2026 Book Cover Finalists

I didn't plan on being a storyteller. I was a combat rescue medic, then a forensic digital investigator, and then somehow ended up writing a novel about children fleeing a surveillance state. I was born in Hamburg. I followed someone I loved to America, filled out the forms, raised my hand, and

I am a 30-year-old, Irish, female author. I have been passionately creative in many avenues my whole life. Since childhood, I have loved art, music, acting, and, above all, writing. What could be greater than creating real and thoughtful feelings in people through creative mediums? I have been

Alice McVeigh has been published by Orion/Hachette in contemporary fiction, by UK's Unbound in speculative fiction (as Spaulding Taylor) and by Warleigh Hall Press in her current Austenesque series ("McVeigh's celebrated series" - Publishers Weekly). Her novels have been honoured in the UK Selfies

Phill Featherstone was born and brought up in West Yorkshire. After several years working in Education, he and his wife, Sally Featherstone, set up an educational publishing company. They ran this from 1998 until they sold it in 2009. It wasn't until then that Phill found the time to fulfil his long

Born and raised in central Iowa, Sharon loves to write about everyday women who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, the men who make their hearts race, and villains you love to hate. She doesn't remember a time she wasn't reading or imagining what it would be like to stumble upon the

Michael Maloof is the author of the Kate Preacher Thriller Series— Relentless, Unstoppable, and Defiant —international thrillers built around believable “what if?” scenarios, ordinary people facing extraordinary choices, and consequences that refuse to stay contained. His debut novel, Relentless

Heidi Field was raised in the beautiful countryside of the South of England with her parents and her two sisters. In her twenties, she was a freelance Sports Massage Therapist. She achieved a Degree in Zoology at the age of thirty and then went on to raise two boys and became the stepmother of three

Evelyn Exley (Evie to those who know her world) fell in love with mythic fantasy as early as age five, when her minister father had her tested and discovered she was reading over two hundred words per minute. Seeing the need to feed her thirsty young mind, he placed epic fantasy books (most of them

About the Author Simon Bullock is a British-born writer living in the Netherlands. His work spans speculative fiction, psychological thrillers, comic science fiction and historically inspired novels, often blending sharp character work with dark humour, emotional realism and a strong sense of place

My name is Bridget Doone and I’m a fiction author living and working on the Space Coast of Florida. For much of my life, I’ve been a network engineer, technical writer, and corporate trainer, but as of late, I’ve been indulging my wanton imagination, writing elevated erotica for a group of people

Molly Arbuthnott is a teacher, author, editor, and academic from Scotland, UK. She is passionate about the promotion of children’s literature. With a solid understanding of literature and the ability to read, she believes you can take on the world. She uses her experiences from life as inspiration

Tracey Magruder writes romance stories filled with heart, humor, and the kind of emotional chemistry that refuses to be ignored. A lifelong storyteller and music instructor by day, she’s spent years helping others find their voice—now she’s finally using hers on the page. Whether she’s crafting

Monique Singleton writes compelling stories that mix fantasy with realistic psychological suspense and unique insights into the mind of the main characters. Her writing voice stands out because it combines moral depth, psychological struggle, and high-stakes action in a way that feels visceral and

Phill Featherstone was born and brought up in West Yorkshire. After several years working in Education, he and his wife, Sally Featherstone, set up an educational publishing company. They ran this from 1998 until they sold it in 2009. It wasn't until then that Phill found the time to fulfil his long

Kerstin Decook is a bestselling author, speaker, and certified professional coach who helps people break free from the invisible barriers that keep them stuck so they can move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose. Growing up behind the Berlin Wall gave her a unique perspective on

K. R. Solberg is one half of the writing duo behind the epic fantasy series, The Palimar Saga, along with her mother, C. R. Jacobson. When they're not writing gripping epic fantasy stories, they're probably arguing about homophones. K. R. has turned daydreaming into a career. As a graphic artist

Erik D. Larson is an Illinois farm boy turned MIT rocket scientist, decorated Air Force captain, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, avid gardener, and aspiring waterman. He splits his time between Marin County and Hanalei, two versions of paradise. He has written poetry, edited university newspapers and

My debut historical fiction novel, THE LAST GYPSY QUEEN, published April 16, 2026. I write women’s upmarket and historical fiction. As a former retail executive specializing in e-commerce, for years I’ve channeled my story-telling passion into writing thousands of words in the form of published

