ST. LOUIS, July 14—Fans celebrated the best of Christian-made fantasy and sci-fi at tonight’s Realm Awards banquet, including the fantasy novel Calor by J. J. Fischer, which was announced as 2023 Book of the Year.

This eleventh annual ceremony recognized the best of Christian-made fantastical fiction for published novels in many fantastical genres as well as novelettes, short stories, cover art, and audiobooks. Judges used the top five overall scores from all genre categories to choose the coveted final Book of the Year award.

Nominated and winning titles are featured at the Realm Makers Bookstore, which travels to home education conferences that attract tends of thousands of readers.

Ath the Friday night event, a separate Readers Choice Award attracted thousands of nominated titles from which fans could choose their favorites. Most of the night’s 500 attendees honored their favorite characters and genres with incredible cosplays, joining a separate competition for best costume.

Book of the Year finalists

• Calor by J. J. Fischer from Enclave Publishing
• Drawn in Ash by John W. Otte from Geeky Grace Books
• The Wickwire Watch by Jacqueline Hagen from Mastmarner Books
• The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella from Enclave Publishing
• Wishtress by Nadine Brandes from Thomas Nelson

Fantasy winner: Calor by J. J. Fischer

Nominees

• A Crown of Chains by Erin Phillips from Ethereal Echo Press
• Calor by J. J. Fischer from Enclave Publishing
• Exile by Loren G. Warnemuende from Bandersnatch Books
• Mordizan by Alyssa Roat from Mountain Brook Fire
• Wishtress by Nadine Brandes from Thomas Nelson

Science fiction winner: Drawn in Ash by John Otte

Nominees

• Aberration by Cathy McCrumb from Enclave Publishing
• Defender by C. C. Urie from SnowRidge Press
• Drawn in Ash by John Otte from Geeky Grace Books
• Shadow of Honor by Ronie Kendig from Enclave Publishing
• Vortex by Anne Wheeler, independently published

Horror, paranormal, supernatural winner: Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell

Nominees

• Celestial by Hannah Mae, independently published
• Iggy and Oz: The Living Snot by JJ Johnson from Dark Side Geeks
• Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell from Descendant Publishing

• Shadow Angel, Book 2 by Julie Hall and Leia Stone from Leia Stone LLC
• Shadow Angel, Book 3 by Julie Hall and Leia Stone from Leia Stone LLC

Debut novel winner: The Wickwire Watch by Jacqueline Hagen

Nominees

• Exile by Loren G. Warnemuende from Bandersnatch Books
• Gemini’s Key by H. Halverstadt from Quantum Light Publishing
• Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell from Descendant Publishing
• The Vermillion Riddle by Dana Li from Mt. Zion Ridge Press
• The Wickwire Watch by Jacqueline Hagen from Mastmarner Books

Young adult winner: The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella

Nominees

• Daughter of the Sun by Amanda Auler from Spirelight Press
• Dragon Protocol by Ali Archer from Morgan James Fiction
• Mordizan by Alyssa Roat from Mountain Brook Fire
• The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella from Enclave Publishing
• Wishtress by Nadine Brandes from Thomas Nelson

Middle grade winner: Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot by J. J. Johnson

Nominees

• Haven’s Indigo by Sarah Byrd from This Little Byrd Books
• Magic Hunters: The Journey Begins by Jill Williamson from Novel Kids Press
• Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot by J. J. Johnson, independently published

Readers Choice Award: A Daughter of the Trolls by McKenzie Catron

Audio winner: Dream of Kings, by Sharon Hinck, Oasis Audio

Nominees

• A Soul as Cold as Frost, by Jennifer Kropf, Winter Publishing House
• Dawn of Vengeance, by Ronie Kendig, produced by Ronie Kendig
• Dream of Kings, by Sharon Hinck, Oasis Audio
• Mordizan, by Alyssa Roat, Mountain Brook Ink
• Of Fire and Ash, by Gillian Bronte Adams, Oasis Audio

Short audio winner: Of Bitter Souls, by Brian Augustyn, Untold Podcast

Nominees

• At All Costs, by Emily Grant, Havok Story Podcast
• Cold Fury, by Andrew Swearingen, Havok Story Podcast
• Of Bitter Souls, by Brian Augustyn, Untold Podcast

Novella winner: Through a Shattered Glass by Sarah Pennington

Nominees

• Frozen in Time by T. E. Bradford, independently published
• The Near Distant: By Far and Away by Brett Armstrong from Expanse Books
• The Song of the Rose by K.M. Carroll from Less Than Three Productions
• Through a Shattered Glass by Sarah Pennington, independently published
• Yours, Constance by Emily Hayse from Blue Maverick Press

Short story winner: “Love My Neighbor” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh

Nominees

• “Love My Neighbor” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh from Wordfire Press
• “Neon Green in D Minor” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh from Word Weaver Press
• “Reality’s Needle” by T. E. Bradford, independently published
• “Shepherd of the Llams” by Alyssa Roat from The Wild Rose Press
• “Sky Rays” by Emily Barnett from Havok Publishing

Cover design winner: Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell, design by Designed by Damon Freeman/Damonza

Nominees

• Blood Secrets by Morgan Busse, design by Emily Haney, from Enclave Publishing
• Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell, design by Designed by Damon Freeman/Damonza, from Descendant Publishing
• Sacred Fire by Karen Grunst, design by Emilie Haney/EAH Creative, from Hunter House Fiction
• The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella, design by Kirk DouPonce/DogEared Design, from Enclave Publishing
• Yours, Constance by Emily Hayse, design by James Eagan/Bookfly Design, from Blue Maverick Press

See RealmMakers.com for a complete list of award finalists in all categories.

About Realm Makers: Realm Makers began in 2013, and from small origins has grown to serve thousands of Christian fiction authors online and at annual conferences. Faculty members have included bestselling novelists such as Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, C. J. Redwine, James L. Rubart, Brent Weeks, and N. D. Wilson. Realm Makers exists to help creative Christians in their journeys, providing education in craft, connections with industry professionals, and strategies for finding readers who love these kinds of stories. Meanwhile, the Realm Makers Bookstore offers a curated collection of speculative fiction from Christian authors, traveling to events such as homeschool conventions and book festivals.