2025 People's Choice Awards

Vote for the People’s Choice Award

The NH Writers’ Project is proud to announce the nominees for the 2025 NH Literary Award! Now it’s your turn to help shine a spotlight on your favorite authors by casting your vote for the People’s Choice Award.

This special award gives readers, fans, and community members the opportunity to support the writers who inspire them most. Voting is quick and easy—and every vote helps lift up our state’s vibrant literary community.

Voting closes October 1, 2025.

Winners will be announced at the NH Literary Awards Ceremony on October 18, 2025 at the Puritan Backroom, Manchester, NH from 6–7:30pm.

Your voice matters! Show your support for New Hampshire’s authors:

Vote today for your favorite nominee
You may choose and vote for one book from each category/genre.
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Your vote helps us celebrate the incredible talent in our state. Thank you!

Middle Grade Young Adult

The Mystery of the Vanishing Pets by Janis Hennessey

Cats are vanishing! From bullies stealing lunch money to animals in green bags, the 3D Detectives—Darcy, DJ, and Delilah—must connect the clues and solve the mystery before it’s too late.

Go Home by Terry Farish

Olive dreams of a future with Gabe, but when new neighbors move in, his simmering anger erupts into hate. As tensions rise, Olive must choose between the love she’s always known and the truth she can no longer ignore.

The Curse of the Crummy Mummy by Thomas Tosi

Bernard is thrilled to star opposite his crush in the class mummy movie—until his overbearing mom steps in as substitute teacher and takes over as the film’s ruthless director.

Journey to Layamon by Stephen Curtin

When ruthless Morgalderon wields a deadly wand, 11-year-old Hanna and daring Nono journey to the enchanted land of Layamon, where wise animals and magical allies help them face a thrilling battle for survival.

Children’s Picture Book

The Chillaxing Bee by Charlotte Holland

A worker bee with a knack for “chillaxing” discovers there’s more to life than making honey. This uplifting story inspires kids and adults alike to follow their dreams, proving even small steps can create big, meaningful change.

The Thing to Remember About Stargazing by Matt Forrest Esenwine

A lyrical picture book celebrating stargazing in all its forms—alone or with loved ones, under any sky, in every season. With magical illustrations and gentle wonder, it reminds us the only rule of stargazing is simply to do it.

Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World by Vivian Kirkfield

In the 1890s, Annie Londonderry set out to cycle around the world—something no one believed a woman could do. Facing hardships, doubts, and dangers, she pedaled on, proving with grit and courage that women can achieve the impossible.

The West Wind: A Winnipesaukee Sailing Adventure by Andy Opel

Three siblings learn to sail on Lake Winnipesaukee, where adventures, family bonds, and life lessons unfold. With detailed watercolors of the lakes region, this story blends timeless charm with the beauty of New Hampshire’s beloved big lake.

Truffle: A Dog (and Cat) Story by David McPhail

A hardworking farm dog who loved his job but clashed with cats sets off to discover what’s missing in his life. This heartwarming tale follows Truffle’s journey of pride, persistence, and finding where he truly belongs.

Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand by David Preece & Jim Webber

A once-uncertain dog finds his courage when he stands up to bullies to protect a friend. This heartfelt story explores self-worth, kindness, and bravery, showing that even the shyest among us can rise to the moment.

Sadie Sloth and Her Spaghetti by Lauren Walczak

Sadie Sloth only eats string cheese—until Ellie Elephant shows her the courage to try new foods! This beautifully illustrated story gently supports picky eaters, especially children with sensory needs, through patience and encouragement.

Fiction

The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton

In a world where bees are extinct, a young woman returns home seeking her father’s lost research but instead discovers a found family, buried secrets, and a fragile hope. A powerful story of truth, redemption, and resilience in the face of despair.

A Swim Back Home by Denise Sawyer

After a plunge into her pool, a retiree resurfaces in 1966—11 years old again but with an adult mind. Given a chance to rewrite her past, she must face a dark mystery, a missing friend, and the risks of changing what was never meant to be.

