2025 PODCASTS OF THE YEAR
Full Podcast Title: Keresse Thompson, LCSW
Host: Diary of An Empath Podcast
Podcast Link: Listen on Apple Podcasts
Full Podcast Title: Wisdom of Age
Host: Stacy Raine
Podcast Link: wisdomofagepodcast.com
2025 PODCAST OF THE YEAR CATEGORY WINNERS AND FINALISTS
ARTS
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: The Art of Crime
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Podcast Link: www.artofcrimepodcast.com
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Rock is Lit
Host: Christy Alexander Hallberg
Podcast Links:
Apple Podcasts | Website
Full Podcast Title: Online for Authors
Host: Teri M Brown
Podcast Link: www.terimbrown.com/online-for-authors.html
Full Podcast Title: NOTES ON A NATIVE SON
Host: Razia Iqbal
Podcast Link: WNYC Studios
BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Living Ageless and Bold
Host: Christina Daves
Podcast Link: christinadaves.com/living-ageless-podcast
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Getting Rich Together
Host: Syama Bunten
Podcast Links:
Website | Apple Podcasts
Full Podcast Title: Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People
Host: Meg Nocero
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
Full Podcast Title: Let’s Get Haunted
Hosts: Aly Terry, Nat Strawn
Podcast Links:
bit.ly/GetHaunted | Linktree
Full Podcast Title: On the Table with Ashley
Host: Ashley Gould
Podcast Link: Buzzsprout
Full Podcast Title: Birth New Earth
Host: Alana Light
Podcast Link: YouTube
Full Podcast Title: To Live List
Host: Delia Grenville
Podcast Link: tolivelist.com
BEST MALE HOSTED PODCAST
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air
Host: Larry Wilmore
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: The Art of Crime
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Podcast Link: artofcrimepodcast.com
Full Podcast Title: Found My Hero Within
Host: Will Lukang
Podcast Link: YouTube
Full Podcast Title: The Michael Finkley Show
Host: Michael D. Finkley
Podcast Links:
Audio Version – Spotify
Visual Version – YouTube
Full Podcast Title: Stories from Real Life
Host: Melvin E. Edwards
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
BUSINESS
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Getting Rich Together
Host: Syama Bunten
Podcast Links:
Website
Apple Podcasts
BUSINESS
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Get Comfy with Numbers
Host: Erika Millard
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
COMEDY
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Legion of Skanks
Hosts: Big Jay Oakerson, Luis J. Gomez, and Dave Smith
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Let’s Get Haunted
Hosts: Aly Terry, Nat Strawn
Podcast Link: Bit.ly Link
or Linktree
CHILDREN'S (UNDER 18)
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Lasting Legends: Greek Myths Surround Us
Host: Cole Stopnik
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
ENTERTAINMENT
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Let’s Get Haunted
Hosts: Aly Terry, Nat Strawn
Podcast Link: Bit.ly Link
OR Linktree
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: My Imperfect Yellow
Host: Tyran Lee Ingram
Podcast Link: Spotify
Full Podcast Title: The Michael Finkley Show
Host: Michael D. Finkley
Podcast Link:
EDUCATION
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Freelance Writing Direct
Host: Estelle Erasmus
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Online for Authors
Host: Teri M. Brown
Podcast Link: Teri M. Brown
Full Podcast Title: Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People
Host: Meg Nocero
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FICTION
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Online for Authors
Host: Teri M. Brown
Podcast Link: www.terimbrown.com/online-for-authors.html
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Rock is Lit
Host: Christy Alexander Hallberg
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
Website
Full Podcast Title: Authors Talking Bookish
Hosts: Donna Norman-Carbone & Hope Gibbs
Podcast Link: RSS Feed
Full Podcast Title: BASEBALL, BOOKS, AND BANTER
Host: Nicole Asselin
Podcast Link: Libsyn
HEALTH
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Diary of An Empath Podcast
Host: Keresse Thompson
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: The Plus SideZ: Cracking the Obesity Code
Hosts: Kim Carlos & Kat Carter
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
Full Podcast Title: Come On In: AYA Cancer Unfiltered
Host: Marie Sadd
Podcast Link: YouTube Playlist
Full Podcast Title: Found My Hero Within
Hosts: Will Lukang
Podcast Link: YouTube
