HAWTHORNE PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCED!

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      • PRESS RELEASE SERVICE
      • ADVERTISING SERVICE
    • FEATURED REVIEWS
    • FEATURED AUTHORS
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    • MORE
      • SUCCESS STORIES
      • 50+ STAR CLUB
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      • CONTACT US
    • PAST WINNERS
      • 2021
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  • Home
  • CONTESTS
    • CONTESTS
    • AMERICAN WRITING AWARDS
    • HAWTHORNE PRIZE
    • CHILDREN'S BOOK INTL.
    • SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
    • PODCAST OF THE YEAR
  • SUBMISSIONS
    • AMERICAN WRITING AWARDS
    • HAWTHORNE PRIZE
    • CHILDREN'S BOOK INTL.
    • SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
    • PODCAST OF THE YEAR
  • AUTHOR SERVICES
    • BOOK REVIEW SERVICE
    • PRESS RELEASE SERVICE
    • ADVERTISING SERVICE
  • FEATURED REVIEWS
  • FEATURED AUTHORS
  • AWA AUTHOR HALL OF FAME
  • MORE
    • SUCCESS STORIES
    • 50+ STAR CLUB
    • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
  • PAST WINNERS
    • 2021
    • 2022
    • 2023
    • 2024
    • 2025

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

** 2023 AWARD WINNERS **

2023 PODCAST OF THE YEAR

 FULL PODCAST TITLE: It’s Nice to Hear You 

HOST: Heather Li 

PODCAST LINK: https://www.itsnicetohearyou.com/ 

2023 PODCAST OF THE YEAR CATEGORY WINNERS

ARTS

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Diving for Pearls 

HOST: Gina Nelson 

PODCAST LINK: https://divingforpearls.buzzsprout.com/

BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Authors Over 50 Podcast

HOST: Julia Brewer Daily

PODCAST LINK: https://www.authorsover50.com

BEST MALE HOSTED PODCAST

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Metro-East Sports Podcast

HOST: Dave Lipe

PODCAST LINK: https://www.metroeastsportspodcast.com/


BUSINESS

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions 

HOSTS: Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen 

PODCAST LINK: https://art19.com/shows/all-else-equal

COMEDY

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Let’s Get Haunted

HOSTS: Alyssa Terry, Natalia Strawn

PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-get-haunted/id1457775338

DRAMA

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: It’s Nice to Hear You 

HOST: Heather Li 

PODCAST LINK: https://www.itsnicetohearyou.com/

ENTERTAINMENT

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Let’s Get Haunted

HOSTS: Alyssa Terry, Natalia Strawn

PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-get-haunted/id1457775338

EDUCATION

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: buckleUp! podcast with Natalia Earle 

HOST: Natalia Earle 

PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/buckleup-podcast-with-natalia-earle/id1542649692?%20i=1000567454409

FICTION

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Campfire Radio Theatre 

HOST: John Ballentine

PODCAST LINK: https://campfireradiotheater.podbean.com/

GAMES AND HOBBIES

    FULL PODCAST TITLE: PlayersToo Podcast 

HOSTS: Mark Henderson and Lewis Camley 

PODCAST LINK: https://playerstoo.com/playerstoopodcast

KIDS AND FAMILY

   FULL PODCAST TITLE: Becoming Bully Proof

HOST: Rich Grogan

PODCAST LINK: https://www.audible.com/pd/Becoming-BullyProof-Podcast/B0BC4QW3SQ

rg@grogansma.com

LEISURE

     FULL PODCAST TITLE: Pioneering Today

HOST: Melissa K. Norris

PODCAST LINK: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/

MUSIC

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Maed In India 

HOST: Mae Thomas

PODCAST LINK: https://www.maedinindia.in/

SPORTS

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: Moment of Truth 

HOST: James Nesbitt 

PODCAST LINK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0cf9vkv

SCIENCE

SCIENCE

  FULL PODCAST TITLE: The Sound of Science 

HOSTS: Morgan L. McCorkle and Jenny R. Woodbery

PODCAST LINK: https://www.ornl.gov/podcasts/the-sound-of-science

2023 CBI BOOK OF THE YEAR

Ron Rohrbaugh

Ron Rohrbaugh

   Ron Rohrbaugh is a professional conservation scientist and author who spent more than 25 years at Cornell University and the National Audubon Society. Ron got his love of nature through hunting, fishing, birding, and camping in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. His recent works include A Traditional Bowhunter’s Path and LIVING WILD with t

