Nominees and Finalists

The Whitney Awards are a readers’ choice award. Nominees, finalists, and winners do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Whitney Awards Committee or the Storymakers Guild organization. Nominees will be posted as they come in.

Nominate a Novel

Past Finalists and Winners

18th Annual Whitney Award Finalists

General/Historical

Bessey, Sian Ann – A Kingdom to Claim

Connolly, Rebecca – Hidden Yellow Stars

Harmon, Amy – The Outlaw Noble Salt

Moore, Heather B. – Lady Flyer

Sowards, A.L. – Beneath a Crescent Shadow

Adult Speculative

Dawson, K. J. – Elven House of Ivy

Hill, C.J. – The Wizard’s Mark

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Still the Sun

Wheeler, E. B. – A Haunted Masquerade

Wheeler, Jeff – Jaguar Prophecies

Mystery/Suspense

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Hometown Vendetta

Bellon, Julie Coulter – Second Guess

Condie, Ally – The Unwedding

Fayeth, Jenessa – Date with Danger

Peterson, Kathi Oram – Cry Wolf

Romance

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Jim and Katherine

Armstrong, Lindzee – Refuse to Sink

Heileman, Jess – Plotting Summer

LeCheminant, Dana – Lovestruck

Steel, Cindy – The One with the Kiss Cam

Historical Romance

Barker, Joanna – So True a Love

Bessey, Sian Ann – A Provincial Peer

Eden, Sarah M. – The Best of Friends

Van, Nichole – A Heart Sufficient

Walker, Megan – Highcliff House

Young Adult General

Cox, Emily & Allen, Nicole – The Other Side of Together

Daley, Tracy – Cut Scenes and Impossible Things

Eves, Rosalyn – An Unlikely Proposition

Larsen, Gina Lynn – Fun Fact: I Love You

Vickers, E. B. – Where There’s Smoke

Young Adult Speculative

Anderson, Kate – Lonely Places

Hues, L. Blaise – The Final Victor

Lyon, Catherine – Dark and Bright

McCoy, Anne – Starved

Mecham, Mary – Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice

Young Adult Fantasy

Anderson, Allison – The Shadow Lord

Burnham, Chantel – Misfortune Gilded in Greed

Lowham, Elizabeth – Casters and Crowns

Misra, Marinda – The Healer Academy

Wheeler, E. B. – Fierce Magic

Middle Grade

Allen, Sarah – Monster Tree

Cole, Frank L. – The Legend of the Last Library

Collings, Michaelbrent – Grimmworld: The Witch in the Woods

Nielsen, Jennifer A. – Uprising

Whitesides, Tyler – Trials of the Trash

Best Novel by a Debut Author

Cox, Emily & Allen, Nicole – The Other Side of Together

Larsen, Gina Lynn – Fun Fact: I Love You

Lyon, Catherine – Dark and Bright

McCoy, Anne – Starved

Misra, Marinda – The Healer Academy

18th Annual Whitney Award Nominees

* Titles with an asterisk met the requirements and received the necessary nominations for a Whitney Award. They are not competing due to the one book per category per author rule. The Whitney Awards program is happy to honor the authors and fans of these titles by featuring them on our website.

General/Historical

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty – The Sandwich Generation

Bessey, Sian Ann – A Kingdom to Claim

Borrowman, Jerry – An Ocean of Courage and Fear

Connolly, Rebecca – Hidden Yellow Stars

Harmon, Amy – The Outlaw Noble Salt

Hiller, Lindsay – Bailey in the Corner

Melior, Marla – When Walls Talk

Moore, H. B. – Rebekah and Isaac*

Moore, Heather B. – Lady Flyer

Shumway, Peggy Ann – When a Stranger Knocks

Sowards, A.L. – Beneath a Crescent Shadow

Adult Speculative

Belt, C. David – Haunted by the Neverborn

Brown, Boydell – Splinter’s Edge

Dawson, K. J. – Elven House of Ivy

Dixon, Kimberleigh – Mapleshire: Secrets of Rose Manor

Hill, C.J. – The Wizard’s Mark

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Boy of Chaotic Making*

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Still the Sun

Isert, Rebekah – Rescue (The Man From Delwaphria)

