150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
Ten To Life
Delirium Tales of a Covid-19 Survivor
Mike Joyner

2023 Finalist
252 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Ten To Life: Delirium Tales of a Covid-19 Survivor is a work of non-fiction in the medical subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by Mike Joyner. The book follows the author's experiences with Covid-19 which included four hospitals in forty days, located all over the USA. Despite having no pre-existing health conditions and being in good shape, the author barely survived his infection and spent over two weeks in a medically induced coma. Using the book to share the experience of not just the physical but also the psychological effects of Covid-19, the author relates the terrifying journey.
It’s strange to think that at the time of writing this review, Covid-19 is mostly behind us. For many of us, our worst memories of the pandemic will be the lockdown restrictions and the impact they had, but for numerous people, the consequences of the virus itself will be felt for a long time to come. Such was the experience of Mike Joyner, who shares his traumatic journey of suffering the effects of the virus in this insightful and painfully honest reflection. Depicting the kind of hardship that the author underwent is a challenging prospect, but through outstanding and well-considered prose, I reached the end of the book feeling as if I better understood an event far removed from any I’ve lived through. Ten To Life is an odyssey into a dark and sometimes mind-bending experience that few have suffered and even fewer have the skill to depict so vividly on the page.
Recommend this book:
Scars of Gold
A midwife's personal story of birth trauma and recovery
Sharon Stoliar

2023 Honorable Mention
130 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Scars of Gold by Sharon Stoliar is a powerful and eye-opening look at one woman's life-changing medical trauma at the hands of those she trusted most with her health. Hospital malpractice and neglect aren't unheard of, but Sharon's shocking account shows how quickly and easily it can happen. In Scars of Gold, she recounts her case and the painful steps she's taken since on her difficult road to recovery as she attempts to regain her life and independence. Hers is a relevant and heartbreaking account of one woman's story, but as she came to find out, it didn't end when she left the hospital. Along with the help of friends and family, Sharon's story is an inspirational read of her learning to redefine herself. The damage done was permanent, but her faith and determination only grew as she set out to make a difference.
Scars of Gold by Sharon Stoliar grabbed my attention from the first page. Stoliar writes in a beautiful conversational style as if she's right there with the reader as she recounts her story. I found myself reading halfway through in a single sitting, and if I hadn't needed to stop to deal with chores, I'd have finished this one in a single sitting as well! Sharon's story is unique, but her struggles with ACS (Acute Compartment Syndrome) are not something to be glossed over. Her case and the medical professionals' disregard for her care is a frightening problem, and issues like these only seem to be increasingly commonplace in hospitals today. Determined to raise awareness to protect others from the struggles she faced, she tells her story in Scars of Gold. This is a quick read but a deeply emotional one. I hope her inspiring and powerful story helps others on their path to healing and their search for answers as much as it's helped me.
Recommend this book:
The Stranger You Love
A Comprehensive Guide to Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias
Renée Despres, Guy Slowik, Candice Greenwood, Bernard Isaacs

2023 Honorable Mention
326 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

The Stranger You Love: A Comprehensive Guide to Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias by Renée Despres, Guy Slowik, Candice Greenwood, and Bernard Isaacs is a comprehensive guide that walks readers through the definition of the various types of dementia, diagnosis, and care of a loved one with the disease. With examples and visuals for clarification, the book outlines the stages of dementia, allowing for differences in personalities, behaviors, and frustrations. The authors suggest a framework for determining a care routine and the selection of a physician and recommend tools that may help your loved ones care for themselves, games for fun, and safety devices.
Renée Despres, Guy Slowik, Candice Greenwood, and Bernard Isaacs have written a highly useful book that will help individuals recently diagnosed with dementia and caregivers understand the disease and approach it with more understanding and compassion. The contents help readers make informed decisions and advise them about what they can expect as they care for a person with dementia and how to handle the designation of responsibilities before a person’s decline. The book should be digested in its entirety so as not to miss anything of importance, and the material is truly a support for caregivers as it replaces assumptions with a renewed point of view, humanizes the loved one as they progress into the latter stages of dementia, and inspires empathy and compassionate care. Giving a full view of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, the book could comfort caregivers who see the behaviors they witness reflected in the contents. The Stranger You Love is a great selection for those recently diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers.
Recommend this book:
If Your Mouth Could Talk
An In-Depth Guide to Oral Health and Its Impact on Your Entire Life
Kami Hoss

