PenCraft Book Awards Announces 2025 Runner-Up Winners, Highlighting Literary Diversity

The PenCraft Book Awards has announced the runner-up winners of its 2025 competition, highlighting a commendable array of literary talent and creativity in its ninth annual event. This year's selection process was more challenging than ever, with numerous outstanding submissions that showcased the extraordinary diversity and depth of storytelling in the literary world. Each runner-up book represents remarkable craftsmanship while speaking to the heart of the human experience, promising to enrich readers with new perspectives and insights.

David Hearne, Editor-In-Chief, stated that the organization is incredibly proud to celebrate these talented authors and their remarkable achievements in their literary journeys. Their work serves as a testament to their craft, and the awards shine a light on incredible narratives that await readers while reaffirming the commitment to promoting excellence in literary arts. The PenCraft Book Awards is an inclusive literary contest that celebrates all authors with a mission to inspire, entertain, and give every writer a fair chance at recognition.

With hundreds of nominations, only the best receive the PenCraft Book Award. As Hearne explains, these awards help struggling authors get noticed and sold, with the goal of showcasing talented new authors and their extraordinary stories. PenCraft was created to counter unfairness in excluding authors based on their publisher or high entry fees, leveling the playing field to allow all authors to compete equally. Since its inception, PenCraft has been committed to supporting authors worldwide by acknowledging and promoting their creative work through initiatives detailed at their official website.

The 2025 runner-up winners span numerous categories including children's literature across various age groups, fiction genres like fantasy, historical, mystery, science fiction, and supernatural, along with non-fiction works covering business, education, memoir, and self-help. Notable children's titles include Treasure of the North by Minda Gomez and Nina and the Really, Really Tough Decision by R. Karl Hebenstreit for the 4th-6th grade category, while Dot's Spots by Lisa Mueller and Sally's Musical Tale by Rosie J. Pova represent animal books for young readers.

Fiction categories feature diverse works such as The Dryad's Crown by David Hopkins in fantasy, The Rabbi's Knight by Michael Cooper in historical fiction, and DEATH PLAYS WITH FIRE by Sharon Lynn in mystery. Non-fiction runner-ups include Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI by Faisal Hoque in business/finance and The Biology of Trauma by Aimie Apigian MD in health/medical. The awards also recognize poetry, romance, and young adult categories, with titles like Inaccurate Histories by Alise Versella in poetry and The Tomb of Ptahmes by C.W. James in young adult coming of age stories.

This comprehensive recognition across genres demonstrates the awards' commitment to literary diversity and excellence. The runner-up announcement comes as part of PenCraft's ongoing efforts to support authors at all stages of their careers, providing visibility and validation for their creative endeavors. By highlighting these works, the awards contribute to a richer literary landscape where diverse voices and stories can reach wider audiences and gain the recognition they deserve in the competitive publishing industry.