Full Podcast Title: Love Your Calm: Mini Meditations
Host: Hannah Castillo
Podcast Link: Buzzsprout
HISTORY
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Riches & Power
Host: Alex Doubet
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALIST
Full Podcast Title: The Art of Crime
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Podcast Link: The Art of Crime
KIDS AND FAMILY
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Lasting Legends: Greek Myths Surround Us
Host: Cole Stopnik
Podcast Link: Apple Podcasts
FINALIST
Full Podcast Title: 90-Second Author Interview
Host: Jean Johnson
Podcast Link: Spotify
LEISURE
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Love Your Calm: Mini Meditations
Host: Hannah Castillo
Podcast Link: Love Your Calm
MUSIC
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Rock is Lit
Host: Christy Alexander Hallberg
Podcast Link: Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts
Official Website
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Grieving Parents Sharing Hope
Host: Laura Diehl
Podcast Link: Grieving Parents Sharing Hope Podcast
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: The Out on a Limb podcast
Hosts: Allison Brown, Will Brown, Samantha Kaufman
Podcast Link: The Out on a Limb Podcast on YouTube
Full Podcast Title: The Astrology Podcast
Host: Chris Brennan
Podcast Link: The Astrology Podcast
SCIENCE
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Stories of Impact
Host: Tavia Gilbert
Podcast Link: Stories of Impact Podcast
FINALIST
Full Podcast Title: Love Your Calm: Mini Meditations
Host: Hannah Castillo
Podcast Link: Love Your Calm: Mini Meditations
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Wisdom of Age
Host: Stacy Raine
Podcast Link: Wisdom of Age Podcast
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: Let’s Get Haunted
Hosts: Aly Terry, Nat Strawn
Podcast Link: Let’s Get Haunted
OR Linktree
Full Podcast Title: Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People
Host: Meg Nocero
Podcast Link: Manifesting with Meg
Full Podcast Title: On the Table with Ashley
Host: Ashley Gould
Podcast Link: [On the Table with Ashley](On the Table with Ashley Podcast on Amazon Music)
Full Podcast Title: Stories from Real Life
Host: Melvin E. Edwards
Podcast Link: Stories from Real Life
TECHNOLOGY
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Shift Happens with Litty Samuel
Host: Litty Samuel
Podcast Link: Shift Happens with Litty Samuel
CRIME
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
Hosts: Kate McCoy, Kevin Corbett
Podcast Link: Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
Website Link
Full Podcast Title: Zone 7
Host: Sheryl “Mac” McCollum
Podcast Link: Zone 7
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: The Last Trip
Host: Jaimie Beebe
Podcast Link: The Last Trip
Full Podcast Title: Crime Beat with Ron Chepesiuk
Host: Ron Chepesiuk
Podcast Link: Crime Beat
Full Podcast Title: The Art of Crime
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Podcast Link: The Art of Crime
CRIME
CRIME
WINNER
Full Podcast Title: Zone 7
Host: Sheryl “Mac” McCollum
Podcast Link: Zone 7
Full Podcast Title: Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
Hosts: Kate McCoy, Kevin Corbett
Podcast Link: Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown
Website Link
FINALISTS
Full Podcast Title: The Last Trip
Host: Jaimie Beebe
Podcast Link: The Last Trip
Full Podcast Title: Crime Beat with Ron Chepesiuk
Host: Ron Chepesiuk
Podcast Link: Crime Beat
Full Podcast Title: The Art of Crime
Host: Gavin Whitehead
Podcast Link: The Art of Crime
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2025 CBI WINNERS AND FINALISTS!
2025 CBI BOOK OF THE YEAR
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Jar of Laughter
AUTHOR NAME: Joy Yi
PUBLISHER NAME: Wavelina Publishing
Joy is a Korean-American children’s book author, mom, and a supporter of the arts and education. After earning her B.A. in Communication and a Master’s in Education from UCSD, Joy worked as a Creative Arts Director, promoting and developing music and arts ministries.
Eventually, she chose to channel her energy into raising her two bo
Joy is a Korean-American children’s book author, mom, and a supporter of the arts and education. After earning her B.A. in Communication and a Master’s in Education from UCSD, Joy worked as a Creative Arts Director, promoting and developing music and arts ministries.
Eventually, she chose to channel her energy into raising her two boys. Around the same time, she discovered a passion for photography and started a photography business. She also teaches music to preschoolers and leads a children’s choir once a week.
