https://www.americanbookfest.com/2026afapressrelease.html
Congratulations to the Winners & Finalists of the 2026 American Fiction Awards!
The 2026 American Fiction Awards
9th Annual Awards Honoring Literary Excellence
For Immediate Release
August 2026 Contact: American Book Fest
E-mail Press Contact
AMERICAN BOOK FEST™ ANNOUNCES
WINNERS AND FINALISTS OF
THE 9th ANNUAL
AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS Mainstream & Independent Titles
Score Top Honors in the
2026 American Fiction Awards
LOS ANGELES – American Book Fest has announced the winners and finalists of The 2026 American Fiction Awards. Winners and finalists were announced in over 70 genre-specific categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2021-2026.“Thank you to the authors, publishers, and other industry professionals that participated in the 2026 American Fiction Awards. American Book Fest is proud to announce the final results of our 9th Annual Fiction Award Program! Congratulations to all of the Winners & Finalists for their much- deserved recognition!”
—Jeffrey Keen, President & CEO, American Book FestFull results for the 9th Annual American Fiction AwardsWinners and finalists of this year’s contest join a prestigious group of past laureates from our family of book awards, including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, George Sanders, Vanessa Williams, Shark Tank’s Daymon John, Kitty Kelley, and many others. Visit the Award Laureate page for an expanded list:American Book Fest covers books from all sections of the publishing industry—mainstream, independent, & self-published. A 23-year timeline and award archivesAmerican Book Fest has an active social media presence, with over 130,000 current Facebook fans.American Book Fest on Facebook
Highlights include the following award-winning titles: (Full results available here)
Adventure: General
Escala’s Wish: An action-adventure, unusual romantasy filled with banter, light humor, and real-life emotion (Tales of Valla) by David James
Trash Panda Publishing
Adventure: Historical
The Deserter: A Tale of the Foreign Legion by Wayne Turmel
Achis Press
Adventure: War & Military
Artic Red by James Bultema
P.D. Publishing
African American Fiction
Scions of Legacy: The Powers That Be by Victoria Bolton
Independently Published
Anthologies
Mix and Match: Stories of Sex and Marriage edited by Kristine Somerville and Speer Morgan
TMR Books
Best Cover Design: Adult Fiction
The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg
History Through Fiction
Best Cover Design: Children’s Books
Leon the Chameleon by Sofia Elena Politano
Enchanted Bullfrog, LLC
Best New Fiction
The Perfumer’s Secret by Neroli Lacey
She Writes Press
Children’s Educational
In the Land of Living Colors: Where colors breath and stories dream by Ms Amber
Independently Published
Children’s Fiction
Forgotten Secrets of the Tuscarora Eye: A Hannah Hallie Hawkins History Mystery by D.L. Bush
Independently Published
Children’s Mind/Body/Spirit
Leon the Chameleon by Sofia Elena Politano
Enchanted Bullfrog, LLC
Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction
Where’s Winnie? by Beth Nicole Hynes
Bunny Tales
Children’s Picture Book: Softcover Fiction
Me vs. The Grumpopotamus by Daniel Collins
Grumpopotamus
Children’s Religious
Charlie Can’t Sleep! by Rachel Joy Welcher
InterVarsity Press
Christian Inspirational
The Second Coming: Our Way Home by Mark Hattas
The O Coalition, Powered by Thought Leader Press
Coming of Age
One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith
She Writes Press
Cross-Genre Fiction
Stolen Diary by Kathryn Lane
Tortuga Publishing, LLC
Family Saga
One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith
She Writes Press
Fantasy: Epic/High Fantasy
The Hunger of the Dragon by R.M. Schultz
Sky Sea and Sword Publishing
Fantasy: General
Escala’s Wish: An action-adventure, unusual romantasy filled with banter, light humor, and real-life emotion (Tales of Valla) by David James
Trash Panda Publishing
Fantasy: Historical
The Secret Rise by Judith Briles & Brian Barnes
Mile High Press
General Fiction
The Perfumer’s Secret by Neroli Lacey
She Writes Press
Graphic Novel
The Unpetables (Book 2: Unpetable in the City) written & illustrated by Dennis Messner
Top Shelf Productions
Historical Fiction
The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg
History Through Fiction
Horror: General
The Crimson Traveler by Matt Strollo
Left Field Publishing
Horror: Occult
Whispers of the Pale Witch by S.A. Sizemore