2023 Bronze Medal
256 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

If Your Mouth Could Talk: An In-Depth Guide to Oral Health and Its Impact on Your Entire Life by Kami Hoss is not your average self-help book. Our dental health may be the most underrated yet the most overlooked at the same time. In the grand scheme of things, we forget why oral health is essential - not just for our breath and teeth, but also for our gut system and overall health. Kami Hoss reiterates how our oral health can impact our lives; from affecting our mouth health to affecting our sleep, emotional health, and affecting psychological health as well. Your oral health goes “beyond brushing and flossing” and the author explains that well.
I love how If Your Mouth Could Talk has just five chapters and a conclusion. It is effective without being overbearing, which in my opinion, is the perfect way to drive the message home. Although the target audience of this book is parents who are concerned about the dental and oral health of their children, I believe this book can help more people. Dr. Kami Hoss gives little tips, raises awareness, and makes sure parents/readers are aware of what is truth and what is just a myth. The language is simple yet powerful; the combination ensures the information is digested. The pace is perfect, nothing is rushed, and never did I feel like the information was going over my head. Reading it was a pleasure and educational at the same time.
Recommend this book:
Coming Full Circle
Healing Trauma Using Psychedelics
Shannon Duncan

2023 Bronze Medal
256 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Coming Full Circle: Healing Trauma Using Psychedelics by Shannon Duncan is a detailed guide to experimenting with various psychedelic substances. Even though purchasing, possessing, or supplying psychedelics is illegal in most countries, the potential of psychedelics to help heal emotional trauma cannot be denied. This story dives into the bad reputation of psychedelics and the misconceptions and misinformation about how they can be used for healing. It's about Duncan's experience using these powerful substances and his process of healing that benefitted him. It is part memoir and part informative guide where Duncan talks about his traumatic experiences, emotional wounds, and what it means to use psychedelics as a medicine.
Coming Full Circle by Shannon Duncan is the most informative, thoughtful, and helpful book I've read on psychedelic substances. I highly appreciate every piece of information and advice he shares. This well-written guide offers a powerful, hopeful, and unorthodox approach to healing where Duncan sheds new light on guided medicine work for healing trauma. He explains what it involves, and the profound ways someone might evolve and change through it. If you're suffering from the devastating effects of trauma and deep emotional wounds and are interested in considering this path to healing, this is a great start. It teaches you what to expect and how to prepare your body and mind. It helps you to properly prepare and begin this ongoing cathartic journey of self-awareness, personal growth, and healing. Most importantly, it teaches you how important it is to have qualified support for the psychedelic journey and how to identify if someone is qualified to help you with your specific needs. This is a remarkable must-read.
Recommend this book:
The Stress Book
Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life
D. Terrence Foster, MD.

2023 Silver Medal
294 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life by D. Terrence Foster, MD. is a comprehensive approach to help us reduce our levels of stress. These were already high before the pandemic, and they are (understandably) much higher now generally speaking. This is a burning issue and Dr. Foster wrote this guide to help us navigate the most complicated challenges in the quest for more quiet and calm. The book includes four main sections including the basics of stress and its management, the physical actions, the mental actions, and the community actions we can put in place to reduce our stress levels.
The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life by D. Terrence Foster, MD. is a completely holistic guide that will help and support many of us navigate life in a complicated world. In fact, the environmental crisis, the pandemic, the wars, and our continued hunger for progress are all factors of aggravated stress. This book helps us deal with stress one baby step at a time, one section at a time. We need to focus on the physical actions we can take to feel better, quieter, then the mental ones and the community ones. This guide is deeply holistic and comprehensive. We are given grids and worksheets to help us evaluate our stress levels, and to identify what really stresses us out. Dr. Foster’s Action Plan is devised for us to implement diverse actions to improve our lifestyles and make us less prone to stress. This book is amazing and simple to understand even if the author explains in detail the science behind stress. The index and list of resources and links are extremely helpful too. Thank you for this gem of a book.
Recommend this book:
Captured by COVID
Deceit, Conspiracy & Death—A True Story
Michael E. Bowers

2023 Gold Medal
156 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Captured by COVID: Deceit, Conspiracy and Death - A True Story by Michael E. Bowers is a chilling memoir that details the author's harrowing experience while being treated for Covid-19. On December 31, 2020, Michael, his wife Diane, and son Brandon tested positive for Covid-19. While his wife and son recovered, Michael's condition deteriorated, and he was admitted to Soin Medical Center. His health declined to the point that he had to go on a ventilator and was placed in a medically-induced coma. While in the intensive care unit, he suffered nightmares and hallucinations. Treated for post-traumatic disorder after his discharge from the hospital, Michael recounts the terror and trauma he suffered in vivid details that seem all too real. This is his story.
Michael E. Bowers' Captured by COVID is a detailed and immersive narrative about the author's terrifying memories while under treatment for Covid-19. It is also a heartwarming book about the significance of the love and support of family and friends. Until recently, Michael had a hard time remembering what was real and what were hallucinations during his ordeal, and it is incredible how he can recall the scenes in such graphic detail. This book should be beneficial for studying the post-intensive care syndrome of patients recovering from the disease. As the world slowly emerges from the far-reaching effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, this book reminds us that we should also pay tribute to the health workers who were on the frontline in fighting the disease. Highly recommended!
Recommend this book:
How To Control Your Alcohol Consumption
Learn to drink responsibly so that you can enjoy a drink rather than depend on it
Jason Newman

