Southern California Book Festival Names ‘La Pâte á Bombe’ For Top Honors
LOS ANGELES_ The story of a young pastry chef’s struggles to establish herself in a major L.A. kitchen is the top book in the 2026 Southern California Book Festival, which honors the best books of the fall.
Author Michelle Christensen’s La Pâte á Bombe (Sibylline Press) is the story of Fiona McConnell, who grew up helping her dad run his catering company while dreaming of pastry chef stardom.
When her culinary idol and boss, Julia Stone, fires the head and pastry chefs at one of L.A.’s most acclaimed restaurants, Fiona steps up to prove she belongs in the kitchen. But the heat turns up when Julia brings in the legendary and fiercely ambitious Liam Auclair as head chef.
His mission? To earn L.A.’s first three Michelin stars, no matter the pressure it puts on the team. As Fiona fights to rise in the cutthroat world of fine dining, she meets Rory Martin, a charming vintner with a love of food, wine, and surfing. But when ambition, identity, and desire collide, Fiona has to decide: will she chase perfection or choose what’s real?
This fine debut novel promises to be the launching pad for great things from the author, and is well worthy of top honors.
Other winners in the competition:
GENERAL NONFICTION:
WINNER: Before Their Crimes – Dr. Wendy Smith
RUNNERS-UP:
Sticky, Sexy, Sad – Treena Orchard
True Crime and Consequences – David Lyons
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Changing Course Gracefully – Elaina Kelly Smith
Hardy’s Heroes: Book 2 – The War After June 6, 1944, D-Day – Rick Shockey
Exploring California’s Historic Landmarks – Southern Edition – Shawn E. Bell
ROMANCE:
WINNER: Living on a Prayer – Katrina Alexander
POETRY:
WINNER: Send Down the Master in Person – A. Keith Carreiro
RUNNERS-UP:
She Confuses Lovers, Movies, Angels and Poems – Gia Civerolo
The Blues Don’t Last Always – Re’Gena Bell-Roberts
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Simple Words of Rhyme – Gwendolyn Williams
Tapestry of Silence – Loakreddy Prishitha Reddy
Never say – Never – Irakli Nadareishvili
SELF-HELP:
WINNER: Embrace Your Shadows – Christina Prokos
YOUNG ADULT:
WINNER: Hollywood High Chronicles Book Six – Melissa Velasco
RUNNER-UP:
George Petit and the Whispers of Time – Luca Tom Bilotta
HONORABLE MENTION:
Split – Michael Swartz
GENERAL FICTION:
WINNER: La Pâte á Bombe – Michelle Christensen
RUNNERS-UP:
Ready for the World – Driver’s Education – Charmeljun Gallardo
The Monuments Must Bleed – Clifton Wilcox
Thank God for the Sinners – Eric Magun
After You, My Dear – PJ Ellis
Under Strange, Strange Skies – Don Stansberry
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Asayi, An Autistic Teen’s Journey to Topple a Shogun in Medieval Japan – Sharon Curcio
Song of Hummingbird Highway – KM Cookie
Silent Code – Jessie Clark
Lenswoman in Love – Kim Gottlieb-Walker
Ava – Janet R. Perroni
Keeper of the Fallen Angels – Clifton Wilcox
Swimming with Manatees – Bill Bennett
The Escape – Eve M. Riley
Once Upon a Safehouse – Carolyn Summer Quinn
Breathe Easy – Tammy Donahue
The Game – Eve M. Riley
The Case Against Jasper – Clifton Wilcox
Someone Had to Lie – Jack Luellen
Ava Again – Janet R. Perroni
Dream Me Dead – Laurie Elizabeth Murphy
killing brumbies – Sue Andrews
GENE-IUS – Sharon L. Wenger
The Return of the Flying Boat – Dale Morton
Prophets of War – Jack Brown
Ava’s Connection – Janet R. Perroni
Abbot Lane – Jim Layeux
Charlie’s Wings – Karl L. Stewart
Demonology: The Bond – Kadeem Locke
The Pulse of the City – C.D. “Tony” Hylton III
COMPILATIONS/ANTHOLOGIES:
WINNER: Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Storeis – E.M. Schorb
CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
WINNER: Stories of Jesus – Kama Bodman
RUNNERS-UP:
Welcome to the NIC-ZOO – Paige Pedroli
Happiness is for Everyone – Paula Price
It’s Okay to Have Feelings – Patricia L. Miller
The Heart of a Leader – Dr. Josh McConkey
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Lawrence Likes to Dance – Don Stansberry
Wally’s Window: A Tasty Adventure in Picky Eating – Christy Donohue
The Adventures of Captain Polo: Polo in Brazil – Alan Hesse
Holly and the Magic Bunny – Kateryna Dronova
The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon – Debbie Noble Black
MEMOIR:
WINNER: As We Bloom – Mia Bolton
RUNNER-UPS:
Being Broken – Geoffrey R. Jonas
Running From Tragedy – Michael Salsbury
Walking on Thin Ice – Re’Gena Bell-Roberts
Unexpected Gift – Rony Jane
WILD CARD:
WINNER: Before Their Crimes – Dr. Wendy Smith
RUNNERS-UP:
Raven’s Daughter: The Story Keeper – Wendy Halley
The Blues Don’t Last Always – Re’Gena Bell-Roberts
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Walking on Thin Ice – Re’Gena Bell-Roberts
Running Stop Signs – Nancy Mangano
SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS:
WINNER: Identity Crisis: Who Am I, Really? – M.J. Kelley II
RUNNER-UPS:
Look Up Look In Look Out – Lisa Taylor
On the Edge – Adria Sanders
HONORABLE MENTION:
Rise of a Lightworker – Will Sibley
HOW-TO:
WINNER: Must: Becoming the Person You Were Meant to Be – Stephen Rue
RUNNER-UPS:
True Crime and Consequences – David Lyons
In Defense of Crime – Richard E.H. Phelps II
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
What Lights You Up? – Mary Olson-Menzel
BUSINESS/TECHNOLOGY:
WINNER: El futuro del médico – Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
RUNNER-UP:
Expositions & World’s Fairs – In the Beginning – Bob McGlincy
HONORABLE MENTION:
La voz del médico – Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
REGIONAL LITERATURE:
WINNER: Secrets of the Shield – Dennie Currie
RUNNER-UPS:
A Tissiack: A Sierran Siren – Charles Weeden
When Hearts Heal – Mara Purl
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Can Skinwalkers Swim? – Michael Wescott Loder
Song of Hummingbird Highway – K.M. Cookie
UNPUBLISHED WORKS:
WINNER: The Murdered Front – Kevin Engelking
RUNNER-UP:
Nursing Her Fractured Family – Louis Tong