Feathered Quill Book Awards – 2024 Winners

Children's Picture Books

First Place

Alphakazoo

by Edgar Garcia

Second Place

Henri and the Magnificent Snort

by Samantha Childs

Finalist - Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy by Shani Night
Finalist - Tabitha Fink and the Cowboy Code by Rick Felty
Finalist - Bentley's Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor
Finalist - Gizelle's Whimsical Wintery Day by Joy Dertuin and Michelle Hill

Third Place

Pebbles and the Biggest Number

by Joey Benun

Children's Early Readers (6-8 years)

First Place

Dino Style: Dinosaurs & Graffiti

by Rob Ambrose

Second Place

Marky the Magnificent Fairy: A Disability Story of Courage, Kindness and Acceptance

by Cynthia Kern OBrien

Finalist - Titan's Smelly Adventure by Ally Wilburn
Finalist - A Wallop of Worries by Alyssa Caparaso Hurley
Finalist - The Tufts: Hurricane Havoc by Tanya Ellen

Third Place

Dottie Meets Mully the Bully: The Polka-Dotted Penguin

by Amy Moy

Young Readers (8-12 years)

First Place

Eliza Jane Finds Her Hero

by Eliza Kelley and Debra Whiting Alexander

Second Place

Mystic Girl: She Will Find Victory

by Carolyn Stearns

Finalist - Drifters Realm by AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia
Finalist - The Torchbearer's Quest by Christine Callahan-Oke
Finalist - Belle and Chloe: Reflections in the Mirror by Isabela Sardas

Third Place

Charlotte's Ghosts: The Mystery of the Vanishing Boy

by L.P. Simone

Teen (13-18 years)

First Place

Vandella: Resilience

by M. Ch. Landa

Second Place

The Four

by Alexandra Haden-Douglas

Finalist - Run For My Life by Joseph P. O'Donnell
Finalist - Wild Conviction by Mary Dezember
Finalist - Heroes of the Empire: Book 1, The Cavalier by Israh Azizi
Finalist - Changing Tide by Robert Joncas

Third Place

Sky Ice: (The Earthbounders, Book 1)

by E.G. Sparks

Adult Fiction

First Place

Fence Jumper

by Mark J. Brandenburg

Second Place

The Blue Iris

by Rachel Stone

Finalist - Ghost of the Gray by J. Jones
Finalist - Running As Fast As I Can by John David Graham
Finalist - Crack in the Red Ice by J. Jones

Third Place

These Things Happen

by Michael Eon

Women's Fiction

First Place

Never Lost

by Holly Brandon

Second Place

The Witch of Wethersfield: A Cunning Woman

by Katherine Spada Basto

Finalist - The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
Finalist - Wolfsong by Kathryn Silver-Hajo
Finalist - Water Music by Marcia Peck

Third Place

Christmas Letters: Loved Ones Separated By War

by Carolyn Stearns

Romance

First Place

In Silence Cries the Heart

by Catherine Hughes

Second Place

Never Lost

by Holly Brandon

Finalist - Guilty of Stealing His Heart by Nancy Lynn White
Finalist - The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
Finalist - A Heart Restrained by Jennifer Wilck

Third Place

Eva

by Diane Solomon

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror

First Place

Chasing Money: A Marty and Bo Thriller

by Michael Balter

Second Place

A Measure of Rhyme: Ages of Malice, Book II

by Lloyd Jeffries

Finalist - The Marlow Murders by Biba Pearce
Finalist - The Still Small Voice by Brenda Stanley
Finalist - Murder Most Cold by Victoria Dowd

Third Place

Friendly Fire: A Nik Byron Investigation

by Mark Pawlosky

Short Story/Anthology

First Place

Shoot the Horses First

by Leah Angstman

Second Place

Wolfsong

by Kathryn Silver-Hajo

Finalist - The Bridge on Beer River by Terry Tierney
Finalist - Conquered By Fog by Fabiana Elisa Martinez

Third Place

Echoes From the Hocker House

by Virginia Watts

Poetry

First Place

Vivia: The Legend of Vivia Thomas

by Linda Neal Reising

Second Place

Exits

by Stephen Pollock

Finalist - The Book of John by Lindsey Royce
Finalist - Heaven Underfoot by Diana Woodcock
Finalist - Civil Twilight by Anique Sara Taylor

Third Place

Sonnets of Love and Joy

by Paul Buchheit

Children's Poetry

First Place

Dino Style: Dinosaurs & Graffiti

by Rob Ambrose

Second Place

Gino's Exciting Family Adventure

by Elzie Nay

Finalist - My Fingerpaint Masterpiece Coloring Book by Sherrill Cannon
Finalist - Henri and the Magnificent Snort by Samantha Childs
Finalist - The Raindrop by J.B. Auchter

