2022 Book Award Finalists

Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian American writer from New York City. He is the author of the full-length poetry collection “Fractures” (University of Wisconsin Press, 2020), selected by Natasha Trethewey as the winner of the 2020 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry; the chapbook “Hijito”(Platypus Press

Joe Chacko is a doctor turned writer. He was born in India, then moved to the UK after graduating from medical school. After twenty odd years as a hospital doctor, he decided it was time to change tack. His wife convinced him to enter a writing competition at a Scottish literary festival. That pitch

Born with only one working lung and having had the last rites read to him when almost dying of an influenza-related viral pneumonia, 25-year-old geophysicist Lee Hunt experienced several near-death dreams. The power of communication and the need to both understand and be understood was at the heart

Award-winning author Bryan Cassiday writes horror fiction and thrillers. His horror novel Horde won the American Fiction Award 2021 and the Independent Press Award 2022 for Best Horror Novel. He also wrote the Scott Brody thriller series. He lives in Southern California.

Kaitlin B. Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, she writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are

Hello all! I'm Jae, a 30-something writer of Fantasy and Urban Fantasy occupying space somewhere on the East Coast. As a queer woman, I've found myself growing more and more disenchanted and frustrated with the Fantasy genres, so I've set out to change the narrative and write the stories I

M. M. De Voe is an internationally published writer of short fiction. She has won more than 24 writing awards for her writing in poetry, science fiction, horror, literary fiction and flash. Her first full-length book won first prize at the Next Gen Indie Awards in writing/publishing. It is a guide

Simone Heng is a human connection specialist and former international broadcaster for Virgin Radio Dubai, HBO Asia, and CNBC, among others. She is an accredited certified speaking professional. With over 20 years of experience around the world as a communicator on-air, on stage, and one-on-one

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. Alex has a PhD from MIT as a Fulbright Scholar, and was previously a tenured professor at Wharton and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Alex has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, testified in the UK Parliament, and given

Junia Wonders is the author of the seasonal bestseller The Roll-Away Pumpkin, which has been translated into six languages. Five of her picture books, namely, The Roll-Away Pumpkin, Zachary and the Great Potato Catastrophe, The Night the Monsters Came, Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?, and I

Junia Wonders is the author of the seasonal bestseller The Roll-Away Pumpkin, which has been translated into six languages. Five of her picture books, namely, The Roll-Away Pumpkin, Zachary and the Great Potato Catastrophe, The Night the Monsters Came, Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?, and I

Junia Wonders is the author of the seasonal bestseller The Roll-Away Pumpkin, which has been translated into six languages. Five of her picture books, namely, The Roll-Away Pumpkin, Zachary and the Great Potato Catastrophe, The Night the Monsters Came, Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?, and I

Junia Wonders is the author of the seasonal bestseller The Roll-Away Pumpkin, which has been translated into six languages. Five of her picture books, namely, The Roll-Away Pumpkin, Zachary and the Great Potato Catastrophe, The Night the Monsters Came, Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be?, and I

Jen McGuire is a freelance writer for Romper whose work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Parents, Good Housekeeping, and O magazine. Her memoir Nest has sold thousands of copies since its release in May 2021, and excerpts have been featured in outlets including Elle and Refinery29. She is a

Michael Pronko is a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir and music. He’s published four novels in the Detective Hiroshi series, and three books of short writings about Tokyo life. Michael grew up in Kansas City, studied philosophy at Brown University, and then traveled for years, teaching in Beijing

Michael Pronko is a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir and music. He’s published four novels in the Detective Hiroshi series, and three books of short writings about Tokyo life. Michael grew up in Kansas City, studied philosophy at Brown University, and then traveled for years, teaching in Beijing

Born in Houston, Texas. Holds a BBA and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 1968-1971: Served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, with primary duty locating and tracking Soviet submarines 1973-1986: Bank Marketing Executive. In charge of advertising, marketing research, product development

Naomi V. Dunsen-White is a children's author who writes books that represent children of Color. She has a passion for closing the diversity gap that exists in the children’s literature industry and believes that ALL children deserve to have books with characters who look a lot like themselves. She

Throughout his career, Jeff Roth has worked on some of the most complex and challenging policy questions facing cities today. From flood mitigation and emergency management, to fire and life safety, to taxi regulation on the streets of New York, Jeff learned every day, in the arena of city

Born in North Norfolk, India grew up along its picturesque coastline before leaving to study Cell Biology at Durham University and embark on a career in Marketing. Expanding from the tiny towns of East Anglia to the hustle and bustle of the big city made her see the world for all its wonders and

Tom Joyce will neither confirm nor deny having any association with persons, living or dead, that have worked for intelligence gathering agencies, in the United States or abroad, in any capacity. He can, however, confirm that he has spent time in Northern Afghanistan and most of the other places

Tom Joyce will neither confirm nor deny having any association with persons, living or dead, that have worked for intelligence gathering agencies, in the United States or abroad, in any capacity. He can, however, confirm that he has spent time in Northern Afghanistan and most of the other places

Tom Joyce will neither confirm nor deny having any association with persons, living or dead, that have worked for intelligence gathering agencies, in the United States or abroad, in any capacity. He can, however, confirm that he has spent time in Northern Afghanistan and most of the other places

Elise has a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Miami, and a Masters of Education from Harvard University. Elise lives in Nashville with her husband, three small humans, and one small dog. She enjoys hot baths, cold margaritas, and good books. The Last Text You Sent is her debut novel.

Susan writes steamy, sexy and fun contemporary romance stories, some suspenseful, some gritty and dark and hopefully always entertaining. She loves going to the theatre, live music concerts (especially if it’s her man crush Adam Lambert ) the divine Cumberbatch, walks in the countryside, a good G

Dehradun-born and naturalized American research scientist, Neerja Raman has now assumed a new avatar as an iconic storyteller. Her latest book The House on East Canal Road (2022) has been praised both by the critic and the literati alike. Her debut fiction Moments in Transition: Stories of Maya and

I grew up in an affluent white suburban family in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. During the socially turbulent time of the 1970s, I became a feminist, a lesbian, and a Quaker. A founding member of the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, I co authored and edited many versions of Our Bodies, Ourselves

Having experienced postpartum depression herself, and when a second child was on the way, Jessica searched for a children’s book to read with her five-year old son about the changes their family could face. Unable to find a book like this, she decided to write one. Jessica lives with her family in

Julia, or affectionately JT, is passionate about using storytelling in print, on the stage, and on the screen to facilitate impact. She believes that telling stories builds connections, grows empathy, and enables a level of understanding that stems from relationships with and investment in

After years of often challenging public service work, I found creative writing to be cathartic. And I discovered I love writing fiction—mainly suspense and thriller novels—as much as reading it. I’m a California native, and my story takes place in the scenic central coast where little beach towns

Elizabeth Leigh Daniel (E.L. Daniel) is the author of the new historical fiction novel All the Gold in Abbotsford. Inspired by the lives and loves of people in times long past, Elizabeth Leigh has crafted stories since childhood, carrying this passion into her B.A. degree in English and

Chasta Hamilton is an entrepreneur that believes everyone has the power to reach their fullest potential and disrupt the status quo in an empowering and inspiring way . She is personally doing that through her entrepreneurial endeavors, writing and motivational speaking, which has given her the