Her debut picture book, The Jar of Laughter, celebrates the infectious nature of laughter and how it can bring people together.
Joy is based in Orange County, California.
Follow Joy on @hellojoyyi or www.hellojoyyi.com
2025 CBI CATEGORY WINNERS AND FINALISTS
ADVENTURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Adventures of Lucky Rocky: Two-in-One Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: AGLIO AND OLIO'S FIRST ADVENTURE
AUTHOR NAME: LUCIANO ANDREAS VALLONE
PUBLISHER NAME: TESOROS PUBLISHING
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dillo & Dove: Where does trash go?
AUTHOR NAME: LR Martin
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Heroes of the Nebula
AUTHOR NAME: Riya Goswami
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lulu, Lou and YOU – A Volcano Voyage
AUTHOR NAME: Dennis Kavak
PUBLISHER NAME: Maria Marsky Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Ichi-ban Goes Hiking
AUTHOR NAME: Julie Maurer
PUBLISHER NAME: Puppy Paws Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Pita the Cabo Dog
AUTHOR NAME: Colleen Stark
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Grace Retraces Her Day
AUTHOR NAME: Cheryl Lock
PUBLISHER NAME: Mindstir Media
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Conversation
AUTHOR NAME: Michelle Massie
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
ANIMALS/PETS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight
AUTHOR NAME: Christine Mott
PUBLISHER NAME: Lantern Publishing & Media
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: If I had a...
AUTHOR NAME: Emily Messner
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Rolph the Concert Wolf
AUTHOR NAME: Aina Elina Roenningen
PUBLISHER NAME: Barnes & Noble Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brutus and the Relay Race
AUTHOR NAME: Tif E. Boots
PUBLISHER NAME: ShelteringTree.Earth, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: KARA AND THE MAGIC CAMPER
AUTHOR NAME: JESSICA POLICARPO
PUBLISHER NAME: JESSICA POLICARPO
FULL BOOK TITLE: Ichi-ban Goes Hiking
AUTHOR NAME: Julie Maurer
PUBLISHER NAME: Puppy Paws Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sammys Voyage to a New Home: True Adventures of a Small Cat Finding His Place in a Big World-Ages 4-8
AUTHOR NAME: Debra Siraco, Zareen Wilhelm
PUBLISHER NAME: BrainBloom
ART
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
BEDTIME
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Night Night Cat
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lore of the Dugal Bears
AUTHOR NAME: Howard Palmer
PUBLISHER NAME: HEPalmer
FULL BOOK TITLE: Where Have You Been, Little Max?
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Conversation
AUTHOR NAME: Michelle Massie
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Miausi: The Calico Cat
AUTHOR NAME: Karen Castellanos Vasquez
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Eli the Eagle
AUTHOR NAME: Barbara Anderson
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gators Are Great
AUTHOR NAME: Leann Edwards
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
BEST COVER DESIGN-FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: John and His Magical Pig
AUTHOR NAME: Haoying Zhang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Christmas Eve Blizzard
AUTHOR NAME: Scott Withers
PUBLISHER NAME: Severe Wx Live LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
BIOGRAPHY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Adopted for Good
AUTHOR NAME: Dede Kolb
PUBLISHER NAME: Inspiring Light
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Roger Staubach: A Winner Both On and Off the Field
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
BOARD BOOKS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Miss Mouse Baked a Cake
AUTHOR NAME: Laura Payne
PUBLISHER NAME: Laura Craft LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gigglet: The Happy Little Piglet Goes to School
AUTHOR NAME: A.M. Berkowitz
PUBLISHER NAME: A.M. Berkowitz
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
CHAPTER BOOK
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: UP SO FLOATING
AUTHOR NAME: Maureen Hourihan
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Clan of Critters
AUTHOR NAME: Marcy Ray Dodd
PUBLISHER NAME: Pegasus Publishers
FULL BOOK TITLE: SAVE THE QUEEN
AUTHOR NAME: Chelsea Grimes
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chloe, The “Military Brat”
AUTHOR NAME: Al Zeine
PUBLISHER NAME: Al Zeine Books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Garden Fairies
AUTHOR NAME: C.L. Watson
PUBLISHER NAME: Sidhe Productions
FULL BOOK TITLE: Black Hole Radio - Furilani
AUTHOR NAME: Ann Birdgenaw
PUBLISHER NAME: DartFrog Books
