The Imaginarium Convention is proud to announce the Finalists for the 2026 Imadjinn Awards!
Imaginarium 2026 received a record number of nominations for this year’s Imadjinn Awards, with a big increase over our previous record set last year! All Finalists will now advance to the awards jury to determine the winners in each category.
Winners will be announced live at the Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet, taking place on Saturday, July 18th 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, less than 20 Dinner Tickets are still available, so don’t wait to reserve your dinner seating and get ready to enjoy our greatest Awards presentation ever, including fantastic live entertainment!
Best Anthology (multiple authors)
Dancing With Destruction
Editor – Jason Cordova
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Love at Harriet
Editor – Elizabeth Anne Lance
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What Swallows the Light
Editors – Paula Limbaugh, Victoria Kiska, Charlene du Toit, & Theresa Derwin
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It Came From the Trailer Park: Double Wide Volume 1
Editors William Joseph Roberts & Jesse James Fain
Best Audiobook Narration
Ghostship Derelict (Dagdan Federation universe Book 1)
Narrated by Brian Fairbank
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Shadow Card Guardian
Narrated by Anna Delphine
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Bowen Island: A Folly Beach Mystery
Narrated by Rich Frazier
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Harvest of Evil: Book One of the John Fisher Chronicles
Narrated by Perry Wince
Best Children’s Book
What Farm Boots are For
Carol June Franks
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Sunny and the Round Things
Jennia D’Lima
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The Young Dragon And The Curse Of Tempest Isle
Alyssa Davis
Best Cross Genre Novel
We Are Travelers
Kiley Patteson
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The Eagle Flies at Night
Lance Loot
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Clutching Cthulhu’s Pearls
Marilyn Barr
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Best Faith-Based Novel
Love Makes Way
Hallee Bridgeman
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Four Moments: A Dylan Drake Story
J. Patrick Lemarr
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The Stories We Carry
Robin W. Pearson
Best Fantasy Novel
Rise From Ruin
Melissa Olthoff
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A Count of Courage
Nancy Moser
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The Blacksmith’s Boy
Bruce Buchanan
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The Healer’s Heir
Katie Fitzgerald
Best Game Module / Rule Book
Evolved: Super Heroic Time Travel RPG
Josh Palmer
Best Historical Fiction Novel
In Harm’s Way
Thomas M. Wing
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Whistles of the Wendigo: A Joint Task Force 13 Legacy Novel
Charli Cox
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Thrall of Deception: A Tale from Norvegr
Edale Lane
Best Horror Novel
The Great Dick and the Dysfunctional Demon
Barry Maher
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The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection
Nick Roberts
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Southern Cross
Vaughn A. Jackson
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Darkness Calls
Joe Chianakas
Best Literary Fiction Novel
Again, Only More Like You
Catalina Margulis
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Exiting the Bluegrass Turnpike
Benjamin Rue Silliman
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The Ashes of Us
Ashley Baker
Best Middle Grade Book
Dreams of Gold and Fire
Fred Phillips
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Not Lucille
Mike Steele
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Scareville: Food To Die For
John Ward
Best Mystery Novel
Alibi for Murder
Melodie Romeo
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Crossfire: A Folly Beach Mystery
Bill Noel
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Shattered Sanctuary
Nancy Mehl
Best Non-Fiction Book
When the Smoke Cleared
Det. Lt. Bill Powers (Ret.)
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A Monster in Mount Pleasant
CJ Williams
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52 Weeks 52 Sherlock Holmes Novels
Paul Bishop
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Abundantly Brilliant: A Story of Pain, Power and Perseverance
Black Mariah
Best Paranormal Romance Novel
S’more Love
K. Rose
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Resurrection
Hannah Park
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Dancing with a Demon
L. R. Braden
Best Poetry Collection (single author)
The Book of Hours
Darius Jones
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I Am, You Are, Part of it All
Carla Cilvik
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The Eighth
Rita Spalding
Best Romance Novel
Everybody Knows
Ariella Talix
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No Apologies
Andrea Jenelle
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The Scald Crow
Hannah Park
Best Science Fiction Novel
Bifrost Down
Jon R. Osborne
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Dead to Rights: A Car Warriors Autoduel Novel
Jay Barnson
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Frozen Echoes
Ed Downes
Best Short Story Collection (single author)
Six O’Clock House & Other Strange Tales
Rebecca Cuthbert
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Midnight Vintage
Joshua Viola and Sean Eads
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The Wind’s Four Quarters
Alma Alexander
Best Short Story
Through the Holler, Into the Dark
Emma E. Murray
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Love’s Fiercest Light
Hallee Bridgeman
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The Leper’s Garden
Jeff Clulow
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This Broken World
Mia Dalia
Best Song Lyrics
The Long Road
Romana Bereneth
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Hush
Jayson William Allen
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Finish line
Jayson William Allen
Best Thriller Novel
The First Wives
S.E. Reed
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Collateral Damage
Mick Williams
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Cash Target
Edale Lane
Best Urban Fantasy Novel
House of Owls
Jon R. Osborne
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The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Vengeance
JM Celi
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A Conundrum of Wizards
K.R. Bady
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Reaper
John G. Hartness
Best Western Novel
Iron Horse
Will Neely
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Legends of the West
Michael Black
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Blood Lake
C.M. Saunders
Best Young Adult Novel
The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine
Lindsay A. Franklin
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Awakening: Winberie Journals Book One
Lynn Tincher
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Missing Mom
Lynn Slaughter
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Paramour
Robin Alvarez
Best Magazine/Periodical
Kentucky Monthly
Stephen M Vest
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parABnormal Magazine
H David Blalock
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Kraft Paper Muse
Ana Maria Selvaggio