Debriefing Darly by Amy Virginia Evans

A sharp, witty tale of a PhD student whose views on feminism are upended by five outspoken older women. Through laughter, wine, and raw truths, she learns that liberation is more complex—and more joyful—than she ever imagined.

Fortunate Son by Andrew Bridgeman

Five days before inauguration, a missing boy reappears—now the son of the incoming Vice President. Rookie FBI agent Emma Noble races against time to expose a mastermind plotting at the highest levels of power, where every secret could be deadly.

Virtuous Women by Ann Goltz

In a strict Quiverful household, a sheltered daughter and a hopeful new wife are bound by the control of a domineering patriarch. As faith, family, and power collide, both women must confront the cost of obedience—and the fight for their own voices.

Malice Aforethought: A True Story of the Shocking Double Crime That Horrified Nineteenth-Century New England by Avree Kelly Clark

In 1874, a Vermont schoolteacher vanishes and is later found brutally murdered. A year later, a nearly identical crime shocks New Hampshire. Based on true events, this gripping novel unravels a chilling mystery and a bold new theory behind the killings.

The Roots That Clutch by Beth Ann Hooper

While researching Eliot and Pound, a PhD student uncovers a family link to William Carlos Williams and a long-buried literary scandal. Spanning archives, continents, and academic intrigue, this mystery blends history, secrets, and the search for truth.

Growing Up Girl Book I: Untethered by Caroline S Fairless

A restless woman drifts through jobs, lovers, and places, carrying untold struggles behind closed doors. Now facing her seventies, she shares her story through a ghostwriter, revealing a life that is both deeply personal and strikingly universal.

Catharine, Queen of the Tumbling Waters by Cynthia G. Neale

Born into the famed Montour family, Catharine Montour rises from a quiet dreamer to a fearless leader during the French and Indian War and the Revolution. Her true story reveals courage, resilience, and the overlooked Indigenous truths of early America.

The Common Hours by Debra Anne LeClair

After her mother’s death, a young woman inherits the secret of time travel and lands in Elizabethan England. Torn between her Irish kin, her desire to reconnect with her mother, and her love for John Dee, she must choose where her true loyalties lie.

Splintered River by E.H. Jacobs

When a Black teen is killed by a white officer in small-town Louisiana, the tragedy ignites national unrest. As violence and politics collide, unlikely heroes must confront grief, power, and justice in a struggle that could redefine America’s future.

Deep Lake House by DJ Geribo

Told through the voice of an old lakeside house, this novel reveals the lives of unforgettable guests across generations—from a train robber to a silenced opera singer to a struggling young couple—each leaving their mark on Deep Lake House.

The Mart by DJ Geribo

A naïve teen finds first love and unexpected challenges working at the A-to-Z Mart. As Bitsy grows into adulthood, she navigates complicated relationships, new experiences, and the struggles that test whether young love can truly endure.

The East Indian by Brinda Charry

Kidnapped from India and brought to Jamestown, a curious young servant navigates hardship, friendship, and first love while dreaming of becoming a healer. This sweeping debut brings to life an overlooked figure in early Colonial America with humor and heart.

When The Fall Is All There Is by Joe Pace

A gifted quarterback destined for greatness, Ted Gray leaves his small New Hampshire town only to be undone by ambition and hubris. Returning home in defeat, he must face love, failure, and the question of whether a smaller life can still hold meaning.

Like the Appearance of Horses by Andrew Krivak

Spanning a century, this powerful novel follows three generations of a family shaped by war—from World War I to Iraq—yet bound by love and the search for peace. A moving story of survival, resilience, and the enduring promise of home.

The Disappointment of Annie Brooks by R.L. Napolitano

A retired teacher on Cape Cod reflects on a life marked by regret until a young reporter’s interview stirs long-buried secrets. As past mysteries resurface, both women must confront the truths they’ve hidden and the redemptive power of facing them.

