Here are your 2021 San Diego Book Awards Finalists!

Unpublished Novel
Made This Way by Danielle Thomsen
Woodtick by Cathy Worthington
A Time For Eagles by Jeffrey Thurman

Unpublished Short Story
No Finalist – the winner will be announced on June 15th.

There was a TIE for best Unpublished Novel, and both winners were recommended for the Chet Cunningham Spur Award for best overall unpublished entry.

We will have TWO Spur winners this year (announced on June 15th)!

Published Anthology
Crossing Borders edited by Lisa Brackman and Matt Coyle
Telegraph Canyon Stories by Dan Letchworth

Published Children’s Fiction
Jada’s Dance for Chicano Park by Veracruz Sanchez
Shloyml Boyml and His Lucky Dreydl, by Yale Strom
Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse (The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries Book 2) by Sherrill Joseph

Published General Fiction
Peace Seeker (The Pax Chronicles: Book One) by Judith Hand
Selling Pencils, and Charlie by Penny Perry
Mother Mother by Jessica O’Dwyer
Daddy Loves You! by Helen Foster James

Published General Nonfiction
Empire Builder: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego by Sandra Bonura
A Natural History of the Anza-Borrego Region: Then and Now by Mike Wells and Marie Simovich

Published Magical Fiction
No Finalist – the winner will be announced on June 15th.

Published Memoir
No Finalist – the winner will be announced on June 15th.

Published Mystery/Suspense Fiction
Ballast Point Breakdown: A Rolly Waters Mystery by Corey Lynn Fayman
The Burden of Truth by Neal Griffin

Published Poetry
No Finalist – the winner will be announced on June 15th.

Published Specialized Nonfiction
The Voice that Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History by Elisa Boxer
A Girl Like You by Frank and Carla Murphy

Published Wellness Fiction
No Finalist – the winner will be announced on June 15th.

The Geisel winner will be announced on June 15th!

The 2020-2021 San Diego Book Awards Entry Submission Dates are 10/1/2021-12/31/2021. For the Published Contest, we are accepting entries published in 2020 or 2021. See our submission guidelines and details.

Thank you again to all of you who participate, judge, and otherwise volunteer for the San Diego Book Awards. Now more than ever, we recognize your efforts and are grateful.

Sincerely,
San Diego Book Awards Association