Hollywood Book Festival Names Epic Novel ‘Tequila’ For Top Honors

HOLLYWOOD_ A sprawling novel about a family tequila business set against a web of cartels, corruption, and forbidden love is the winner of the 2026 Hollywood Book Festival, which honors books worthy of further attention from the film, TV and multimedia industries.

Author Tim Reuben’s Tequila: A Story of Success, Love & Violence (Meridian Editions) follows three generations of the Ramirez family as they battle for control of RAM, a multibillion-dollar luxury spirits powerhouse. When Maria Ramirez becomes CEO, her greatest foes aren’t her competitors. They’re her brothers—the corrupt, sociopathic Miguel and the self-destructive, spiraling Tomaso—whose actions threaten to drag the Ramirez name to ruin.

L.A. attorney Brian Youngman enters their world, hired for Tomaso’s divorce case. What he uncovers are cartel ties, financial crimes, and unimaginable violence. As his growing love for Maria collides with his fight for justice, Brian becomes a reluctant hero in a battle where survival means pain and sacrifice.

The novel’s expert weaving of genres into an explosive thriller makes it well-worthy of top honors.
Other winners in the competition:

BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

WINNER: Clark Gable, Where Love Has Gone: Volume Three – Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince

RUNNER-UP: Dancing Through the Shadow – Agnes Bristow

HONORABLE MENTION:

A Story of Stories: – Cristina D. Ramirez

BUSINESS

WINNER: 10 Things I Learned from the Billionaire – Calvin Barry Schwartz

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

WINNER: Bailey’s Awesome Day – Mary Mayo Balfour Calvert

RUNNERS-UP:

A Flower for You – Tasha Nicole Terani
Izzy – An Octopus Tale – Charles E. Rawlings
Pitty the Kitty; Kitty Capers – Mary Nielsen
Pitty the Kitty; The Magic Collar – Mary Nielsen
The Jingu Magical Garden – Gretchen Rose

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Adventures of Buzzalier – Roya Hendesi
Pitty the Kitty; Kitty Hijinks – Mary Nielsen
Maddy and Mia Growing Pains – Pamela Adler
Pitty’s Big Adventure – Mary Nielsen
Sueños en la funda – Mary Nielsen
Livy y el rescate de Caperucita Roja (Érase un rescate) – Mary Nielsen

GENERAL FICTION

WINNER: Tequila – Tim Reuben

RUNNERS-UP:

Roscoe – Andrew James Gregor
To Know Good and Evil – Daniel V. Meier
The Conman… a Baseball Odyssey – Mike Murphey with Keith Comstock
Vatican Daughter – Joni Marie Iraci
The Madness She Knew – D. J. Adamson
The Shadow Kingdom and the Land of Nines – Inabis PM
The Far End – Johnny Gnall
Tree of Liberty – Michael Fedor

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Unstoppable: The Victoria Woodhull Story – Kate Danaher
One Ordinary Man – Steve Vesce
Thank God For The Sinners – Eric Magun
Palimony – Steven Grossman
Pirate’s Alley – Thomas J. Leveque
Inherited Death – Jeanne Rietzke
It’s (Mostly) Good To Be Martha – Mershon Niesner
LoveVortex and the Drakor’s Curse – Pekka Harju-Autti
Black Sun Rising – Otho Eskin
Eyes of the State – Rony Jane
killing brumbies – Sue Andrews
The Afghan Diaries – Tamaz Demetrashvili, Levan Jangirashvili
The Invisible Hand – Douglas Cole
A Thousand More – K. S. Lynn
He Was Given No Choice – Roy Dussouy
I Forgave You – Natia Khaduri
The Sharecropper’s Son – John V. Amodeo
Miranda–Strength, Love, and Second Chances – A. Maria Harcas
Munyori and Johannes in 72 Hours – Crystal Charlotte (CC) Lane

GENERAL NONFICTION

WINNER: True Crime and Consequences – David Lyons

RUNNERS-UP:

A Story of Stories: – Cristina D. Ramirez
The Root: The Wound That Shapes the World – Ralph Bessard
Aliens Are Humans – Bill Varecha

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Chasing Legends: Motorcycle Stories from the Podcast Trail – Aaron Pufal
Defining the Times – Patricia Duncan
My Warp Threads – Maureen Jenks
Custom Maid Palestine for New World Disorder – Peter G. de Krassel

GENRE-BASED

WINNER: Straw Shoes – Mathias B. Freese

RUNNERS-UP:

The Hero – Eve M. Riley
Encrypted Patriot: The Ghosts That Protect America – Dennis M. Currie
Newby’s Cave – M. A. Florence
The Flame and the Sword – Sandra Gharabaghli
KRISPR – Jennifer Handler

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The TellTale Lie – Richard Kiehr
Jade Eyes – Marshall Miller
Bear Trap – Cullen K. Thomas
Cold Justice – Saundra Crum Akers
Vows of Love – Sandra Gharabaghli
Snowman – Walsh Wettengle

HISTORY:

WINNER: A Story of Stories: – Cristina D. Ramirez

RUNNER-UP: The Deeper Lights His Own Eyes Knew – Steven Glazer

HONORABLE MENTION:

The Wages of Freedom – Re’Gena Bell-Roberts

MEMOIR:

WINNER: My Peacock Tale: Secrets Of An NBC Page – Shelley Herman

RUNNERS-UP:

After Hours: Scorsese, Grief and the Grammar of Cinema – Ben Tanzer
Darkhorse – Amatangelo “AJ” Pasciuti/Neil McGinness
The Substitute Asshole – Dean Quarnstrom

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Book of the Silenced – Gordana Smith
The Home for Friendless Children – C.L. Olsen
White-Tailed Eagles Rising – Rochelle Megan Reynard

ROMANCE:

WINNER: When Hearts Heal – Mara Purl

RUNNER-UP: Please Wait to Cross – Elissa Bass

SCIENCE FICTION:

WINNER: Survivors – Marshall Miller

RUNNERS-UP:

T.V. Holiday’s Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 3 – Travis Easter
Maddening Marauders – S.G. Blaise

HONORABLE MENTION:

Diverging Streams – Earl L Carlson

SEQUELS

WINNER: Hollywood High Chronicles Book 8: Big City, Dark Chaos – Melissa Velasco

RUNNER-UP: The Escape – Eve M. Riley

HONORABLE MENTION:

Hollywood High Chronicles Book Seven: Lifetimes – Melissa Velasco

SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS

WINNER: The Last Witness – Jerry Lathan & Steven Manchester

RUNNER-UP: Spirit Guides and Angels: Death and Taxes – Wayne Cesaro

HONORABLE MENTION:

Catch the Wave – Steven Cole

NPUBLISHED:

WINNER: T.V. Holiday’s Angelface – Travis Easter

WILD CARD:

WINNER: KRISPR – Jennifer Handler

RUNNER-UP: A Flower for You – Tasha Nicole Terani

HONORABLE MENTION:

LoveVortex and the Drakor’s Curse – Pekka Harju-Autti

YOUNG ADULT:

WINNER: Culver City – Brant Vickers

RUNNERS-UP:

Before You Can Fly – Jase Peeples
Chronicles of David’s Stone – Anita Telle
Panacea: The Age of AG – Richard Carson Bailey

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Defenders of Zzzodd – Ty E. Smith
The Alternate World – Kathryn Starke
Twirl – Jase Peeples