OCTOBER 2021 FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD WINNERS
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our 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, pillows, colorful totes, and more to women and children in long-term shelters via Enchanted Makeovers.
You are so appreciated!
Up to three winners per category are possible based on the judging criteria of each category and based on the cumulative scores from two independent judges. In rare cases, we may award a tie. Often, the winners are only one point apart and are shown in order below, when applicable. Categories with one winner indicate they were the only entry in that category that met the minimum accumulative judging scores.
Action/Adventure Scott Stevens – Cynthia J. Leo – Donna M. Young
African American Fiction Josie Olsvig – Josie Olsvig
Aging/Health Mary Dicaro
Animals/Pets Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller
Autobiography Scott Newman – Jewels
Biography/Historical Jacob Singer
Book Cover Design Fiction Josie Olsvig
Book Cover Design Non Fiction Jack L. Grossman – William Stephenson
Bullying Thomas Dahlborg
Business General Stan Bernard
Business Motivational Christopher Gilbert – A-Jay Orr
Business-Entrepreneurship/ Small Business Helen Yu – Donald F. White – Seth Erickson
Cancer Faith Wilcox – Chris Duffy-Wentzel
Caregiving N. Daniel
Chapter Book Sandy Rogers and Sharyn G. Jordan
Chick Lit Tricia O’Malley – Valerie Taylor
Children Early Readers 5-8 Theresa Shields – Deanie Humphrys-Dunne
Children’s Inspirational/Motivational Ruthie Godfrey – Howie Groff – Ryan O’Connor
Children’s Non-fiction 4-8 Chris Kidd
Children Picture Books Ages 4-8 Jennifer Frank – Lisa Jacovsky – (TIE)Stephanie Jones – Christopher Quirk
Children Pre-School Ages 2-4 Fred Berri – Gramps Jeffrey
Children’s Religion Jean Petersen – Michelle S. Lazurek – Terry Overton
Christian Fiction Michael L. Ross – Allison Wells – Roy Sparkman
Christian Nonfiction Ronald D. Ramsay – Teresa Schultz
Christian Poetry TP Graf
Coaching Thomas Dahlborg
Coffee Table William Stephenson
Coming of Age Scott Newman – Patricia Bossano – Tricia Jacobson with Marie Beswick Arthur
Contemporary Novel Valerie Taylor – Cynthia J. Leo – Donna M. Young
Contemporary Romance Laura Wellington
Cookbook-Regional Jean Petersen
Crime Fiction M.G. Haynes – Bernard Leo Remakus
Cross-genre Fiction Leslie Bratspis
Current Events N. Daniel
Diet/Nutrition Mary Dicaro
Dystopian Kyra Ann Dawkins – Dani Hoots
Dystopian Fantasy Jules L. Grant
Epic M.A. Richter
Fantasy J.W. Zarek – C. Jill Hefte
Fashion Christina Chiu
Finance Tiffany Wright
Fitness David Emerson Frost
Folklore & Legend Tan Van Huizen
Friendship Rick Duffy – Cynthia J. Leo
Green Samuel M. Goodman
Grief Meg Nocero – Shelley Buck and Kathy Curtis – (Tie) Shelby Wagner and Stacey Niedentohl
Guide Book Mackenzie Finklea
Hard Boiled Crime Fred Berri
Health Kathleen J. O’Shea
Historical Jack L. Grossman
Historical Fiction Samantha Specks – Sharon Hart-Green – Marina Osipova
Historical Mystery Terry Heflin
Historical Thriller David Lucero
Holiday Terry Overton
Horror Tan Van Huizen
Humor Charlotte Stuart – Alan Corbett