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Charlotte’s Ghosts: The Mystery of the Vanishing Boy
AUTHOR NAME: L. P. Simone
PUBLISHER NAME: Dragon Song Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Toys Come Alive
AUTHOR NAME: Evelyn Wong
PUBLISHER NAME: Evelyn Wong
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Words I Wrote: A Collection of Children’s Short Stories
AUTHOR NAME: Shambhavi Manoj
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wings of Glitter
AUTHOR NAME: Miranda Sada
PUBLISHER NAME: Miranda Valdés Sada
FULL BOOK TITLE: Matti and Anty. The Secret World of Icelandic Ants
AUTHOR NAME: Marco Mancini /Laufey Jónsdóttir
PUBLISHER NAME: Bókafélagið
FULL BOOK TITLE: Going to Live with Auntie
AUTHOR NAME: Andria Williams
PUBLISHER NAME: AW Books, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Girl & The Ocean
AUTHOR NAME: Lei’a Haff
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published
FULL BOOK TITLE: Noah Guy Who Likes to Paint
AUTHOR NAME: Jeanne & Tyler Ward
PUBLISHER NAME: Mindstir Media
FULL BOOK TITLE: HEAR ME ROAR
AUTHOR NAME: MARIANNA BUFFOLINO
PUBLISHER NAME: IANNOTTA CREATIONS CORP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jua The Kikuyu Sun Princess
AUTHOR NAME: Esther Kamoche Robinson
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
EDUCATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: What Is The Law?
AUTHOR NAME: Aisha Gokada
PUBLISHER NAME: Swathi Chandrala in partnership with Amazon KDP
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Joe Wala the Keeper
AUTHOR NAME: Molly J. Hoffman
PUBLISHER NAME Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: MACIE AND THE MAGIC VEGGIES
AUTHOR NAME: PETER CONTARDO
PUBLISHER NAME: MINDSTIR MEDIA
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jealous Jitzey
AUTHOR NAME: Stevi Reed
PUBLISHER NAME: Anchored Hope Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Puff and Spotzie Adventures Oregon Trail
AUTHOR NAME: Courtney Morstatter
PUBLISHER NAME: Weeva
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sue’s Splashy Surprise: A Pond-ering Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Mamimo Chan
PUBLISHER NAME: Partridge Singapore
FULL BOOK TITLE: How to Draw 111 Amazing and Cute Animals, Fairy-tale, Characters, Flowers, Foods, Gifts, and other Themes. The Magic of Creativity for Kids
AUTHOR NAME: Ricardo Demi
PUBLISHER NAME: Magic of Discoveries LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: Our Choices
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Chisato Hotta
PUBLISHER NAME: Barnes & Noble Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FABLE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Frog Prince in His Little Kingdom
AUTHOR NAME: Ailin Iwan
PUBLISHER NAME: Newman Springs Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Flight to the Light
AUTHOR NAME: Danny Barron
PUBLISHER NAME: WestBow Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silent Song of Harpo
AUTHOR NAME: Charles Presti
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: GREAT GRANNY GOOSE SAYS: A Tale of New Orleans
AUTHOR NAME: Jo Ann Schmitt
PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse
FULL BOOK TITLE: Charlie and the Scavenger Hunt
AUTHOR NAME: Tif E. Boots
PUBLISHER NAME: ShelteringTree.Earth, LLC
FAIRY TALE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Science Behind the Three Little Pigs
AUTHOR NAME: Igor Lima
PUBLISHER NAME: Igor Lima
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Oleyn
AUTHOR NAME: Olive Wang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FANTASY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: DELILAH VERSUS THE GHASTLY GRIM
AUTHOR NAME: T. L. McCoy
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished--Expected publication date: May 2025
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dinosaur Carnival
AUTHOR NAME: S.P. Somtow
PUBLISHER NAME: Diplodocus Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions
AUTHOR NAME: M.S.V. Walker pen.
PUBLISHER NAME: Desert Star Media, LLC
FULL BOOK TITLE: SUPER SUPER CHARRO
AUTHOR NAME: Carlos Lozano
PUBLISHER NAME: N/A
FULL BOOK TITLE: Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets
AUTHOR NAME: Jabril Yousef Faraj
PUBLISHER NAME: DANK ONION
FICTION-GENERAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Creatures of Intuiland
AUTHOR NAME: Ana Usero
PUBLISHER NAME: Ana Usero
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wings and Whispers: Tales of Friendship, Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Kaelen Felix
PUBLISHER NAME: Prolific Pulse Press LLC
FOLKLORE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions
AUTHOR NAME: M.S.V. Walker pen.
