ANNOUNCING
4th 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
Dani Alpert
Fiction Winner
Tejas Desai
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 – Jacqueline Reinig – David Buzan – Dr. Timothy Dale White
Animals/Pets – KS Evans
Anthology – Tejas Desai – Dylan Brody – Eric J. Hull
Biographical Fiction – Betty Bolte
Biography/Historical Nonfiction – Joan T. Seko
Book Cover Design/Nonfiction – Hady Mendez
Business/Motivational – Johnathan Johannes – LJ Cunningham
Children Bedtime – Terry Grahl – Seth Warburton
Children Educational – Martha Goldner
Children Environment – Martha Goldner
Children Fantasy – Dr. Bill Senyard – Kristi Shimada
Children Holiday – Bridgetta Tomarchio – Jared Auchter
Children Inspirational/Motivational – Kimberly Robinson – Terry Grahl – Bridgetta Tomarchio
Children Health/Mental Health – Kristi Shimada
Children Nonfiction – KS Evans
Children Nature – Julie McGue
Children Picture Books – Ages 4-8 – Terry Grahl – (TIE)Susan Marie Chapman – Susan Marie Chapman – Eddie Hall
Children Poetry – Anthony J. D’Amato
Children Preschool Ages 2 – 4 – Anna Finch – Anthony J. D’Amato
Christian Fiction – Mark Hattas – H. L. Walsh
Christian Nonfiction – M. J. Kelley II
Contemporary Novel – Chadwick Wall – Lucille Guarino
Cozy Mystery – T. C. Lotempio – N. E. Carlisle
Crime – Dennis Currie – Jessi Kroft
Cross Genre – Raquel Y. Levitt – Ines Gray – O’Shan Waters
Dystopian – Viktor Csak – Elisabeth Nadler – Elisabeth Nadler – Elisabeth Nadler
Epic – Robert C. Laymon
Fantasy/Fantasy Dark – Robert C. Laymon – David James – Kay Dee Keating – Dacota Rogers
Fiction – Tejas Desai
Health/Wellness – Leah Hollon – R.E. Hengsterman, RN
Healthcare – Tom Dahlborg
Historical Fiction – David R. Leng – Rachel Elwiss Joyce – Christopher DeWitt
Historical Nonfiction – Carla Stockton
Historical Romance – Sheri Sheldon
Horror – Kendall Phillips – Juliet Rose – Scott Wells
Humor – Dani Alpert – Dylan Brody
Inspiration – Teri M Brown
Juvenile Fiction – Kimberly Behre Kenna
Leadership – Johnathan Johannes
Literary Fiction – Tejas Desai – Sera Maddox Drake – K. M. Cookie
Memoir – Patricia Leavy – Susanna Janssen – Adriene Caldwell
Mind/Body/Spirit – Leah Hollon
Multicultural Fiction – Ayura Ayira – Gifford MacShane
Multicultural Nonfiction – Hady Mendez – Joan T. Seko
Native American Literature/Fiction – Nancy Chadwick
New Fiction – First Time Published – Linda Paul – Louis Tong
New Nonfiction – Patricia Leavy – Susanna Janssen – Jesse Roder
New Nonfiction (First time published) – Steven Davis
Nonfiction – Dani Alpert – Woody Clermont – Tyler Horan
Personal Growth – Monica Ion and Stefan Irimia – LJ Cunningham
Poetry – Robert Janki
Political – Rob Curnock
Post-Apocalyptic Fiction – Tracy Myhre – Tracy Myhre – Viktor Csak
Pre-Teen Fiction – Kimberly Behre Kenna
Religion – M. J. Kelley II – Marvin J. Newell – Coffey Agnello – Bret E. Cheek
Romance – Robert Brighton – Lisa Acerbo – Tracey Magruder – Em S. A’cor
Science Fiction – W.D. Kilpack III – Kendall Phillips – Marsha L Ceniceros
Self Help/Motivational – Will Lukang, Hibe Tanvir, Donya Smida, Joel Vuadens-Chan, Neha Deshpande, Eric E. Ebron – Roberto Torres – Matthew Black
Short Stories – Tejas Desai – Dylan Brody – Mary Bess Dunn
Small Town/Rural Fiction – Nancy Chadwick
Social/Political Change – Hera McLeod
Southern Fiction – Chadwick Wall
Special Needs – Sara Kelly
Speculative Fiction – Raquel Y. Levitt – Eric J. Hull
Spiritual/Spirituality – Terri Kozlowski – Coffey Agnello – Melanie Smithson
Spiritualism – William Truax
Thriller – Richard Scott Sacks – Jessi Kroft
Visionary Fiction – Mark Hattas – Sera Maddox Drake
War Fiction – Ian Griffin
Well-Being – Michele Connolly
Western Fiction – Mike Torreano
Women – Nancy Chadwick – Betty Bolte – Carla Stockton
Writing/Publishing – Charlotte Chipperfield – Patricia Leavy
Young Adult Fiction – Catherine Lyon – Maria Rodriguez Bross
Young Adult Romance – Jessica K. Foster
HONORABLE RECOGNITION
A W Anthony –
A W Anthony – Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns: A Wholesome Christian Romance
Charles Weeden – Tissiack
Crystal Charlotte CC Lane –
Maxim Bishop –
Philip T. Brewster – My Forever Body
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.
FREQUENT FLYER AWARDS for Returning Authors
Best Evolution of Style – Coffey Agnello
Best Literary Merit – W.D. Kilpack III
Best Risk-Taker – Viktor Csak
Best Series Continuation – Toni Lotempio
Most Innovative Use of Genre – Elizabeth Nadler
Best Thematic Exploration – Dennis Currie
QUIRKY CATEGORIES
Best Book Trailer – Fred Berri (click image)
Best for Provoking Philosophical Discussions Award – Lisa Acerbo
Best Plot Twist – Ian Griffin
Best Unconventional Love Story – Sera Maddox Drake
Most Heartwarming Award – Robert Brighton – Auburn Hartley
Most Likely to Make You Cry Award – Adriene Caldwell
QUIRKY CHILDREN’S CATEGORIES
Epic Escapades – M. K. McDaniel – Wendy Wenger – Pat Alvarado
Fanciful Fun Award – David L. Gillespie
Furry Friends Award – David L. Gillespie
Monster Mash-Up Award – Jeff Dorrill – Sue Ganz-Schmitt
Out of the Box Adventures – Pat Alvarado – David Gillespie
Picture Perfect Pizzazz Award – Sue Ganz-Schmitt – Kristi Shimada
Unlikely Friendships Award – Wendy B. Wenger – Sue Ganz-Schmitt – David Gillespie
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS
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