ACFW Virginia is Pleased to Announce the Finalists in the 2026 Crown Award Contest for Prepublished Authors
Winners will be announced live during the Royal Writers Virtual Conference on November 7, 2026.
Contemporary
Julene Kinser
*Abigail Matthews
Christi Parker
Contemporary Romance
Renee Gentry
*Kelly Lobato
*Abigail Matthews
Historical Fiction/Romance
*Jessica Gustafson
Lakeisha Heeringer
April Nicolae
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Carrie Hachadurian
*Kelly Lobato
Jess Noble
Speculative/Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Carley Durante
*Jessica Gustafson
Patricia Tiffany Morris
Young Adult/Middle Grade
Diana Buzalski
Melanie Esqueda
Brooke Windsor