taylor

Crime – E.A. Coe – Edward Braddy – A. D. Metcalfe – Clifton Wilcox

Fantasy – E.L. Williams – Brandon M. Wilborn

Fiction – Mark Shaiken

Finance – Marcia Dawood

Financial Thriller – Mark Shaiken

Health/Wellness – Kateryna Armenta

Historical Fiction – James McDevitt – Susan Shalev – Gina Giordano

Juvenile Historical Fiction – D.L. Bush

Leadership – Adam Castillo – Dwight David Croy – Brent Witthuhn

Legal Thriller – Mark Shaiken

LGBTQ Fiction – Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato – S.A. Sizemore – Shoshana D. Kerewsky

Literary Fiction – Tejas Desai

Memoir – Tommy Short – Vincentia Schroeter

Mind/Body/Spirit – Dr. Annise Mabry – Vincentia Schroeter – Jo Ann Fawcett

Motivational – Adam Castillo – Jacquie Elliott – Brent Witthuhn

Mystery – Carolyn Summer Quinn – M.J. Evans

Narrative Nonfiction – Andrei Romanov – Bryn Grover

Nature – Conservation – Anthony Lujan

New Adult Fiction – Joe Markko – Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato

New Nonfiction (first time published) – Regina Sih-Meynier – LJ Cunningham

Nonfiction – Gil Gillenwater

Novella – Javier De Lucia

Personal Growth/Self-Help – Jacquie Elliott – Devin Fish – Karen Leigh Gruber

Philosophy – Stephen Wayne

Poetry – Jacqueline S. Redmer, M.D. – Rebecca Evans

Political Thriller – Keith M. Spence

Pop Culture Fiction – Patricia Leavy

Pre-teen Fiction – Michael J. Bowler

Romance – Patricia Leavy – Twila Mason – D.D. Franklin – Sue Andrews

Romantic Suspense – Sharon L. Clark – Bella Rose – Josephine Jordin

Science Fiction – Peter Solomon – Mitch Melodia

Short Stories – Tejas Desai – Sean Price

Social/Political Change – Gil Gillenwater

Space Opera – Michael W. Hickman

Spiritual/Spirituality – Regina Sih-Meynier – Brandon M. Wilborn

Summer Beach Read – Patricia Leavy – Josephine Jordin

Suspense – Suzanne Trauth

Technology – Jason M. Riggs

Technology Thriller – Mark Shaiken

Time Travel – Earl L Carlson

Visionary Fiction – Stephen Wayne

Well-Being – Dr. Annise Mabry

Women’s Fiction – Patricia Leavy – J A Crawshaw – A. Piper Burgi

Young Adult Fiction – Jessahme Wren

HONORABLE RECOGNITION

Bill Bennett – Borealis

Freddie Floyd Jr – Clear Vision: Seeing Yourself, Your Purpose, and God’s Plan with New Eyes

Neri Lopez – Detective Lucian: Haven Island PD: Protecting Paradise

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 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 their outstanding and consistent participation.

FREQUENT FLYER AWARDS for Returning Authors

Best Literary Merit – Suzanne Trauth

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.

Best Evolution of Style – Javier De Lucia

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

Best Risk Taker – Stephen Wayne

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.

Best Series Continuation – Mark Shaiken

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.

Best Thematic Exploration – Annise Mabry

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.

Best Writing in a New Format – Bryn Grover

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

Most Innovative Use of Genre – Tejas Desai

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.

Lifetime Achievement – Patricia Leavy

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