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.

Join us in celebrating all of the finalists at the 16th Annual Whitney Awards Gala Friday, May 12th. Purchase your tickets today!

16th Annual Whitney Award Finalists

General/Historical

Connolly, Rebecca – A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

Harmon, Amy – The Unknown Beloved

Lewis, L.C. – The Letter Carrier

Monson, Marianne – The Opera Sisters

Moore, Heather B. – In the Shadow of a Queen

Adult Speculative

Barnson, Jay – Queen of Monsters

book cover, family holding hands with space/planets

Butler, D. J. – Abbot in Darkness

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Star Mother

McShane, Melissa – Beguiling Birthright

Olsen, John M. – Polecat Protocol: Discovery

Mystery/Suspense

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Not Dead Yet

Brianne, Natalie – Constantine Capers: Flashes of Memory

Edwards, Paige – Facing the Enemy

Kelly, Emilia – The Portrait

Luke, Gregg – Red Cicada

Romance

Hadly, Aspen – Just Enough Magic

Jacobson, Melanie – Maybe I Will

Keisel, Kortney – Compared

LeCheminant, Dana – Love on Camera

Steel, Cindy – Double or Nothing

Historical Romance

Barker, Joanna – A Game of Hearts

Connolly, Rebecca – Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage

Moore, Jennifer – Healing Hazel

Newbold, Ashtyn – The Matchmaker’s Request

Odekirk, Tiffany – Summerhaven

Young Adult General

Ho, Joanna – The Silence That Binds Us

Inouye Huey, Emily – Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Jean, Piper – Falling for Korea

Oram, Kelly – The Starburst Effect

Book cover, sticky notes with the text "the words we keep"

Stewart, Erin – The Words We Keep

Young Adult Speculative

Adams, Angel – Angels Can’t Fall in Love (Or, How I Messed Up My Afterlife)

Collings, Michaelbrent – Light-Years from Home

Sanderson, Brandon and Patterson, Janci – Evershore

Smith, Kristin – Unbreakable

Stutznegger, Lenore – Blue Shadows Fall

Young Adult Fantasy

Jenkins, Jennifer – A Necessary Madness

Levenseller, Tricia – Master of Iron

Porter, Brielle D – Jester

Wheeler, E.B. – Cruel Magic

Zeller, Mathilda – The Revenge of Bridget Cleary

Middle Grade

Costner, Arianne – Confessions of a Class Clown

Hill, Amanda Rawson – The Hope of Elephants

Nielsen, Jennifer A. – Lines of Courage

Sanderson, Brandon & Patterson, Janci – Bastille vs The Evil Librarians

Savage, J Scott – Secrets of the Looking Glass

Best Novel by a Debut Author

Ho, Joanna – The Silence That Binds Us

Inouye Huey, Emily – Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Jean, Piper – Falling for Korea

Kelly, Emilia – The Portrait

Porter, Brielle D – Jester

Stutznegger, Lenore – Blue Shadows Fall

Zeller, Mathilda – The Revenge of Bridget Cleary

16th Annual Whitney Award Nominees

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.

General/Historical

Baker, B. E. – The Bequest

Brighton, R.W. – Trek Through Fire

Brower, Beth – The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 6

Connolly, Rebecca – A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

Harmon, Amy – The Unknown Beloved

Lewis, L.C. – The Letter Carrier

Monson, Marianne – The Opera Sisters

Moore, Heather B. – In the Shadow of a Queen

Peck, Steven L. – Heike’s Void

Sears, Gale – The Sister Preachers

Sowards, A.L. – Before the Fortress Falls

Wright, Jason F – Even the Dog Knows

Adult Speculative

Baker, Bridget E. – Mates: Minerva

Barnson, Jay – Queen of Monsters

Book cover, witch flying on broom in front of moon with text The Witch of White Lady Hollow

Belt, C. David – The Witch of White Lady Hollow

book cover, family holding hands with space/planets

Butler, D. J. – Abbot in Darkness

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Star Mother

Kersey, Christine – Chaos Soars

Madry, Dwayne A – The Bloodlines of Sahael

McGruder, Whitney O. – The Throwaway Queen

McShane, Melissa – Beguiling Birthright

Melbrell, Kay – The Lost Spark

Olsen, John M. – Polecat Protocol: Discovery

Ward, Marsha – Chill

Wheeler, E.B. – A Subtle Dragon

Worthen, Johnny – Of Kings, Queens & Colonies

Mystery/Suspense

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Not Dead Yet

Abramson, Traci Hunter & Bessey, Sian Ann – The Danger with Diamonds

Bellemore, Kat – Dead Before Dinner

Belt, C. David – An Enchantress of Ravens

Brianne, Natalie – Constantine Capers: Flashes of Memory

Christensen, M. Taylor – Spies Never Swoon

Cowley, Katherine – The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception

Edwards, Karen M. – Miss Glendenning’s Spy

Edwards, Paige – Facing the Enemy

Eljarbø, Heidi – Brushstrokes From the Past

Kelly, Emilia – The Portrait

Luke, Gregg – Red Cicada

McKinnon, Rebecca – The Yarn That Binds

Montgomery, K G – Harding Proper

Peterson, Kathi Oram – Danger Unknown

Sperry, Hillary Doan – Chain Piecing a Mystery

Thornton, Abigail Lynn – Sweet Tea and Murder

Romance

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Dreams of Gold

Armstrong, Lindzee – Dare to Fall

Baldwin, Kaylee – A Summer Mismatch

Bellemore, Kat – Winning His Love

Easton, Meg – It Started with a Note

Ford, River – Completing Her Heart: Heather

Gygi, Allison – Chasing Her Heart

Hadly, Aspen – Just Enough Magic

Hart, Sasha – Just Can’t Fall for the Enemy

Hathaway, Deborah M. – Christmas Baggage

Book Cover, couple holding hands near water

Hilton, Emi – Memories in Morro Bay

Hoagland, Maria and Grace, Lorin – Essence of Gravity

Holmberg, C.N. – You’re My I.T.

Jacobson, Melanie – Maybe I Will

Keisel, Kortney – Compared

Larsen, Brittany – Landin’ in Trouble

LeCheminant, Dana – Love on Camera

Mae, Cassie – Asking for Trouble

Matthews, Arya – unSPEAKable

McConnell, Lucy & Thornton, Ellie – The Secret Seven

Mecham, Mary – Poisoned: Snow White’s Story

Mendez, Yamile Saied – Twice a Quinceañera

Mitchell, Gracie Ruth – Say Yes to the Hot Mess

Monson, Becky – How To Ruin The Holidays

Proctor, Jenny – How to Kiss Your Best Friend

Steel, Cindy – Double or Nothing

Summers, Sophia – Falling For Nash

Talley, Rebecca – Road to Romance

Thornell, Karen – Pretending at Love

Thornton, Ellie – Matchmakers and Mischief

Historical Romance

Allen, Nancy Campbell – To Capture His Heart

Barker, Joanna – A Game of Hearts

Beers, Laura – A Perilous Circumstance

Bessey, Sian Ann – An Unfamiliar Duke

Catmull, Lisa H. – An Unintended Engagement

Condie, Kate – A Bandit’s Vow

Connolly, Rebecca – Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage

Flint, Jentry – Games in a Ballroom

Gee, Nathaniel – Of Pigs and Priests

Grace, Lorin – Bending the Blacksmith’s Heart

Hathaway, Deborah M. – From the Fields of Porthlenn

Hawks, Arlem – Beyond the Lavender Fields

Jensen, Krista – Hearts of Briarwall

Johnson, Jen Geigle – A Tenuous Betrothal

Kae, Clarissa – A Stolen Heart

Keyes, Martha – A Confirmed Rake

Kilpack, Josi S. – The Valet’s Secret

LeCheminant, Dana – The Thief and the Noble

Luce, Wanda – Hayden Hamilton and the Lady

Monroe, Holli Jo – The Imagined Attachment

Moore, Jennifer – Healing Hazel

Nelson, Miranda D – Pursuit of Perfection

Newbold, Ashtyn – The Matchmaker’s Request

Nichols, M. A. – To Have and to Hold

Nickle, Rachel – Of Brighter Days

Odekirk, Tiffany – Summerhaven

Rivoli, Alicia – A Rose Worth Saving

Shoop, Kyle – The Touch of Love

Stockton, Kasey – Sensibly Wed

Thornell, Karen – Edward and Amelia

Tuft, Karen – An Accidental Romance

Van, Nichole – Love Practically

Wade, J. C. – The White Witch’s Daughter

Walker, Anneka – Bargaining for the Barrister

Zeigler, Amey – Wylder Bride

Young Adult General

Adair, Nicole – Voted Most Likely

Cluff, Sara Jo – Taylor’s Outrageous Vow

Eaton, Pam – They Didn’t Know

Ho, Joanna – The Silence That Binds Us

Inouye Huey, Emily – Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Jakes, Annie – Chasing California

