Winners have been announced for the 2022 Realm Awards, presented by Realm Makers, an organization founded in 2012 to support artists who create science fiction and fantasy from a “faith-friendly” perspective. The awards recognize excellence in speculative fiction written by Christian authors. This year, there was a record-breaking number of entries. Finalists are chosen from entries submitted over a three-week period in January and announced in June.

The winners are highlighted in red.

 

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NOVELS

Book of the Year

• Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape)

Debut

• Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows by Robert Adauto (independently published)
• House of Bastiion by K.L. Kolarich (Rogue Kite Publishing)
• Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber (independently published)
• Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing)
• The Sword in His Hand by J. J. Fischer (Ambassador International)

Epic/High Fantasy

• Evernigh by M. J. Padgett (MJ Padgett Books)
• Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape)
• House of Bastiion by K.L. Kolarich (Rogue Kite Publishing)
• Kingdom Lost by Dawn Shipman (Elk Lake Publishing)

General Fantasy

• Power On by H. L. Burke (independently published)
• Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads (Enclave Escape)
• Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Escape)
• Silverblood by Jamie Foley (Fayette Press)
• Wraithwood by Alyssa Roat (Mountain Brook Fire)

Science Fiction

• Elite by Kristen Young (Enclave Escape)
• Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer (Enclave Publishing)
• Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber (independently published)
• Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing)
• Secrets in the Mist by Morgan Busse (Enclave Escape)

Paranormal, Supernatural, Horror

• Forging Darkness by Julie Hall (independently published)
• Mercury with Style by Steve Rzasa (Interstice Books)
• Mina: Warrior in the Shadows by Deborah Cullins Smith (Ye Olde Dragon Books)

Young Adult

• Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape)
• Power On by H. L. Burke (independently published)
• Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads (Enclave Escape)
• Secrets in the Mist by Morgan Busse (Enclave Escape)
• Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Escape)

Middle Grade

• The Conductor by Talia Prewette (independently published)
• The Not-So-Chosen One by Tamara Grantham (Cedar Fort)
• Sing to Me of Rain by E.B. Dawson (independently published)

READERS CHOICE

• A Thieving Curse by Selina R. Gonzalez (Wyvern Wing Press)
• Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape)
• Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busse (Enclave Escape)
• Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Escape)
• The Goblin and the Dancer by Allison Tebo (independently published)

COVER DESIGN

• Crownkeeper by Anne Wheeler (Catherine Wheeler), cover by Stefanie Saw at Seventhstar Art
• What Darkness Fears: An Anthology by Anne J. Hill and Lara E. Madden (Twenty Hills Publishing), cover by Psycat Digital Ink & Motion
• On These Black Sands by Vanessa Rasanen (Crab Apple Books), cover by Maria Spada
• Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Escape), cover by Kirk DouPonce at Dog Eared Design
• These War-Torn Hands by Emily Hayse (Blue Maverick Press), cover by James T. Egan at Bookfly Design

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AUDIOBOOKS

Science Fiction, Paranormal, Supernatural, Horror

• Firebird by Kathy Tyers (Oasis Audio), narrated by Natasha Soudek
• Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer (Oasis Audio), narrated by Adam Verner
• Secrets in the Mist by Morgan Busse (Oasis Audio), narrated by Taylor Meskimen
• Stealing Embers by Julie Hall (independently published), narrated by Vanessa Moyen and Adam Gold

Fantasy

• Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adams (Oasis Audio), narrated by Ann Richardson
• Rosefire by Carolyn Clare Givens (Bandersnatch Books, LLC), narrated by Carolyn Clare Givens
• Wraithwood by Alyssa Roat (Mountain Brook Ink), narrated by Katie Marchant
• Wolf Soldier by James R. Hannibal (Oasis Audio), narrated by Adam Verner

 

SHORT AUDIO

<15 minutes

• “Bad Help is Hard to Find” by Todd Hertz (Havok Story Podcast), narrated by Aud Andrews
• “Dragon’s Spite” by Edward Sand (Havok Story Podcast), narrated by Shogo Miyakita
• “The Toughest Crowd” by Beka Gremikova (Havok Story Podcast), directed by Magnus Carlssen, performed by David Izquierdo, Aud Andrews, Ginger Sue, Maximilian Conteras, Magnus Carlssen, Dallis MacKenzie, and Shogo Miyakita

>15 minutes

• “The Architect” by Ben Kempf (Somewhat Significant Audio Productions), directed by Benjamin Kempf, performed by Peter Fazzari, Jonathan Cooke, Trisha Rose, Brian Kirk, Boyd Barrett, Benjamin Krispin, Marc LaPointe, Glenn Hascall, Dominic Treis, and Josh Rodriguez
• “The Final Line” by A. K. Preston, (Untold Podcast), narrated by Kristin L. Norman
• “The Warehouse Tour” by K.A. Cummins (independently published), narrated by Keira Grace

>2 hours

• Blind Date with a Supervillain by H. L. Burke (ACX), narrated by Kylah Williams
• The Book of Evie by Jean Pascal (independently published), narrated by Kate Rudd
• Met By Midnight by Janeen Ippolito (ACX), narrated by Kate Prendergast
• Snow Globe Travelers: Samuel’s Legacy by K.A. Cummins (Eleonora Press), narrated by Nancy Peterson

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SHORT FICTION

Novella (>30K)

• Cut to the Heart by Janeen Ippolito (independently published)
• Dusk Crier by E.J. Kitchens (Brier Road Press)
• Mercury off Course by Steve Rzasa (Interstice Books)
• Reunion by H. L. Burke (independently published)

Novelette (10-30K)

• Awakened by T.E. Bradford (Elk Lake Publishing)
• Basilica Obscura by Jason Karpf (Elk Lake Publishing)
• The Beauty of Magic by Rachel Harris (independently published)
• Daughter of the Beastly Beauty by Michelle Levigne (Ye Olde Dragon Books)

Short Story (1-10K)

• “After Happily Ever” by Kristiana Sfirlea (Ye Olde Dragon Books)
• “The Clock-Work Heart” by Kat Heckenbach (Dream Forge Press)
• “The Inksmith” by Katherine Briggs (Mysterion)
• “Shadow of the Cinchona Grove” by Cassandra Hamm (Ye Olde Dragon Books)

Flash Fiction (<1K)

• “The Art You See” by Kat Heckenbach (Havok Publishing)
• “CT 1109” by Rachel Harris (Havok Publishing)
• “The Glasswright” by A.C. Williams (Havok Publishing)
• “A Home for Nova” by Hannah Carter (Havok Publishing)

Winners were announced on July 22nd at the 10th Annual Realm Makers Writers Conference held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.