The New Hampshire Writers’ Project (NHWP) is proud to announce the finalists for the 16th Biennial New Hampshire Literary Awards, recognizing outstanding works written by or about New Hampshire.
These prestigious awards honor excellence across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s picture books, and middle grade/young adult literature. All nominated titles were published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024 and were evaluated by an independent panel of judges convened by the NHWP Literary Awards Committee.
Winners in each category will be announced at the 2025 NH Literary Awards Ceremony, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 6:00–9:00 PM at the Puritan Backroom Conference Center in Manchester, NH.
2025 Literary Award Finalists
Fiction
- Virtuous Women by Ann Goltz
- The Disappointment of Annie Brooks by R.L. Napolitano
- East Indian by Brinda Charry
Nonfiction
- Katie Girl: Deadly Germs, Modern Medicine, and a Family’s Fight by John S. Bentley
- Everyone’s Trash: One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds by Duncan Watson
- Hattie Cotton School: The Last Teacher’s Firsthand Experiences of the 1957 Bombing and Aftermath by Stephen MacKenzie
Poetry
- Falsework by Alice B. Fogel
- Certain Shelter by Abbie Kiefer
- The Lepidopterist’s House by Chelsea Woodard
Children’s Picture Book
- Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World by Vivian Kirkfield
- Truffle: A Dog and Cat Story by David McPhail
- The West Wind: A Winnipesaukee Sailing Adventure by Andy Opel
Middle Grade/Young Adult
- Go Home by Terry Farish and Lochan Sharma
- The Curse of the Crummy Mummy by Thomas Tosi
- Journey to Layamon by Stephen Curtin
People’s Choice Award Winners
This year’s People’s Choice Awards, voted on by readers across the state, honor New Hampshire authors who have captured the hearts of the public:
- Middle Grade/Young Adult: The Curse of the Crummy Mummy by Thomas Tosi
- Children’s Picture Book: Sadie Sloth and Her Spaghetti by Lauren Walczak
- Fiction: Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence Agency (M.A.I.A.): A Dystopian AI Thriller by W.D. Shipley
- Nonfiction: The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains by Steven D. Smith & Mike Dickerman
- Poetry: The Adorable Knife: Poems after The “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” by Frances Glessner Lee by Jessica Purdy
A Night of Celebration
The 2025 NH Literary Awards Ceremony will bring together writers, readers, and supporters for an evening of recognition, conversation, and connection. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, dessert, and a lively awards presentation celebrating New Hampshire’s literary achievements.
All Literary Award finalists and People’s Choice Award winners are invited to attend the ceremony at no charge in recognition of their accomplishments.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Location: Puritan Backroom Conference Center, Manchester, NH
- Tickets: $25 for NHWP members | $35 for non-members
Tickets are limited and expected to sell quickly. Reserve your seat now!
About the New Hampshire Writers’ Project
The New Hampshire Writers’ Project (NHWP) is a nonprofit literary arts organization that supports and encourages writers at all stages of their careers. Through workshops, conferences, readings, awards, and community events, NHWP fosters a thriving literary community and promotes the voices of writers throughout New Hampshire and beyond.