PUBLISHER NAME: Desert Star Media, LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
HISTORICAL FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tiny Tales for the Teeming Mind
AUTHOR NAME: Prabha Girish
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published through Amazon and Ingramspark
HISTORICAL NONFICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: What Can I Be? I Can Be Anything!
AUTHOR NAME: Maurice Jones
PUBLISHER NAME: Tellwell Publishing
HISTORICAL NONFICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Theodore Roosevelt and the Summit that Saved FootballAUTHOR NAME: A.J. ChilsonPUBLISHER NAME: KDP
HOLIDAY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Christmas Eve Blizzard
AUTHOR NAME: Scott Withers
PUBLISHER NAME: Severe Wx Live LLC
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Santa’s Kid of The Year
AUTHOR NAME: David Knoll
PUBLISHER NAME: Christian Faith Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Fir With a Big Wish
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
FULL BOOK TITLE: ECHO
AUTHOR NAME: Kayli Armstrong
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Valentine’s Day for Ladybug
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
HUMOR
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: This Fart Needs a Mom
AUTHOR NAME: Samuel Senter
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Way the Cookie Crumbled (and Other Positively Preposterous Poems) 2nd Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Lizzy Judge
PUBLISHER NAME: The Armadillo’s Pillow Ltd
INTERACTIVE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Barbara the Capybara
AUTHOR NAME: Grace Liu
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: High Hopes Big Dreams
AUTHOR NAME: Yolanda S Pascal
PUBLISHER NAME: Amphitrite Publishing
INSPIRATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Beyond the Other Side of the Pond
AUTHOR NAME: Lynn Van Allen
PUBLISHER NAME: Illumen Books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Caddy’s Big Dream
AUTHOR NAME: Virginia O’Brien
PUBLISHER NAME: Virginia O’Brien
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Just a Jam Jar: Filled with Endless Possibilities
AUTHOR NAME: Dylan & Erica Turzak
PUBLISHER NAME: Sage Books Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Do you know?
AUTHOR NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
PUBLISHER NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chameleon and the Color of Brave: A Story about Domestic Violence
AUTHOR NAME: Amanda Moore
PUBLISHER NAME: Amanda Moore
FULL BOOK TITLE: I AM Affirmations: Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Heart’s Tale
AUTHOR NAME: Katy Grant
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sons & The Stars
AUTHOR NAME: Rey A. Banda
PUBLISHER NAME: Northopolis Publishing Company
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Phobia Club
AUTHOR NAME: Jessica Russo
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Emotion Tamer
AUTHOR NAME: Dorit Geifman Lugasy
PUBLISHER NAME: Niv-books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hazel’s Wishy Musical Wish
AUTHOR NAME: John Stuart
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
INSPIRATIONAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Little Caddy’s Big Dream
AUTHOR NAME: Virginia O’Brien
PUBLISHER NAME: Virginia O’Brien
FULL BOOK TITLE: Beyond the Other Side of the Pond
AUTHOR NAME: Lynn Van Allen
PUBLISHER NAME: Illumen Books
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Just a Jam Jar: Filled with Endless Possibilities
AUTHOR NAME: Dylan & Erica Turzak
PUBLISHER NAME: Sage Books Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Do you know?
AUTHOR NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
PUBLISHER NAME: Rochelle Bourn Guidry
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chameleon and the Color of Brave: A Story about Domestic Violence
AUTHOR NAME: Amanda Moore
PUBLISHER NAME: Amanda Moore
FULL BOOK TITLE: I AM Affirmations: Volume 1
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Heart’s Tale
AUTHOR NAME: Katy Grant
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Sons & The Stars
AUTHOR NAME: Rey A. Banda
PUBLISHER NAME: Northopolis Publishing Company
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Phobia Club
AUTHOR NAME: Jessica Russo
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Emotion Tamer
AUTHOR NAME: Dorit Geifman Lugasy
PUBLISHER NAME: Niv-books
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hazel’s Wishy Musical Wish
AUTHOR NAME: John Stuart
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Gertie Braves the River
AUTHOR NAME: Louis Papadakis
PUBLISHER NAME: Louis Papadakis
LEGACY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Red Eyes
AUTHOR NAME: Lee Ching Kai
PUBLISHER NAME: The Inspiration Hub
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jesse and Luz: A Special Friendship
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
MULTICULTURAL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Who Dries These Sad Eyes?