Millecam, Courtney – The Game of Hearts

Mitchell, Gracie Ruth – Wish You Weren’t Here

Morgan, Holly D. – One Spark

Nelson, L. L. – Priestess of Herculaneum

Nelson, L. L. – Sisterhood of Fes*

Nelson, L. L.- Modern Day Muses*

Powell, Christine Valentine – The Centaur Choice

Pozo, Faralee – Sorry Humans, Especially Greg

Skye, Tiffani – The Codex of Shadows

Wade, J.C. – Winter’s Handmaiden

Wheeler, E. B. – A Haunted Masquerade

Wheeler, Jeff – Final Strike*

Wheeler, Jeff – Jaguar Prophecies

Withers, Tom – Human Cure

Mystery/Suspense

Abrahmson, Traci Hunter – Disconnect*

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Hometown Vendetta

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Royal Duty*

Abramson, Traci Hunter & Bessey, Sian Ann – From an Unknown Sender

Bellon, Julie Coulter – Second Guess

Brianne, Natalie – There Comes a Midnight Hour

Condie, Ally – The Unwedding

Edwards, Paige – Flat Deception

Eljarbo, Heidi – Trouble in Assisi

Fayeth, Jenessa – Date with Danger

Larsen, Samantha – Once Upon a Murder

Pearl, Della – Here’s Looking at Murder, Kid

Peterson, Kathi Oram – Cry Wolf

Richards, Sharolyn – Arlington’s Treasure

Richards, Sharolyn – Betrayed in Taiwan*

Tregaskis, D. M. – Bake Wars

Romance

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Jim and Katherine

Anderson, June B. – Dishing Up Love*

Anderson, June B. – My Plus One Cowboy*

Armstrong, Lindzee – Refuse to Sink

Atkinson, Jen – Miles Bailey Gets Down on One Knee

Baumgardner, Soquel – Kiss and Dwell

Beckstrand, Jennifer – The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest*

Beckstrand, Jennifer – The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unlikely Match

Carpenter, Jen – How to Slay a Lion

Castleton, Shannon – Drinker of Ink

Chase, Lacey – Substitute for Love

Clark, Ranee S. – The Comeback

Darby, Gary J. – Hope Sings Its Own Song

Dominguez, Keira – The Midnight Princess

Easton, Meg – Spies Don’t Fall for Their Rival

Fowers, Stephanie – Snowed in at Silver Resort

Hatch, Esther – One Small Secret

Hathaway, Deborah M. – Winning Winnie’s Hand

Heileman, Jess – Plotting Summer

Hilton, Emi – Picking Pismo

Jacobson, Melanie – Betting on the Brainiac

John, Rachel – Freelance Flirt

Jones, Amanda P. – Fall With Me

Jones, Amanda P. – It Started at the Lake*

Keisel, Kortney – Summer Ever After

Keyes, Martha – Selling Out*

Keyes, Martha – Summer Tease

King, Jessica – The Best Friend’s Playlist

Larsen, Brittany – Britta and the Beach Boy

Larsen, Brittany – Enemies in Paradise*

LeBaron, Trish – One Enchanted Evening

LeCheminant, Dana – For Butter or for Worse*

LeCheminant, Dana – Lovestruck

LeCheminant, Dana – Moonstruck: A Sweet Celebrity Romance*

Linton, Chalon – Learning to Fly

Matthews, Arya – Tell Me Why Not

Maxwell, Emily – First Class Romance

Mitchell, Gracie Ruth – Beauty and the Beach

Monson, Becky – Not Boyfriend Material

Monson, Becky – One Happy Summer*

Nelson, Kelly – Love and Lies

Patterson, Kiri – No Plans to Fall

Peel, Jennifer – The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Pierson, Bonnie Jo – What Happens in Idaho