   Ron Rohrbaugh is a professional conservation scientist and author who spent more than 25 years at Cornell University and the National Audubon Society. Ron got his love of nature through hunting, fishing, birding, and camping in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. His recent works include A Traditional Bowhunter’s Path and LIVING WILD with the Orions, an adventure/historical fiction book series that uses storytelling to teach kids and adults about nature, history, wilderness living, wild food, hunting, and more. Ron’s goal is to engage kids in exciting outdoor adventure and historical fiction that will make them want to jump out of bed to build a shelter in the backyard or get curious about the Native People who lived where they do now. Ron travels the country full-time in an RV with his family, where he’s on a mission to help save wild places, share wild food, and be every child’s gateway to nature. Don’t be alarmed if you see a family toting longbows through a campground, it’s probably Ron! Say hello and join in for some outdoor fun! Please visit www.livingwildmedia.com 

2023 CBI WINNERS AND FINALISTS

ADVENTURE

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: “Echo” Book One: LIVING WILD with the Orions

AUTHOR NAME: Ron Rohrbaugh, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Tales of Scuba Steve: Carcharodon Island 

AUTHOR NAME: Steven Kamlet 

PUBLISHER NAME: Fulton Books


FULL BOOK TITLE: Wizard Trees and the Attack of the Giant Weeds

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: CAJUN KIDS ADVENTURES – Volume One – Mystery at Indian Point

AUTHOR NAME: C.P. Landry 

PUBLISHER NAME: Excaliber Publishing Services

ANIMALS/PETS

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Felix’s Favourite Day 

AUTHOR NAME: Fiona Lowry 

PUBLISHER NAME: Fiona Lowry


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: If Cats Could Talk: Laugh Together As You Go On A Spontaneous Adventure With Five Talking Cats

AUTHOR NAME: Ashley Marie Elizabeth Doudna

PUBLISHER NAME: Ashley Marie Elizabeth Doudna


FULL BOOK TITLE: I’ll Remind You

AUTHOR NAME: Shan Frazier

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: My Dog Can’t Jump

AUTHOR NAME: David Lane

PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Adventures of Angel: A Kitten’s Story

AUTHOR NAME: Ross Alan Hahn

PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Toby’s Tale 

AUTHOR NAME: Jennifer Freedman 

PUBLISHER NAME: PEN IT PUBLICATIONS

BEDTIME

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Onward Oat: Courage, Breaking Stereotypes, Kindness

AUTHOR NAME: Vy Lien

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Active Book of Monsters: A Bedtime Story 

AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau 

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: MICE TO MEET YOU: A deep dive into the world of mice 

AUTHOR NAME: Sylvia Elba 

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: Moonlight Monsters

AUTHOR NAME: Heather Millard 

PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Active Book of Monsters 2

AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau 

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Junior Outdoorsmen: An Interactive Adventure 

AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau 

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP

BEST COVER DESIGN-FICTION

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Red Eyes 

AUTHOR NAME: Lee Ching Kai 

PUBLISHER NAME: The Inspiration Hub


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Call of Jeremiah McGill 

AUTHOR NAME: Joseph Moore 

PUBLISHER NAME: Gatekeeper Press

BEST COVER DESIGN-NONFICTION

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Voices of Diversity

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo

BIOGRAPHY

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Because of You, I Lost Everything!

AUTHOR NAME: Jim H. Darnell, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP

CHAPTER BOOK

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Valiance

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Tales of Scuba Steve: Carcharodon Island 

AUTHOR NAME: Steven Kamlet 

PUBLISHER NAME: Fulton Books


FULL BOOK TITLE: Wizard Trees and the Attack of the Giant Weeds

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: CAJUN KIDS ADVENTURES – Volume One – Mystery at Indian Point

AUTHOR NAME: C.P. Landry 

PUBLISHER NAME: Excaliber Publishing Services


FULL BOOK TITLE: Magic in the African Bush

AUTHOR NAME: Betty Sleep

PUBLISHER NAME: Next Chapter


FULL BOOK TITLE: Lilly the Ladybug and the Battle of the Stink

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: My Sister Wants an Elephant

