Silmaril Awards Most Devoted Couple Nominations (CLOSED)

01 Sep 2025 80 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Silmaril Awards Tags: , ,

It’s that time of year again!

Silmaril Awards season!

The Silmaril Awards are all about celebrating fantasy fiction. But whereas most awards go to authors or books, these awards go to the characters themselves!

And this year is the tenth anniversary!

Started in 2016, these awards are a four week online celebration of all that’s best in fantasy literature. There are several awards in various categories given every year. The characters who receive them have to be from books generally considered to be in the fantasy genre. And a given character cannot receive an award more than once. These are lifetime awards.

Also, as Tolkien is, for us, the gold standard of fantasy, his characters are not eligible to be nominated. That’s because they’ll be the ones presenting the awards in this cross-dimensional online ceremony. 

Nominations are submitted on the websites of each of the presenters for that year. Anyone can submit a nomination and you can second (and third and fourth, etc.) any number of nominations besides your own.

After the nomination period (lasting one week), the five characters receiving the most nominations will make it onto the ballot and you’ll have one week to vote. After the votes are tallied, the winners will be announced, one per day, over the final two weeks of the awards.

This years Dates:

Nominations will run from Sept 1-5.

You’ll vote on the top 5 nominees from each award from Sept 8-12.

The winners will be announced, one on each weekday over the two weeks running from Sept 15-25.

Finally, we will close out this year’s awards with a special online event on Sept 26. More on that below!

This year I’m hosting The Most Devoted Couple Award. It’s one of the newer awards only being awarded twice before.

Who are the couple that can’t live without each other? The ones that will always find the other and save them? Which couples are so fully bound together that you can’t think of them as individuals anymore?

Nominate your favorite fantasy couples in the comments, but remember:

  • Tolkien and Narnia characters are exempt from nominations
  • Past winners can not be nominated again. These are lifetime awards.

Previous Most Devoted Couple

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Silmaril Awards, we are running not one, but TWO contests. Five winners will be chosen for each contest. You’ll have the chance to win one of many fantasy-themed prizes.

Puzzle Contest

Anyone is eligible to enter this contest by visiting the contest page at silmarilawards.com submitting the form.

https://www.silmarilawards.com/puzzle-contest-2025/

Each host of the Silmaril Awards will post a line from one of Tolkien’s poems on their nomination page. Gather all of them together and enter it when you submit your entry to receive NINE extra entries for a chance to win.

The line for this site is:

We come, we come with roll of drum: ta-runda runda runda rom!

NOTE: By entering you will be added to the Silmaril Awards mailing list and may receive news about the awards or the authors participating as hosts in the future. You may unsubscribe at any time.

The contest will run from September 1-5. Winners will be contacted via email after September 8th.

Voting Contest

While anyone can vote for their favorite fantasy characters, every one who also signs up to our email newsletter while voting will be entered into the contest. Voting will run from September 8-12. Once it opens, you may cast your vote at: https://www.silmarilawards.com/vote/

2nd runners-up will be contacted via email after September 15th. However, two people will be selected to be entered into the grand prize contest. Then on September 26th, the hosts will meet online for a Lord of the Rings trivia contest, with half of the hosts competing for one entrant and half for the other. Whoever’s team wins will walk away with the grand prize and the other entrant will receive the runner-up prize.

Here are the amazing prizes you’ll have a chance to win in the two contests:

  • Stained glass dragon sun catcher
  • Painted gold “One Ring” bowl
  • A Mines of Moria journal
  • A 12×18 inch poster of the Fellowship of the Ring
  • Four paperbacks by authors H.L. Burke, DJ Edwardson, J.L. Mbewe, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
  • Four ebooks by those same authors
  • A Lord of the Rings scarf with a map of Middle-earth imprinted on it
  • A sign stating “No admittance except on party business”
  • A Leaf of Lorien pin
  • A 3D printed Tree of Gondor bookmark
  • A Gandalf quote sticker
  • Door of Moria sticker

We hope you’ll join us for these awards and the contest and that it will be a celebration worthy of Bilbo’s hundred and eleventieth birthday party. May the best hobbit win!

Quick Reminders:

  • No Tolkien or Narnia Characters
  • Book characters only (Movies don’t count unless the book came first.)
  • Only fantasy characters are allows (No sci-fi, adventure, mystery ect…)
  • Leave your nomination as a comment State the character’s name and what book they’re from.
  • Second other’s nominations by replying “I second” to their comment.
  • These are lifetime awards please check the past winners above before nominating.

Nominate in the comments: Who is the most devoted couple?

Then nominate more at the blogs below:

Epic 99 cent book sale.

07 Aug 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news Tags: , , ,

Starting today, over one hundred science fiction and fantasy books are on sale for only ninety-nine cents each.

What makes this sale unique is that you can’t just list your book. Your book has to be recommended for the sale. Beside each listing, instead of a description of the story you’ll find a recommendation from a person who loved the book.

https://talesfromthecircle.com/epicsale2025.html

My contribution to the sale is Runaway Lyrics. The E-book is 99 cents today through the 11th. It was recommended for the sale by H.L. Burke. Look for her book Cora and the Nurse Dragon on the sales page. Also search for Amok by Anna Tan, which is a book that I recommended for the sale.

Shop the Sale

Happy Book Birthday Daisy Dunlap!

