2024 Book Award Finalists

Siobhan Bell is a 22 year old writer, performer and Artistic Researcher, originally from Scotland and now based in Amsterdam. She aims through her creative work to weave together various disciplines- investing how writing and art can be used as a tool for inner work and self realisation. Currently

I am a writer and performer from Essex born to an Anglo-Indian mother and Anglo-Burmese father. I have been writing since I was twelve years old, after spending most of my evenings reading stories from the school library. I live in Colchester with my husband, dog and cat. Hexed is my first published

Marieke Lexmond is a multi-award-winning author and a solitary witch who has lived around the globe. Her long background in filmmaking has circled her back to Los Angeles, but she can still be found writing in magical settings like the West Coast of Ireland and New Orleans, places that inspire her

Julie Hamstead is a doctor by day but, since joining a local writing group, she pretends she is a novelist by night. She lives in the south of England with her family, various cats and the occasional dog borrowed from a friend. The Gemini Connection is her first novel. She is currently working on

As a First Nations educator, Ashlee Alicea is dedicated to helping children ask the “I wonder” questions. Her playful and imaginative style of writing helps tap into a child’s curiosity. Creating stories that all children can enjoy while also highlighting the language, culture, and identity of

Sandeep Kumar Mishra has received " Vedvyas Award-2022", "Readers Favorite Award-21", "Indian Achievers Award-21", “IPR Poetry Award-2020” and “Literary Titan Book Award-2020”. He has been shortlisted for "the 2023 Commonwealth Story Prize", "the 2021 International Book Awards", "the 52nd New

Karen Gilleland, the hand behind the Diamond-Dennison Mysteries, spent much of her career in corporate communications. During the pandemic, Karen discovered the thrill of mystery writing. As a fan of Golden Age of mysteries, she became inspired to create intriguing characters and plots that delight

After studying ceramics in Japan for two and a half years, I returned to the Midwest and launched Linden Hills Pottery with my wife, Cynthia Mosedale. Over the last 30 years, we have received multiple honors selling our ceramic art at shows throughout the country. The greatest honor was making a

Born in the UK and currently living in Switzerland, Paul has written four novels, two of which have been published. The other two will probably never again see the light of day, although they have good titles. As a writer, Paul tries to stick to the adage ‘write what you know’, although with the

Born into a non academic family background and brought up on several council estates, Sharon's parents dismissed her enthusiasm to join the artistic world. Repeatedly insisting it wasn’t a real career with any prospects or financial stability. Continually being ridiculed by her Father, she didn’t

Anita Selzer is an acclaimed author of fourteen books in adult and children’s non-fiction. Her interest is in women, gender and culture, and history. She has earned a BA, Dip Ed, Master of Education, PhD in Education and Grad Dip in Women’s Studies at universities in Melbourne, and was awarded the

Barry W. Levy is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and screenwriter. He holds a Fine Arts degree from The University of British Columbia's Department of Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing, (1991). His two feature films, ‘Spook’ and ‘The Shasta Triangle’, both of which he wrote and directed, have

Jan Sikes writes compelling and creative stories from the heart. She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author, although she’s been an avid reader all her life. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. She brought the

John Nassari is an award-winning portrait and wedding photographer with notable exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery and a shortlist for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. He also holds a PhD in Refugee Studies, focusing on personal and family narratives. With a lifelong passion

I am an artist, writer and market trader, now seventy-six years old and working as hard as ever. I pursued a long and rewarding career as an advertising artist in London, but I began writing seriously after attending a creative writing course in 2001. Since that time I have written a successful non

Eerie River Publishing is an independent publishing house located in Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2019, it has quickly established itself as a purveyor of high-quality horror and dark fantasy anthologies. With a focus on indie authors from across the globe, Eerie River Publishing offers a platform

Jayne Doxtater was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and currently resides in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. A business owner and esthetician of 40 years, she is now semi-retired and loves spending time outdoors. A self-proclaimed tree hugger and chocolate lover, Jayne is

Eerie River Publishing is an independent publishing house located in Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2019, it has quickly established itself as a purveyor of high-quality horror and dark fantasy anthologies. With a focus on indie authors from across the globe, Eerie River Publishing offers a platform

Mikhail Sergeev (Ph.D. in religious studies from Temple University, 1997) is a religion, philosophy, and modern art historian. He has served as an editor of the book series Contemporary Russian Philosophy at Brill Publishers in the Netherlands (2016–2019) and as Chair of the Department of Religion

Early years professional turned eco business founder, Dani Seatter, combines a love of education with a passion for sustainability to write and publish her award winning sustainable children's books. Author of 'Away' and 'Oceans Away', which are designed with unique black and white illustrations

Heather Peck is author of the multi-award-winning Greg Geldard series of murder mysteries, set in rural North Yorkshire and Norfolk. She has also written books for children, mainly based on the adventures of her two dogs and her farming life. Writing was always her first love, but for a long time it

C.J. Martin grew up in Sydney, Australia, and loves dance, music, history, gardening and cooking as well as literature. She has a PhD in history and has been a university lecturer, a teacher and an Air Force Officer. She now lives with her family near Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Jennifer / JL Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mom. Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine on her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since. She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Novel Mentoring program and is now a published

Murray Bailey Is the author of Amazon bestseller Map of the Dead, the first of the series based on his interest in Egyptology. His main series however is the Ash Carter thrillers, inspired by his father's experience in the Royal Military Police in Singapore in the early 1950s. Murray is well

Justin K. Kojok, PMP, CISSP, CISM, CASP+, CEH. Justin is a Multi-award winning author and an accomplished writer from his formative years in secondary school. His aptitude for writing established a strong foundation and paved the way for his thriving career in journalism. He was a research