AUTHOR NAME: Lynne Podrat

PUBLISHER NAME: Atmosphere Press


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Alice and the Soccer Star

AUTHOR NAME: Michael Wuehler

PUBLISHER NAME: Christian Faith Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Wild Thing and The Bagel

AUTHOR NAME: Erin L Neal

PUBLISHER NAME: Fulton Books


FULL BOOK TITLE: Alliteration Boosts Communication The ABCs of Vocabulary

AUTHOR NAME: Larry Carey

PUBLISHER NAME: Book Baby (9x7 Hardcover) / Amazon (8.5x8.5 Softcover) / Zips Printing (12x12 Softcover)


FULL BOOK TITLE: No, I Am Not! Says Kenny the Koala 

AUTHOR NAME: Joanne Telcide-Bryant 

PUBLISHER NAME: Josh & Nelly’s, LLC


FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Like Me

AUTHOR NAME: Koryne Carroll Nnoli

PUBLISHER NAME: Crowned Keen Publishing

EDUCATIONAL

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Anjali the Brave: All About Vaccines

AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey & Dr. Maria Abraham

PUBLISHER NAME: Indies United Publishing House


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: My Feeling Heart: Mi Corazón Siente

AUTHOR NAME: Jeanette Canela Montgomery

PUBLISHER NAME: Jeanette Canela Montgomery


FULL BOOK TITLE: Adventures of Nakoa and Nohea: Shadows of the Ancient

AUTHOR NAME: Moana McAdams

PUBLISHER NAME: Mahiʻili Publishing, Burning Spear LLC


FULL BOOK TITLE: Coming to the Stage…Everyday Elements

AUTHOR NAME: Melanie Lymon-Harris

PUBLISHER NAME: Melanie Lymon-Harris


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Letter Critters Word Book: Parents looking for a fun yet educational way to teach your children words!

AUTHOR NAME: Chase Taylor

PUBLISHER NAME: ACT Jams Productions


FULL BOOK TITLE: Easton Learns to Save: A Children’s Guide to Saving Money 

AUTHOR NAME: Rich Gomez 

PUBLISHER NAME: Felicity Fox Books Publishing House

FABLE

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Visions of Beya Bean Blue 

AUTHOR NAME: zO-AlonzO Gross 

PUBLISHER NAME: Seed Royale Publishing


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Hermes the Can-Do Crab

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sneaky Snacky Snake

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: Pete the Slip-Sliding Penguin

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: Sadie Sasquatch Goes to School

AUTHOR NAME: C. James Sweeney

PUBLISHER NAME: Big Foot Print (publishes April 1st, 2023)


FULL BOOK TITLE: Chubby Checker Charlie

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished

FAIRY TALE

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: In Search of Sparkle: A Faerie Fairy Tale

AUTHOR NAME: Donna Lane

PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs

AUTHOR NAME: Amoriah Gray

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: Aniyah’s Magical Unicorn Ride: A Children’s Book About Being Thankful and Appreciative

AUTHOR NAME: Cheryl Nelthropp

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: Ilka from the genus of Big Cats

How Ilka met his brothers

AUTHOR NAME:Asel Ayapova

PUBLISHER NAME: Kutaalam (Kyrgyzstan)

galley copy of the version in English


FULL BOOK TITLE: Adventures of Fairies and Dragons

AUTHOR NAME: Nancy Benson

PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse

FANTASY

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Aster the Spirit Talker

AUTHOR NAME: Allie Compeau

PUBLISHER NAME: WhistlePig Publishing


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse: The Marvelous Multiverse APP

AUTHOR NAME: Aurora Winter

PUBLISHER NAME: Same Page LLC


FULL BOOK TITLE: Wizard Trees and the Attack of the Giant Weeds

AUTHOR NAME: Giorgio Carlo Brambilla & Nicole Aimee Lanoue

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished

FICTION-GENERAL

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Princess, the Knight, and the Lost God: A Chess Story

AUTHOR NAME: Victoria Winifred

PUBLISHER NAME: The Enrichment Connection


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: CAJUN KIDS ADVENTURES – Volume One – Mystery at Indian Point

AUTHOR NAME: C.P. Landry 

PUBLISHER NAME: Excaliber Publishing Services


FULL BOOK TITLE: Oliver the Rabbit Makes a Wish

AUTHOR NAME: Selena Soto

PUBLISHER NAME: Newman Springs Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Alice and the Soccer Star

