Semi-Finalists for the 2025 HFC Book of the Year Contest

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEMI-FINALISTS FOR THE 2025 HFC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS!

LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE 12:00 NOON EST on DECEMBER 31st 2025!!

All semi-finalists will be allowed use of the above badge for announcements and will be

notified via email.

HUGO SEMI-FINALIST - GENERAL HISTORICAL

One Ordinary Man Steve Vesce

Downyoshun Art Young

The Reluctant Pioneer Julie McDonald Zander

Sarita Natalie Musgrave Dosssett

The Circus of Satan Jeffrey Konvitz

Boxing Day Kathleen Shoop

From the Ashes of Saint Domingue Karrah Cheruiyot

Escape to the Maroons Mike Weedall

Cobblestones: A New Orleans Tragedy S. R. Perricone

HAWTHORNE SEMI-FINALIST - AMERICAN / WESTERN

Salt People of the Cloud Houses Fawn Brokaw Doyle

Sage Cane’s House of Grace and Favor C C Harrison

The Pines Know Chuck Locklear

The Last Gypsy Queen Linda Paul

Red Clay, Running Waters Leslie Simmons

Dreams of Freedom Marilyn Higgins

Heroes of Gold Country Kirsten Miles

Then Came the Summer Snow Trisha Pritkin

One Summer at Helgeveld Farm John Blois

Showboat Soubrette Brodie Westen

AUSTEN SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL ROMANCE

The Rabbi’s Suitcase Robert Kehlmann

Pride and Perjury Alice McVeigh

The Duke’s Dream Giovanna Siniscalchi

The Prince of Cups Gayle Feyrer

Marianne Alice McVeigh

BRONTE SEMI-FINALIST - UK & COMMONWEALTH (Canada, Australia, etc.)

Full Circle Daisy Wood

Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury Judith Arnopp

Therein Lies the Pearl Catherine Hughes

Tailored Truths Nancy Jardine

Lady of Lincoln Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Ships of War: False Colours Bradley John

FLAUBERT SEMI-FINALIST - ANCIENT HISTORY

Alexander, Pharoah of Egypt Sharon Hague

The Treachery of Sisters Gail Combs Oglesby

Trojan Odyssey William Haddad

VERNE SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL FANTASY

Sands of Bone Logan Irons

Yonder & Far: The Tarot Terror Matthew Lucas

Swallowing the Muskellunge Lawrence O’Brien

Emperor and Hierophant Susan Wands

The Iron Palace Kate Shanahan

WELLS SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL TIME TRAVEL / DUAL TIMELINE

Beneath the Shadow of Time Vera Bell

The House on Chambers Road Cynthai McGroarty

Beyond Australia Lee Forrest

The Right Time Lena Gibson

What Remains Erryn Lee

CHRISTIE SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL MYSTERY & THRILLER

Pursuing a Masterpiece Sandra Vasoli

A Murder of Convenience Kathleen Buckley

From the Ground Up Katherine Scott

Murder Under a Cold Moon Abigail Keam

Murder on the Lyceum Ariel Rodman

Deception Lee Macquire

SHELLEY SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL GOTHIC

A Plague of Death Grant Pierce

Agony in Amethyst A.M. Stuart

Creature: A Novel of Mary Shelley & Frankenstein Mary Petiet

The Widow of Hartforde J F Baker

POE SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL SHORT STORY & ANTHOLOGY

This Leavened Land Thomas Mauser

Pride & Perjury Alice McVeigh

The Tin Whistle Kathleen Shoop

The Fight for Miami Joseph Kovler

HEMINGWAY SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL WAR-THEMED

A Gentle Empire Adrian Boas

Red Snow in Winter Max Eastern (Nancy Bilyeau)

The Jackson Mackenzie Chronicles: Golden Feathers Jacqueline Giacomo

Moral Borders Lee Rosenberg

Nostalgia Barbara Bittel

The Choice Within Stephanie Woodman

An Echo of Ashes Ron Allen Ames

STEINBECK SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL LITERARY

Tomorrow Will Bring Sunday’s News Beth Kephart

The Wages of Freedom Re’Gena Bell-Roberts

The Many Lives of Marguerite Alibert Lilianne Milgrom

The Girl from Magnolia Street Aimee Spring

A Hundred Magical Reasons Laura DeNooyer

The Lost Siegneur David Loux

The Image Maker Chris Flanders

TOLSTOY SEMI-FINALIST - EUROPE, etc.

Crossing Borders & Generations Kiril Kafozoff

Napoleon's Shadow Wife James Conroyd Martin

The Girl from Provence Helen Fripp

The Price of Loyalty Malve von Hassell

Poinsettia Girl Jennifer Wizbowski

Viva Violetta & Verdi Howard Jay Smith

BARRIE SEMI-FINALIST - YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN

Jessa is Back Stacia Moffett

Ping Lisa Lucas & Steve Landsberg

The Witch of Godstow Abbey Lady Harriet & Peter Stephenson

FORSTER SEMI-FINALIST - MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, INDIA, etc.

Hollow Whispers of the Wind Florence Chien

The Will of God Julian de la Motte

Drinking from the Stream Richard Scott Sacks

The Weaver’s Tapestry Anna Snyder

The Tale of the English Templar Helena P. Schrader

WOOLF SEMI-FINALIST - HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY

Solitary Walker N J Mastro

Prairie Cinderella Joan Koster

A President’s Story Too Brad McKim

MARQUEZ SEMI-FINALIST - LATIN (SPAIN, CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA)

Fede’s Letters Jacqueline Suffolk

La Susona Lynda Franco