Previous Finalists

Comments from Authors/Publishers

’I have had a very good experience to date with the Wishing Shelf Awards. I initially came across the site referenced on a list of literary contests that were worth entering, and it is indeed worth entering. It is set up in a clever and honest way, and I very much like the policy of having potential contestants submit a sample, for suitability, prior to entering. As I must say, in an aside, that my writing is often not suitable. Upon submitting my sample, it was very pleasant to have Edward, keeper of all things Wishing Shelf, promptly, politely, and personally contact me, to let me know that it was worth proceeding.I do not have a large presence on social media websites, but after entering the contest I did elect to join the Wishing Shelf’s Facebook page, and I am glad to have done so, as there are often interesting posts on writing. I entered the 2014 contest early, so I won’t know for quite some time how my book will fare, but regardless of the outcome, I will not regret having entered the contest.’

Stephen Wagner

’Participating in the Wishing Shelf Awards was a wonderful experience for me. Knowing my book, ’The Unhewn Stone’ would be read by several teens was very satisfying, but to learn I had 18 readers who enjoyed it and commented in such a thoughtful way, just blew me away. I didn’t make the finals, but I still feel like a winner with all that exposure and the thoroughness of the review, as well as the 4 star review Billy Bob Buttons (Edward Trayer) posted on Amazon.co.uk and Goodreads. So much effort goes into the reviews and the contestants are treated like friends. I will happily enter my next novel when it’s published and I highly recommend the Wishing Shelf Awards to all writers.’

Wendy Laharnar. author of The Unhewn Stone

’The Wishing Shelf Awards is the best kind - a reader’s award and therefore from the heart. It is always welcome to hear from one’s target audience and having it all wrapped up in an award that will boost confidence and sales makes it the perfect vehicle for any writer at any stage of their career. Keep up the good work!’

Robin Bennett, author of Iron Knights

’The great thing about the Wishing Shelf Awards is that they are judged by their target readers – whether children of the right age-group, or adults. The feedback they provide is thus particularly useful and valuable, particularly for any future books. Of course, it’s great to actually win an award as it provides a real incentive to carry on!’

Mark Roman, author of The Ultimate Inferior Beings

’The Wishing Shelf Awards are a wonderful opportunity for indie authors to gain exposure for their books. It’s one of the only book awards where you can be confident that more than one person will read your book -- from cover to cover, word for word. Most other awards seem to take your entry fee and somehow, arbitrarily, come up with a list of winners without indicating how your book stacked up to the competition, leaving authors to question whether their book was even read. Although I don’t agree with all of the feedback I received, I deeply value the time all of the 15 readers {as well as Edward Trayer) took to read my book, and all of the opinions/reactions they shared.’

Dana Fitzwater Cornell, author of A Heat of the Moment Thing