AUTHOR NAME: Michael Wuehler

PUBLISHER NAME: Christian Faith Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Fearless: The Amazing with Special Abilities

AUTHOR NAME: Carmella Alexander

PUBLISHER NAME: Carmella Alexander

FOLKLORE

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Banana Farm

AUTHOR NAME: David Lane

PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing




GRAPHIC NOVEL

    WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Endurance, Shackleton's Epic Voyage 

AUTHOR NAME: Terrill Sullivan 

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished

HISTORICAL FICTION

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sea Witch’s Revenge: A Delta & Jax Mystery

AUTHOR NAME: Susan Diamond Riley

PUBLISHER NAME: Koehler Books

HOLIDAY

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: I Have Questions, Lots and Lots of Questions: A True Story of Christmas

AUTHOR NAME: David Lane

PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing

INTERACTIVE

    WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book

AUTHOR NAME: Sherrill S Cannon

PUBLISHER NAME: SBP (Strategic Book Publishing)


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Junior Outdoorsman: An Interactive Adventure

AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau 

PUBLISHER NAME: Craig Ohlau

INSPIRATIONAL

    WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Tree and the Girl 

AUTHOR NAME: Andrea Hahnfeld 

PUBLISHER NAME: Andrea Hahnfeld


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Onward Oat: Courage, Breaking Stereotypes, Kindness

AUTHOR NAME: Vy Lien

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: My Father’s Smile 

AUTHOR NAME: Eva Fogel 

PUBLISHER NAME: Eva Fogel


FULL BOOK TITLE: Valiance

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: My Miracle Bear 

AUTHOR NAME: Adriana Olari 

PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Flipper Feet Pete

AUTHOR NAME: Garz Chan

PUBLISHER NAME: Conscious Child Collection

LEGACY

    WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Sailing Away to Nod 

AUTHOR NAME: Brenda M. Spalding 

PUBLISHER NAME: Heritage Publishing.US


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Dressing Basil up and Down

AUTHOR NAME: Diana Duncan

PUBLISHER NAME: PartridgeSingapore


FULL BOOK TITLE: Heavenly Stone

AUTHOR NAME: Asel Ayapova

PUBLISHER NAME: Kutaalam (Kyrgyzstan) galley copy of the version in English


MULTICULTURAL

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Adventures of Nakoa and Nohea: Shadows of the Ancient

AUTHOR NAME: Moana McAdams

PUBLISHER NAME: Mahiʻili Publishing, Burning Spear LLC


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Valiance

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: HOW TO CREATE PEACE – Teaching Children How to Navigate Their Personal Choices, and Build Their Character and Social Morality

AUTHOR NAME: Karen Z. Brass

PUBLISHER NAME: Chazak Publishers


FULL BOOK TITLE: Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs

AUTHOR NAME: Amoriah Gray

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: Voices of Diversity

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash

AUTHOR NAME: Aura Perkins

PUBLISHER NAME: Perks Publishing, LLC


MYSTERY

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sea Witch’s Revenge: A Delta & Jax Mystery

AUTHOR NAME: Susan Diamond Riley

PUBLISHER NAME: Koehler Books

NATURE

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Doppy Saves the Bees! 

AUTHOR NAME: H. R. Manske 

PUBLISHER NAME: Doppys Publishing


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Ilka from the genus of Big Cats

How Ilka met his brothers

AUTHOR NAME:Asel Ayapova

PUBLISHER NAME: Kutaalam (Kyrgyzstan)

galley copy of the version in English

NONFICTION-GENERAL

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: A Penguin’s World

AUTHOR NAME: Patricia Gleichauf

PUBLISHER NAME: Page


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Voices of Diversity

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: Easton Learns to Save: A Children’s Guide to Saving Money 

AUTHOR NAME: Rich Gomez 

PUBLISHER NAME: Felicity Fox Books Publishing House


FULL BOOK TITLE: Easton Learns to Budget: A Children’s Guide to Managing Money 

AUTHOR NAME: Rich Gomez 

PUBLISHER NAME: Felicity Fox Books Publishing House

PARENTING AND FAMILY

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: My Father’s Smile 

AUTHOR NAME: Eva Fogel 

PUBLISHER NAME: Eva Fogel


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: HOW TO CREATE PEACE – Teaching Children How to Navigate Their Personal Choices, and Build Their Character and Social Morality

AUTHOR NAME: Karen Z. Brass

PUBLISHER NAME: Chazak Publishers


FULL BOOK TITLE: This Is Dodger: A Story About the Life of a Rescue

AUTHOR NAME: Dawn R. Smith

PUBLISHER NAME: ArchwayPublishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Check the Chooks!

