Spillwords Press Awards 2024
Author of the Year
NOMINATIONS
- SmithaV
- Michelle Ayon Navajas
- Cindy Georgakas
- Lauren Scott
- Suman Pokhrel
- Verity Mason
- Nial Crowley
- Vidya Venkataramanan
- Caroline Ashley
- Adele Evershed
- Rob Wilcher
- Dawn DeBraal
- Ernie Stricsek
WINNER
Click to reveal
APRIL 2023 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH / 2023 AUTHOR OF THE YEAR at Spillwords.com
Cindy is a San Francisco native and currently lives nestled in the trees in a small community with her husband. She is a health and wellness professional, a certified life coach, personal trainer, yoga/meditation teacher, and bodyworker. She draws inspiration from her clients, friends, four children, 4 legged furry kids and nature. Her new book 'Celebrating Poetry' is a #1 New Top Release on Amazon. It is a companion guide to her book, 'Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to Live the Life of Your Dreams,' that has over 41 5 Star Reviews. She was voted Author of the Month on Spillwords Press in April 2023 and Publication of the Month on Spillwords in October 2022. She is a co-author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, 'Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women,' #1 Best Seller of 'Hidden In Childhood: A Poetry Anthology' and is also a Treasured Contributor to MasticadoresUsa. You can read more of Cindy's work at Unique Times.
Latest posts by Cindy Georgakas (see all)
- Love at First Bite - October 25, 2024
- A Mother’s Love is Forever - August 4, 2024
- So Many Dads, Which One Are You? - June 16, 2024
Publication of the Year (Poetic)
NOMINATIONS
- Warrior Woman by Jan Sargeant
- Shadows of New York by Francisco Bravo Cabrera
- Joy by Daniel Ashley Clarke-Serret
- Ephemeral by Melissa Lemay
- Nuclear Fuchsia by Charlotte R Faulconbridge
- Endless Scale by Vasile Trif
- I’m in Love With The Wind! by Elizabeth Vincent Koshy
- The Lonely Little Christmas Tree by Malcolm Munro
- Nobody’s Daughter by Diana Burns
- Ode To The Radio by Nina Taylor
- May I Meet You Someday Like This by Sanu Sharma
- Till Death Do Us Part by Toni Kelly
- Never Alone by Damian Laounaros
WINNER
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EPHEMERAL by Melissa Lemay
Publication of the Year (Non-Poetic)
NOMINATIONS
- The Lighthouse by Sharon Frame Gay
- Brain in a Jar by Anthony Doyle
- Box For Coins by James Hancock
- Rope-Snake by B. Jeyamohan (translated by Jegadeesh Kumar)
- Dawn by Mark Kuglin
- Devil Incarnate by Paula R C Readman
- Mom Was Waiting For Us In The Dark by Amelia Estelle Dellos
- On Poetry and Fiction Just “One Word” Away (“Memories”) by Phyllis P. Colucci
- Hangry by G. Lynn Brown
- Kings of The Water by Tim Barlow
- When Youth Feels Invincible by Kate Leo
- A Full English by Jacqueline Erasin
- Dr. Merkle and Mr. Hyde by Craig E Harms
WINNER
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THE LIGHTHOUSE by Sharon Frame Gay
Publication of the Year (International)
NOMINATIONS
- Tu Eres, Como Tu Eres by Suman Pokhrel
- And God Rejoices by Anatoliy Anatoliy (translated by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis)
- Kadisz by Mirosława Stojak
- Vencere y Venceremos by José A Gómez
- El Gigante Interior by Sunmy Brown
- Il Mare by Natalia Castelluccio
- Seraphim by Veronika Zora
- The Bright Snowbanks by Dmitriy Belyanin
- The Seller of Balloons by Thaddeus Hutyra
- The Embers of Loss by Eliza Segiet
- Fruit of Knowledge by Marian Dziwisz
- Waiting Room by Gosha Kulisiewicz
- When My Violin Lost Me… by J. Maciel Costa
WINNER
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AND GOD REJOICES by Anatoliy Anatoliy
translated by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis
translated by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis
Contributor of the Year (Honorary Award)
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We proudly recognize Dawn DeBraal as Spillwords Press Contributor of the Year 2023 for her exceptional five-year journey since 2018. Dawn, a significant presence in our literary community, has woven captivating tales in series like ’13 Days of Halloween’ and ’12 Days of Christmas,’ and recently dazzled in ‘Haunted Holidays.’ We extend heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering support and creative excellence.