Illustration/Children Josie Olsvig – Kaaya Sharma
Inspiration Meg Nocero – Ellen Hawkins – Ellen Hawkins
Inspirational/Motivational Sandy and David Petrovic – Kim Lincoln – Teresa Schultz
Juvenile Fiction Sue Ganz-Schmitt – Colby Becknell Hardison – Zivile Cecilia Brubeck
Leadership Carol Sanford – Stan Bernard
Legal Thriller T.L. Bequette
LGBQT Memoir Jewels
LGBT fiction Dani Hoot
Magical Realism Kyra Ann Dawkins – Patricia Bossano – Bella Rayne
Marriage Valerie Taylor
Memoir Susan Keller – Faith Wilcox – Mickey Rowe
Middle Grade Betty Fudge
Military Fiction Liza Gino
Military Nonfiction Bruce A. Bastien – Joseph F. Tallon and Matthew A. Tallon
Mind/Body/Spirit Dhyanis Carniglia – S.J. Cunningham – Kim Lincoln
Movies & Television S.A. Bradley
Multicultural Fiction Josie Olsvig
Mystery Saralyn Richard – T.L. Bequette – A. Piper Burgi
Mythology J.W. Zarek
Nature Linda Harkey
New Adult Fiction Melissa Norton Carro – Dani Hoots
New Adult Nonfiction Scott Newman
New Fiction (first time published) J.S. Farmer – Josie Olsvig – M.A. Richter
New Nonfiction (first time published) Jack L. Grossman – Tanya Hackney
Nonfiction Ralph B. Alexander – Mackenzie Finklea
Paranormal Laura Wellington – J.W. Zarek – Bella Rayne
Paranormal Horror Tan Van Huizen
Paranormal Romance CR Robertson
Parenting & Family Sandy and David Petrovic – Faith Wilcox – Sue Atkins
Personal Growth Christopher Gilbert – Chris Duffy-Wentzel – Kim Lincoln
Philosophical Fiction Patricia Bossano
Picture Book All Ages Sue Ganz-Schmitt
Poetry Orna Ross – Michael Favala Goldman – (Tie)J Kenzy and Vanessa S. Lee-AhMat
Political Jim Lichtman – Ralph L. Bayrer – Terry Overton
Political Thriller Dan Schorr
Political/Social Change James Bolen
Psychological Thriller Bernard Leo Remakus
Relationships Suzanne Simonetti – Jan Walker
Religion/Fiction Melissa Norton Carro – Joyce Crawford
Religious Thriller Bernard Leo Remakus
Romance Tricia O’Malley – Jennae Vale – Pamela Harju
Romantic Comedy Valerie Taylor
Romantic Suspense Bernard Leo Remakus – Scott Stevens – Bella Rayne
Sales & Marketing Dale L. Roberts – Stan Bernard
Science Fantasy Jules L. Grant
Science Fiction Torn MacAlester – Dani Hoots
Seasonal Terry Overton
Self Help Motivational Christopher Gilbert – Kim Lincoln
Series Dale L. Roberts – Teresa Schultz
Sexuality Christina Chiu
Short Stories Steve Zimcosky
Social Issues Jacob Singer
Socio-Political Samuel M. Goodman – Terry Overton
Southern Fiction Melissa Norton Carro
Speculative Fiction Kyra Ann Dawkins
Spiritual/Spirituality Frank P. Daversa – Charol Messenger – Jan Walker
Sports Thomas Dahlborg
Steampunk Mark Piggott
Suspense Scott Stevens
Sword and Sorcery Jules L. Grant
Technology Ross Brand
Thriller Tim Cagle – Donna M. Young
Time Travel Jennae Vale
Travel Tanya Hackney
True Crime Ashley Elliott
Tweens Joan and David Merkin
Well Being Mahtab Jafari
Women’s Fiction Julia Brewer Daily – Kimberly Fish – Melissa Norton Carro
Women’s Issues Christina Chiu
Writing and Publishing Scott Lorenz
Young Adult Fiction Steve Zimcosky – Susie Williamson – Tricia Jacobson with Marie Beswick Arthur
Young Adult Nonfiction Jack L. Grossman
Young Author Scott Newman – Mackenzie Finklea