2025 Book Award Shortlist

L K Pang's debut novel, Moat Hill Hall, a romantic thriller, was published in 2023 with Chronos Publishing. Her second novel, The Night Counsellor, a historical thriller was published in 2024. Previously qualified as an architect, she now focuses her time on writing, painting and looking after her

Renee Bolla, a children's picture book author, seamlessly transitioned from the corporate world of fashion retail to crafting enchanting literary worlds that captivate young minds. Her self-published books, Finding Bunny and Imagine That (2022) and her latest release, The Truth About Stepmoms (2024)

Corey Manny worked in healthcare for more than a decade, helping people feel better when they were going through tough times. Now, she does the same through her stories, helping children navigate the ups and downs of life. Corey believes in embracing our imperfections – after all, that’s what makes

Donna Galanti is the children’s book author of the middle-grade Unicorn Island series, Joshua and the Lightning Road series, and Loon Cove Summer. She’s also the author of the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned

Dr. James Manning is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Manning specializes in CBT and has worked extensively with individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. He holds post-graduate qualifications in both Clinical

M.A.Batten is a neuro-diverse writer of fantasy, science fiction, and dark fiction. After winning over 150 creative awards during a hugely successful 25-year career in advertising, M.A.Batten returned to his childhood dream of telling stories but without brands or their ridiculous reasons to buy

Black writes in a variety of genres. Mystery, romance, or fantasy, her character-driven stories combine imagination and experience to weave dramatic plots with believable characters in descriptive contemporary settings, sometimes with fantasy worlds within them. In most of her publications, a four

Caroline Lavoie is a French-Canadian writer of YA speculative fiction. She grew up in Quebec and flew west at the age of twenty with one lucky feather and three words of English in her backpack. She now spends her days on the homestead, growing food and improbable tales from seed. In recent years

With the publication of Unstoppable, the highly anticipated sequel to his award-winning debut novel Relentless, Michael Maloof cements his place as a compelling new voice in the world of globe-trotting thrillers. ​Born with an insatiable curiosity and a genetic case of wanderlust, Michael brings a

Kelly Elizabeth Huston writes women-centric, genre-straddling fiction that always includes laughs and a love story. Often there's heartbreak, a smidge of mystery, moments of suspense, and maybe a dead body... or two. Not always. But sometimes. Above all, she hopes her protagonists are better for it

Corey Manny worked in healthcare for more than a decade, helping people feel better when they were going through tough times. Now, she does the same through her stories, helping children navigate the ups and downs of life. Corey believes in embracing our imperfections – after all, that’s what makes

Mike Darcy is the author of the Little Joe series. He spent the better part of his youth wandering the forest, subsisting on foraging wild berries and the generosity of concerned woodland creatures. He holds degrees in Digital Forensics, Applied Mathematics, and a Masters in Public Administration

John David is a long-time public relations and crisis communications consultant, author of a non-fiction business book, and a corporate ghostwriter. His debut novel, The Bystander (The Lemaster Files Book 1), was longlisted for the BPA First Novel Award. It will be released by Tule Publishing in

With the publication of Unstoppable, the highly anticipated sequel to his award-winning debut novel Relentless, Michael Maloof cements his place as a compelling new voice in the world of globe-trotting thrillers. ​Born with an insatiable curiosity and a genetic case of wanderlust, Michael brings a

I try to make sense of this beautiful, crazy world we inhabit through my stories—thrillers 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-negotiables: 1. It needs to concern a

Genevieve Morrissey is a passionate student of British and American social history, but through one of those strange little quirks of fate she spends most of her days talking with scientists. THEA, her most recent novel, is a coming-of-age story set in 1920s Oklahoma City. MARRIAGE AND HANGING is

A.P. Harper writes to make sense of the beautiful mess that is being human. Her work leans into themes of memory, identity, and the quiet spaces we don’t always talk about—but often feel. Whether in novels or short stories, she gravitates toward characters who are lost, searching, or on the edge of

Alia Luria's debut novel, Compendium, was published in 2015 and garnered several accolades, including the National Indie Excellence Award in Fantasy, the eLit Gold Medal in Science Fiction / Fantasy, an IPBA Benjamin Franklin silver award, and the Reader's Favorite Silver Medal in Fantasy. It was

Debra Borchert has had many careers: clothing designer, actress, TV show host, spokesperson for high-tech companies, marketing and public relations professional, and technical writer for Fortune 100 companies. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian

Corey Manny worked in healthcare for more than a decade, helping people feel better when they were going through tough times. Now, she does the same through her stories, helping children navigate the ups and downs of life. Corey believes in embracing our imperfections – after all, that’s what makes

Steve is an active U.S. Diplomat serving in West Africa and term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has lived longer in West Africa than in the U.S. and enjoys storytelling that juxtaposes worldviews from those two regions. A former strategy consultant, Steve holds a Master of Business

Kate Grant is the founding CEO of Fistula Foundation, a US nonprofit organization. The Foundation has mobilized nearly 70,000 donors in more than 60 countries, raising over $150 million to fund more than 100,000 life transforming surgeries for women injured in childbirth and who are too often