Proctor, Jenny – Romancing the Grump

Rabe, Jenny – Her Healing Touch*

Rabe, Jenny – Seeing His Face

Seamons, Ami Ann – Searching for Love

Shreeve, Kaleena – Mistaken Heart

Slaughter, Hillary – Losing Sleep

Historical Romance

*Warner, Jill E. – Of Jasmine and Roses

Anderson, Rebecca – The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall

Angus, Michelle – A Flower for Mr. Wynters

Barker, Joanna – So True a Love

Barker, Joanna – To Charm a Lady

Beers, Laura – A Brilliant Alliance

Bessey, Sian Ann – A Provincial Peer

Connolly, Rebecca – A Trick of Fate

Connolly, Rebecca – Something Borrowed

Eden, Sarah M. – The Best of Friends

Everett, Judith Hale – Piqued and Repiqued

Flint, Jentry – To Love the Brooding Baron

Frank, Carolyn Twede – To Be a Lady

Hastings, Samantha – By Any Other Name

Hatch, Esther – A Proper Facade

Hawks, Arlem – A Match Gone Awry*

Hawks, Arlem – Across the Star-Kissed Sea

Hovley, Margot – Jianetta’s Secret

Kensington, Allie – Vexing the Viscount

Keyes, Martha – Reputation at Risk

Langford, Clarissa – The Gentleman and the Spy

LeCheminant, Dana – This Above All

McConkie – Sarah L. – Dual Devotions

Newbold, Ashtyn – The Parlor Game

Nichols, M. A. – A Light in the Dark

Nickle, Rachel – More Than a Measure

Peterson, Robbin J. – Finding Jane Fairfax

Rollins, Laura – A Pocket of Stars

Stockton, Kasey – A Proper Governess

Stockton, Kasey – To Forge Her Fate*

Stones, Rachel Kelley – A Casualty of the Heart

Taylor, Amanda – Persuaded to Sea

Thornell, Karen – No Match for Love

Van Buskirk, Sara – A Cowboy’s Runaway

Van, Nichole – A Heart Sufficient

Walker, Anneka R. – The Gentleman’s Confession*

Walker, Anneka R. – The Lady Glass

Walker, Megan – Highcliff House

Weight, Teah Kemp – Rescued From Betrayal*

Weight, Teah Kemp – Secrets A Captain Keeps

Wright, Julie – An Inconvenient Letter

Young Adult General

Bronley, T. J. – Which One of Us

Carroll, Stacy Lynn – The Year I Was Almost Prom Queen

Cox, Emily & Allen, Nicole – The Other Side of Together

Daley, Tracy – Cut Scenes and Impossible Things

Eves, Rosalyn – An Unlikely Proposition

Hendricks, T. Scott – After the Manner of Happiness

Jakes, Annie – Blue Streetlights

Larsen, Gina Lynn – Fun Fact: I Love You

Seethaler, Deborah – Tatum’s Story: Illegal Mess

Vickers, E. B. – Where There’s Smoke

Woodward, Marie – Light in the Darkness

Young Adult Speculative

Anderson, Kate – Lonely Places

Bartholio, Christine – Confined

Brianne, Natalie – Heart of the Meridian

Daley, Tracy – Fall of the Guardian

Frost, Crystal – Stars and Promise

Gunderson, Cindy – To Vanquish Darkness

Hues, L. Blaise – The Final Victor

Kelly, Holly – Olympus High: The Lost Gods

Lyon, Catherine – Dark and Bright

McCoy, Anne – Starved

Mecham, Mary – Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice

Standage, L. L. – Call Me Henbane

Stutznegger, Lenore – Black Ruins Rise

Young Adult Fantasy

Adamson, Alesha – Arianna and the Maze of Monsters

Anderson, Allison – The Shadow Lord

Anderson, Allison – The Unseen King*

Bailey, Austin J. – Mythblade

Burnham, Chantel – Misfortune Gilded in Greed

Bustamante, Ashley – Chromatic

Collotzi, HRB – The Gatekeeper of Death