AUTHOR NAME: Lisa Baker
PUBLISHER NAME: 3 R Press
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Harriet and Her Freedom Lamp
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Elizabeth Uchegbu
PUBLISHER NAME: EUchegbu Publications
FULL BOOK TITLE: Terrible de la Sierra Morena
AUTHOR NAME: Patricia A. Schechter Gómez
PUBLISHER NAME: UNPUBLISHED
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tiny Tales for the Teeming Mind
AUTHOR NAME: Prabha Girish
PUBLISHER NAME: Self-Published through Amazon and Ingramspark
FULL BOOK TITLE: Tomás Returns to School
AUTHOR NAME: Xiomara Gallego-Bernard
PUBLISHER NAME: Xiomara Gallego-Bernard
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Things I Love
AUTHOR NAME: Christina M. Carroll ILLUSTRATOR NAME: Jenny Slife
PUBLISHER NAME: The Orange Chair, LLC
MYSTERY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silent Witness Mystery – A Case Twins Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Dorian Rockwood
PUBLISHER NAME: Insundry Productions Books
NATURE
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Cora’s Garden Rescue: Nurturing Nature, Growing Kindness, and Saving Our Community’s Green Spaces
AUTHOR NAME: Sally Kashner
PUBLISHER NAME: Sally Kashner
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mr. Germ: A Germ’s Mission
AUTHOR NAME: Irene Eun
PUBLISHER NAME: Irene Eun
FULL BOOK TITLE: Nanuk
AUTHOR NAME: Chayton Alexander Tecumseh
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Grandpa Loved Wild Things
AUTHOR NAME: Melissa Rousu
PUBLISHER NAME: Melissa Rousu
FULL BOOK TITLE: Meet the Trees
AUTHOR NAME: Emily Dangremond
PUBLISHER NAME: Orange Hat Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Crickets in Austin
AUTHOR NAME: Maria Ashworth
PUBLISHER NAME: Big Belly Book Co.
PARENTING AND FAMILY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Don’t Wake the Dragon
AUTHOR NAME: Craig Ohlau
PUBLISHER NAME: Craig Ohlau
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Piloncillo the Little Mouse: A Decision for the Greater Good
AUTHOR NAME: Diana Scott
PUBLISHER NAME: Palmetto Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Her And Her Phone
AUTHOR NAME: LaRon Bledsoe
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sian’s Adventures With Grandma and Grandpa
AUTHOR NAME: Jocilyn Carver
PUBLISHER NAME: Williams Commerce
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chubby the Bear’s Big Choice
AUTHOR NAME: Daryl McCullough
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Kabibbles A-B-C
AUTHOR NAME: Amy R. Connelly
PUBLISHER NAME: Iuniverse
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bertha the Ordinary Chicken
AUTHOR NAME: Danna Southwell
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Guardian Wings
AUTHOR NAME: Susan Kennard
PUBLISHER NAME: Balboa Press UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Bones is Back: A Family Tradition for Halloween
AUTHOR NAME: Marc Fetscherin
PUBLISHER NAME: Bones & Friends
FULL BOOK TITLE: I’m Proud of You
AUTHOR NAME: Callie Blixrud
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
PICTURE BOOK
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Jar of Laughter
AUTHOR NAME: Joy Yi
PUBLISHER NAME: Wavelina Publishing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hemi Bunny Finds a Mommy
AUTHOR NAME: Nicole Metas
PUBLISHER NAME: Bibliobunnies
FULL BOOK TITLE: Zee Zee The Humble Bee
AUTHOR NAME: Michael Obiora
PUBLISHER NAME: Troubador Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Not-so-little Tree
AUTHOR NAME: Marcus Addison
