2025 Writing Award Genre Winners

Jane lives in New Zealand with her young family. She has a PhD in early modern English history, a BA (Hons) and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Queensland. She has published in academic journals, and is a volunteer baker for NZ charity Good Bitches Baking. Her work has received the Claymore

A former English Teacher who hung up his chalk (well, whiteboard markers) to pen a few of his own words. Loves folklore-inspired horror, dystopian fiction and of course sci-fi; but more than anything - and unsurprisingly - loves a literary surprise, where genre and blurb are little more than cursory

Karin is an autistic mathematician, and writer of science fiction, fantasy and thrillers. After twelve moves within the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and the UK, she settled in the Garden of England (a.k.a. Kent). As a writer/reader, she is passionate about diversity – any kind – but, more than

Addicted to a compelling storyline since the tender age of 6, I have been a plot junkie my entire life and value any medium which keeps me guessing throughout the body of work. I want to bring others along with my compulsion, and I truly believe I bring this aspect to readers through my writing

Vikram Kapur has published three novels—The Assassinations, The Wages of Life and Time Is a Fire. His short stories and essays have appeared in World Literature Today, Litro, Beloit Fiction Journal, The Hong Kong Review, Mekong Review, Ambit, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, the Los Angeles Review of

An aspiring author/poet dedicated to bridging the gap between generations in immigrant households and bringing light to trauma and abuse often swept under the rug as a taboo topic. My goal is to share my own story focusing on heartfelt and raw reflections to explore the challenges and beauty of

Lily Lu is a budding author of fantasy and science fiction stories.

Lily Lu is a budding author of fantasy and science fiction stories.

Late starter. Spent most of my time working in hospitals, bringing up a family, and in the occasional down times, running, reading and co-authoring science and medical papers - over 50 published, but none of major significance. Started writing fiction in May 2022 - currently writing fourth book

Jo is a writer with a passion for commercial fiction, and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in Cornwall with a bitey cat and her (thankfully less bitey) partner. Her work has previously been shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print unpublished novel prize.

British debut novelist who began his working life as a waiter, but since has had a varied career in financial services, documentary film production and the travel industry. Much of his writing experience has been within the business world, where he has been head of corporate communications, and

Jane lives in New Zealand with her young family. She has a PhD in early modern English history, a BA (Hons) and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Queensland. She has published in academic journals, and is a volunteer baker for NZ charity Good Bitches Baking. Her work has received the Claymore

I'm a graduate of Institute of Children's Literature with work featured in The St. Petersburg times and Guidepost Magazine. I write full-time in Palmetto, Florida.

I am currently living in Wrocław, Poland, and soon moving to Porto. I work as a flight attendant, but my heart belongs to storytelling. Zirka is my first children's fiction book - a story born from the grief of losing beloved pets. I wanted to turn that sadness into something warm and comfortnig for

Jace Parker – Resilience Expert, Crime Scene Investigator, and Author of Thrive in Chaos Jace Parker is a resilience expert, seasoned crime scene investigator, and the author of Thrive in Chaos – a brutally honest guide to building unshakeable mental toughness. Drawing on over 20 years of experience

After gaining a degree in Anthropology, Sophie went into television production directing her first documentary for Channel 4 when driving from London to Johannesburg. Having produced an INSET series for BBC Education, she set up wildlife films in Botswana and a BLUE PETER exploration of South Africa

Frederick Douglass Reynolds is a retired Black LA County Sheriffs Department Homicide Sergeant. He was born in Rocky Mount, Virginia and, grew up in Detroit, Michigan where he became a petty criminal and was involved in gangs. He joined the US Marine Corps in 1979 to escape the life of crime that he

Darrell Bowling, after a career in corporate aviation spanning fifty-five years, I now follow my favorite pastime, storytelling. With a thirty-year history as a pilot, part-time dealer, and pit boss for Nevada casinos, my background lends me to a life most only dream of. An old Chinese proverb reads

I was born in the south but grew up in Virginia, returning briefly to North Carolina to complete my bachelor’s degree in business. I’ve spent my professional life to date in sales and marketing positions, and as an entrepreneur. Along the way, I discovered my passion for people is only exceeded by

Story lover, planner and plotter. Author of 'As the Tree Falls', and winner of the 2025 Page Turner Writing Award. When I’m not wandering through imagined landscapes, I serve as a District Councillor and Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, helping to shape the places people call home. Both

Oli is a theatre designer who lives on a boat with his dog, Spud. He has designed shows for companies including RashDash Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe, English Touring Opera, Scottish Opera, The Gate, The Bush, The Lyric Hammersmith, English National Opera, Manchester Royal Exchange, Choir of Man and

Stevie Rae Diehl is a Romance Writers of America award-winning author with seven contest wins, four runner-up placements, and a Best of the Best title in the 2018 Golden Opportunity contest, along with dual-finalist honors in the 2019 Golden Heart. Previously published under the pen name Evie Drae

Born in 1977. From Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland. Fledgling author, full-time dreamer.

I’m a queer writer and psychotherapist exploring the quiet places where fear and humanity meet. My writing lives at the intersection of horror and introspection, stories rooted in the tension between the visible world and the emotional undercurrents that shape us. I’m fascinated by how grief, memory

Eugene Aucoin is a published author whose first book won Asia’s Best Book of the Year in Theology in 2020: The Cardinal Sin Award. His book, "Has Science Killed God? – Three Powerful Ideas that Will Reignite your Faith" (Manila: St Pauls’ Books, 2019), was also published in French in Canada in July