NOV 2019 / NOV 2022 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH at Spillwords.com
Dawn DeBraal lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, Red, a dorky dog and a stray cat. She has published over 600 drabbles, short stories, and poems in online ezines and anthologies. She co-wrote a novel under the pen name of Garrison McKnight, was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Award, Falling Star Magazine, and was runner-up in the 2022 Horror Short Story Contest.
Latest posts by Dawn DeBraal (see all)
- The Gift of Life - December 21, 2024
- The Miracle of Nicholas Harry - December 3, 2024
- The Kindness of Strangers - October 30, 2024
Socialite of the Year (Honorary Award)
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We are pleased to honor The Spillwords Press Socialites of The Year 2023. These individuals exemplify our community spirit by actively engaging with fellow writers on spillwords.com, promoting the accomplishments of others, and advocating for our global movement through social media, all while making significant literary contributions. Your dedication and ambassadorship are truly appreciated.
I am a mother and grandmother who enjoys writing but usually just for my own pleasure. I was born in Essex but spent many of my adult years in various overseas wherever my husband was working. I studied Sociology originally at University but began teaching English as a Foreign Language while abroad. On our return to the UK I began working in adult education teaching Literacy and Numeracy but always had a passion for Early Years education. As such I retrained and spent a number of years working as an early years practitioner, until I retired in November 2019. I now live in Leicestershire and have two grown up children and two young grandchildren with whom I love to play and read stories to.. During Lockdown I wrote a number of little short stories for them, which i recorded and shared with them just for fun. My first little children's story book Off to the Beach was published by Bumble Bee Books (part of Olympia Publishers) in April 2021. It really was a lockdown project!
Latest posts by Nina Taylor (see all)
- The Snowdrop - December 10, 2024
- Hedgehog - July 29, 2024
- Jumble - June 3, 2024
After a long career of tinkering in telecommunications, Jim Bartlett switched to tinkering with words, both, of course, requiring a stretch of the imagination. He has since been fortunate to have a number of stories, ranging from flash to novella, featured in Fiction on the Web, CrimeSpree Magazine, Short-Story.me, Ontologica, The Scarlet Leaf Review, Fairlight Books and a number of other wonderful publications. Most recently one of his stories was featured in the print anthology, The Best of Fiction on the Web, 1996 – 2017. While mentally he strolls along a warm California beach with his wife and golden retriever (shhh, she doesn’t know she’s a dog), physically they reside on a special little island in the Pacific Northwest.
Latest posts by Jim Bartlett (see all)
- Christmas Gets Stuck in Concourse C - December 15, 2024
- Waiting for the Past to Call - November 24, 2024
- The Grand Adventure - April 14, 2024
I'm British and have been living with my German born wife in s.w. Germany for 30 years. I've been writing short stories for many years and they have appeared on Fictionontheweb, Short FictionBreak, Literally Stories, Spillwords and other sites. I also have a story in the book The Best of Fiction On the Web.
Latest posts by Michael McCarthy (see all)
- Clint & Rusty - December 11, 2024
- Olivia’s first visit to K - November 26, 2024
- Clint & Ernst - October 7, 2024
MARCH 2023 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH at Spillwords.com
Philippine-born Michelle Navajas, currently residing in Malaysia. Michelle authored the book “After – Rain Skies: A Million Stars” for PWW during their Million Stars campaign. Graduated with a Master of Education majoring in English in the Philippines, Michelle was a former college professor, teaching literature, speech & oral communication, creative writing, drama, and theatre arts. Michelle is active in her writing profession and works as a freelance creative writer. Michelle passionately blogs at WordPress at michnavs, where you can find her prose and poetry on love, life, motherhood, and her advocacy on abuse and violence. Her poem “Again” is published on three platforms, on MEDIUM - an International Writers and Readers Space, AFRICA WRITERS CARAVAN, and at WOMAWORDS LITERARY PRESS.
