Published Book of the Year
Ordinary People:
Extraordinary Heroes by Will
G. Merrill Jr. (History)
During the First Battle in the War against Terror,
ordinary New Yorkers became extraordinary heroes.
Will G. Merrill Jr. graduated from West Point in 1958. He served 31 years in the Army, including in
Germany, Vietnam, Korea and Greece. In writing this book he interviewed sixty
firefighters, police officers and civilians directly involved with 9/11.
Unpublished Book of the Year
The Cold Season by William C. Walker (Romance)
A woman's journey
of discovery and redemption.
William C. Walker started his writing career
as a columnist for a regional newspaper. During a thirty-five year span as a
military pilot and commercial airline captain he began writing short stories
and novels. He lives on Florida's Treasure Coast with his wife and a fluff dog
that likes him.
The Dahris Clair Memorial
Award
Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad (Screen Play)
Patricia is abducted by mistake. Lost
in space, she must use every ounce of her humanity to find the way home.
Originally born in Sweden, Maria
moved to Florida late 2008. Today, she lives in the Tampa Bay area with her
husband Mike and three rescue dogs. She is most known for writing science
fiction romance, but also produces romantic thrillers.
Book-Length Fiction
Historical Fiction (Published)
First Place
The French Teacher by William C. Walker. An American woman in war-torn France.
Historical Fiction
(Unpublished)
First Place
The Lantern by Joanne Lewis. A Renaissance mystery, takes the
reader along two continents and over five hundred years as a 21st century
American woman searches to learn the truth about the 15th century mysterious
Italian girl who dared to compete with the most famous artists of the
Renaissance..
Second Place
Nisei by John J.
White. A few months before his death in 1953, Hideo “Bobby”
Takahashi, dictates his memoir to his lovely companion.
THIRD PLACE
In the Hands of the Wolf by Raymond
Gustavson. Set in Clarksville, TN, and Washington, DC, this historical
novel covers the highly traumatic period February through May 1865.
Humor / Satire [Fiction] (Unpublished)
First Place
Never Bet Your Future on a Guy Called Weasel by Ann Meier. A young woman returns to her hometown to
settle an estate, but finds her attorney murdered and lying on a yearbook
picture of her best friend.
Mainstream (Unpublished)
First Place
The Bully Route Home by D. L. Havlin. The struggles of a young boy to avoid the bullying of a dominant antagonist,
sets off a chain of events culminating in explosive racial tension in the rural
South of the 40’s…and teaches him the value of every human being.
Second Place
Andrew Comes Home by Philip L. Levin. A family shattered is by the death of the teenage daughter. The father and son move from Chicago to the
Mississippi coast seeking healing while adjusting to the Southern culture
shock.
THIRD PLACE
‘Nam World by Jeff Boyle. The story of a theme park and the real and
imaginary world of a Vietnam veteran struggling against demons to follow his
heart.
Mystery (Published)
First Place
The Gift by Bruce H. Kubec. After his own computer system is hacked, a businessman uncovers an
embezzlement scheme targeting the nation’s largest banks. Is it acceptable to
do bad for a good reason?
Mystery (Unpublished)
First Place
The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton. She made headlines when she was kidnapped at 12 and again when she was
rescued at 16, but now Reeve LeClaire guards her privacy and lives alone, a
damaged young woman of 22 who has a new job, a new name, and an excellent
psychiatrist.
Second Place
Deadly Sacrifices by Bridges
DelPonte. When a soccer mom is
brutally murdered in a suburban Boston church, new homicide prosecutor
Marguerite “Monty” Montez risks her career and her life trying to prove that
police nabbed the wrong man.
THIRD PLACE
Judas Kisses by Laurie Solheim. Someone intends to make Beth
Stanton’s life miserable when Wall Street greed breeds revenge.
Romance (Unpublished)
First Place
The Cold Season by William C. Walker.
A woman's journey of
discovery and redemption.
Science Fiction (Unpublished)
First Place
Stone Perfect by Chris
Coward. With the help of two small
stones, an emotionally battered wife finds the “easy” way to the life—and
love—of her dreams.
Thriller / Suspense (Published)
First Place
Tiger Paw by Charles A. Cornell. FBI agent Scott Forrester must make a deal with the Devil to thwart the
plans of a demonic East Indian cult as it unleashes an elusive assassin to
dismantle a corrupt Wall Street empire, one body at a time.