PUBLISHER NAME: Starfish Bay Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: John and His Magical Pig
AUTHOR NAME: Haoying Zhang
PUBLISHER NAME: Children Pay Children Corporation
FULL BOOK TITLE: Magic Ballet Shoes
AUTHOR NAME: Raquel Lesser & Avital Ron
PUBLISHER NAME: StoryBird
FULL BOOK TITLE: Like Mother Like Daughter
AUTHOR NAME: Robert F. Byrne
PUBLISHER NAME: Robert F. Byrne
FULL BOOK TITLE: Mousey Mornings
AUTHOR NAME: Fiona Lowry
PUBLISHER NAME: Three Geese and a Gander
FULL BOOK TITLE: Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs
AUTHOR NAME: P.E. Shadrick
PUBLISHER NAME P.E. Shadrick
FULL BOOK TITLE: FORGET ME NOT
AUTHOR NAME: Ying Song
PUBLISHER NAME: Unpublished
FULL BOOK TITLE: Queen of the Mountain
AUTHOR NAME: TAK Erzinger
PUBLISHER NAME: Rowanvale Books, Cardiff UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Jewel’s Curls: Being Me
AUTHOR NAME: Dr. Shon Shree Lewis
PUBLISHER NAME: Dr. Shon Shree Lewis
FULL BOOK TITLE: Dream Big: Peyton’s Hip-Hop Adventure
AUTHOR NAME: Paula Banks
PUBLISHER NAME: Paula Banks
FULL BOOK TITLE: Cora’s Garden Rescue: Nurturing Nature, Growing Kindness, and Saving Our Community’s Green Spaces
AUTHOR NAME: Sally Kashner
PUBLISHER NAME: Sally Kashner
POETRY
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Way the Cookie Crumbled (and Other Positively Preposterous Poems) 2nd Edition
AUTHOR NAME: Lizzy Judge
PUBLISHER NAME: The Armadillo’s Pillow Ltd
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brave Little Wings
AUTHOR NAME: Amy Steele
PUBLISHER NAME: Amy Steele
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sun Hair, Good Hair
AUTHOR NAME: Ma’at CC
PUBLISHER NAME: Presto Pages
FULL BOOK TITLE: Minka and the Mouse
AUTHOR NAME: Sabine Garvey
PUBLISHER NAME: Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers LTD.
REALISTIC FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Elusive Common Sense – Why is Common Sense so hard to find? Book One in Series Growing Up Alex
AUTHOR NAME: Betts Arney (Gail Buntin Blohowiak)
PUBLISHER NAME: GAB Publishing
RELIGIOUS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: This I Know: Seeing God in the World He Made
AUTHOR NAME: Clay Anderson
PUBLISHER NAME: Swing High
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Wheezy & Goliath – An Anti-Bullying Tale
AUTHOR NAME: David Mendoza III
PUBLISHER NAME: Books for His Glory
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Holy Lizard
AUTHOR NAME: David Lane
PUBLISHER NAME: Bear’s Place Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Adopted for Good
AUTHOR NAME: Dede Kolb
PUBLISHER NAME: Inspiring Light
FULL BOOK TITLE: I’m Proud of You
AUTHOR NAME: Callie Blixrud
PUBLISHER NAME: Amazon KDP
SCIENCE FICTION
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Black Hole Radio - Furilani
AUTHOR NAME: Ann Birdgenaw
PUBLISHER NAME: DartFrog Books
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Time Warped
AUTHOR NAME: Micky O’Brady
PUBLISHER NAME: Micky O’Brady
SPORTS
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Stephen Curry: The Children’s Book: The Boy Who Never Gave Up
AUTHOR NAME: Anthony Curcio
PUBLISHER NAME: Anthony Curcio
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Catch the Ball!
AUTHOR NAME: Bryan Smith
PUBLISHER NAME: Boys Town Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Roger Staubach: A Winner Both On and Off the Field
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
FULL BOOK TITLE: Frank Robinson: Fulfilling Jackie Robinson's Final Dream
AUTHOR NAME: A.J. Chilson
PUBLISHER NAME: KDP
TRAVEL
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Who Dries These Sad Eyes?