Costigan, Steffanie – Land of the Dragon

Darby, Gary J. – Now Cometh the Dragon Ring

Drysdale, Elizabeth A. – Seeking Neopolis

Eden, Deirdra – The Watchers, Night of Light

Eshbaugh, Kayla – Spindled Slumber

Flory, Jessica – Dunes of Water

Gregson, Marc J. – Sky’s End

Halliday, M. P. – SkyBlue

Hamblin, Kristin – Sorcery and Stagecraft

Hemingway, J. A. – The Secret of the Book Keeper

Humpherys, Leialoha – A Beautiful Hope

Hunasker, Brady – Dragonsbane

Lowham, Elizabeth – Casters and Crowns

Mecham, Mary – Betraying Korth

Misra, Marinda – The Healer Academy

Nixon, Sterling – Nickle Brickle’Bee: In the Throne Room of Stormhaven

Pedramon, T. S. – Forerunner

Peters, Camille – Dawn

Powell, Christie Valentine – The Seven Sages

Tolk, Lisa – Eden

Tullis, Amanda – The Wake of the Huntress

Wheeler, E. B. – Fierce Magic

Whitfield, Stephanie B. – The Sword of Moira

Woodcox, Jared – Journey to Torcia

Zeigler, A. E. – Weave of a Thousand Lies

Middle Grade

Allen, Sarah – Monster Tree

Campbell, Jill – Ruby Who?

Cole, Frank L. – The Legend of the Last Library

Collings, Michaelbrent – Grimmworld: The Witch in the Woods

Cooley, Shannon – The Lawnmonsters

Grantham, Tamara – Judah Starweaver and the Way of Dragons

Hanson, Steve Dunn – Peter and the Amulet

Jolley, Mary Locke – Next, The Necromancer

Méndez, Yamile Saied – The Beautiful Game

Nielsen, Jennifer A. – Uprising

Rivera, Kaela – Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas

Savage, J. Scott – Graysen Foxx and the Curse of the Illuminerdy*

Savage, J. Scott – Quantum Interstellar Sports League

Swore, Wendy S. – Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales

Whitesides, Tyler – Trials of the Trash

Wilson, Gaylene – Taffy Nackman’s Guide on How to be a Star

Wright, Jason F. – Scar Dakota

Best Novel by a Debut Author

Bartholio, Christine – Confined

Baumgardner, Soquel – Kiss and Dwell

Bronley, T. J. – Which One of Us

Campbell, Jill – Ruby Who?

Carpenter, Jen – How to Slay a Lion

Castleton, Shannon – Drinker of Ink

Chase, Lacey – Substitute for Love

Cox, Emily & Allen, Nicole – The Other Side of Together

Dixon, Kimberleigh – Mapleshire: Secrets of Rose Manor

Gregson, Marc J. – Sky’s End

Halliday, M. P. – SkyBlue

Hemingway, J. A. – The Secret of the Book Keeper

Hendricks, T. Scott – After the Manner of Happiness

King, Jessica – The Best Friend’s Playlist

Larsen, Gina Lynn – Fun Fact: I Love You

Lyon, Catherine – Dark and Bright

Maxwell, Emily – First Class Romance

McCoy, Anne – Starved

Melior, Marla – When Walls Talk

Misra, Marinda – The Healer Academy

Morgan, Holly D. – One Spark

Patterson, Kiri – No Plans to Fall

Pedramon, T. S. – Forerunner

Pierson, Bonnie Jo – What Happens in Idaho

Pozo, Faralee – Sorry Humans, Especially Greg

Richards, Sharolyn – Arlington’s Treasure

Seamons, Ami Ann – Searching for Love

Shreeve, Kaleena – Mistaken Heart

Smith, Madelyn – Winning My Queen

Tolk, Lisa – Eden

Tregaskis, D. M. – The Lonely Mortician

Tullis, Amanda – The Wake of the Huntress

Van Buskirk, Sara – A Cowboy’s Runaway

Williams, Melody J. – Stealing Mackenzie’s Heart

Wilson, Gaylene – Taffy Nackman’s Guide on How to be a Star

Woodcox, Jared – Journey to Torcia