July 2021 Firebird Book Award Winners

JULY 2021 FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our winning authors.

And a huge thank you to all 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 tie. Often the winners are only one point apart and are shown in order below, when applicable. Categories with one winner indicates they were the only entry in that category that met the minimum accumulative judging scores.

Click the black boxes below to visit each author’s page.

Action/Adventure

James Ross – John Layne – John Layne

Addiction and Recovery Lisa Kohn

Adoption-Children’s Picture Book Amanda Wall

African American Fiction Michael J. Coffino

African American Nonfiction Margo Lee Williams

Alternative Medicine Sylvie Beljanski

Animals/Pets Marlene M. Bell

Art Book Michael A. Bortner

Biography – Historical Dorothea Jensen – Jane Reeve

Book Cover Design Dr. Velma Bagby – S. G. Blaise – Susan K. Hamilton

Business – Entrepreneurship & Small Business Heather Wilde

Business/General Paul Tozour

Business: Motivational Kevin McCarthy – Bellaria Jimenez and John F. Bucsek

Business/Real Estate Tamika Murray

Cancer Sylvie Beljanski

Career Aurora Winter

Chick Lit Leslie Rasmussen – Jill Boyce – Jill Boyce

Children’s Adventure Warren Martin

Children’s Early Readers (5-8) Deanie Humphrys-Dunne – Linda Harkey – Jim Munroe

Children’s Fantasy Eileen Hobbs

Children’s Fiction Kimberley Paterson – Vanessa Fortenberry

Children’s Inspiration Vanessa Fortenberry

Children’s Picture Book (4-8) Dr. Velma Bagby & Kai Mahalyn Tampol – Lisa Jacovsky – K. Tang

Children’s Picture Book (all ages) Marlene M. Bell – Yvonne Morgan – Yvonne Morgan

Children’s Preschool (2-4) Deanie Humphrys-Dunne – Warren Martin

Children’s Religion Jeff S. Bray

Christian Fiction Dr. Velma Bagby – Linda Loegel

Christian Nonfiction Martha Thompson – James Martin

Christian Romance Jeff S. Bray

Christian Suspense Donna Fletcher Crow

Coffee Table Book Michael A. Bortner

Coming of Age JC Brennan

Contemporary Novel Leslie Rasmussen – Lorna Brown – Deborah Wynne

Contemporary Fiction Lucy Beresford

Contemporary Romance Dana Wayne

Cookbooks/International Randy Motilall

Cozy Mystery Donna Fletcher Crow – Robert Thornhill

Crime Fiction Ed Duncan – Leith MacArthur – Ed Duncan

Cross Genre Retta Flagg – Paul Tozour

Death and Dying William Stephenson – S. Jackson

Diet/Nutrition Sherra Aguirre

Dystopian Tobin Marks

Education Nigel Wilson

Entrepreneurship Heather Wilde

Epic David V. Mammina

Fantasy H.L. Walsh – W.D. Kilpack – David V. Mammina

Fiction Steven Seril – Dimple Patel Dasai – Robin D’Amato

Finance Mark Lazar

Grief Kris Francoeur – William Stephenson

Hardboiled Crime Fiction Fred Berri

Health Sylvie Beljanski – Jill Grimes – Jill and Dave Henry

History – United States Sherry A. Burton

Historical Fiction Adriana Girolami – A. Piper Burgi – Linda Loegel

Holiday Michelle Medlock Adams

Horror Raymond Bolton – Iseult Murphy

How To Dale L. Roberts – Tamika Murray

Humor Charlotte Stuart

Inspiration Charol Messenger – Ana Baez – Jeanne Corvese Hussin

Juvenile Fiction Eileen Hobbs

Leadership Kevin McCarthy – Paul Tozour

Legal Thriller James Ross

LGBTQ Fiction Susan English

LGBT FictionYoung Adults Susie Williamson

LGBTQ Nonfiction David A.J. Richards

Literary Fiction Leslie Tall Manning – Kurt Frederick Mahler – Kurt Frederick Mahler

Magical Realism Kurt Frederick Mahler – Kurt Frederick Mahler – Leslie Tall Manning

Marriage Leslie Rasmussen

Medical Thriller Dimple Patel Desai

Memoir Dr. Teresa Van Woy – S. Jackson – Allison Hong Merril

Mental Health Nathan Gould

Military Nonfiction Brendan Bigney – Nathan Gould – Michael A. Bortner

Mind/Body/Spirit Ramzi Najjar – Kenny Down

Motivational/Inspirational Lisa Kohn – Martha Thompson

Multicultural Fiction Jodi Lea Stewart – Michael J. Coffino – T.P. Graf

Mystery Betta Ferrendelli – Ken Farmer – Geraldine Evans/Teresa Michael TIE

Mythology Steven Seril – Retta Flagg

Nature Nancy Gray

New Adult Fiction JC Brennan – Susan English

New Fiction (first time published) HJ Ramsay – Liz Hsu – Deborah Wynne

New Nonfiction Connie M. Leach

Nonfiction Nancy Gray – Nancy Gray – Karin Matey

Paranormal Tobin Marks – Susan K. Hamilton – A.R. Vagnetti

Parenting/Family Sue Donnellan

Personal Growth Matt Jardine – Alphonsus Obayuwana – Charol Messenger

Philosophy Ramzi Najjar

Picture Books All Ages Jim Munroe

Poetry Gloria Mindock – Brendan Bigney

Political W. Clark Boutwell – W. Clark Boutwell – W. Clark Boutwell

Poverty Studies Dennis Cardiff

Preschool Warren Martin

Reference Dale L. Roberts

Relationships Cynthia Hamilton – Anne Hope – Randall McNair

Religion Nonfiction Lisa Kohn – Matt Jardine – James Martin

Religious Kenny Down

Romance Adriana Girolami – A. R. Vagnetti – Lizzy Stevens and Steve Miller

Romantic Comedy Jill Boyce – Jill Boyce

Romantic Suspense Adriana Girolami

Science Fiction S.G. Blaise – Tobin Marks – W. Clark Boutwell

Self Help Kevin McCarthy – Martha Thompson

Self Help Motivational Connie M. Leach – Matt Jardine

Series T.P. Graf

Short Stories David Joseph – William Stephenson

Social/Political Change Michael J. Coffino – David A.J. Richards

Southern Fiction John Layne – John Layne

Spiritual Ana Baez

Spirituality Charol Messenger – Kenny Down – Kevin McCarthy

Suspense Laurie Buchanan – Leith MacArthur – James Ross

Teen Connie M. Leach – Liz Hsu – Natsuya Uesugi DuBois

Thriller Laurie Buchanan – Mike Nemeth – Dimple Patel Desai

Time Travel William M. Hayes – Emae Church

Traditional English Mystery Donna Fletcher Crow

Urban Fantasy Kurt Frederick Mahler – Kurt Frederick Mahler

Western Fiction John Layne – John Layne

Western Historical Romance Dana Wayne

Women’s Fiction Cynthia Hamilton – Kathy Sechrist – Sabrena Montora Robinson

Women’s Issues Beverly Gandara – Anne Hope – Cynthia Hamilton

Writing and Publishing Dale L. Roberts – Julie Broad

Young Adult S.G. Blaise – HJ Ramsay

Young Adult Fiction Jon Robinson – Rektok Ross – Steve Zimcosky

Young Adult Nonfiction Dorothea Jensen – Karin Matey – Connie M. Leach

WANT MORE?