ANNOUNCING

2nd 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

CHRISTY SAURO JR

The Legacy of the Twins Platoon

Fiction Winner

PAUL LEVINE

Midnight Patriots

Summer Beach Read

WENDY LYNN DECKER

Whispers of Sea Glass

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 – David James – Bevin Goldsmith – S.G. Blaise

African American Nonfiction – Mark Robinson and Raymond Smaltz III – Mark S.Robinson – Woody R. Clermont

Aging – Laurel Richardson

Biographical Fiction – Paul Levine

Biography/Historical – Christy Sauro Jr – Raffaela Marie Rizzo

Book Cover Design Fiction – Patricia Leavy – Gina Giordano – Glen Alex

Book Interior Design/Illustrations – Kathy J Perry

Business – Hunter Hastings and Mark Packard – Hemant Urdhwareshe, Husain A. Al-Omani, Thomas J. West – Shae Pratcher

Cancer – Lis Richardson

Children Adventure (middle grade) – B.R. Kang

Children Diversity – Kathy J Perry

Children Family – Mike Wang

Children Fantasy (middle grade) – B.R. Kang

Children Fiction (middle grade) – Kathy J Perry

Children Historical Fiction (middle grade) – Teddi Ahrens

Children Picture Book – Mike Wang – Nicole Mechem – Susan Marie Chapman

Cli-Fi – Terry Birdgenaw

Coming of Age – Wendy Lynn Decker – Patricia Leavy – James Charles Adams

Contemporary Novel – Lucille Guarino – Mary Cantell – D. R. Berlin

Cross Genre – Richard Kiehr – Wendy Lynn Decker – Corey Frazier

Education – Mark S. Robinson

Epic – David James

Fantasy – Peter Eliott fantasy/dark fantasy – Matt Devitt epic fantasy – Kent Priore fantasy

Fiction Grand Prize – Paul Levine

Health/Wellness – Rebecca Bloom – Glen Alex

Healthcare – Rebecca Bloom

Historical Fiction – Gina Giordano – Michael J. Cooper – Lana Christian

Historical Nonfiction United States – Christy Sauro Jr

Home Entertaining – Jenny Dalio

Horror – Kent Priore – John Evans

Humor – Micheline Brewer

Inspiration – Gregory Gilmore – Meena RD

LGBTQ+ Fiction – Shadley Grei

Literary Fiction – Bernard Leo Remakus – Michael J. Cooper – Patricia Leavy

Magical Realism – Maighread MacKay

Medical Fiction – Bernard Leo Remakus

Memoir – Hemangi Sawant – Adria Sanders – Chaz Holesworth

Mental Health – Glen Alex – Sarah Oelschig

Military Nonfiction – Christy Sauro Jr

Mind/Body/Spirit – Laurel Richardson

Music – Tamar Anolic

Mystery – D. R. Berlin – Tamar Anolic – Artemis Taylor

Narrative Nonfiction – Raffaela Marie Rizzo – Hemangi Sawant – Donna M. Young

New Adult Fiction – D. R. Berlin – Jack Deveny – Mary and Stephen Weller

New Fiction (first time published) – Shadley Grei – Thomas V. Papa – Jane Scott Stuart with Elaine Flowers

Nonfiction Grand Prize – Christy Sauro Jr

Parenting & Family – Shadley Grei – Perry Solomon

Personal Growth – Hussein Kanji – Sarah Oelschig

Philosophy – John Bliss

Poetry – Chaz Holesworth – John Nevel

Political – Stephen B. Young

Political Thriller – Richard Kiehr

Pop Culture Fiction – Patricia Leavy

Religion Fiction – Deena Adams – Lana Christian – Mary Lou Steed

Religion Nonfiction – Ricardo V Sibilla – Adrian J. Adams, Esq

Romance – Patricia Leavy – Eve M Riley – Estelle Pettersen – Elaine M. DeGroot

Self Help – Ann Mracek – Sarah Oelschig – Wilma MacLiver

Series – Judy Lannon – Trish Henry Green

Short Story Collection – John Evans

Spiritualism – Mark Hattas

Spirituality – Adria Sanders

Summer Beach Read – Wendy Lynn Decker – Teri M.Brown

Suspense – D. R. Berlin – Peter Eliott – Mary and Stephen Weller

Teen Mystery – Wendy Lynn Decker

Thriller – Thomas V. Papa – Bevin Goldsmith – Bevin Goldsmith

Urban Fantasy – Peter Eliott – T.V. Holiday – Kay Dee Keating

Weird Book Genre – Karima Vargas Bushnell

Women’s Fiction – Lucille Guarino – Jack Deveny – Bevin Goldsmith

Young Adult Fiction – D. R. Berlin – Richard T. Wilson – Connie Senior

Young Author written by 11-18 year old – Bella Olson – Sosena Audain

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.

Best Literary Merit – Patricia Leavy

This category recognizes exceptional literary quality, focusing on the technical aspects of writing, such as prose style, structure, and eloquence. It’s an acknowledgment of the craft above all else.

Best Multi-Platform Author – Teri Brown

This is for returning authors who have expanded their storytelling beyond books. This could include creating podcasts, writing blog posts, developing social media accounts for storytelling, or producing videos that engage their fanbase.

Best Evolution of Style – Judy Lannon

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 – Trish Henry Green

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 – Mary and Stephen Weller

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 – Maighread MacKay

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.