Third Place

Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy

by Shani T. Night

Science Fiction

First Place

Welcome to Opine

by Matthew Marullo

Second Place

Changing Tide

by Robert Joncas

Finalist - The Price of Rebellion by Michael C. Bland
Finalist - The Courage of the Commonwealth by John J. Spearman

Third Place

The Red Frontier: Book 1 of The Red Tomorrow Series

by Joseph Cruz

Fantasy

First Place

A Bargain With Darkness (The Shadow Bidders)

by Peter Eliott

Second Place

Sky Ice: (The Earthbounders, Book 1)

by E.G. Sparks

Finalist - The Adventures of Izzy Adams: Descending Into Darkness by Jessica Lee Sheppard
Finalist - Changing Tide by Robert Joncas
Finalist - Shield of the King by MB Mooney

Third Place

Heroes of the Empire: Book 1, The Cavalier

by Israh Azizi

Memoir/Biography

First Place

I Am Abigail

by Jamie Collins

Second Place

Kindergarten at 60: A Memoir of Teaching in Thailand

by Dian Seidel

Finalist - Run for My Life by Joseph P. O'Donnell
Finalist - Bumpy Rides & Soft Landings by James Pauley, Jr.
Finalist - While I Walk by Rachel Durchslag
Finalist - Tonechaser by Steve Rosen

Third Place

On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story

by Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins

Self-Help

First Place

Face-Lift: Embracing Hope Through Your Heartaches

by Holly Curby

Second Place

Cranky Superpowers: Life Lessons Learned from the Common CrankaTsuris Chronicles

by Steven Joseph

Finalist - More Than Just A Pretty Space by Reiko Gomez and Peter Kaplan
Finalist - How to Talk About Guns With Anyone by Katherine Schweit
Finalist - Carried By A Feather by Joan Hyams Schmitz

Third Place

Rise of the Warrior Leader: Critical Skills for Leading People

by Claudio Chiste

Informational (includes Business, Parenting, Sports, and Cookbooks)

First Place

Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis

by Katherine Schweit

Second Place

Reinvent: Navigating Business Transformation in a Hyperdigital Era

by Faisal Hoque

Finalist - Recapitalism: For the Wealth of People by Adam Gallagher
Finalist - How to Talk About Guns by Katherine Schweit
Finalist - Kickass Healthy LADA: How to Thrive with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults by Jacqueline Haskins

Third Place

Horror on the Stage: Monsters, Murders and Terrifying Moments in Theater

by Amnon Kabatchnik

Historical

First Place

Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part I

by Helena P. Schrader

Second Place

The Witch of Wethersfield: A Cunning Woman

by Katherine Spada Basto

Finalist - Look Away No More by Carol Owens Campbell
Finalist - Red Clay, Running Waters by Leslie K. Simmons
Finalist - Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray

Third Place

High Bridge

by Michael Miller

Inspirational

First Place

Sonnets of Love and Joy

by Paul Buchheit

Second Place

The Destination Birth

by Alex Bisset

Finalist - From the Back of a Donkey by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Finalist - Art in the Middle Ages by Art Berman
Finalist - Saved By Hope by Jenny Lowe

Third Place

On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story

by Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins

Religious/Spiritual

First Place

A Measure of Rhyme: Ages of Malice, Book II

by Lloyd Jeffries

Second Place

Son of the Doomsday Prophet: A Fantasy Adventure in the Days of Noah

by Steven J. Byers

Finalist - The Statue's Secret by Skip Johnson
Finalist - The Power of Gratitude by Patrick Garry
Finalist - Jesus Speaking Devotional Prayers by Mike Lutz

Third Place

Magi Apprentice

by Dan E. Hendrickson

Animal - Children's and YA

First Place

Aboard Blackbeard's Queen

by Robin Reams

Second Place

Eliza Jane Finds Her Hero

by Eliza Kelley and Debra Whiting Alexander

Finalist - Mystic Girl: She Will Find Victory by Carolyn Stearns
Finalist - Alphakazoo by Edgar Garcia
Finalist - Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun

Third Place

Alice the Cat

by Tim Cummings

Animal - Adult

First Place

Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age

by Fred M. Kray

Second Place

Ghost of the Gray

by J. Jones

Finalist - Dog at the Tinsel Tree by Denise Lee Branco
Finalist - My One-Eyed Three-Legged Therapist by Kathy Finley

