Song of the Selkies Wins Book of the Year at the 2024 Realm Awards
![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6a0cd6a18f9fe9f12485f10404d65fdb?s=80&d=https%3A%2F%2Florehaven.com%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Florehaven%2Ficons%2Ficon_lorehavenshield_gray.png&r=pg)
ST. LOUIS, July 19—A princess disguised as a mystical water-creature impressed Realm Makers judges and won author Sarah Pennington the 2024 Book of the Year Award for her fantasy novel Song of the Selkies.
More than 500 fans and faculty gathered for the Realm Awards costume banquet at the annual Realm Makers conference. This twelfth annual ceremony recognized the best of Christian-made fantastical fiction for published novels in many fantastical genres and other categories. 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.
At 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.
Genre awards
Fantasy winner: Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington
Honorable mention: Eagles of the Grand Kingdom by Matt Barron
Nominees
- Eagles of the Grand Kingdom by Matt Barron
- Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
- Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington
- The Looking-Glass Illusion by Sara Ella
- Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae
Science fiction winner: When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum
Honorable mention: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
Nominees
- Soul Designers by Dona Watson
- Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall
- Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
- The Wayward by Tabitha Caplinger
- When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum
Horror/paranormal/supernatural winner: Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell
Honorable mention: Restoration by C. G. Clark
Nominees
- A Fire to Kindle by Daniel Dydek
- A Vine to Prune by Daniel Dydek
- Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell
- Carol of the Rooms by Diana Leagh Matthews
- Restoration by C. G. Clark
Audience awards
Young adult winner: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
Honorable mention: Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
Nominees
- Bear Knight by James Hannibal
- Face the Night by Lani Forbes
- Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
- Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
- Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
Middle grade winner: On Hidden Wings by Adare Elyse
Honorable mention: Paintball With Dragons by Hope Bolinger
Nominees
- Lewis: The Wounded by Lauren H. Brandenburg
- On Hidden Wings by Adare Elyse
- Paintball With Dragons by Hope Bolinger
- The Tiny Cyborg by Jill Williamson
- Woodencloak by Dawn Ford
Short fiction awards
Novella winner: Shattered Echoes by Hope Jian
Honorable mention: The Reader and the Soulless by L. A. Thornhill
Nominees
- A Time to Keep by Teddi Deppner
- Crack the Stone by Emily Golus
- Shattered Echoes by Hope Jian
- The Lost Slipper by Michele Israel Harper
- The Reader and the Soulless by L. A. Thornhill
Short story/flash fiction winner: “Inversion” by Cathy McCrumb
Honorable mention: “A Dying Phoenix” by Karyne Norton
Nominees
- “A Dying Phoenix” by Karyne Norton
- “House of Shadows” by Hannah Carter
- “Inversion” by Cathy McCrumb
- “The Little Tire Shop” by Abi Lyn Voss
- “The Mountain of Death” by Lincoln Reed
Audio awards
Audiobook winner: Rogue Pursuit by B. L. Dean, narrated by Sierra Kline
Honorable mention: Estuary by Lisa Bergren, narrated by Jorjeana Marie
Nominees
- Estuary by Lisa Bergren, narrated by Jorjeana Marie
- Prentice Ash by Matt Barron, narrated by Derek Perkins
- Rogue Pursuit by B. L. Dean, narrated by Sierra Kline
- The Orb and the Airship by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, narrated by Benjamin Fife
- Unleashed by Amber Kirkpatrick, narrated by Magnus Carlssen
Specialty awards
Debut winner: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
Honorable mention: When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum
Nominees
- Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
- Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall
- Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
- When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum
- Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae
Cover design winner: Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall, design by Kirk DouPonce
Honorable mentions
- Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier, design by Damonza
- Enhanced by Candace Kade, design by Kirk DouPonce
Nominees
- Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell, design by Damonza
- Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier, design by Damonza
- Enhanced by Candace Kade, design by Kirk DouPonce
- Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall, design by Kirk DouPonce
- The Lost King’s Daughter by A. D. German, design by Damonza
Readers Choice Award winner: A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips
Nominees
- A Goblin of the Glade by McKenzie Catron
- A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips
- Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
- Sides by Bradley Caffee
- Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson