Colorado Gold Rush Winners & Finalists

2024 Finalists

2023 Winners

2022 Winners

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spec Fiction, Horror
WINNER
The Osect Indiscretion by Matthew Cushing
FINALISTS
Super Melvin by Duston Anderten
To Feel the Earth as Rough by Dani Coleman

Mainstream
WINNER
Five O’Clock in the Mourning by Connie Weidel
FINALISTS
But I Didn’t Fall by Brooke Epps
Wild Goose Pass by Christopher Pitts

Women’s Fiction, Romance
WINNER
Letting Go of the Sky by Courtney Shosh
FINALISTS
Tequila Midnight by Kathryn Dodson
A Stout Heart by Lynn Moore (Allyn DeWald)

Mystery, Thriller
WINNER
Neighbors That Prey by Robin Olson
FINALISTS
Run of Luck by Elizabeth Haines
The Mad Hatter Murders by J.V. Reed

Young Adult, Middle Grade
WINNER
Every Color of My Blood by Rachel Delaney Craft
FINALISTS
Chasing Montana Skye by Heidi Kraakevik
Middle of Somewhere by Ann Thurber

2021 Winners

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spec Fiction, Horror
WINNER
Seraph by Cheryl Fallin
FINALISTS
To Feel the Earth as Rough by Dani Coleman
The Osect Indiscretion by Matthew Cushing
Thief of Time by Val Moses
Mars Material by John Arthur Neal

Mainstream
WINNER
Green Side Up by Ann Ivancie
FINALISTS
Kamikaze Girl by Kevin Campbell
It’s Cool if You Hate Us by Charles Culp
The Ghosts of Chang An by Vickie Fang
The Band by Jedeane Macdonald

Women’s Fiction, Romance
WINNER
Celie Logan’s Gone to the Dogs by Martha McCannon
FINALISTS
The Sweetest Revenge by Meegan Epps
Bannock Bliss by Lyda Mary Hardy
The Original Handmaid by Margaret Morse
The Parts We Leave Behind by Rise’ Smith

Mystery, Thriller
WINNER
Worse Than Death by Brooke Terpening
FINALISTS
Delve Too Deep by Phillip Castle
One Way In by Susie Lindau
Pieces by Becky Munyon
The Puzzle by Robert Selzer

Young Adult, Middle Grade
WINNER
True Love Never by Kelley J.P. Lindberg
FINALISTS
The Problem with Pamela by Heather Durham
Kung Fu to You, Too by Richard Erixon
Elly Elliott – Secret Code Breaker by Jedeane Macdonald
The Serpent’s Covenant by Anne Marie

2020 Winners

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction

WINNER
They Promised Us the Stars by Katie Nelson, Berthoud CO
FINALISTS
Pearl Edda by Heidi Kraakevik, Littleton CO
Smite This! by Laura Main, Castle Rock CO
Thief of Time by Val Moses, Denver CO

Women’s Fiction, Romance

WINNER
The Suicide Club by Rachel Dempsey, Lakewood CO
FINALISTS
Chasing Montana Skye by Heidi Kraakevik, Littleton CO
The Original Handmaid by Margaret Morse, Denver CO
Smoochie Stays Fresh by Stacy Swearingen, Eden Prairie MN

Mystery, Thriller

WINNER
Small Town News by Phillip Castle, Grand Junction CO
FINALISTS
Exceptionals by Bowen Gillings, Colorado Springs CO
Spirits of the Lake by Richard Lacouture, Granby CO
Pieces by Becky Munyon, Broomfield CO

Mainstream

WINNER
The Red River Sanitarium by Carmen Lewis, Colorado Springs CO
FINALISTS
Truancy by Andre Fluette, Castle Rock CO
Troubled Water by Kim O’Brien, Austin TX
Faw’s Republic by Bill Sonn, Denver CO

Young Adult, Middle Grade

WINNER
The Stained-Glass People by Margaret Cate, Denver CO
FINALISTS
Bronze and Blood by Adare Elyse, Golden CO
Sarah of the Twenty-Third by Christine MacDonald, Lafayette CO
Hex-A-Gone by Michele Winkler, Columbia MO

2019 Winners

Women’s Fiction/Romance

1^st Place Imperfectly Mine by Meegan Epps
2^nd Place A Matter of Perspective by Karen Kroll
3^rd Place  Insane in the Carpool Lane by Susan Schooleman
Honorable Mention Crestfallen by Merrie Need
Honorable Mention The Magical Art of Seduction by Evon Davis

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

1^st Place Bangkok Butterflies by Eleanor Shelton
2^nd Place All For You by Lauren Barrow
3^rd Place The Road to Lavender by Donald Benjamin
Honorable Mention Small Town News by Phillip Castle
Honorable Mention Rare Earth by Josh McDaniel

Mainstream/Other

1^st Place War Without End by Andrew Beasley
2^nd Place The Ensanguined Flowers by Cindra Spencer
3^rd Place Molly Bright by H. Dair Brown
Honorable Mention Troubled Water by Kim Kronzer O’Brien
Honorable Mention The Only Way Home by Jeanette Minniti