AUTHOR NAME: Nanette Hanna

PUBLISHER NAME: Olympia Publishers UK


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Joy of Starting School

AUTHOR NAME: Therese Bobe Balchan

PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouseUK


FULL BOOK TITLE: Wild Thing and The Bagel

AUTHOR NAME: Erin L Neal

PUBLISHER NAME: Fulton Books

PICTURE BOOK

   WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Snowman on the Beach

AUTHOR NAME: A. R. Riser

PUBLISHER NAME: Mascot Kids


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Onward Oat: Courage, Breaking Stereotypes, Kindness

AUTHOR NAME: Vy Lien

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished


FULL BOOK TITLE: Tubby Can’t Swim

AUTHOR NAME: Shirley Gould

PUBLISHER NAME: LifeRich Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Abena’s Big Dream

AUTHOR NAME: Cynthia Addae

PUBLISHER NAME: PlayPen Publishing


FULL BOOK TITLE: Let Your Inner Golden Sparkle Shine: The Little Girl Who Never Stopped Believing in Herself

AUTHOR NAME: Muse Literary

PUBLISHER NAME: Muse Literary


FULL BOOK TITLE: Walking with the Sun 

AUTHOR NAME: Preethi Saravanakumar 

PUBLISHER NAME: Preethi Saravanakumar 




POETRY

      WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: FREEDOM CLEARED 

AUTHOR NAME: Nikki Menne

PUBLISHER NAME: Reindeer Cleared Christmas Creations


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Voices of Diversity

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: I Like Mud: and other poems for the young and young-at-heart

AUTHOR NAME: Margaret Grote 


PUBLISHER NAME: Beach Chair Books

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Dolphin and Rose

AUTHOR NAME: Bashir Bashir

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Magic of Plants with Mo the Garden Fairy

AUTHOR NAME: Aunt Jenni 


PUBLISHER NAME: Nesoteric

FULL BOOK TITLE: A Kid's Line of Thought

AUTHOR NAME: Paulo Henrique Silva Rodrigues dos Santos

PUBLISHER NAME: Paulo Henrique Silva Rodrigues dos Santos

REALISTIC FICTION

  WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: “Echo” Book One: LIVING WILD with the Orions

AUTHOR NAME: Ron Rohrbaugh, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Valiance

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


FULL BOOK TITLE: Binnie and the Glitter Guitar

AUTHOR NAME: Michael Wuehler

PUBLISHER NAME: Michael Wuehler


FULL BOOK TITLE: A Hero Wears a Trooper’s Hat

AUTHOR NAME: Steve Frank Schubert

PUBLISHER NAME: Steve Frank Schubert


FULL BOOK TITLE: Small Fry

AUTHOR NAME: Stephenie Wilson Peterson

PUBLISHER NAME: Stephenie Wilson Peterson (Releases on 4/25)

RELIGIOUS

    WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Call of Jeremiah McGill 

AUTHOR NAME: Joseph Moore 

PUBLISHER NAME: Gatekeeper Press


FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Newton Chronicles: Soldiers, Temples, and Crystals

AUTHOR NAME: Terry Overton

PUBLISHER NAME: Ambassador International


FULL BOOK TITLE: Lightning Butterflies!

AUTHOR NAME: Jim H. Darnell, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


FULL BOOK TITLE: JONAH

AUTHOR NAME: Allison Scanlon

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished

SCIENCE FICTION

      WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Lightning Butterflies!

AUTHOR NAME: Jim H. Darnell, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP

FINALISTS

FULL BOOK TITLE: Space Engineers: Aliya and Space Program

AUTHOR NAME: Asel Ayapova

PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished Manuscript


FULL BOOK TITLE: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society (Book 1)

AUTHOR NAME: Terry Overton

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP

SPORTS

      WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: Valiance

AUTHOR NAME: Vanessa Caraveo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Vanessa Caraveo


TRAVEL

      WINNER

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Most Famous Landmarks in the World 

AUTHOR NAME: Samuel John 

PUBLISHER NAME: Samuel John


BOOK OF THE YEAR

BOOK OF THE YEAR

    WINNER

  FULL BOOK TITLE: “Echo” Book One: LIVING WILD with the Orions

AUTHOR NAME: Ron Rohrbaugh, Jr.

