New York Book Festival Names ‘Divine Witnesses’ As Grand Prize Winner
NEW YORK_ A collection of stories told by those who bore witness to Christ and his many miracles is the grand prize winner of the 2025 New York Book Festival, which honors books worthy of attention in the world’s publishing capital.
Author Steven Manchester’s Divine Witnesses (Luna Bella Press) imagines scenarios featuring Biblical characters interacting with Jesus, applying lessons and miracles to modern-day challenges. Divine Witnesses bears witness to Jesus Christ’s three-year ministry from a myriad of different perspectives.
The relatable story collection and its crisp writing make for a compelling read. The author received a $1,500 grand prize and will be featured at the awards ceremony in New York later this year.
Other winners in the competition:
GENERAL FICTION:
WINNER: Goodbye, Sweetberry Park – Josh Green
RUNNERS-UP:
The Fateful Voyage of the Empress of Ireland – Cheryl Roberts Gale
Aftermath Boy – Robert E. Honig
There’s a Tortoise in My Hair – Calvin Barry Schwartz
The Given Up Girl – Ellen B. Rockmore
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Weif – Dell Brand
Jhill – Sean O’Neil
Towers of Hiva – Darren Swanson
Sarita – Natalie Dossett
The Edge of Guilt – David Miraldi
Ghost Flight – Eva Asprakis
Thirty-Eight Days of Rain – Eva Asprakis
Estate: To My Once Darling Child – J. Andrew Shelley
Of Light and Lies – Darrell Denny
Killstanbul – Matthew Di Paoli
Gravity Flow – E.M. Schorb
The Teetotaler’s Bar – Carolyn Summer Quinn
The Final Comeuppance – Carolyn Summer Quinn
Water Thicker Than Blood – Saundra Terrell
Descending Thirds – Nicole Conn
To Take A Soul – Sara Sultane
One-Legged Uncle Jesse – Mike Morris
The Flat Tire – Fish Nealman
The Next Round – Eva Frances
Canonsfield 1 – Michael Hanson
Native Brush Strokes – Antoinette Godin
A Portable Chaos – E.M. Schorb
The Landlady of Maple Avenue – Suzanne Elizabeth Gillis
Conversations with My Mother – Ronald-Stephane Gilbert
A Life Saving Bullet – Krista Beggan
Toxic Pulpit – Don Helin
The House of Cavanaugh – Polly Dugan
Nuclear Harlot – Ayura Ayira
The Immortal Witness – Clifton Wilcox
21 Tattoos – Monica Broussard
Goyhood – Reuven Fenton
We Walked On – Therese Soukar Chehade
Going Dark – George Mehok
I Forgave You – Natia Khaduri
Jenna Slade – Enemy Within – Rich Blecher
Seeds of the Pomegranate – Suzanne Uttaro Samuels
The Journal of the Center for Applied Hopelessness – Wilson Whitlow
Fate Can Toss a Boomerang – Carolyn Summer Quinn
A Soldier’s Burden – Natia Khaduri
Cogitatio: Shadows in the Wind – Book Two – McKinley Aspen
Two Poppins Lane – Patricia Rohner
The Black Widow – Michael Hanson
Holston – William Kauffman
Sniff – GC Brown
Time of Ends – Geoff Roberts
Not a Shovel in Sight – Carolyn Summer Quinn
The Adventures of Mrs. Hats – Chris Corbett
Grave Justice – Angela McClintock
The Ghost Walker – Dickson Lane
Caramel and Steel – Long Temple
The Hike Not Taken – J.R. Miller
Bailey’s Road – B.G. Simpson
The Colors of Us – Long Temple
Unlawful Games – Adam Klein
A Dead Man Speaks – Lisa Jones Gentry
Divided Freedom – Robert Fraterrigo
The Sock Monster – Nathanael Stump
Dominion 2025 – Geoff Roberts
Little Fortified Stories – Barbara Black
Load Them Down – Rose Marie Rocchino
Silence the Past – Gary Lee Edward Kreigh
Slainte! – Roy Hunt
A Baby Eagle Was Told He’s a Beetle – Ashia Foster