YA/Middle Grade

1^st Place American Witch by Rachel Craft
2^nd Place Outlaw by Leslie Vedder
3^rd Place The Secret of Wychwood Forest by Alison Thayer
Honorable Mention Andy Coleman and the Forgotten Land by Christopher Cogley
Honorable Mention No Geeks, No Glory by Meagan Dallner

SciFi/Fantasy/Horror

1^st Place Clockwork Crow by Colin Irish
2^nd Place Half-Life by Allison Wall
3^rd Place The Eyes of the Gods by Kaitlyn Prince
Honorable Mention Winter Yield by Dani Coleman
Honorable Mention The Knight’s Curse by Kristin Meachem

2018 Winners

Mainstream and Other Genres

1^st Place:  In Case of Fire, Break Glass by Andrea Poniers
2^nd Place:  Something Out of Nothing by Joy Meredith
3^rd Place:  The Heart of a Hussar by Kathleen Krueger
Honorable Mention: Pieces by Becky Munyon
Honorable Mention: Photos in Darkness by Claire Fishback

Mystery and Thriller

1^st Place: The Tract by Carrie Pollard
2^nd Place: Free Base by Kathleen Donnelly
3^rd Place:  Sweet Venom by Kathy Reynolds
Honorable Mention: The Truth Will Set You Free by Lana Fox
Honorable Mention: Daniel’s Defense by Rachel Dempsey

Young Adult/Middle Grade

1^st Place: The Sigil Masters by Rick Duffy
2^nd Place:  The Law of Relativity by Jymn McGhghy
3^rd Place:  Zaida’s Cookbook (For Killing Witches) by Rachael Makwoski
Honorable Mention:  Indigo by Valarie Arnold
Honorable Mention: The Unwinding Hour by Rachel Craft

Women’s Fiction/Romance

1^st Place:  Blackberries by Tammy Metras
2^nd Place:  Old Cravings by Joy Meredith
3^rd Place:  McSham and the Whim Wham by Joy Meredith
Honorable Mention:  Me, My Shadow and I by Cindy Feilmeier
Honorable Mention:  Zapata by Mary Johnson

SciFi/Fantasy

1^st Place:  VR by Evon Davis
2^nd Place:  Clockwork Crow by Collin Irish
3^rd Place:  CRISPR Evolution by Chris Himeda
Honorable Mention:  Winter Yield by Dani Coleman
Honorable Mention:  The Song the Whitethorn Sings by Trinity Demask

2017 Winners

Women’s Fiction

1st Place: Susanne Sener, The Mountain Savage
2nd Place: B.J. Eardley, Hell With the Lid On
3rd Place: Rebecca Hodge, Margin of Safety
Finalist: Lainey Cameron, Exit Strategy
Finalist: Brenda Linskey, Confluence

Speculative Fiction

1st Place: Luanne Smith, The Vine Witch
2nd Place: Raewyn Bright, Demon Curse
3rd Place: Julie Morris, Light Unveiled
Finalist: Darla Upchurch, The Ectoplasm Alchemist
Finalist: Levi Jacobs, Alethea, Book One: Water and Blood

Mainstream

1st Place: Delores Gonzales Montano, Burying the Dead
2nd Place: Emily Bybee, Not Again
3rd Place: Mackenzie McCreary, The Orphanage
Finalist: Chrisann Winiecki, Lily Pearl’s
Finalist: Chrisann Winiecki, Silent Secret
Finalist: Kathy Reynolds, Sweet Venom

Mystery/Suspense

1st Place: Val Moses, Doppel
2nd Place: Valerie Arnold, The Monitor
3rd Place: Amy Drayer, Murder Comes to Makah
Finalist: Terri Benson, Pickup Artist/Book 1 of Bad Carma
Finalist: Mandy Miller, States of Grace

Action/Thriller

1st Place: Julie Ann Candoli, The Best Offense
2nd Place: Jack Matthews, The Alliance
3rd Place: G.M. Roman, Shot Caller
Finalist: Roger Collier, Puppet Chase
Finalist: Kevin Maris, Lightning in the Valley of the Meuse

Middle Grade/Young Adult

1st Place: Erin Price, Super Weenie
2nd Place: Kristina Rinard, Stand
3rd Place: James Brooks, Friday Night Fever
Finalist: Adare Elyse, Race Across the Battlefield
Finalist: Jenna Martin, Roots
Finalist: Jamila Montaque, The Spirit Train

2016 Winners

Action/Thriller

1st Place: Day of the Watchers by Charles Kowalski
2nd Place: Hard Dog to Kill by Craig Holt
3rd Place: The Blue Fox by Kevin Deighton
Finalist: Odd Man Out by Val Moses
Finalist: Shot Caller by Gilbert Roman
Finalist: The Foreboding by Susie Lindau

