2024 Book Award Finalists

Karen (MacDougall) Barrow was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and lived there for eighteen years. Her studies took her to Canada, while marriage to a geologist took her across the country and beyond. Several degrees later and working as an audiologist, Karen succumbed to her love of

Miranda Levi is a multi-talented author with a passion for captivating storytelling and a knack for infusing humor into darker themes. Her writing is known for captivating readers with her evocative storytelling and lyrical prose and transporting readers into other worlds and perspectives. With a

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

I was born in India of Anglo-Indian/Eurasian parents, residing in old colonial railway colonies. We lived a charmed but borrowed European lifestyle, attending catholic convents, far from home and being taught by Belgian and Irish nuns. I escaped my early cloistered life through my parent's

Lindsey is an award-winning author from Southwest Missouri, where she lives with her husband and daughter in the beautiful Ozarks. Although she enjoys writing for all ages, Lindsey believes children's books contain a special kind of magic. She has published two picture books, Blossom's Wish and STOP

C.T. Clark is a high school teacher turned author who is following the advice he’s long given his students: “Dream, learn, grind, do.” Having already penned an award-winning Amazon Studios screenplay, The Phoenix Elite: Sacred Blood is a passion project ten years in the making and his debut novel. C

Teresa Mae Waterland, M. Ed., Clinical Counsellor, is on a journey of awareness that includes a passion for fairies—many of whom live just down the lane from her home in the woods. Teresa has extensive training and experience in Drama, English, Psychology, and Broadcasting. Her awareness training in

Victor De Almeida, a Spanish-born author of Angolan descent has called the UK home since the age of seven. From the diverse tapestry of his heritage to the bustling streets of London, Victor's journey is a testament to his unwavering determination and creative spirit. Inspired by J.K. Rowling, he

Lowell E. Baier’s intellectual curiosity during his 60-year career has taken him from a practicing attorney, to an entrepreneur, a tireless advocate for natural resources and wildlife conservation, and a legal and environmental historian and author. Baier received his B.A. in economics and political

Ken DeStefano is an attorney living in New York, who is also a domestic adoptee that was born in the late 1960's. He was raised in a caring and loving home. As an adoptee, he has had a largely happy life, but always wondered about the unknown. That curiosity led to a search for his own birth mother

Steven Joseph is an author, attorney, negotiator, and speaker. He is also a five-time Boston Marathon and 17-time NYC Marathon runner and a humorist who has spent 30 years as a partner with therapists, a lifetime of schuckling at countless synagogues, and practicing zen sitting on a cushion staring

J. Steven Butler is a Christian romance and general fantasy author that resides in Warner Robins, GA with his wife, son, and furry adoptee.

C.J. Kichuk has enjoyed careers in radio, music composition and performance, software development, and management consulting. Living in Austin, Texas, when not working on writing stories he can often be found in his home studio writing and recording music. In his first novel, Bits, he delivers a

Susan D. Steiner began writing novels at the tender age of 69 after moving to Zurich, Switzerland from Denver, Colorado. The move–a romantic one–heralded a new way of life. Susan's murder mystery series, beginning with Murder by Manuscript and followed by Lethal Lockdown (with a third book now

Glenn Somodi is an award-winning author who writes stories in the short space between lying down and dreaming. The stories are written over many nights, replayed, and rewritten in his head for enjoyment. His mission is to find anyone who enjoys reading the stories as much as he enjoys creating them

Mark Sabbas was raised in Katonah, New York, and has always felt drawn to the transcendent, receiving his degree in philosophy from Bucknell University with an interest in metaphysics. Mark writes about the intersection of science and spirituality on his website, nothingtodoubt.org. He also mentors

Andi Kopek is an award-winning poet, author, human rights advocate, and interdisciplinary artist who explores themes of resilience, compassion, and hope. Trained in the medical field, neuroscience, behavior change, and coaching, Kopek has now devoted himself to storytelling through art. His debut

Dr Lee Michael Keegan is an Acute Medical Consultant Doctor from Liverpool England. He was brought up under the cloud of managed decline in Margaret Thatchers 1980s Liverpool and searching for a way out of a world of gangs and street violence he joined the RAF Regiment as a specialist Infantryman at

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

By day, Chloe is a Physician Associate in a busy GP Practice in London. By evening, Chloe can be found crafting thoughts and weaving stories. 'Good Practice: Confessions of a physician associate student' is Chloe's debut self published memoir.

Storyteller, teacher and poet, Australian-born Manisha Jane completed a Master in Arts Education, then travelled her homeland and India before finally settling in Europe. She has practiced and taught Sahaja Yoga meditation for over twenty years - a passion that she brings to light in her writing

Refe Tuma is the author of middle grade historical fantasy books Frances and the Monster and Frances and the Werewolves of the Black Forest, a finalist for the 2023 Bram Stoker Awards®. He’s also the co-creator of the best-selling and award-winning What the Dinosaurs Did picture book series

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

Wheston Chancellor Grove holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, VT. He also earned an MSW. He is the author of Who Has Known Heights, a bildungsroman (2017), and The Lost Art of Love (2023), available on Amazon. The Lost Art of Love is a 2024 Indie Book Awards Finalist. His short

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

Christine Elmer Collins holds a rich 30-year background in nursing and healthcare management and has served with distinction in both the United States Air Force and United States Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps. Her career highlights include critical care nursing during the Afghanistan War

Former BBC current affairs journalist, now turned writer of historical fiction set in the ancient world. Independent publisher.