2022 Finalist
100 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

While most books about alcohol problems demand abstinence, Jason Newman has taken a more moderate approach in How to Control Your Alcohol Consumption. Jason explains what is considered one drink and how many drinks are deemed healthy for the average person per day. The key to responsible drinking is controlling your drinking instead of letting the drinking control you. Of course, some need to abstain, but Jason writes for those who can manage their drinking. To help explain why moderation in drinking is required, Jason shares the various dangers involved in drinking. You are in charge of setting boundaries and making them stick. Jason gives you the skills needed and the encouragement to help you achieve sobriety while still enjoying the occasional drink. Only when you have become completely honest with yourself and those around you can you choose to either abstain or curtail.
The reader will find no preaching or lecturing in How to Control Your Alcohol Consumption by Jason Newman. Instead, his style of writing is compassionate and informative. He gently leads the reader on a trip to explore the types of people who drink alcohol and the dangers of drinking to excess. Jason explains in layman terms the needs and skills for being sober. He spends time explaining how to set boundaries and how to best communicate the limits you set. Instead of condemning those who relapse, Jason speaks words of encouragement. This book is full of compassion, inspiration, motivation, and encouragement. Jason offers his readers wisdom from his life as a former heavy drinker that learned how to control his alcohol consumption.
Recommend this book:
Take Charge of Your Happiness, Bellyfat and Sexiness
A Woman’s Rapid Reset for Body, Mind and Hormones
David Musgrave

2022 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Take Charge of Your Happiness, Bellyfat and Sexiness: A Woman’s Rapid Reset for Body, Mind and Hormones by David Musgrave is a book that every woman should read. It addresses some of the issues that women have to deal with every day —concerns with weight loss, hormonal imbalances, staying fit and happy, and more. This book provides informative, well-researched material that will help any woman feed the essential components of their being, transforming who they are in mind, body, and soul. The author has a good understanding of hormonal processes and how they create change in women and he provides powerful insights into the way the female brain works. Topics like stress, thyroid, and sex hormones are brilliantly explored.
Take Charge of Your Happiness, Bellyfat and Sexiness is a terrific book that will help women eat properly, understand and take control of the way stress affects their bodies, tap into their energy hormone and use it to transform their lives and reach deeper levels of happiness, find ways to balance sex hormones while understanding obstacles to dieting, find tools to detoxify the brain and the body, and a lot more. David Musgrave writes with an authoritative yet compassionate voice as an expert on women’s health and the way the female body works. This book contains truths that will startle readers and tools that any woman can use to literally transform their life. Readers will start seeing women differently after reading this book. What I found particularly interesting is the author’s explanation of why dieting fails in most cases and how simply and clearly the ideas in this book are expressed. It is a gift to be shared; simply revolutionary.
Recommend this book:
Life Giving Dementia Care
Let's Talk: How to Bring Confidence, Compassion and Joy Into Your Role as a Caregiver
Toni Kanzler

2022 Bronze Medal
237 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Life Giving Dementia Care: Let's Talk: How to Bring Confidence, Compassion and Joy Into Your Role as a Caregiver by Toni Kanzler is a self-help educational guide that first comes straight from the author's heart and, ultimately, is the culmination of their extensive personal experience as a carer. This is not a textbook, which is why the “first” matters. This is a partnership, a helping hand on a journey that may at some point become necessary in our own lives if it isn't already. Kanzler breaks the book down into four distinct and interconnected parts that are as straightforward as the support they contain: The Early Stage, The Middle Stage, The Last Stage, and The After Stage.
Life Giving Dementia Care landed in my lap about nine months after I lost a family member to Lewy Body[LBD], which was a years-long commitment and one that could have been made easier with Toni Kanzler's book. Still, looking back, I am able to empathize with so much of what Kanzler provides and I have no doubt whatsoever that readers will have moments of vigorous nodding, such as when Kanzler talks about the importance of keeping a behavior log, and moments of pain, like the goodbye you knew would always come but are still caught off guard by how organically it happens. Kanzler's Q&A section and the appendix and resources just make an already great book even better. I am so grateful for the compassion and care that went into writing this book. Very highly recommended.