Latest posts by Michelle Ayon Navajas (see all)
- The Haunting of the Acacia Tree - November 1, 2024
- Resilience - September 10, 2024
- Drowning - July 25, 2024
Joni Karen Caggiano is an internationally published author, poet, and photographer. Her book of poetry and prose, "One Petal At a Time," was an Amazon Best Seller featuring Valencian artist Francisco Bravo Cabrera, published by Prolific Pulse Press, LLC. Joni's book was endorsed by Dr. Claudia Black. She is a 2022 Pushcart Nominee for her poem, "Old News is Not Old News." She was privileged to write the Forward for the Best Seller, "I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark," by Michelle Ayon Navajas. On SpillWords Press NYC, Joni won Publication of the Month in November 2022 and Co-Winner of Socialite of the Year for 2023 and 2024. Joni was a Co-Author of both #1 Amazon Bestselling books, "Hidden In Childhood" and "Wounds I Healed." She is also in 7 additional Poetry Anthologies and published this Spring Issue of Fine Lines Journal. Joni is also proud to be included in the upcoming Poetry Anthology, "A Safe and Brave Space." She was a featured poet in Edge of Humanity for World Poetry Day in March of 2024. She is currently a writer for Hotel Masticadores and a visitor on Chewers. Joni's website is Rum and Robots. Joni is a retired nurse, ACOAs (Adult Children of Alcoholics) survivor, and environmental advocate.
Latest posts by Joni Caggiano (see all)
- Sunbird - November 14, 2024
- Sand Shifts - August 19, 2024
- Worn Slap Out - June 5, 2024
APRIL 2023 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH / 2023 AUTHOR OF THE YEAR at Spillwords.com
Cindy is a San Francisco native and currently lives nestled in the trees in a small community with her husband. She is a health and wellness professional, a certified life coach, personal trainer, yoga/meditation teacher, and bodyworker. She draws inspiration from her clients, friends, four children, 4 legged furry kids and nature. Her new book 'Celebrating Poetry' is a #1 New Top Release on Amazon. It is a companion guide to her book, 'Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps to Live the Life of Your Dreams,' that has over 41 5 Star Reviews. She was voted Author of the Month on Spillwords Press in April 2023 and Publication of the Month on Spillwords in October 2022. She is a co-author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, 'Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women,' #1 Best Seller of 'Hidden In Childhood: A Poetry Anthology' and is also a Treasured Contributor to MasticadoresUsa. You can read more of Cindy's work at Unique Times.
Latest posts by Cindy Georgakas (see all)
- Love at First Bite - October 25, 2024
- A Mother’s Love is Forever - August 4, 2024
- So Many Dads, Which One Are You? - June 16, 2024
David's stories have appeared in Duality books, Impspired Magazine, Punk Noir, Friday Flash Fiction and performed on Resonance FM radio (UK). He was commissioned to adapt and direct his short story 'Into The Breach' for the 2021 Rise of the Resistance Festival, screened at Bloomsbury Theatre London. His stage play Shinwell was recently published by Impspired Books. David was a founder member of punk band Vee V V. He finds his stories while he's out and about, or they find him... He lives with his wife and family in London.
Latest posts by David Milner (see all)
- Halting Matilda - December 21, 2024
- Far Out - September 22, 2024
- Gates of Heaven - June 20, 2024
G. Lynn Brown, originally from New Jersey, now living in Tennessee, is a published writer and poet, whose work can be found in various literary journals, including Fictionette (where her short story, "The Reason Caramels Make Me Cry," won the Star Prize Entry Award, April '23), Monday Microfiction Magazine, Paragraph Planet, Rejection-Letters and others. Her story, "Passing the Torch," made the Australian Writers Centre Furious Fiction Contest longlist (June '23), and in November 2024, she will have her microfiction, "Submerged," published in Vine Leaves Press's "50 Give or Take Anthology." She is a contributing author at Friday Flash Fiction, where her 100-word tale, "Her Best Bud," was recently chosen Editor's Choice. G. Lynn has a passion for creativity that has bubbled within her since childhood and, in adulthood, her writing is more than a hobby, but serves as a form of therapy, allowing her to escape the stresses of day-to-day life. She appreciates all those who read her stories and poems, and hopes they enjoy reading them as much as she does writing them.