Murray Bailey Is the author of Amazon bestseller Map of the Dead, the first of the series based on his interest in Egyptology. His main series however is the Ash Carter thrillers, inspired by his father's experience in the Royal Military Police in Singapore in the early 1950s. Murray is well

Anne Wedgwood lives in Beverley, where her stories are set. She has come to writing in her later years, having spent her working life in education. Anne was born in London and was immersed in books from her childhood onwards. She has lived in Beverley since 2008 and has no plans to leave! Anne is

Glen R Stansfield likes to kill people – in stories – mostly! Born in Rossendale, in the Lancashire Pennines, he grew up with a freedom and innocence he believes children no longer enjoy. They were magical times when play was a product of the imagination; a tree trunk became a pirate ship, a stick

L.P. Simone lives and writes in Washington D.C, is known to feed a stray cat or two, and definitely believes in ghosts, dragons, and other mythical beings.

S G Fessel has been writing non-fiction for many years but ‘Switchling’ is her first novel. It recently won 'Best New Fiction' in the Pacific Book Awards 2024 and was placed first in the International Firebird Book Awards (Children's Pet/Animal category). Inspiration struck when lying in bed one

Maria Costanzo Palmer was named as one of L.A. Weekly’s “Top 15 Rising Authors to Watch in 2023.” Her debut book was mentioned in Forbes Magazine in December 2023 as a must-have for the “Entrepreneurial-Spirited People on Your Holiday List.” On the Rocks has won many awards including being named the

Kathy was born in Boston, raised in Scituate, Massachusetts and a graduate of Connecticut College. Aside from being an advertising copywriter, she is also a painter and musician. She lives in Cohasset, Massachusetts and writes historical and middle grade fiction. Familiar with the legend of Boston

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional

Francelia Belton’s love of short stories came from watching old Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents television shows in her youth. She published a collection titled, Crime & Passion: Three Short Stories, and her story, "Lewenda Gets Married" appears on the Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast. Her

THOM EVANS is a writer, based in the UK, with an interest in genre fiction (particularly horror and sci-fi). In early 2024, Thom finished his first novel, We Keep Our Own, a tale of two brothers, a terrible family secret, and an ancient evil now threatening the world. Thom is currently working on

Hi! I’m Suzanne; a Trauma Transformation Practitioner, Author, TEDx Speaker, spoken word artist and proud Mum & Mamgu (Welsh for Grandmother). I spent the early part of my working life in administration and as a P.A. before transitioning to education. I now, through my practice, have the distinct

After a career spent in the tech industry, I now write thrillers to make sense of the world around us, which I'm sure you will agree is facing some profound changes and challenges. When writing one of my stories, I have three non negotiable rules: 1. It needs to concern a current or recent real

I'm Dr. Bevan Choate. . At thirty-five, I had endured medical school and a long residency and had come into my own as a legitimate surgeon. Then, the music stopped. I suffered a life-threatening stroke. My memoir, ‘The Stroke Artist’, speaks to those who have at one time or another faced life’s

ANDREA WILSON WOODS is a writer who loves to tell stories, and a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Andrea is the CEO and co-founder of Cancer University, a for-profit, social-benefit, digital health company. With Cancer U, Andrea

Jeremy Hullah grew up in the rural Midlands, where he spent a lot of time dreaming about being a pianist or a writer, or something equally unachievable without the required level of effort. After proving beyond all doubt that education was not something that came naturally, he moved to Twickenham

James Kinsley lives in Thorpe Hamlet. Playtime's Over, his first book, was published in 2021 by Propolis and is about a young man on the edge, struggling to deal with his mental health issues in the face of a world he feels no longer cares. His second book, the fantasy western Greyskin, was

Genét Simone has been a teacher and teacher educator for over thirty years. Her experiences in Shishmaref, Alaska, upon which "Teaching in the Dark" is based, spearheaded her lifelong quest to understand the emotional and spiritual aspects of teaching. What goes on behind the scenes of a teacher's

Dana Wayne fulfilled a lifelong dream to be a published author in the summer of 2016 with the publication of her first novel, Secrets of the Heart, which went on to win first place in a statewide contest. Since then, she has self-published a popular cookbook and seven well-received romance novels

Christina Ford is a former award-winning TV and film executive who currently divides her time between the UK, the US, and Canada. She channels her wit and experiences into writing her amusing lifestyle blog, "A Broad in London: A Survival Guide for Life, Travel, and Being Sensationally Single." A

Marc Joan spent the early part of his life in India, and the early part of his career in biomedical research. He draws on this and other experience for his fiction, which has been published in magazines including Lighthouse Literary Journal, Structo, Bohemyth, Smokelong Quarterly, Hypnos, Chroma

James Walter Lee is an award-winning American author. He is the founder and editor of two publishing imprints, Zennea Press and 2nd Sight Press. He holds a Master’s in Fine Arts from The New York Academy of Art and a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies. James is also an

Aurita Maldonado is a Puerto Rican US Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, award winning author, and Afro Latín dance instructor who has danced intimately with Death. She served more than 8 years in the military including two combat tours to Iraq and Afganistan. After a 200 lb. IED exploded

John Winn Miller is a former award-winning investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, newspaper editor and publisher, screenwriter, indie movie producer and novelist.

Divya grew up in the small town of Palakkad in Kerala, India. By day she fulfills her dream of having a roof over her head by being a part of the corporate race. By night she lives her dream of being a couch potato by reading, watching movie adaptations of her favorite books, and writing in

Visual Artist ~ Author. I consider writing to be the sculpture of language and music of words. Time devoted daily to writing. Several literary works in progress. Fellow of The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust For Young Australians, 1981. Academic Interests: Arts, Sciences, Humanities