~~ 2024 National Excellence in Storytelling (NEST) Contest Winners ~~
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Contemporary Novel
First Place
Too Late for Goodbye by Jean C. Joachim
Publisher: Moonlight Books
Second Place
Operation Ethan by Laurie Ryan
Publisher: Silver Sage Press
Third Place (tie)
Breathless - Nightingale Vineyard #1 by Roz Lee
Publisher: State of Mind Publishing
and
Royal Caleva: Gabriel by Nancy Herkness
Publisher: Tabby Brothers Press
Fourth Place (tie)
The Light at Corriveau Crossing by Amber Cross
Publisher: Indie Published
and
Timeless - Nightingale Vineyard #2 by Roz Lee
Publisher: State of Mind Publishing
Fifth Place
Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson
Publisher: Forever
Contemporary Short
First Place (tie)
Autumn Deception by N. Jade Gray
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
and
Ghosted by Nancy Fraser
Publisher: Indie Published
Second Place
Christmas at Crazy Woman Creek by Ryan Jo Summers
Publisher: Satin Romance/Melange Books
Third Place
Sable (Always a Bridesmaid) by Peggy Jaeger
Publisher: Indie Published
Fourth Place
On the Way to Us by Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks/Casablanca
Fifth Place
Reunited with the Children's Doc by Susan Carlisle
Publisher: Harlequin Mills and Boon
Cozy Mystery
First Place
Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Second Place
Reading, Writing, and Murder (A Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery)
by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell
Publisher: Indie Published
Third Place (tie)
Sapphires in Snow by Amy Schisler
and
Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay, An Andi Anna Jones Mystery, Book 2
by Mary Cunningham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
Rogue the Durum by Steven J. Kolbe
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fifth Place (tie)
Black Magic Murder by Polly Holmes
Publisher: Gumnut Press
and
Do You Take This Man? by Jacquie May Miller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Erotic Novel
First Place
A Pointed End by Kit McKenna
Publisher: Indie Published
Second Place
Leopold, The Lion's Den series by Dania Voss
Publisher: Indie Published
Third Place
The Handler by Jordyn Kross
Publisher: Scarlet Parlor Press, LLC
Erotic Short
First Place
Our Fugitive Bride by Lacey Davis
Publisher: Virtual Bookseller
Second Place
Come Home to the Cowboys by Lacey Davis
Publisher: Virtual Bookseller
Third Place
Flames of Flamenco by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
The Simple Art of Lust by Mandy Valentine
Publisher: Secret Self Books
Fifth Place
The Story of Q by Mandy Valentine
Publisher: Secret Self Books
Historical Novel
First Place
By Sword and Fan by Kathleen Buckley
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Second Place (tie)
Gamble of Hearts by Virginia Barlow
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
and
Highland Echo by Willa Blair
Publisher: Oliver-Heber Books
Third Place
Forgiven Never Forgotten by Susan Leigh Furlong
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
Thumb Fire Desire by Carol Nickles
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fifth Place
Captivated By His Countess by Kathy L Wheeler
Publisher: Chisel Imprint
Historical Short
First Place
A Snowlit Christmas Kiss by Larissa Lyons
Publisher: Literary Madness
Second Place
One of These Wylder Nights by Roni Denholtz
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Third Place
Promise Me Christmas by Gini Rifkin
Publisher: Dragon Song
Fourth Place
Jambalaya by Jesse by Nancy Fraser
Publisher: Indie Published
Fifth Place
Davis's Debt by Marisa Masterson
Publisher: Indie Published
Horror
First Place
Totem of Terror by Robert Herold
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Second Place
Dark Reflections by Raven Lee
Publisher: LilyBear House, LLC
Third Place
The Widower by Krysta Scott
Publisher: Indie Published
Fourth Place
Tormented Whispers by Krysta Scott
Publisher: Indie Published
Fifth Place
Kiss Me Deadly by Tamela Miles
Publisher: Indie Published
Inspirational Novel
First Place
Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Second Place
Jordan Valley Roundup by Susan Spess
Publisher: Pelican Books
Third Place
Christmas at Whispering Creek by Barbara M. Britton
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Fourth Place
Seeking Sugar and Spice by Amy Schisler
Publisher:
Fifth Place (tie)
Her One In a Million by Paige Campbell
Publisher: Anaiah Press
and
The Fragrance of Violets by Susan K. Beatty
Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing
Inspirational Short
First Place
Her Christmas Wish by Barbara Lohr
Publisher: Purple Egret Press
Second Place
A Heart for News by Susan Beatty
Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing
Third Place
Sarah (Christmas Quilt Brides) by Nancy Fraser
Publisher: Indie Published
Paranormal Novel
First Place
Fallen by Susan Person
Publisher: Indie Published (Person Publishing, LLC.)
Second Place
Wolf's Keep: The Wolves of Langeais, Book 1 by K.E. Turner
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Third Place
Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl
Publisher: Amanda Uhl LLC
Fourth Place
The Solitary Rose by Anne Rollins
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fifth Place
The Taken by Donnette Smith
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Paranormal Short
First Place
The Surrogate by Brenda Clark Thomas
Publisher: Indie Published
Second Place
When the Hope Rose Blooms by Annette Miller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Third Place
For The Love of Grace by Nancy Fraser
Publisher: Indie Published
Fourth Place
Departmental Relations by Danni Line
Publisher: Indie Published
Fifth Place (tie)
A Wicked Fate by Mark Edward Jones
Publisher: MEJ Books, LLC
and
Raven's Hollow Spring Magic by Tena Stetler
Publisher: The Wild Rose
Suspense Novel
First Place
Lethal Reprisal by Kaylea Cross
Publisher: Kaylea Cross Inc.
Second Place
A Pride of Brothers: Dylan by Peggy jaeger
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Third Place
The Unexpected Hostage by Allison McKenzie
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
Above 'N' Beyond by Tee O'Fallon
Publisher: Entangled
Fifth Place
Lost in the Dark by Gail Chianese
Publisher: Indie Published by Gail Chianese
Suspense Short
First Place
Deadly Illusions by Anna Kittrell
Publisher: Indie Published
Second Place
The New Guy by Dex Rivers
Publisher: Indie Published
Third Place
The Axe by Linda Griffin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Women's Fiction
First Place
Maggie's Story by Jean C. Joachim
Publisher: Moonlight Books
Second Place (tie)
Secrets of a Runaway Bride by Sylvia McDaniel
Publisher: Virtual Bookseller
and
Devine Doughunt by Carolyn Brown
Third Place
Bewept by Colleen Coyne
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown
Fifth Place
Enduring the Waves by Jill Ocone
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Young Adult
First Place
Beautiful One by Mary Cope
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Second Place
Crushing by TR Simmons
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Third Place
The Blood of Faeries by Dan Rice
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fourth Place
The Disappearing Names by Avis Adams
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Fifth Place
Griselda Rella by Lee Renwick Steele
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press​
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