Latest posts by G. Lynn Brown (see all)
- Child’s Play - December 4, 2024
- August Surprise - August 21, 2024
- Twitterpated - May 30, 2024
JUNE 2023 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH at Spillwords.com
Suman Pokhrel is a Nepali poet, lyricist, playwright, and translator. He writes mainly in the Nepali language, but also writes in English, Hindi, and some other South Asian languages. His works have been translated into several languages across countries and have appeared in notable journals worldwide. His poetry is taught as part of the literary curriculum at two universities in Nepal and three universities in India. Some appreciators of his poetry have had verses tattooed on their body parts. Netizens frequently quote verses from his poetry and share them on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He has been awarded notable accolades, including the SAARC Literary Award in 2013 and 2015, among several others.
Latest posts by Suman Pokhrel (see all)
- Song of Soul - September 6, 2024
- Sky Soaked with Fire - June 28, 2024
- Journey - April 17, 2024
APRIL 2024 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH at Spillwords.com
Writing is a huge part of my life. I eat, sleep, and breathe it. I consider it not only my passion but also my therapy. I’ve collected a lot of paperback journals over the years, and while they have served their purpose in allowing me to collect my thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the world around me. I knew there’d come a day when it wouldn’t be enough, I knew I had to start sharing my work in the digital universe. Transcribe this world of ours through my eyes. One way I can do that is through my poetry.
Latest posts by Ash Douglas (see all)
- The Elf All About Himself - December 23, 2024
- Deadman’s Cove - September 10, 2024
- The Devil’s Hold - June 23, 2024
Series Recognition
We are delighted to acknowledge ongoing series and their respective authors throughout the year of 2023:
Locust Hill by Carl Parsons (Struggles of an independent, small acreage farm family, that of Jim and Cassandra Russell, in the Mid-Ohio Valley region of West Virginia)
On Poetry and Fiction by Phyllis P. Colucci (Starting from just “one word”; which then becomes one idea, one sentence, one poem or one story)
Robyn Finds Poetry by Robyn MacKinnon (A compilation of haiku, found poetry, complemented by accompanying illustrations.)
Passages by Gerry Stefanson (Poems that partner a life at sea to a life as lived)
When Olivia Met K by Michael McCarthy (The life and loves of a formidable woman of magnetic allure and her enduring lover)
MMXXIV
Spilled Words is what we offer one and all.
A website offering fresh, original and exclusive material by writers who espouse the philosophy that “Words Matter” and believe that imagination is the seed of accomplishment.
We are passionate about the world we inhabit; Aware there are two sides to every story. Persistent in our pursuit of all points of view.
A place to think, to laugh, to shed a tear. Where words are gifts that feed the soul; ignite a flame within the heart; excite the recesses of the brain; spark passions and concerns; inspire the conscious and subconscious.
Join Spillwords for this and more…
A website offering fresh, original and exclusive material by writers who espouse the philosophy that “Words Matter” and believe that imagination is the seed of accomplishment.
We are passionate about the world we inhabit; Aware there are two sides to every story. Persistent in our pursuit of all points of view.
A place to think, to laugh, to shed a tear. Where words are gifts that feed the soul; ignite a flame within the heart; excite the recesses of the brain; spark passions and concerns; inspire the conscious and subconscious.
Join Spillwords for this and more…
Latest posts by Spillwords (see all)
- A Psalm of Life - December 29, 2024
- Finland - December 8, 2024
- A Christmas Carol - December 1, 2024
