Contemporary Novel Named a Finalist in 2 Best Book Contests

WASHINGTON, N.H. - EntSun -- Shelf Unbound magazine has named "Beautiful and Terrible Things" by S.M. Stevens (Black Rose Writing, 2024) one of five finalists in its 2024 Best Indie Book Competition. The novel was also recently named a finalist in the 2024 American Writing Awards contest.

Shelf Unbound is an award-winning book review magazine that features the best of small press and self-published books. Best Indie Book awards were given to one overall winner and five finalists, across all genres. The magazine's editors judged entries on creativity, writing quality, originality and overall impact. Stevens is featured in the Winter 2024 issue. Read it here.

"This year, the competition was especially fierce, with so many wonderful books that made selecting a winner both exciting and challenging," said Publisher Sarah Kloth.

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"Because Shelf Unbound only awards prizes to one overall winner and five finalists, and the pool of candidates spans all genres, this is quite an honor," Stevens said.

"Beautiful and Terrible Things" was one of five finalists in the LGBTQ category of the 2024 American Writing Awards (AWA). The novel features two characters who identify as LGBTQ+.

The American Writing Awards are open to authors from the major publishing houses, small presses and self-publishers. Judges were publishing industry professionals, authors and college professors, who evaluated entries on transitions, hooks, pacing, character development, dialogue and overall impact. Learn more here.

"Beautiful and Terrible Things" (ISBN 978-1-68513-447-1) was published by Black Rose Writing in July. The novel has also earned:

• Honorable Mention, Fiction–Social Issues category, Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest
• Finalist in the General Fiction category, American Fiction Awards
• Five-star reviews from Indies Today, Readers' Favorite, Reader Views and Reedsy Discovery.

The novel is available in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook formats. The audiobook is narrated by Nicole Cash.

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"Beautiful and Terrible Things" is distributed by Lightning Source, Ingram Book Company and Amazon, and available on retail sites including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Waterstones, Target and Walmart.

S.M. Stevens began writing fiction during back-to-back health crises: a shattered pelvis and ovarian cancer. She is the author of adult contemporary novel "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" (TouchPoint Press, 2019) and the novelette, "The Wallace House of Pain," which won a First Place Chanticleer International Book Award.