Beautiful & Terrible Things: A Novel by S.M. Stevens

At 29, a cautious bookstore manager steps out of hiding when new friends draw her into love, activism, and belonging. But betrayals threaten both her haven and her hope, forcing her to confront whether friendship can truly save her.

Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence Agency (M.A.I.A): A Dystopian AI Thriller by W.D. Shipley

In war-ravaged New York, an elite sniper uncovers a forbidden memory that could topple a totalitarian regime controlling human thought. Hunted by A.I. overlords, he and a medic must defy mind-erasing technology to spark a rebellion and survive.

Non-Fiction

Unbound: Unforgettable True Stories from the World of Endurance Sports by Bill Donahue

From marathoners to explorers, kids chasing world records to pros defying limits, this collection captures the grit and wonder of endurance sports worldwide. Vivid and riveting, these true stories reveal the sweet triumph of testing human possibility.

Yes, I Name Them: A Memoir by Carole Soule

A former vegetarian turned farmer reflects on the paradox of loving animals while raising them for meat. With humor, heartbreak, and honesty, she shares the struggles and rewards of livestock farming, offering a rare glimpse into a fading way of life.

Endangered Species: Chronicles of the Life of a New England Fisherman and the F/V Ellen Diane by David Goethel

Part memoir, part sea story, this book follows a small-boat fisherman battling storms, shifting regulations, and a changing world to keep a way of life alive. A testament to resilience, tradition, and the enduring call of the sea.

Everyone’s Trash: One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds by Duncan Watson

Blending humor, history, and heart, this book reveals the stories behind America’s daily waste and the people working to manage it. From Keene, NH’s renowned program to unforgettable “dump” characters, it’s a hopeful, eye-opening look at recycling culture.

Katie Girl: Deadly Germs, Modern Medicine, and a Family’s Fight by John S. Bentley

The moving true story of a four-year-old battling a life-threatening illness, her doctors’ relentless fight to save her, and her family’s resilience through unimaginable challenges inside a pediatric intensive care unit.

Murder and Mayhem: True Crime in New Hampshire 1883-1915 by Milli Knudsen

A gripping look at New Hampshire true crime from 1883–1915, this collection reveals murders, arson, fraud, and scandal alongside the rise of forensic science. Based on primary sources, it captures a world where crime, justice, and society rapidly evolved.

Words, Wonder, and the Divine in You by Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof

A queer Christian pastor shares her story of faith, hospitality, and discovery, revealing how divinity dwells within us all. With honesty and hope, she invites readers to embrace their own spiritual journey and find God in everyday wonder.

The Healing Connection: A Partnership for Your Health by Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH

Blending wit, candor, and hard-earned insight, an emergency physician chronicles 40 years in medicine and his own struggles with chronic illness, revealing why the human bond between patient and doctor remains essential in today’s changing healthcare system.

Wentworth Cheswill’s Ride: Chasing a Would-Be American Folk Hero by John Herman

The story of Wentworth Cheswill—Revolutionary War soldier, teacher, judge, archeologist, and the first Black man elected to public office—comes to life in this multigenerational journey to uncover the truth of a forgotten American hero.

Things I Can’t Explain: I Know in My Heart, God Played a Part by Lucy Geddes

A moving memoir of spiritual encounters, this book shares one woman’s experiences with premonitions, afterlife messages, and the mysterious ways loved ones stay connected. A heartfelt exploration of the unexplainable woven into everyday life.

The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains by Steven D. Smith & Mike Dickerman

A fully revised and expanded guide to New Hampshire’s 48 highest peaks, this edition offers detailed trail routes, history, winter tips, geology, and over 100 photos. Essential for hikers, it’s the definitive resource on the White Mountain 4000-Footers.

Mt. Washington Valley Through the Ears compiled by Sarah Eastman & Karen Cummings

A lively collection of articles from the former Mountain Ear newspaper, this volume captures the history, culture, and character of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley and White Mountains through fascinating stories and features.

Lipstick on a Pig: A Memoir by Rebecca Butt

Told with humor and heartbreak, this memoir follows Becky’s turbulent childhood in Laconia, NH—marked by trauma, hauntings, and instability—and her struggle with binge eating and obesity, revealing resilience amid the lasting weight of the past.

Bigger Hearted: A Retired Pediatrician’s Prescriptions for Living a Happier Life by Ron Schneebaum, MD

Drawing on 40 years of medical practice, this uplifting guide offers practical, commonsense steps to lasting happiness. With compassion and clarity, it shows how to heal old wounds, build confidence, reduce stress, and create more meaningful relationships.

Hattie Cotton School: The last teacher’s first-hand experiences of the 1957 bombing and aftermath… by Stephen MacKenzie

This powerful account memorializes the 1957 bombing of Hattie Cotton Elementary, honoring the bravery of its principal, students, and community. A firsthand reflection, it reveals the hatred behind the attack and the resilience that carried them forward.

What’s Wild: A Half Century of Wisdom from the Woods and Rivers of New England by Eric Orff

Eric Orff, NH’s first bear biologist, spent 50 years protecting wildlife with humor, heart, and science. From moose politics to bat rehab in his laundry room, his stories connect us to New England’s wild places and the urgent call of climate change.

Poetry

Remembrances: A Poetic Memoir of Life as a Political Prisoner in Iran by Ala Khaki

This poignant collection of poems offers a glimpse inside Iran’s infamous Evin prison, where the author was jailed for resistance writing. Chronicling arrest, torture, and survival, it captures both the brutality of captivity and the endurance of the human spirit.

Falsework by Alice B Fogel

A lyrical collection exploring love, loss, and renewal, these poems trace the fragile scaffolding of memory and change. Like falsework in construction, they hold the weight of the past while making way for what endures in the light of what’s to come.

Philosopher Kings by Cara Losier Chanoine

A vivid meditation on the beauty and struggle of learning, this collection celebrates students, teachers, and the messy spaces where knowledge takes root—from classrooms to subways. It reveals education as survival, chaos, and an adventure worth pursuing.

At the Lepidopterist’s House by Chelsea Woodard

This poetry collection weaves natural and mythic imagery with intimate reflections on home, love, and loss. Through observation and memory, it explores how we carry grief and beauty, finding lightness and renewal amid life’s shifting landscapes.

In the Days that Followed by Kevin Goodan

This lyrical work confronts the grief of an unborn, unnamed child and the echoes of a past love. Through language and memory, it gives shape to absence, offering voice, shadow, and a tender farewell to what was never allowed to exist.

Ashes in Paradise by Jeff Friedman

Surreal, witty, and haunting, this collection of prose poems and micros blends fabulism, biblical retellings, and modern absurdities. With dark humor and piercing insight, it captures the sorrows and strangeness of our times, glowing with paradoxical light.

The Adorable Knife: Poems after The “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” by Frances Glessner Lee by Jessica Purdy

This ekphrastic poetry collection animates Frances Glessner Lee’s Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, giving voice to miniature crime scenes. Through victims, perpetrators, and investigators, the poems transform static dioramas into vivid, haunting narratives.

You’re Never the Same: Ekphrastic Poems by Jessica Purdy

This chapbook presents ekphrastic poems that respond to works of art with vivid imagery and emotional depth. Expanding on visual inspiration, the collection explores how art transforms perception and feeling, leaving us changed—because “you’re never the same.”

Remembrances: A Poetic Memoir of Life as a Political Prisoner in Iran by Ala Khaki

Certain Shelter by Abbie Kiefer

This debut collection reflects on loss, memory, and resilience in a fading mill town. Through themes of family, grief, and renewal, it explores how we endure change, honor what remains, and seek shelter and meaning in a shifting world.

Your Voice Makes a Difference!

Thank you for casting your vote and supporting New Hampshire’s literary community. Every choice you make helps honor the authors who inspire us all. We look forward to celebrating the winners with you on October 18 at the NH Literary Awards Ceremony.