The time has come! Voting is now open for a limited time for the Indie Ink Awards! This is your chance to choose your favorite indie books and have them recognized. There are over 400 books nominated. Two of my books, STARS AND SOIL and SMOKE AND STEEL received enough nominations to make it to phase two of the Indie Ink Awards.

Last year, A LAKE OF FEATHERS AND MOONBEAMS and SHADES AND SILVER both made it to the final round. A LAKE OF FEATHERS AND MOONBEAMS was a finalist for the “Writing the Future We Need: Trans and Non-binary Representation” category and SHADES AND SILVER was a finalist in the “Writing the Future We Need: Disability Representation by a Disabled Author” category.

Here are all the nominations with links to the categories so you can vote! You can only vote for one book in each category, and I've highlighted which book of mine I believe deserves the vote the most, but please use your own opinions when casting your vote.

The Nominations 🌈✨

Best book cover and cover artist

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links)

Best morally gray character

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links) Smoke and Steel (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Best setting

Stars and Soil (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Smoke and Steel (Purchase Links)

Side Character MVP

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: Bisexual or Biromantic Representation

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links) Smoke and Steel (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: Disability Representation by a disabled author

Stars and Soil (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Smoke and Steel (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: Gay or Lesbian Representation

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation

Stars and Soil (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Smoke and Steel (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: Mental Health Representation

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links) Smoke and Steel (My choice!) (Purchase Links)

Writing the Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation

Stars and Soil (Purchase Links)

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✨Other Suggestions

Here are some other books I think you should consider in other categories! I've read all of the following books and believe they are all deserving of the award!

Best audio narration

The Handler's Gambit by Ingrid Moon ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire )

Best friendship

A New World for You by Ka'ua Lara ( Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Hallowed by Y. R. Liu ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) The Handler's Gambit by Ingrid Moon ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Once Upon a Dark October by Jessie Thomas ( Amazon ) Party of Fools by Cedar McCloud ( Kobo | Amazon ) The Fealty of Monsters by Ladz ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio ) The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen ( Kobo | Amazon ) The Warrior's Shade by Ingrid Moon ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio ) Who Will Hold the Universe by Kel E Fox ( Kobo | Amazon )

Best light read

Lost Blades by Liz Sauco ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Broken Blades by Liz Sauco ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) The Dictionary of Disillusionment by Kristen Gregg ( Campfire ) Party of Fools by Cedar McCloud ( Kobo | Amazon ) Yours Celestially by Al Hess ( Amazon | Itchio )

Best mentor character

Broken Blades by Liz Sauco ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) Hallowed by Y. R. Liu ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) How to Bare Your Neck and Save a Wreck by D. N. Bryn ( Amazon ) Riyati Rebirth by Kalani Shimizu ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) The Warrior's Shade by Ingrid Moon ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) The Whisperer in White by Y. R. Liu ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire)

Prettiest book interior

Colors of Magic by Liz Sauco ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) The Cradle of Eternal Night by Ladz ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio ) The Fealty of Monsters by Ladz ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio )

This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty

Lost Blades by Liz Sauco ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) A New World for You by Ka'ua Lara ( Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Darkhaven by Kel E Fox ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) Once Upon a Dark October by Jessie Thomas ( Amazon ) Party of Fools by Cedar McCloud ( Kobo | Amazon ) The Biohunter by Ingrid Moon ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) The Fealty of Monsters by Ladz ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio )

Wittiest character

Ancient as the Stars by Maya Darjani ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) Coal Gets in Your Veins by Cat Rector ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio ) Darkheaven by Kel E Fox ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) Riyati Rebirth by Kalani Shimizu ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) The Whisperer in White by Y. R. Liu ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire)

Writing the Future We Need: Asexual or Aromantic Representation

Riyati Rebirth by Kalani Shimizu ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) Awakaenings by Claudie Arseneault ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire ) Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio )

Writing the Future We Need: Asian Representation by an Asian author

A New World for You by Ka'ua Lara ( Amazon | Itchio | Campfire )

Writing the Future We Need: Black Representation by a Black author

The Kimoni Legacy by Omar Richards ( Amazon ) There Ought to be Shadows by Krissie K. Williams ( Kobo | Amazon )

Writing the Future We Need: Indigenous Representation by an Indigenous author

Sordidez by E. G. Condé ( Kobo | Amazon )

Writing the Future We Need: Latinx/Latine Representation by a Latinx/Latine author

Sordidez by E. G. Condé ( Kobo | Amazon )

Writing the Future We Need: Neurodivergent Representation by a Neurodivergent author

Riyati Rebirth by Kalani Shimizu ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio | Campfire) A Sharper More Lasting Pain by Alex Harvey Rivas ( Kobo | Amazon | Itchio) Ancient as the Stars by Maya Darjani ( Kobo | Amazon | Campfire ) How to Bare Your Neck and Save a Wreck by D. N. Bryn ( Amazon ) Inarora's Excursion by Seraph Abell ( Amazon ) Party of Fools by Cedar McCloud ( Kobo | Amazon ) The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen ( Kobo | Amazon ) Yours Celestially by Al Hess ( Amazon | Itchio )

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Thank you so much for your support this past year. It's been full of ups and downs but it brings me joy knowing that so many people found STARS AND SOIL and SMOKE AND STEEL worthy of recognition.

Don't forget to vote! The last day is December 31st!