Second Place
The Hitman’s
Lover by Richard Newell Smith. After his Aunt Maude guns down a policeman, Jack Scully
finds himself up against crooked cops and a crime boss – but nothing as
beguiling and dangerous as Angela D’Annunzio.
Thriller / Suspense (Unpublished)
First Place
Place of Fear by Ken Pelham. Deep in the rainforest, a prisoner languishes in a lightless cell, the
clock ticking toward his execution. His friends mount a desperate rescue, but
will it be too late?
Second Place
Francis’ Flowers by D. L. Havlin. A rural Georgia community braces for the suspected arrival of a serial
killer unaware a more sinister danger already lives among them.
THIRD PLACE
Grind His Bones by Richard Newell Smith.
For Jack Scully, pit bulls and
sociopaths aren’t half as noxious as his cousin Hughie. Now he’s risking his
life to save Hughie from being framed for a double murder.
Juvenile Fiction
Children’s Picture Books (Published)
First Place
The King of Fish by Darrell House. Young Ray dreams of fishing. In
this catch & release story, told in verse, our wheelchair bound hero comes
face to face with the King of Fish; displaying the wisdom and strength found in
the heart of a child.
Children’s Picture Books
(Unpublished)
First Place
Suki Saluki: Horse Farm Hero by M. R. Street. Suki is a Saluki dog
living on a racehorse training farm.
Although she has a very important job – taking care of three orphan
kittens – she wants a bigger job.
Second Place
Rectangle Jangle by Gayle Swift. Poetry and geometry pair in an unusual picture book from the “Shape of
Discovery” series. “Rectangles are sturdy, reliable shapes.
THIRD PLACE
Dragonella’s Striped Umbrella at the Playground by Gayle Swift. In the midst of an unexpected playground
storm, Dragonella and Jollyette share a sheltered spot. They trade the
loneliness of one to forge a friendship that blooms like a garden in the sun.
Chapter Book (Published)
First Place
Hildy
by Millie Richmond A
nine-year-old girl is losing her hearing but she doesn’t tell anyone. The
longer she keeps this secret, the more problems she encounters.
Middle-Grade Fiction (Unpublished)
First Place
Rise and Shine Rosie by Mary Kay Pyles. Deanna Rose "Rosie" Blakely, a determined, courageous
eleven-year old, struggles to provide food, clothing, supervision, and
stability for her brothers and sister during their drug-addicted mother's
frequent absences.
Young Adult (Unpublished)
First Place
The Rules of Lying by Linda Kelley. Dark passages sparked with humor draw the reader into Peter Whistler’s
world where a little luck, a knack for lying, and a dash of Cajun crazy can
steer even an ordinary orphan to an extraordinary life.
Second Place
Shedim: The Secret of Gems by K. M. Smith. Life heats up on Annabel Island for twin
sisters Ruby and Pearl Pryce as they discover a long-hidden relative, powerful
family secrets, and, possibly, their hearts’ desires.
THIRD PLACE
An Angel Torched My Homework and Other Lie by Carol Sipes. Sixteen-year-old
Carrie loves attending the nation’s first high school to admit angels, zombies,
werewolves, and vampires—until a mysterious attack makes her question whether
they’re as harmless as she believes
Screenplay (Unpublished)
First Place
Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad.
Patricia is abducted by mistake. Lost
in space, she must use every ounce of her humanity to find the way home
Short Fiction
Flash Fiction (Published)
First Place
Distorted Reflections by Amber Garr. A young girls’ struggle with self-image is captured in her reflection.
Second Place
100 Needles by Paige L. Scott. The elders of a fishing village fashion their life stories into a
quilt...and lose a little bit of themselves in the process.
THIRD PLACE
A Leap of Faith by Amber Garr. A young girl misjudges the extent of her boyfriend’s commitment to
forever.
Flash Fiction (Unpublished)
First Place
Dial Tone by Gayle Swift. A
divorce hearing derails when the spouse is a “no show.” When his daughter
telephones, his threat of violence is punctuated by the ominous drone of a dial
tone.
Second Place
One Last Time by Jan Evans. A P-38 pilot is saved by a mysterious woman. Or maybe it was only a
dream.
THIRD PLACE
An
Accidental Death by Phyllis Smallman. A P-38 pilot is saved by a mysterious woman. Or maybe it was only a
dream.
Short Story (Published)
First Place
Jesus
or Juju by Roger Poppen.
Sometimes, miracles do happen.
