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all about the

Whitney Awards

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how it began…

named after Orson F. Whitney

In 2007, Robison Wells set out to showcase the best of Latter-day Saint fiction—at first, fiction specifically for the Latter-day Saint market and later, fiction written by anyone who identified as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Whitney Awards are named for Orson F. Whitney, who
prophesied:

“We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. ”

Orson F. Whitney

Of Latter-day Saint literature he said, “Above all things, we must be
original{…}. Our mission is diverse from all other; our literature must
also be.” These awards are intended to honor novelists within the
Latter-day Saint faith, to showcase their talents and their unique contributions to literature.

“Since then things have blossomed into a magnificent program that
honors the best of the best, national, indie-pubbed, LDS-pubbed, and everything in between. And I couldn’t be prouder.”
— Robison Wells, founder

It is our hope to be a part of that journey toward excellence by honoring writers who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and showcasing, through their work, the standards that make us a unique people.

categories

What categories can be nominated?

  1. Romance
  2. Historical Romance
  3. Mystery / Suspense
  4. Speculative Fiction
  5. General / Historical Fiction
  6. General Young Adult Fiction
  7. Speculative Young Adult Fiction
  8. Fantasy Young Adult Fiction
  9. Middle Grade Fiction
  10. Novel of the Year (Young Adult Fiction)
  11. Novel of the Year (Youth Fiction)
  12. Best Novel by a Debut Author

other info

Each year, achievement awards may also be given out at the discretion of the Whitney Awards Committee. The Outstanding Achievement Award and Lifetime Achievement Award honor exceptional bodies of work and/or contributions to the writing community by authors who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Whitney Awards Committee:

President: Jessica Kendall

Publisher Contact: Cassie Cook

Author Contacts: Julie Whipple, Tiffini Knight

Social Media Manager: Rusty Marcum

Nominations Specialist: Kasey McQueen

Judging Coordinator: Varvara Jones

Website Manager: Kimberlee Vantine

Finance Specialist: Nicki Stanton

Special Thanks to: Kara Reynolds, Ballot Specialist; Don Carey, Tech Specialist, Evelyn Hornbarger, Photographer

Previous Whitney Awards Presidents and Committees (click to expand)

2007: Robison Wells, BJ Rowley, Crystal Leichty, James Dashner, Julie Wright, Kerry Blair, Stephanie Black

2008: Robison Wells, Angela Eschler, Annette Lyon, Crystal Leichty, Kerry Blair, Josi S. Kilpack, Michele Paige Holmes

2009: Robison Wells, Jaime Theler, Crystal Leichty, Danyelle Ferguson, Julie Coulter, Bellon, John Ferguson, Sheila Staley

2010: Josi S. Kilpack, Alison Palmer, Crystal Leichty, Josh Perkey, Luisa Perkins, Michele Paige Holmes, Shanda Cottam

2011: Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Heather Moore, Jana Parkin, Luisa Perkins, Sarah M. Eden

2012: Heather Moore, Jaime Theler, Josh Perkey, Marion Jensen, Mindy Holt, Sarah M. Eden, Stephanie Black

2013: Mindy Holt, Crystal Leichty, Heather Gardner, Jaime Theler, Josh Perkey, Margot Hovley, Marion Jensen

2014: Annette Lyon, Gregg Luke, Heather Justesen, Kaylee Baldwin, Kimberly Vanderhorst, Ranee’ S. Clark, Stephanie Black

2015: Jaime Theler, Stephanie Black, Kimberly Vanderhorst, Kaylee Baldwin, Nancy Campbell Allen, Deborah Talmadge Bickmore, Marion Jensen, Heather Justesen

2016: Stephanie Black, Peggy Eddleman, Braden Bell, Monique Luetkemeyer, Kimberly Vanderhorst, Josi Kilpack, Sian Bessey.

2017: Peggy Eddleman, Janet Sumner Johnson, Josi S Kilpack, Monique Luetkemeyer, Jared Garrett, Jeremy Maughan, Michelle Wilson, E B Wheeler.

2018: Janet S. Johnson, Bridget Baker, Shauna Holyoak, Varvara Jones, Robin M. King, Taffy Lovell, Angie Taylor, Amy Wilson

2019: Amy Wilson, Karin Brown, Darci Cole, Varvara Jones, Robin M. King, Taffy Lovell, Kara Reynolds, Angie Taylor

14th Annual Awards (2021 Gala): Kara Reynolds, Elisa McLean, Jamie McHenry, Taryn Skipper, Taffy Lovell, Gina Denny, Angie Taylor, Emily Paxman

15th Annual Awards (2022 Gala): Emily Inouye Huey, Amanda Kanno Davis, April Clausen, Benjamin Inouye, Danielle Hoveley, Jana King, Megan K. Jensen, Sarah Alva, Taryn Skipper

Special Thanks to Rob Lyon for nine years of ballot management. Ballots from this year forward are managed by Kara Reynolds

16th Annual Awards (2023 Gala): Taryn Skipper, Allison Hong Merrill, Breanna Sumiko Teramoto, Danielle Hovley, Julie Whipple, Kasey McQueen, Kimberlee Ramirez, Leisha Bicker, Sarah Alva

17th Annual Awards (2024 Gala): Taryn Skipper, Bonnie Jo Pierson, Danielle Hovley, Julie Whipple, Kasey McQueen, Kimberlee Ramirez, Leisha Bicker, Miranda Renae Barker, Rusty Marcum

18th Annual Awards (2025 Gala): Julie Whipple, Miranda Renae Barker, Jill Warner, Sarah Alva, Rusty Marcum, Kasey McQueen, Caren Hahn, Kimberlee Ramirez, Leisha Bicker

more about the Whitneys

  • GAla Information
  • nominees/Finalists
  • AWard Winners
  • RUles & Voting

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