2025 winners and honorable mentions!
Congratulations to all the finalists, and extra special accolades to those works that have emerged as the best of their categories!
Audio Drama
Winner: Jake Muller Adventures: Blood, Darby Kern, published by Armor of God Productions
Honorable Mention: When Worlds Collide, published by HeartMatters Inc.
Short to Mid-Length Audio
Winner: Sing to Me of Rain, narrated by Lila-May Murdoch, published by E.B. Dawson
Honorable Mention: The Prophecy’s Chosen Heir, narrated and published by Trista Shaye
Novel-Length Audio
Winner: Mortal Queens, Narrated by Ellen Quay, published by Oasis Audio
Honorable Mention: Zodak – The Last Shielder, narrated by Dallin Bradford, published by Foxhall Press
SHORT FICTION CATEGORIES
Flash Fiction
Winner: Sparks, Hannah Hershberger, published by Havok Publishing
Honorable Mention:The Cupid Killer, Lincoln Reed, published by Havok Publishing
Short Story
Winner: Krakensong, Olivia Gratehouse, Independently Published
Honorable Mention: Questing Hall, Helena George, published by The Order of the Pen Press
Novelette/Novella
Winner: The Graveyard of Lost Dreams, Kyla Carter, published by The Author Conservatory
Honorable Mention: Through a Glass, Darkly, Jason Karpf, published by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
SPECIALTY CATEGORIES
Debut Novel
Winner: What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball, Elisabeth Aimee Brown, published by Metaphorical Cello Press
Honorable Mention: Protector, Megan Schaulis, published by WhiteCrown (imprint of WhiteFire Publishing Group)
Cover Design
Winner: Red Rex, Brian Mellema
Honorable Mention: Nameless: The Destiny Trilogy Part One, Kristen Hildebrand and Emilie Haney
Readers’ Choice
Winner: Ignite, Kara Swanson, published by Enclave Escape
Honorable Mention: The Nightmare Virus, Nadine Brandes, published by Enclave Escape
Comics/Comic Strips/Graphic Novels
Winner: DOMINION: Fall of the House of Saul-Volume 2, Dr. Barron Bell, Terminus Media
Honorable Mention:Chronicles of Faith: David, Issue 01, Brannon Hollingsworth, Brainy Pixel Productions/Mercy Ways Studios
Interactive Storytelling
Winner: The Way (of Yahweh) Webcomic, Jason H, Tucker, Group Lore
Honorable Mention: Archmage Rises, Nolan Lynch, Defiance Game Studio
NOVELS BY AUDIENCE
Young Adult
Winner: Lion Warrior, James R. Hannibal, published by Enclave Escape
Honorable Mention: Where Darkness Cannot Follow, A. M. Daylin, published by Mooncrest Publishing
Early Reader to Middle Grade
Winner: Wingless, Catherine Witzaney, published by Chicken Scratch Books
Honorable Mention: Hannah Hattington Goes on an Adventure, Gracie York, Independently Published
NOVELS BY GENRE
Science Fiction
Winner: Guardian, Cathy McCrumb, published by Enclave Publishing
Honorable Mention: Lady of Basilikas, Ronie Kendig, published by Enclave Publishing
Horror/Supernatural/ Paranormal
Winner: Haunted: Into the Abyss, Stephanie Dooley, Independently Published
Honorable Mention: The Castle Rose, Tabitha Caplinger , published by Blue Ink Press
Fantasy
Winner: Mortal Queens, Victoria McCombs, published by Enclave Escape
Honorable Mention: What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball, Elisabeth Aimee Brown, published by Metaphorical Cello Press
Book of the Year, Honorable Mention:
Lady of Basilikas, Ronie Kendig, published by Enclave Publishing
Winner
Book of the Year:
Guardian, Cathy McCrumb, published by Enclave Publishing
2024 Award Winners
2023 Award Winners
Book of the Year and Fantasy
Calor, by J.J. Fischer, published by Enclave Publishing
Science Fiction
Drawn in Ash, by John Otte, published by Geeky Grace Books
Horror/Paranormal/Supernatural
Infernal Fall, by Bryan Mitchell, published by Descendant Publishing
Debut
The Wickwire Watch, by Jaqueline Hagen, published by Mastmarner Books
Young Adult
The Wonderland Trials, by Sara Ella, published by Enclave Escape
Middle Grade
Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot, by J.J. Johnson, independently published
Audio
Dream of Kings, by Sharon Hinck, Oasis Audio, narrated by Stacey Glemboski
Short Audio
Of Bitter Souls, by Brian Augustyn, Untold Podcast, narrated by Nathan James Norman
Novella
Through a Shattered Glass, by Sarah Pennington, Independently Published
Short Story
“Love My Neighbor,” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Wordfire Press
Cover Design
Infernal Fall, by Bryan Timothy Mitchell
Designed by Damon Freeman/Damonza
Published by Descendant Publishing
Readers Choice
A Daughter of the Trolls, by McKenzie Catron, published by Whimsical Publishing
Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape) – Epic/High Fantasy, Book of the Year
Silverblood by Jamie Foley (Fayette Press) – Fantasy
Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer (Enclave Publishing) – Science Fiction
Mina: Warrior in the Shadows by Deborah Cullins Smith (Ye Olde Dragon Books) – Horror
Secrets in the Mist by Morgan Busse (Enclave Escape) – Young Adult
Sing to Me of Rain by E.B. Dawson (independently published) – Middle Grade
Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows by Robert Adauto (independently published) – Debut
Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Escape) – Readers Choice, Cover Design
cover by Kirk DouPonce at Dog Eared Design
THE REALM AWARDS FOR AUDIO FICTION
AUDIO AWARD WINNERS
Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer (Oasis Audio), narrated by Adam Verner – Sci-Fi Audiobook
Wraithwood by Alyssa Roat (Mountain Brook Ink), narrated by Katie Marchant – Fantasy Audiobook
Met By Midnight by Janeen Ippolito (ACX), narrated by Kate Prendergast- Mid-length Audio
“The Architect” by Ben Kempf (Somewhat Significant Audio Productions) – Short Audio
directed by Benjamin Kempf, performed by Peter Fazzari, Jonathan Cooke, Trisha Rose, Brian Kirk, Boyd Barrett, Benjamin Krispin, Marc LaPointe, Glenn Hascall, Dominic Treis, and Josh Rodriguez
“Dragon’s Spite” by Edward Sand (Havok Story Podcast), narrated by Shogo Miyakita -Very Short Audio
THE REALM AWARDS FOR SHORT FICTION
SHORT FICTION AWARD WINNERS
Reunion by H. L. Burke (independently published) – Novella
Awakened by T.E. Bradford (Elk Lake Publishing) – Novelette
“After Happily Ever” by Kristiana Sfirlea (Ye Olde Dragon Books)- Short Story
“A Home for Nova” by Hannah Carter (Havok Publishing) – Flash Fiction
2021 Awards Winners
- Apprentice by Kristen Young, published by Enclave Escape – Science Fiction and Book of the Year
- The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes, published by Blackstone Publishing – Debut, Epic Fantasy, Young Adult
- Dust by Kara Swanson, published by Enclave – Fantasy and Readers Choice
- An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Schmidt, published by Stormcave – Middle Grade
- Mercury at Risk by Steve Rzasa, published by Steve Rzasa – Paranormal/Supernatural
- Dust by Kara Swanson, published by Enclave Publishing, designed by Kirk DouPonce – Cover Design
- Treason’s Crown by Anne Wheeler, published by Catherine Wheeler – Novella
- Eryri by Laura VanArendonk Baugh, published by Tyche Books – Short Story
- The Voice of Cancer by Ronnell Gibson, published by Havok Publishing – Flash Fiction
- The Story Raider by Lindsay Franklin, published by Oasis Audio, narrated by Pam Turlow – Audiobook
- Wight Christmas by Laura VanArendonk Baugh, published by Untold Podcast, narrated by Kristin L. Norman/Nathan James Norman – Audio Drama
- Why God Made Beer by A.C. Williams, published by the Havok Story Podcast, narrated by Magnus Carlssen – Audio Short
2020 Award Winners
- Seventh City by Emily Hayse – Fantasy, Book of the Year
- Hello Ninja by N.D. Wilson – Childrens
- Iggy & Oz: The Plastic Dinos of Doom by J.J. Johnson – Middle Grade
- Fyrian’s Fire by Emily Jeffries – Debut
- Mercury on Guard by Steve Rzasa – Paranormal/Supernatural
- Amish Werewolves of Space by Kerry Neitz – Horror/Other
- To Best the Boys by Mary Weber – Young Adult
- Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig – Science Fiction, Readers Choice
- Austin Lord for The Heart of the Curiosity – Cover Design
2019 Award Winners
- The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin – Book of the Year, Young Adult, Readers Choice (Alliance Award)
- Fierian by Ronie Kendig – Fantasy
- Fraught by Kerry Nietz- Science Fiction
- Shade: The Complete Trilogy by Merrie Destefano – Paranormal/Horror/Other
- Launch by Jason Joyner – Debut
- Never to Live by Just B. Jordan, Cover Design by Damonza – Cover Design (Parable Award)
2018 Award Winners
- Firstborn by Tosca Lee – Book of the Year & Supernatural/Horror/Other
- The Button Girl by Sally Apokedak – Debut
- Renegades by Thomas Locke – Science Fiction
- The Songweaver’s Vow by Laura VanArendonk Baugh – Fantasy
- Milky Way Rising by Sharon Johnson – Young Adult
- Willoughby and the Terribly Itchy Itch by Pam Halter, illustrated by Kim Sponaugle – Children’s
- Warfare by Julie Hall – Alliance
- The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson, cover design by Jenny Zemanek – Parable
2017 Award Winners
- Frayed by Kerry Nietz Book of the Year & Science Fiction
- Terra Soul by S.J. Abraham – Debut
- A Green and Ancient Light by Frederic S. Durbin – Fantasy
- Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H.L. Burke – Young Adult
- Tainted by Morgan L. Busse – Other (Steampunk)
- A Time To Rise by Nadine Brandes – Alliance (Readers’ Choice)
- A Stolen Kiss by Kelsey Keating, cover design by Jenny Zemanek – Parable
2016 Award Winners
- The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble – Book of the Year & Young Adult
- Into the Fire by Kim Vandel – Debut
- Hive by John Otte – Science Fiction
- The Shock of Night by Patrick Carr – Fantasy
- Amish Zombies from Space by Kerry Nietz – Supernatural/Horror/Other
- The Bloodheart by Steve Rzasa, cover design by Kirk DouPonce – Parable
2013 – 2015 Parable Award Winners
2015
The Ghost Box by Mike Duran, cover design by Kirk DouPonce
2014
Numb by John Otte, cover design by Alexandre Rito
2013
Divine Summons by Rebecca P. Minor, cover design by Christina Hess