POETRY:
WINNER: Sundays with Jenny – Jenny Bienemann
RUNNERS-UP:
Drifter – Douglas Cole
She Confuses Lovers, Movies, Angels and Poems – Gia Civerolo
365 Sonnets – Paul Bucheit
Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies – Sean P. Russell
American Mobile – E.M. Schorb
Be – Will Espero
…And You Cannot Tell Me Why I Must Not Love… – Natia Khaduri
Wakes of Joy – Diana Button
This is Not About Poems – Diana Button
The Dictionary of No – Leen Youssef
Guerre, Exil et – Leen Youssef
Limitless – Patrick Bex
Confident Conversations: Lessons III – Dr. LaDonna Marie
SELF HELP:
WINNER: The Gut Revolution – Christine Bishara, MD
RUNNERS-UP:
The Mountains We Climb – Aimee Goodwin
Embrace Your Shadows – Christina Prokos
The Authenticity Compass – Pamela Bond
Own Your Power Within – Laura K. Stoia, M.A.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Success in 7 Steps – Deirdre Wolownick
Authenticity Insurance – Lee Swann
Stressed to Splessed – Susan C. Troth
The 5 Pitfalls of a Relationship – Dr. LaGrande Mason Jr., Ph.D
Mental Toughness for Leaders – Claudio Chiste
SCIENCE FICTION/HORROR
WINNER: Thank God for the Sinners – Eric L.Magun
RUNNERS-UP:
Girl with the Silver Hair – Celia Seupel
Eldryan Elders – S.G. Blaise
Explorer – Roger Floyd
Apocrypha – Blaine. C. Readler
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Space Vault – Jeremy Clift
Just a Little Further – Joseph W. Pitha
Diablo Canyon – C. Flemish
Daemones Ex Machina – Russell Anders
Taj’s Sabbatical: Book One – Artell Smith, Troy Smith
Northfield Saga 4: Storm Break – Calvin B. Fisher
The Magic Tiara – JB Rojas
YOUNG ADULT:
WINNER: The Wheelman’s Daughter – Pamela Bauer Mueller
RUNNERS-UP:
The Four – Alexandra Haden-Douglas
Lizard Larson and the Time Keeper – Gary Natoli
TWIRL – Jase Peeple
Flowers for Papa – Margaret Beaver
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Warning: Short Stories for Middle School Boys- Gene Miller
Super Super Charro – Carlos Lozano
GENERAL NONFICTION:
WINNER: American Kings – Seth Wickersham
RUNNERS-UP:
Restoring Our Sanity Online – Mark Weinstein
Listen to Your Animals – Karen Wickerson
Passion Struck – John R. Miles
Educational Disobedience – Dr. Anise Mabry
It’s Okay Not to Be Fabulous Every Day – Ally Dalsimer
Child X – Jamie Mustard
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Stanley Kubrick’s Full Mental Straight Jacket – Dan Valenti
The Global Rules of Art – Larissa Buchholz
South Node Shaman – Shaman Melodie McBride
Own Your Color – Shikha Bajaj
Go for Third – Derek Volk
Why Not? – Teri L. Rouse
Seeds of Leadership – Will Lukang
Joseph and Noah – Daniel Gozo
Creativity for Soul Healing – Kirstin Labita
Leadership Bites – Ian J. McCoog
Near the Danube Bridge – Catherine Allen-Walters
Hardey’s Heroes, Book 2 – Rick Shockey
Success in 7 Steps – Deirdre Wolownick
The Power of Shamanism and Energy Medicine – Sheldon Shalley
A Pilgrim’s Guide to Walking Wisdom – Renee Baribeau
The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis – Felice Hardy
Cleansing Rituals Step by Step – Anita Fonteboa
Cherish America – Robert B. Charles
The Galore Gang, Mom and Her Magical Robe – Georgina Fagan
Seeing Eye Girl – Beverly J. Armento
The Four of Us – Ann Zalkind
Germs Are Not Our Enemy – Marizelle Arce, ND
Being Broken – Geoffrey R. Jonas
Confronting the White Shadow – Marcus W. Williams, Esq.