AUTHOR NAME: Lisa Baker
PUBLISHER NAME: 3 R Press
YOUNG ADULT
WINNER
FULL BOOK TITLE: Sour Apples: A Novel for Those Who Hate to Read
AUTHOR NAME: Paul Jantzen
PUBLISHER NAME: Black Rose Writing
FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Poems for Puppies
AUTHOR NAME: Joe Smalling
PUBLISHER NAME: XlibrisUS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Forever Boy
AUTHOR NAME: Michael J. Bowler
PUBLISHER NAME: Michael J. Bowler
FULL BOOK TITLE: Brown Girl, Brown Girl, Hasn’t Anyone?: A Child’s Memoir
AUTHOR NAME: Michele Jeanmarie
PUBLISHER NAME: Archway Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Red Boots Adventures: Wild West Young Stories of a Young Girl on Mt. Hood Lumberjacks, Native Americans and Mountain Lions
AUTHOR NAME: Heather Bradrick
PUBLISHER NAME: Balboa Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Tale of Oknytt & Gray Gnomes: Book 1 of the Ella Trilogy
AUTHOR NAME: Catarina Hansson
PUBLISHER NAME: AuthorHouse UK
FULL BOOK TITLE: Haunting Melody
AUTHOR NAME: Chloe Spencer
PUBLISHER NAME: Tiny Ghost Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Chris Parr
AUTHOR NAME: Micky O’Brady
PUBLISHER NAME: Micky O’Brady
2025 WINNER OF THE HAWTHORNE PRIZE
A HUNDRED MAGICAL REASONS
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Hundred Magical Reasons
AUTHOR NAME: Laura DeNooyer
PUBLISHER NAME: Scrivenings Press
LAURA DENOOYER-MOORE
Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Heidi Chiavaroli. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.
2025 HAWTHORNE PRIZE FINALISTS
2025 HAWTHORNE PRIZE SHORTLIST
2025 AWA FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
ADAM SKOLNICK
Adam Skolnick is an author and journalist who has been telling stories for twenty years. Stories that are thrilling, enlightening and entertaining. Stories geared to pierce your bubble, expand your sense of self, and the mysteries and possibilities at our fingertips.
His work has appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Wired, Lonely Planet, and Men’s Health. He’s the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and is best known as the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator of the bestselling David Goggins memoirs, Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished. A frequent contributor on the Rich Roll podcast, he lives in Southern California where he was born and raised. His debut novel, American Tiger, drops in December 2025.
FULL BOOK TITLE: American Tiger
AUTHOR NAME: Adam Skolnick
PUBLISHER NAME: Lioncrest Publishing
A motherless nine-year-old girl glances out her school bus window and notices a tiger licking its paws behind Target. Nobody else sees it and nobody believes her, not even her father, a local game warden, because it is well known that Bell Tern has an untamed imagination. But evidence mounts and with it, the possibility that Bell is telling the truth and a most unlikely predator could be prowling a seemingly placid suburb of Los Angeles.
Based on true events, rooted in the stunning Southern California landscape, and populated with vivid characters, American Tiger is about more than a frantic tiger hunt. It's about a child's quest for self-discovery, her stoic father's struggle to come to terms with their past, and the innate wildness of every living thing.
2025 AWA FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Women Who Stand Between
AUTHOR NAME: Jeannee Sacken
PUBLISHER NAME: Ten 16 Press, an imprint of Orange Hat Publishing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Later Days
AUTHOR NAME: Chip Jacobs
PUBLISHER NAME: Rare Bird Books
2025 AWA NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
Looking back on her remarkable career, Retired Army Colonel Edna W. Cummings can justly say that “the odds ain’t good, but good stuff happens.” Her story is as inspiring as it is improbable, but her memoir is about much more than herself. Chronicling Cummings’s unlikely but successful path to leadership roles in the army and afterward, it also tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the Six Triple Eight—a trailblazing African American World War II Women’s Army Corps unit now the subject of a Netflix film and a Broadway-bound musical—and the grassroots campaign Cummings led to honor them.
In 2022, due in large part to Cummings’s efforts, the Six Triple Eight was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor—the Congressional Gold Medal. Among the fewer than two hundred recipients, including the crew of Apollo 11 and the Navajo Code Talkers, the Six Triple Eight is the only women’s unit to receive this prestigious decoration. In A Soldier’s Life Colonel Cummings narrates her path from childhood to advocate and how she overcame incredible odds not only for herself but on behalf of those who had come before her.
FULL BOOK TITLE: A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion
AUTHOR NAME: Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings, U.S. Army
PUBLISHER NAME: University of Virginia Press
EDNA W. CUMMINGS
EDNA W. CUMMINGS
Edna W. Cummings is a retired United States Army colonel, advocate, and author. She was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and grew up in an Army family. In 1978, she was the first Black woman to graduate from Appalachian State University's Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
2025 AWA NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom
AUTHOR NAME: McCracken Poston Jr.
PUBLISHER NAME: Citadel
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hope on the Border
AUTHOR NAME: Gil Gillenwater
PUBLISHER NAME: University of Pemako Press