Eleanor was born in London, educated at Westminster and studied History of Art at Manchester University where she was distracted from finishing her degree by a trip to India. She was lost and found for the next twelve years, starting a commune, building a stone circle, and travelling through Asia

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

Nala Henkel-Aislinn has always loved reading. Her heart exploded when she got her first library card and found out she could take home more as many books as she could carry. Her first love was "Encyclopedia Brown," and now she writes funny, quirky mysteries for anyone who loves unconventional

Book is published under my pseudonym, Rose Carmichael. Rose Carmichael is a linguist, writer and journalist. Rose grew up in the countryside in Cambridgeshire, before moving to Dubai, Tehran and then eventually, London. After graduating from the University of Cambridge, where she studied Middle

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

Steve Schafer is the author of The Border, a finalist for the Joan F. Kaywell “Books Save Lives” Award. Schafer enjoys exploring cultural hot topics. In the The Border, he addresses our conversation around immigration. In his new novel, eMortal, he examines the tricky questions and nebulous ethics

MARY BEHAN was formerly a professor of neuroscience. Now retired she devotes her time to writing fiction, memoir and short stories. Her first book, Abbey Girls, is a memoir she wrote with her sister about their childhood in Ireland. Her first novel, A Measured Thread, set in Wisconsin and Ireland

Emily Lloyd-Gale was born in Australia and raised in the UK. Having moved around RAF bases as a child, her family finally settled in Oxfordshire, where she still lives today with her husband. Inspired by her experiences of bullying at school, her main character Maurice has become a symbol of

Michele Grant is a seasoned Executive Business Consultant with over 20 years of experience delivering successful results for Fortune 500 firms in diverse sectors. Her expertise in program leadership and value creation has benefited clients like Bertelsmann, Coach, AT&T Subsidiaries, VIACOM, CBS

Leslie Kain writes “Psychological Fiction With Heart”, about flawed people whose greatest barriers to happiness lie within them. Leslie was always writing something as a kid — fantasies, poems, secret plans, culminating in running away cross-country at fifteen, never looking back. Her careers in

Marcia Armandi is the multi-award-winning author of The Ghosts of Lewis Manor and The Haunting of Blackwater with two additional novels under contract for publication in 2024. She was born and raised in Argentina. She is a soccer fanatic and loves listening to tango. Marcia studied International

Joshua Ferdinand, founder of an Academic Publishing Network, began his teaching journey with Key Stage 2 students. This experience inspired him to create The Last Words of Albion, a book for children aged 9-12 that explores themes of colonialism, climate change, and culture through haikus and

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

I try to make sense of this beautiful, crazy world we inhabit through my stories—big issue technothrillers, with a side of sci-fi, that are super well researched inside complex plots full of twists and turns, that pose ethical and moral dilemmas. When I sit down to write a book, I have three non

When Ellis isn’t moonlighting as a coffee aficionada, you might find her adventuring through Transylvania, doing photoshoots in Old Town Bucharest, or otherwise trying to talk her husband into moving to Eastern Europe. She’s a lover of history with a penchant for World War II and the Cold War, and

In 2009, Barry Finlay went up a mountain as an accountant and came down as a philanthropist. After over thirty years in various financial roles with the Canadian federal government, he took his life in a different direction and climbed Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro at age 60 with his son Chris. The

Writer, artist, librarian, herbalist and genealogist, Gail has written several family histories, short stories and her paranormal cozy mysteries series entitled, The Gallagher Girls Mysteries. After traveling the world as a military spouse, Gail now resides in Idaho with her husband and their

Now an octogenarian it has taken almost forty years to commit my Jimmy Crikey stories to the publication. Jimmy was born on the beach at Great Yarmouth during a family seaside holiday. My five year old son and four of his new found friends had to shelter in our beach tent during a typically heavy

Author of "The Private Misadventures of Nell Nobody," and "On Wounds of Woe," Jennifer Newbold came to fiction writing from a historical perspective, with a belief that history can be immediate and relevant, and that fiction can be a means to making history accessible. But fiction can do so much

My award-winning books include a novella, six novels, five short-story collections, and one book of poetry. Published in magazines including Readers Digest, Redbook, Penthouse, and also college textbooks, my work has also been included in several anthologies. As editor-in-chief of the Redwood

TF Johnson has a love for storytelling, characters and far away worlds. She started creating before she started primary school, and the passion never left. When not writing, TF Johnson can be found reading the books on her to be read bookshelf that mysteriously keep multiplying, hanging with friends

I'm a rom com author based in the West Midlands. I love creating characters you can empathise with and crafting stories that you can't put down. When I'm not writing, I'm a photographer and artist, and I live with my husband, my two children and a beautiful but demanding cat.

Ruth is a novelist and freelance writer, the author of the Isabella M Smugge series, contemporary humorous page-turners with heart. She has also published a collection of Pride and Prejudice short stories and a volume of poetry. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and TikTok at