PUBLISHER NAME: KDP


2023 HAWTHORNE PRIZE WINNER

MOSS by Joe Pace

Isaiah Moss was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His illegitimate son Oscar Kendall wasn't. Living in Isaiah's inescapable shadow, Oscar has become an inveterate quitter who hides his own literary work from the world rather than suffer the pain of failure or rejection.

When Isaiah suddenly dies, Oscar inherits the 

Isaiah Moss was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His illegitimate son Oscar Kendall wasn't. Living in Isaiah's inescapable shadow, Oscar has become an inveterate quitter who hides his own literary work from the world rather than suffer the pain of failure or rejection.

When Isaiah suddenly dies, Oscar inherits the old man's lakefront writing cabin in New Hampshire. There he finds his father's typewriter, a full liquor cabinet, and an unpublished manuscript of such genius that it could launch Oscar's career if he claims it as his own.

But as Oscar wrestles with his own twisted inspirations, he meets the women in Isaiah's life and begins to learn the depths of his father's secrets...and the costs that come with unresolved trauma and romantic delusion.

Joe Pace

Joe Pace

 Joe Pace lives in his native New Hampshire with his wife Sarah and their sons. A Boston sports fan and an incurable public servant, Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. He has previously published the award-winning and crit

 Joe Pace lives in his native New Hampshire with his wife Sarah and their sons. A Boston sports fan and an incurable public servant, Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. He has previously published the award-winning and critically-acclaimed literary fiction novel Moss (2021) and two science fiction novels: Minotaur (2012) and Lost Harvest (2015), all through Reliquary Press. 

https://www.joepacewritehouse.com/ 

2023 HAWTHORNE PRIZE FINALISTS

    FULL BOOK TITLE: CROSSROADS : THE LONG WAY HOME

AUTHOR NAME: VINCENT L. HOWARD

PUBLISHER NAME: PALMETTO PUBLISHING

FULL BOOK TITLE:  Ghost of the Rio Grande 

AUTHOR NAME:  Don Allen Holbrook 

PUBLISHER NAME:  Two Knights One Horse

  FULL BOOK TITLE: Moss

AUTHOR NAME: Joe Pace

PUBLISHER NAME: Reliquary Press

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Islander 

AUTHOR NAME: David W. Berner 

PUBLISHER NAME: Outpost19 Books/The Shortish Project

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silence in the Sound

AUTHOR NAME: Dianne C. Braley

PUBLISHER NAME: Koehler Books

FULL BOOK TITLE: The Year of the Bear 

AUTHOR NAME: Douglas J. Lanzo 

PUBLISHER NAME: Ambassador International

FULL BOOK TITLE: A PERSISTENT ECHO

AUTHOR NAME: Brian Kaufman

PUBLISHER NAME: Black Rose Writing

FULL BOOK TITLE: Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again

AUTHOR NAME: Roni Rosenthal

PUBLISHER NAME: StoryTime World

FULL BOOK TITLE: Deadly Division 

AUTHOR NAME: Nathaniel Sizemore 

PUBLISHER NAME: BDI Publishers

  FULL BOOK TITLE: The Color of Ice

AUTHOR NAME: Barbara Linn Probst 

PUBLISHER NAME: She Writes Press

  FULL BOOK TITLE:  Hey Jude

AUTHOR NAME:  Kathleen Stone 

PUBLISHER NAME:  Kathleen Stone

  FULL BOOK TITLE: MacLeish Sq.

AUTHOR NAME: Dennis Must

PUBLISHER NAME: Red Hen Press

OFFICIAL 2023 SPRING PRESS RELEASE

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2023 AWA CATEGORY WINNERS

Congratulations comes with the best wishes for the new adventures ahead.

2023 AWA BOOK OF THE YEAR - FICTION

Deborah Hufford

  

2023 AWA BOOK OF THE YEAR - NONFICTION

Ken Guidroz

Ken Guidroz

2023 AWA CATEGORY WINNERS AND FINALISTS

*The number of Finalists per category is determined by the book's rating score and the number of entrants per category. They are listed in no particular order.

2023 SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

Teresa Strasser

2023 SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UPS

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 HAWTHORNE PRIZE WINNER!

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