Mainstream/Other

1st Place:  Whisper of Other Voices by Sandy Fails
2nd Place: The Chinese Ghost by Andrew Beasley
3rd Place: Solotramp by Eleanor Binnings
Finalist: Lost in Hotness by Mindy McIntyre
Finalist: The Edge of Endings by Karin Belz

Mystery/Suspense

1st Place: Coded for Murder by Ritu Sethi
2nd Place: Doppel by Val Moses
3rd Place: Cut. Print. Kill by Robert Kidera
Finalist: Deadly Prose by Jedeane MacDonald
Finalist: Questions for the Dead by Matthew Porter

Romance

1st Place: Until Death by Tracy Brisendine
2nd Place: A Knight’s Ransom by Edwina Moore
3rd Place: Atlas by Megan Stirler
Finalist: Intaglio by Steven Moores
Finalist: Saint or Sinner by Terri Benson

Speculative Fiction

1st Place: ACHE by Levi Jacobs
2nd Place: My Planet by Nicole Lawrence
3rd Place: The Fourth Dimension by Rebecca Dickson
Finalist: Griffin and the Spurious Correlations by Krista Wallace
Finalist: Soul Affinity by Alice Yu

Young Adult /Middle Grade

1st Place: Kinetic by Amy Kolquist
2nd Place: Nightshade by Emily Bybee
3rd Place: Merlin’s Children by Becky Rawnsley
Finalist: The Installation by Angela Penland
Finalist: Wild Magic by Rachel Craft

2015 Winners

Action/Thriller

WINNER: The Searing Flames, Micheal Hope
Finalist: Massacre, Douglas Adcock
Finalist: Fire Step, Bruce Leaf

2014 Winners

Action/Thriller

WINNER: The Homeplace, Kevin Wolf
Finalist: The Lineage, Vanessa Lillie
Finalist: The Treasure of Seleucia, Powl Smith

Mainstream

WINNER: The Cookbook, Monica Comas
Finalist: The Breath of a Sea Gypsy, Rebecca Hopkins
Finalist: Book Two, Monica Comas
Finalist: The Shape of a Kiss, Charis Himeda
Finalist: A Sister in Need, Jenny Hansen

Mystery

WINNER: The First Cut, Mary Birk
Finalist: Iced, Hamilton Crow
Finalist: The Last Government Girl, Ellen Herbert
Finalist: Low Country Blood, Sue Hinkin
Finalist: Until We Meet Again, Jill Flateland

Romance

WINNER: Beloved Foe, Janet Baltz
Finalist: Cherub’s Play, Steven Moores
Finalist: Love’s Last Stand, Steven Moores
Finalist: The Reluctant Heart, Annie Parnell

Speculative Fiction

WINNER: Beauty is for Suckers, Michael Carson
Finalist: Don’t Wake Me if I’m Dreaming, Darla Upchurch
Finalist: Immortality Reborn, Tracy Brisendine
Finalist: The Jack of Souls, Stephen Merlino
Finalist: Wicked Thorn, Kristina Wright

Young Adult/Middle Grade

WINNER: The Shuvani’s Spell, Kara Seal
Finalist: The Amulet of Isis, S. D. Keeling
Finalist: Never Believe a Lie Twice, Kathleen Pinckard
Finalist: Requiem in La Paz, Jonna Gjevre
Finalist: Virago, Ida Olson

2013 Winners

Action/Thriller

Winner: Unbelievers by Charles Kowalski

Mainstream

Winner: Ten Seconds by Kristin Meachem

Mystery

Winner: The Secret Life of Anna Blanc by Jennifer Kincheloe

Romance

Winner: Between Skin and Soul by Jessica Naab

Speculative Fiction

Winner: Paragon of the Eccentric by Terry Kroenung

Young Adult

Winner: Hole in the Thumb by MaryAnn Kersten

2012 Winners

Action/Thriller 

Cathaver and a Big Belgian Crime by Robert Mangeot

Mainstream 

The Hot Tub Club by Z.J. Czupor

Mystery 

Blood Under Will by V.R. Barkowski

Romance

The Leighton Legacy by Monica Emerich

Speculative Fiction 

City of Strangers by M.H. Boroson

Young Adult 

Little Miss Life by Emily Calwell France

2011 Winners

Action/Thriller 

Persephone Falls by Angie Hodapp

Mainstream 

Professional Beauty by Chrisann Winiecki

Mystery 

Tenement by Lynne Kennedy

Romance 

Vital Signs by Val Moses

Speculative Fiction 

The Artist of Arun by Michele Winkler

Young Adult 

Dissonance in A Minor by Nicole Disney

2010 Winners

Action/Thriller 

Contract of Defiance by Tammy Sayler

Mainstream

Prince of the West by Marc Graham

Mystery 

Bad Blow and Old Silver by Randy Reims

Romance 

The Bloodsucker by Abigail Schmidt

Speculative Fiction 

The Hearts of Dragons by Luanne Smith

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