WILD CARD:
WINNER: Bella and Bird Explore Anger – Deana Plaskon, Ph.D, LMHC
RUNNERS-UP:
Stories of the Street – David Lazar
Spin Cycle – Alfredo Botello
Resurgius, a Sex Comedy – E.M. Schorb
The Washashore – Marshall Highet and Bird Jones
Arthur, Merlyn and the Bat Scientists at the Round Table – D.L. Luke & Bat Scientists
Sydney, Bean and the Missing Gloves – Janice E. Collins
The Pentacle – Marieke Lexmond
Warning: Short Stories for Middle School Boys… – Gene Miller
Blonde Haired Girl’s the Scientist – Jayme Katha Tener
Seeing Eye Girl – Beverly J. Armento
Behind My American Dream – Maggie Zurowska
Shadows and Black in the Light – Amy van Rijthoven
Cotton Wood Adventures – Jacqueline Graham
Headcase: Shock and Denial (Book 1) – Chris K. Jones
Little Fortified Stories – Barbara Black
MEMOIR:
WINNER: Scattershot – Larry Chrysler
RUNNERS-UP:
Geri o Shimasu – Alia Luria
The Politzer Saga – Linda Ambrus Broenniman
Absolution: The Dark Path to Light – Scott Allen Curley
Syrup Sandwiches – Anthony Owens
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Not Good Enough Girl – Sondra R. Brooks
Abandoned at Birth – Janet Sherlund
Warning: Short Stories for Middle School Boys… – Gene Miller
Chasing Happiness in an Imperfect Life – Xiomara Alvarez
Finding Home: From Cairo to New York: A Memoir – Djenane Nakhle
Hiding in Plain Sight – I.M. Enough
Seeing Eye Girl – Beverly J. Armento
Lighthouse: Surviving Narcissistic Abuse – Kia Lee
Living with a Ghost – Eva B. Morris
Watching Sarah Rise – Jennifer Celeste Briggs
The Art of Survival – Leen Youssef
Living with a Ghost – Eva B. Morris
Dad’s Journey – Jill A. Gilson
CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
WINNER: Dogs of Woofstock – Kip Cosson
RUNNERS-UP:
Porsche the Frog Adventures – Faisal Mirza
Welcome to the NIC-Zoo – Paige Pedroli
GG’s Gigantic Sandwich – Lakaisha Gibson
A Kindergarten Story – Tammy Donahue
Siu-Yin and the Dragons Book 1 – Reena Bhojwani
Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks – Jabril Yousef Faraj
Sydney, Bean and the Missing Gloves – Janice E. Collins
Ella’s Journey – David Casentini
In Mothers Shoes – Alexis Flowers
The Enchanted Kingdom of Cats – Karen Katz
Poetry Tales for Kids & Grandkids – Sergiy Smelyansky
Junk Food City – Sage V. Hill
Knox & The Magic Raindrops – Grace McCaffrey
Alphabet Parade – Stephen Barany
Big Rig Family Truckster – Jennifer Mazzetta
Lost but Found – Lauren Persons
The Little Camera Man – Alexis Flowers
Catching Memories – Peggy Lotz
Five and Ten – E.M. Schor
Popcorn the Squirrel – Rusty McQuade
Neurobook: Fun Brain Exercises for Toddlers – Ms. Buba
Mis Poemas de Animales – Liliana Rienzi
Welcome to JOJO’s Closet – Alexis Flowers
Jig Goes to the Zoo – Julia S. Kneeland
Because God Said So – Kasey White
Madison’s First Tooth – Latia Smith, RDH
The Incredible Trash Donkey – Jeanette Kamciyan
Miri and Jade’s New Clothes – Michal Rezoni with Assaf Rezoni
Harriet’s Hungry Worms – Samantha Smith
Shades: Cool Kids with Color – Kimberly Taylor
The Birthday Party – Marissa Koons
ROMANCE:
WINNER: The Last First Date – Jay Hall
RUNNERS-UP:
Living on a Prayer – Katrina Alexander
The Game – Eve M. Riley
Happy Hour – Elissa Bass
Do You Dare? – Tamani Wooley
Silver Lake Awakening – D.D. Franklin
A Woman in Search Of… – Lynne Brightman Horn
Her Heart’s Footprints – Poetically Enigmatic
UNPUBLISHED:
WINNER: Real Life Real Laughs – Cate Burns
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
WINNER: Circle of Sawdust – Rob Mermin
RUNNERS-UP:
Clark Gable, King of Hollywood – Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince
Bail! Bail! Bryce Whitmore and the Birth of Whitewater Rafting – Ty Childress
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Seeing Eye Girl – Beverly J. Armento
Jekyll Can’t Hyde – Jodi Lynn Pavlock
PHOTOGRAPHY/ART:
WINNER: The Other Worldly Deep – Charles Rawlings
SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS:
WINNER: Divine Witnesses – Steven Manchester
RUNNERS-UP:
Dinner at God’s House – Todd Lieman
The Cosmic Caretaker – Ang Anderson
One Kiss – Michelle Ashton
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Authenticity Compass – Pamela Bond
Own Your Power Within – Laura K. Stoia, M.A.
Agatha’s Angels – Michael C. Vassallo
COMPILATIONS/ANTHOLOGIES:
WINNER: The KEAK Anthology – Dr. Katherine E.A. Korkidis
RUNNER-UP: Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories – E.M. Schorb
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Wild of Wild Wonderful West Virginia – Jackson Middle School/Don Stansberry
HOW-TO:
WINNER: I Am Delivered Workbook – Dr. Jewel D. Williams
RUNNER-UP:
9 Steps to Build a Life of Meaning – Rick Walker
Landlord Management 101 – J.R. Perroni
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Objectivist’s Guide to the Galaxy – Zoltan Cendes
What’s Eating Our Kids? – Julie A. Wendt
Success in 7 Steps – Deirdre Wolownick
BUSINESS:
WINNER: Unlikely to Unstoppable – Jennifer Collins/Elizabeth Clark
RUNNER-UP: Your B.R.A.N.D. Unleashed – Lisa A. Shorr
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Like Clockwork – Sam Goodner
The Power of Digital Identity – Rakesh Soni