The Imaginarium Convention is proud to announce the Finalists for the 2025 Imadjinn Awards!

Imaginarium 2025 saw the largest number of nominations ever for this year’s Imadjinn Awards, the most ever in our 12-year history! All Finalists will now advance to the awards jury to determine the winners in each category.

Winners will be announced live at the Imaginarium 2025 Awards Banquet, taking place on Saturday, July 19th at the Holiday Inn Louisville East!

Don’t Miss the Awards Ceremony!

You don’t want to miss our Awards Ceremony, so reserve your single-day or full-weekend Event Tickets for the big weekend!

If you would like dinner service at the Awards Ceremony, a small number of Dinner Tickets are still available, so don’t wait to reserve yours!


The 2025 Imadjinn Award Finalists in each category are:

Best Anthology (multiple authors)

The Rack: Stories Inspired By Vintage Horror Paperbacks

Editor – Tom Deady

–

Express Elevator to Hell (Universes at War Book 1)

Editors – Chris Kennedy & Kelley Jones

–

It Came From the Trailer Park: Volume 3.5

Editors – Philip K. Booker & William Joseph Roberts


Best Audiobook Narration

Prince Liberator: The Prince of Britannia Saga, Book 6

Narrated by Michael Joss / Written by Fred Hughes

–

The Grey Man- Sunset

Narrated by Marcus Barton / Written by JL Curtis

–

Blood, Sweat, and Steel: Tales of Future Combat and Mechanized Warfare

Narrated by Brian Fairbank / Written by David Drake, Kevin Ikenberry, and William Joseph Roberts


Best Children’s Book

The Tractor Squad

Heather Dawn Torres

–

HELP! Santa is in Trouble

Effin Older

–

She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World

Kathy MacMilan & Manuela Bernardi


Best Cross Genre Novel

The Fae Wars: Insurgent

J.F. Holmes

–

Cursed by Bandits

Stephanie K. Clemens

–

The Armored Houred

Stephanie Hansen


Best Faith-Based Novel

Wisdom of Our Elders: Living in Spirit, Wisdom, Deep Mercy, and Truth

Karen E. Simms Tolson


Best Fantasy Novel

Cursed by a Siren’s Kiss

Riley Hunt and L. S. Embers

–

Atlantis, Land of Dreams

Edale Lane

–

Chosen By The Sword

Charles Hackney


Best Game Module / Rule Book

Dark Places & Demogorgons: Ultimate Edition

Josh Palmer


Best Graphic Novel/Comic Book

Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves Complete Collection

Henry Vogel


Best Historical Fiction Novel

The Long Winter of Miðgarðr

Edale Lane

–

Silent Mine

C.M. Saunders

–

Trail of Madness

Michael Knost

–

Lies in the Place of Truth

T. Lee Harris


Best Horror Novel

Mountain of Fire

Jason Cordova

–

Those Left Behind

Tom Deady

–

Ink Vine

Elizabeth Broadbent

–

Never Have I Ever

Harker Jones


Best Literary Fiction Novel

Beach Therapy

Maddie James

–

Rooted in Sunrise

Beth Dotson Brown

–

Return of the Goatman

Lawrence Weill


Best Middle Grade Novel

Quantum Quirks: A Science Fiction Childhood

Adam Gaffen

–

A Story Unfinished

Melody Pendlebury


Best Mystery Novel

Edge of Edisto

C. Hope Clark

–

Midnight: A Folly Beach Mystery

Bill Noel

–

The Scheme

Amethyst Drake


Best Non-Fiction Book

You’re Not Alone In The Dark

Eric J. Gurignard & Eugene M. Johnson

–

100 Things Duran Duran Fans Should Know & Do During This Life: A New, Quirky Guide to Nostalgia from 1978 to Danse Macabre

Sandy Lender

–

A Trick of the Tale: The Story of Every Genesis Song

Jen Selinsky & Travis Potts


Best Paranormal Romance Novel

Spider King

Paige Skye

–

What a Dragon Desires

Ava Cuvay

–

The House on Darkling Street

Annette Miller


Best Poetry Collection (single author)

Imitation of Life

L. Marie Wood

–

Pens, Parchment, and Pain

Jayson William Allen

–

Torn

Jen Selinsky


Best Romance Novel

Addicted

Ayla Cox

–

Given a Chance (The R&B Series Book 2)

Olivia Linden

–

Group Hug

Ariella Talix

–

Hell’s Belles: Love and War

Jon Laforce


Best Science Fiction Novel

Prince Conqueror (The Prince of Britannia Saga Book 7)

Fred Hughes

–

Salvage Purgatory

Kevin Steverson & Nick Steverson & Jason Cordova

–

Path To Freedom

James Copley

–

2028 Tomorrow Is The Day

L.R. O’Brien


Best Short Story Collection (single author)

Shadow’s Gate

Sharon Marie Provost

–

Doll Seed: Stories

Michele Tracy Berger

–

Side Hustle: Vol. 1

Jason Cordova

–

SELF-MADE MONSTERS: Feminist Horrors

Rebecca Cuthbert


Best Short Story

Northward Stones Mark a Crooked Path

Tommy B. Smith

–

Las Envies

John Palisano

–

Kaleidoscope

Barbara V. Evers

–

Red Waves of Slaughter

Steven L. Shrewsbury


Best Song Lyrics

Frozen

Jayson William Allen


Best Steampunk Novel

Hell’s Acre

Lilith Saintcrow

–

The Darkness of Dying in the Light

S.E. Reed


Best Thriller Novel

Doubling Down

Dan Kemp

–

SapphicLover69

Edale Lane

–

Mission Black: Father Black Book One

Mick Williams

–

Harvest of Evil: Book One of the John Fisher Chronicles

William M. Lehman


Best Urban Fantasy Novel

Reka’s Grasp

H.Y. Gregor

–

Lies and Illusion

L.R. Braden

–

Pinky Promise

J. D. Blackrose


Best Young Adult Novel

Superficial

Diane Billas

–

Pride and Persistence

Joe Chianakas

–

The Princess Scout

Henry Vogel

–

The Dreams of Gemini

K.B. Carlisle