Journalist, ex-BBC correspondent, novelist. Author of The Candidate's Husband (SRL Publishing & Bolinda Audio)

Heidi Field was raised in the beautiful countryside of the South of England with her parents and her two sisters. In her twenties, she was a freelance Sports Massage Therapist. She achieved a Degree in Zoology at the age of thirty and then went on to raise two boys and became the stepmother of three

Gwyn Bennett is a best-selling author who writes intriguing fast-paced character driven crime and psychological thrillers. She's always been a writer, initially working as a broadcast journalist and newsreader for the BBC and ITN in London, before focusing on her fiction. Gwyn undertakes a lot of

Dr Paul Taylor is a Psychophysiologist, with a PhD in Psychology, separate master's degrees in Exercise Science and Nutrition and a postgraduate qualification in Neuroscience. A former Royal Navy Officer and former Adjunct Professor at University of San Francisco, Paul is a leading expert in

Natasha Ickes is a resilience strategist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate with a background in psychology and community-centered leadership. She holds a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her

About the Author: Richard Randon Richard Randon is a British author with a flair for blending absurdity with cosmic adventures, creating quirky characters and unpredictable situations that are as humorous as they are imaginative. Inspired by the likes of Douglas Adams, Robert Rankin, and other

Phill Featherstone was born and brought up in West Yorkshire. After several years working in Education, he and his wife, Sally Featherstone, set up an educational publishing company. They ran this from 1998 until they sold it in 2009. It wasn't until then that Phill found the time to fulfil his long

Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled “Science Can Be Fun”. At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and

Mary Murphy is an Irish-born author whose work explores psychological suspense, identity, and inherited memory across genres and tonal range. Her latest release, The Confidence Thief (2026), is a work of crime fiction with literary depth and emotional intensity, continuing her examination of

Max is a multi-award winning disability and LGBTQIA+ activist, who was recognised in 2024 as the UK’s most influential disabled scientist. They talk extensively about intersectionality in the workplace, and their experiences as a queer, DeafBlind, and disabled person in STEM. Max is a Bard and a

Hi, I’m Phil, a former radio and TV reporter/producer in the UK, writing as PN Johnson. I have four published novels, Killer in the Crowd (2022), Run to the Blue (2023) Murder in thre Blue (April 2026), and Killer on the Set (June 4th 2026). As a former TV reporter, my novels, which are adventure

Jim Walker is an award-winning photographer based in Maine, USA. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya. With more than 50 years of experience in travel photography and over 40 years dedicated to wildlife and bird photography, Jim brings a seasoned

Born in Manhattan and raised in Connecticut, Denise Alicea started writing when drawing and painting simply weren’t enough. A writer of poetry, fantasy, time travel, romance and more, Denise has won several awards and has had several finalist nominations. She loves technology, reading, watching

I am a writer whose work embodies the profound depth of my richly interwoven cultural heritage and historical legacy. As a descendant of an English Protestant who fled England during the perilous reign of Mary Tudor, my lineage is a testament to resilience and adaptation. My ancestor’s courageous

Alisa Hope Wagner is an international award-winning author, editor and publisher of over thirty books. She married her high school sweetheart, and together they raise their three children in a Christ-centered home. Though an introvert by nature, Alisa easily expresses herself through social media

My journey with writing has been anything but conventional. As a child, I struggled to find my voice through the written word. However, that began to change during my graduate studies in Biochemistry, when I faced the daunting task of composing a dissertation. Initially, I attributed my newfound

A former crime reporter, Lori Duffy Foster was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where a piece of her heart remains and her latest novel, SPRING MELT, is set. SPRING MELT, her first historical-suspense novel, released March 10. Her previous novels include NEVER LET GO, a

Inspired by our friendship, our countless parenting fails, and lifelong passion for cosy crime, together wenwrite The AnonyMums book series where school mum friends unwittingly solve murders whilst navigating school politics and sleep deprivation. Our first book, A Bloody Merry Murder, has been long

Evelyn Exley (Evie to those who know her world) fell in love with mythic fantasy as early as age five, when her minister father had her tested and discovered she was reading over two hundred words per minute. Seeing the need to feed her thirsty young mind, he placed epic fantasy books (most of them