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.

Best Evolution of Style – Tissa Richards

Best Series Continuation – Steven Joseph

Best Risk-Taker – Carrie O’Neill

Best Thematic Exploration – Laura DeNooyer

Most Innovative Use of Genre – Dap Dahlstrom

Best Author Branding – Miki Taylor

Best Writing in a New Format – Rich Tola

Best Multi-Platform Author – Samantha Pillay

Best Literary Merit – Patricia Leavy

QUIRKY CATEGORIES ADULT

Best Book Club Pick – Helen Winslow Black – Susan Poole – Carrie O’Neill

Best Chapter Titles – Helen Winslow Black – Erin Tunney

Best for Provoking Philosophical Discussions – Sabrina Lund – Kristina Amelong

Best Plot Twist – Diana Louise Webb

Best Unconventional Love Story Award – M Jacqueline Murray – Tanya Lynn

Best Use of Poetry in a Novel – Nora D’Ecclesis

Most Heartwarming Award – M Jacqueline Murray

Most Likely to Inspire a Sequel – Elizabeth Reed Aden MD – Diana Louise Webb – M Jacqueline Murray

Most Likely to Make You Cry – Kristina Amelong

Most Unforgettable Opening Line – Dorothy Deene “I draw the line at cockroaches.”

BEST BOOK TRAILERS

Sabrina Lund

Diana Louise Webb

Debbie Janae

QUIRKY CATEGORIES CHILDREN

Furry Friends Award – Nic Minnella

Monster Mash Up Award – Miki Taylor – Jan O’Dea

Picture Perfect Pizzazz Award – Miki Taylor – Sally Kashner

Unlikely Friendships Award – Kristi Shimada – Jan O’Dea

Whimsical Wonders Award – Kristi Shimada – Jan O’Dea

3rd Quarter 2025 Firebird Book Award Winners