Third Place

A Winter's Coat: U.S. Marine Corps Warhorse

by Clint Goodwin

Debut Author

First Place

These Things Happen

by Michael Eon

Second Place

Chasing Money: A Marty and Bo Thriller

by Michael Balter

Finalist - Kindgergarten at 60 by Dian Seidel
Finalist - High Bridge by Michael Miller
Finalist - The Adventures of Izzy Adams: Descending Into Darkness by Jessica Sheppard
Finalist - The Future King by Vishnul Jain

Third Place

Pebbles and the Biggest Number

by Joey Benun

Best of Backlist

First Place

Finding a Friend (Shark Stories)

by Traci Swain

Second Place

You Got This - A Tale of Courage

by Wanda Carter Roush

Finalist - Unlocking Blackbeard's Skeletons by Robin Reams
Finalist - Dread Watch by Jared Agard
Finalist - Sophie Murphy Does Not Exist by T. Blanchard

Third Place

Maddie McDowell and the Rodeo Robbery

by LuAnn Rod

Book Cover Design

First Place

Morning Leaves: Reflections on Loss, Grief, and Connection

by Laing F. Rikkers

Second Place

Alphakazoo

by Edgar Garcia

Finalist - A Change in Destiny by Janet K. Shawgo
Finalist - Bentley's Fantabulous Idea by Miki Taylor
Finalist - Civil Twilight by Anique Sara Taylor

Third Place

Mouse in the Box

by Lewis Allan

Reviewer's Choice

Our Reviewers Select Their Favorite Books of 2022

Selected by Reviewer Diane Lunsford

Water Music: A Cape Cod Story

by Marcia Peck

Selected by Reviewer Holly Connors

Mr. Flip Flap's Flip Flop Frenzy

by Shani T. Night

Selected by Reviewer Katie Specht

Second Term

by J.M. Adams

Selected by Reviewer Barbara Bamberger Scott

Face Value: From Working the Pole to Baring My Soul

by Christine Macdonald

Selected by Reviewer Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr.

We Don't Want You, Uncle Sam: Examining the Military Recruiting Crisis with Generation Z

by Matthew Weiss

Selected by Reviewer Kathy Stickles

The Imposed Path: The Gem Keepers Saga, Book 1

by Timothy M. David

Selected by Reviewer Lily Andrews

Eva

by Diane Solomon

Selected by Reviewer Rebecca Jane Johnson

Crossing the Tracks

by Drew Hill

Selected by Reviewer Tripti Kandari

One Year, One Night

by S.L. Roman

ADDITIONAL
SPONSORED AWARDS:

Feathered Quill's We Love Animals!

Aboard Blackbeard's Queen by Robin Reams and Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age by Fred M. Kray both win Feathered Quill's "We Love Animals!" Award - Two winners will be selected for this award - the top placing books in Best Animal - Children's and YA and Best Animal - Adult (both fiction and nonfiction). Each winner will receive a Spotlight (front page) review and author interview with links to the book's (or author's) website. Review and interview will also be posted to our blog, twitter account, Facebook page, and Pinterest. In addition, the review will be posted to Barnes&Noble.com (if the book is listed on that site). - $149 value

Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award

The Blue Iris by Rachel Stone wins the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award. Award recipient will be selected from the winners of all categories, based on review scores, cover design, and relevance to readers today. The winner will receive a promotional package that includes a book review, a live interview and a one-week feature on our homepage, a dedicated author page on our Inside Scoop Live podcast page and a spotlight feature in our newsletter. Value - $300

BestsellersWorld Award for Best Romance

In Silence Cries the Heart by Catherine Hughes wins the BestsellersWorld Award for Best Romance - This award includes an author page on the site and the book and synopsis added to the Featured Books page for 10 days. - $125 value

Taborton Equine Books Best Horse Book

Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray wins the Taborton Equine Books Best Horse Book - For the highest scoring book, of any genre, that prominently features horses. Taborton will place a small test order for the book, (and if the book sells well they will continue to order), as well as also invite the author to a book signing at one of the many equine events Taborton attends in 2024. The book must be available for purchase from either Ingram or directly from the author. Taborton is not able to order from Amazon.

Goodkindles Award for Best Mystery/Suspense Book

Chasing Money: A Marty and Bo Thriller by Michael Balter wins the Goodkindles Award for Best Mystery/Suspense Book - This award includes a Professional Option that allows the winner to schedule a book promotion on Goodkindles and all their social media channels, and also a Main Banner graphic advertisement on Goodkindles in the selected month. The value of the award is $165 (Professional Option - $45, Main Banner - $120).

Book Award Pro

All winning books receive a three-month service from Book Award Pro.