Second Place
Jack Daniels
And Tea by Phyllis Smallman. One night in a bar things get out of control for
bartender Sherri Travis and she finds when there's money at stake no one can be
trusted.
THIRD PLACE
T-Patrol by Mary Lois Sanders. If Mel jumps," her brother
Dave says, "it's a tarantula." So true. So why does she join the
Patrol in her neighborhood? To belong? Okay, but mostly to challenge her fear!
But does she really want to poke a tarantula hole with a broom straw?
Short Story (Unpublished)
First Place
A Flutter of Wings by Victor DiGenti. Life seems terribly unfair to a boy of seven after his mother leaves.
But little things —like a simple feather — can lead to understanding and
redemption.
Second Place
A Shadow the
Length of a Lifetime by John J. White. A nine-year-old boy learns a harsh lesson about life while adjusting to
a new home, a new school, and new friends.
THIRD PLACE
Rosabelle, Believe by Mark McWaters. Eric White has been a
"magic man" his entire life; from magic shows he staged as a kid
through his mega productions the world sees today. His ultimate illusion brings
the ultimate magic man, Harry Houdini, back from the grave – or does it?
Novella (Unpublished)
First Place
Restoration by Laura
Pelner McCarthy. Against the backdrop
of the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the rebirth of Miami Beach’s Art Deco District,
a gentle, diffident Midwestern architect and a free-spirited Miami radio host
engage in a correspondence of increasing intimacy and growing self-knowledge.
Second Place
Solitary by Bradette
Michel. Long-time
criminal offender Jack Henderson gets a second chance when he is unexpectedly
released from prison. Ruthie, his six-year old niece, helps him find the
redemption that has always eluded him.
Book-Length Nonfiction
Autobiography / Memoir (Published)
First Place
Life in the Land of IS by Bette Lee Crosby. In this amazing memoir, Lani Deauville, the
world’s longest living quadriplegic proves that the worst handicap you can have
is a lack of belief in yourself.
Second Place
Baseball’s Finest Moments by Jack L. Hayes. He didn’t even remotely know anyone connected
with major league baseball. Yet this fourteen-year-old had a dream and on
Opening Day, 1953, that dream transformed into an almost unbelievable story as
he trotted onto the baseball field wearing the batboy uniform of the
world-champion New York Yankees.
Autobiography / Memoir (Unpublished)
First Place
Hardship Post by Robert J. Taylor. With terrorism on the rise and his marriage on the ropes, an American
moves to Pakistan to work for the Aga Khan.
Educational / Informational (Published)
First Place
You Have to Say the Words by Kathy Ryan. This step-by-step guide for managers and HR
professionals is packed with easy to implement tools, practical advice and
real-world stories to help you provide impactful performance feedback and take
the fear out of tough conversations.
History (Published)
First Place
Ordinary People: Extraordinary Heroes by Will G. Merrill Jr. During the First Battle in the War against
Terror, ordinary New Yorkers became extraordinary heroes.
Short Nonfiction
Creative Nonfiction (Unpublished)
First Place
Palladium Nights by Beda Kantarjian. For over thirty years an elderly friend repeatedly requested the author
write her haunting past love story. On reading it, with tears in her eyes, the
friend said, “It’s perfect.”
Second Place
To the Top by Joan Levy. A father takes his family to the
Empire state building to fulfill a promise requested on a postcard. But odd
circumstances and the determination of three year-old child seem to derail the
promise and visit.
THIRD PLACE
Snowball by Joan Levy. A
first grader steals a doll from her classroom dollhouse. Decades later she
discovers why.
Essay (Unpublished)
First Place
Quibbles 'n Bits by Barbara Samuels. This author believes there should be distinct names for people and pets.
Join the movement to stop calling our dogs, Bill and our children, Fifi.
Second Place
Arguing with E.B.B. by Judy
Weber. The writer's nostalgic look back on years past is far
different in perspective than that of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Poetry
Poetry (Unpublished)
First Place
Change by Robin Thomas. Some
call it fear of settling down; some call it wanderlust; some call it exciting. I call it a way of life.
Second Place
Petal Fists by Donna S. Fernandez. The poem is from a collection of poems and essays on the marvels and
mysteries of South Florida’s natural world observed from the poet’s
canal-backed home.
THIRD PLACE
Greedy by Maxie Steer. A
child who, upon overhearing arguments, learns hurtful words and adds them to
his vocabulary but soon realizes his limited understanding and shame in
eavesdropping.
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