Rowan Prose Publishing
Horror: Paranormal/Supernatural
The Medallion by Patrick Olesko
Page Publishing
Horror: Psychological
Madwood by Elias D. Thorn
Van Velzer Press
Humor/Comedy/Satire
Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits by Arlon Jay Staggs
Koehler Books
Inspirational Fiction
The Stonecaster: A Modern Parable About Intention, Response, and The Ripples We Create by Dillon W. Buck
Houndstooth Press
Juvenile Fiction
Red and Me by Terry Lee Caruthers
Star Bright Books
LGBTQ+ Fiction
Three Days Grace by Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato
Indigo River Publishing
Literary Fiction
The Perfumer’s Secret by Neroli Lacey
She Writes Press
Military Fiction
Task Force Thunderbolt by Galen D. Peterson
Knight Books
Multicultural Fiction
Gajarah: A Novel by Somia Sadiq
GFB
Mystery/Suspense: Cozy
Deadly Gold Rush by Landis Wade
Lystra Books
Mystery/Suspense: General
One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin
She Writes Press
Mystery/Suspense: Hard-Boiled/Crime
Mob Justice: A Scavenger Hunt Thriller by Chad Boudreaux
Capitol House Publishing
Mystery/Suspense: Historical
The Women of Bandit Bend by C. C. Harrison
Artemesia Publishing
Mystery/Suspense: Multicultural and Diverse
What Ever Happened to Anna Canneli? by Conal O.Brien
Bookbinder Books LLC
Mystery/Suspense: Procedurals
Raven’s Legacy: A Jonah St. Clair Mystery by Charlotte Stuart
Quartermaster Publishing
Mystery/Suspense: Romantic Suspense
Sugar Sand Land: A Novel by Patricia Leavy
She Writes Press
New Age Fiction
Singing The Redbirds Song by S.S. Wright
Independently Published
Novelette
Passion’s Return by Lizzie Jenks
Wheel Horse Press
Novella
Guardian of the City by Evelyn M. Exley
Exley Books
Poetry: Anthologies
Keystone Poetry: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania edited by Marjorie Maddox and Jerry Wemple
Penn State University Press
Poetry: Contemporary
sAwdust by Erik Burke
Independently Published
Poetry: General
Love Brain and Other Minefields by Alan Collenette
Swantorini Press
Poetry: Narrative
The Killer Is Me: A Poetic Diary by Mickey Helms
Independently Published
Poetry: Nature
Small Earthly Space by Marjorie Maddox (poet) and Karen Elias (photographer)
Shanti Arts Publishing
Pre-Teen Fiction
Special by Nancy F. Goodfellow
Mission Point Press
Religious Fiction
Stronger than the Storm by Deena Adams
Scrivenings Press
Romance: Erotica
Unravelling Nell by Bay Sinclair
Independently Published
Romance: General
Between the Lines by Tracey Magruder
Independently Published
Romance: Historical
Winter in the High Sierra by Robert Brighton
Ashwood Press
Romance: Paranormal/Supernatural
The Reincarnation of Marie by Jim Woodman
Legacy Launch Pad Publishing
Romance: Romantic Comedy
Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits by Arlon Jay Staggs
Koehler Books
Science Fiction: Alien/Space
ICEFALL by Michael Newman & Jon Land
Permuted Press
Science Fiction: Cyberpunk
Deamones Ex Machina by Russell Anders
Acorn Publishing
Science Fiction: General
ICEFALL by Michael Newman & Jon Land
Permuted Press
Science Fiction: Parallel Universe/Alternative History
The Kikiloa Chronicles by Erik D. Larson
Kikiloa Press
Science Fiction: Post-Apocalyptic
The Disruption by W.H. Hilf
Atmosphere Press
Short Story Fiction
The Continental Divide by Bob Johnson
Cornerstone Press
Sports Fiction
Beneath The Rings by Joe Battaglia
Franklin Publishers
Thriller: Crime
So Shall You Reap by Mark Jenkins
Independently Published
Thriller: General
Hummingbird by Michael Tuggle
TCI Publishing
Thriller: Legal
The Final Account by Jeff Cooper
Red Adept Publishing
Thriller: Medical
Bedridden by Dustin Grinnell
University of California Health Humanities Press
Thriller: Political
Black Sun Rising by Otho Eskin
Meridian Editions
Thriller: Psychological
One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin
She Writes Press
Thriller: Religious
Unbroken Grace by Wright Blake
Wright Blake Publishing
Thriller: Techno
Switch by Lisa Towles
Indies United Publishing House
Urban Fiction
The Invisible Hand by Douglas Cole
Seacrow Press
Visionary Fiction
The Kikiloa Chronicles by Erik D. Larson
Kikiloa Press
Western
Rathuun: King of the Prairie by David Fitz-Gerald
ITSOAG Publishing LLC
Women’s Fiction
The Women Who Stand Between by Jeannée Sacken
Ten 16 Press, an imprint of Orange Hat Publishing
Young Adult Fiction
It Happened in the Hollow by Brenda Stanley
Oliver Heber Books
Author Victoria Bolton 
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