James, Jenni – The Shattered Slipper

Jean, Piper – Falling for Korea

Moncur, Misty – The Way Across

Oram, Kelly – The Starburst Effect

Book cover, sticky notes with the text "the words we keep"

Stewart, Erin – The Words We Keep

Varnell, Rebecca – Wendy’s Pirates

Woodward, Marie – Between Here and Zion

Young Adult Speculative

Adams, Angel – Angels Can’t Fall in Love (Or, How I Messed Up My Afterlife)

Archer, Ali – Dragon Protocol

Collings, Michaelbrent – Light-Years from Home

Dew, Amanda – The End Seer

Dodson, Alicia Morley – Hidden Syzygy

Frost, Crystal – Sun & Blood

Hunter, Ann – Dream Shatter

Sanderson, Brandon and Patterson, Janci – Evershore

Smith, Kristin – Unbreakable

Stutznegger, Lenore – Blue Shadows Fall

Young Adult Fantasy

Adamson, Alesha – The Wolf’s Golden Deception

Beesley, Mary – Human Hearts

Bennett, J.A. – Demigod Magic Academy 1: Daughter of Zeus

Cole, Darci – Summon

Darby, Gary – Dragons Over the Fiery Falls

Frost, Heather – Royal Captive

Greer, Brandon J. – The Clandestine Queen

Humpherys, Leialoha – Rise of the Mano

Jenkins, Jennifer – A Necessary Madness

Levenseller, Tricia – Master of Iron

Loken, Amelia – Unravel

Nysetvold, Elissa C. – Nightwalker

Palmer, L. – The Mermaid’s Apprentice

Peters, Camille – Forgotten

Porter, Brielle D – Jester

Turley, Kimberlee – Circus of Shadows

Wheeler, E.B. – Cruel Magic

Wheeler, Jeff – The Druid

Zeller, Mathilda – The Revenge of Bridget Cleary

Middle Grade

Allen, C.W. – The Secret Benefits of Invisibility

Clark, Heather – Lemon Drop Falls

Cole, Frank L – The Questmaster’s Trap

Cooper, Cori – Bake Happy

Costner, Arianne – Confessions of a Class Clown

Evans, Loralee – Woodlands and Wormholes

Grantham, Tamara – The Not So Chosen One

Greer, Brandon J – Liam Lewis and the Summer Camp Curse

Hansen, Dustin – Legend of the Dream Giants

Hill, Amanda Rawson – The Hope of Elephants

Leavitt, Lindsey – Willis Wilbur Wows the World

Nielsen, Jennifer A. – Lines of Courage

Nielson, Sheila A. – The Ghost of Wyvern Lake

Phelan, Susan – Miss Classified

Rivera, Kaela – Cece Rios and the King of Fears

Sanderson, Brandon & Patterson, Janci – Bastille vs The Evil Librarians

Sangster, Caitlin – A Baker’s Guide to Robber Pie

Savage, J Scott – Secrets of the Looking Glass

Smithson, Camille – Dragon Pox

Best Novel by a Debut Author

Bennett, J.A. – Demigod Magic Academy 1: Daughter of Zeus

Clark, Heather – Lemon Drop Falls

Flint, Jentry – Games in a Ballroom

Frost, Crystal – Sun & Blood

Gygi, Allison – Chasing Her Heart

Book Cover, couple holding hands near water

Hilton, Emi – Memories in Morro Bay

Ho, Joanna – The Silence That Binds Us

Humpherys, Leialoha – Rise of the Mano

Inouye Huey, Emily – Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Jakes, Annie – Chasing California

Jean, Piper – Falling for Korea

Kelly, Emilia – The Portrait

Loken, Amelia – Unravel

Madry, Dwayne A – The Bloodlines of Sahael

Melbrell, Kay – The Lost Spark

Monroe, Holli Jo – The Imagined Attachment

Montgomery, K G – Harding Proper

Nysetvold, Elissa C. – Nightwalker

Phelan, Susan – Miss Classified

Porter, Brielle D – Jester

Smithson, Camille – Dragon Pox

Stutznegger, Lenore – Blue Shadows Fall

Turley, Kimberlee – Circus of Shadows

Varnell, Rebecca – Wendy’s Pirates

Wade, J. C. – The White Witch’s Daughter

Zeller, Mathilda – The Revenge of Bridget Cleary