16 Jul 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news, Behind the keyboard Tags: , ,

One year ago today I published Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival. It’s a small book but I’m very happy with how it turned out.

To celebrate the one year anniversary I wanted to share some of the fan art I’ve gotten over the past year.

First up is Daisy Dunlap by Claire B. You can see Daisy’s been through a rough night. This image also includes her Daisy Daffodil doll.

Claire also took a stab at Tom. Look close and you can see his green thumb.

This next drawing is from Nathalie S. One of my earliest readers. She depicts Daisy in pencil. Clearly at the beginning of the night before it got scary.

This last one is a delightful Chibi Derby from the fabulous CorynDrawz on Instagram. Follow her at: http://www.instagram.com/coryndrawz

But just incase his cuteness fools you she also made one with very clear text.

Have you read Daisy Dunlap And the Cartoon Carnival yet?

I’ve been describing it as mascot horror but wholesome. Think of Five nights at Freddy’s, Bendy and the Ink Machine, and Poppy Playtime. Daisy Dunlap is all the mystery and fun without the dead kids in the animatronic suits.

You can order the ebook and physical copies on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4lzkKwe

Audiobook is available wide, links here: https://cobonham.com/2025/04/06/audiobook-availability-and-author-takeover-event/

You can also find copies this weekend, July 18-20th at the Realm Makers Expo. At the DeVos Place convention center in Grand Rapids Michigan.

Get your expo Tickets here: https://www.realmmakers.com/realm-makers-expo/

Hope to see you there!

Realm Makers Expo and a cover reveal.

11 Jul 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal, In Real Life Tags: , , , , , , ,

Today Is two things. Thing one is the cover reveal for H.L. Burke’s newest superhero book. It’s also exactly one week before the big Realm Makers Expo in Grand Rapids Michigan.

Realm Makers is an amazing faith based writing conference. I go every year and it’s always a blast. This year though they are hosting a fan expo simultaneously with the conference. I won’t have a table there but my books will be available through the Realm Makers bookstore. I’ll Also be walking around so if you see me don’t be afraid to say, Hi!

For more information and to buy tickets go to: https://www.realmmakers.com/

Scroll to the end for a fun thing happening at the Expo!

You know who else will be at Realm Makers?

H.L. Burke! The author of the ever expanding SVR superhero universe.

Check out the awesome new cover for the 8th book in the Superhero Romance Project: The Supervillain’s Bodyguard.

A funny, heartfelt new superhero romance that takes you cross country on a race for survival. Featuring a brand new match up, this time of a normie guy and a superpowered gal.

Read it as a standalone or catch up with the series in Kindle unlimited .

Art by KM Carroll

Layout by Jennifer Hudzinski

Pre-Order on Amazon for 99c through July 31st: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FG6CR8GD

Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7Z8815Q

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237693164-the-supervillain-s-bodyguard

Author Site: hlburkeauthor.com

Show off your puzzler skills and enter to win epic prizes at the inaugural Realm Makers Expo!

The Fiction Fairies have scattered challenges throughout the Expo. Fun puzzles for you to solve.

Every puzzle you solve enters you in a drawing to win TWELVE epic puzzles! Solve every puzzle to increase your chances and receive special rewards along the way.

To Play:

Find participating booths on the Expo floor.

Solve the puzzles.

Scan the QR codes and enter your answer and contact info.

The winner will be drawn Saturday at 5pm so the prize can be collected on Saturday or Sunday.

Do you have your Expo Tickets yet?: https://www.realmmakers.com/

Game Changer Release Day!

27 Jun 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in book tours Tags: , , , , , ,

Book 2 in the Young Adult Superhero series Supervillain Legacy Project, GAME CHANGER, IS
HERE!!!


This story continues the tale of Oliver, Ruby, and Curran, the Camp Sable teen team, but this
time the stakes are a lot higher and actual lives are on the line.
https://amzn.to/4jtttOX

Growing up is hard. Growing up with superpowers? It’s … a lot.


What would you sacrifice to save your father?
At only seventeen, Oliver Ortiz-Shelby has led his friends to victory in the Sable
Games, marking him as the most promising superpowered youth in the
country. With superhero teams offering internships, colleges promising
scholarships, and the general admiration of his peers, his future is brighter
than ever—until a supervillain attack threatens to upend everything.
When a banquet hosted by an up-and-coming superhero and politician turns
into a firefight, innocent lives are lost. The top suspect? Oliver’s beloved father,
reformed supervillain Switch.

Oliver knows his father would never return to the villain life, but with evidence
mounting against Switch, even his friends begin to doubt him. Realizing the
authorities have made up their minds, Oliver decides he has no other choice.
He’s taking matters into his own hands, even if it means leaving everything
he’s worked so hard for behind.

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231327798-game-changer
Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4jtttOX
Author Site:
https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project
Series:
https://amzn.to/3G2Wq5S

Looking for your next Superhero obsession? Get GAME ON Free 6/26-6/30. An underdog teen
team story featuring epic superpowers, friendship, and family bonds.
Get book 1 FREE then grab book 2’s New Release to have it waiting when you’re done.
https://amzn.to/3G2Wq5S

Book 1, Game On:
https://amzn.to/4jaQC9h

Book 2, Game Changer:
https://amzn.to/4jtttOX

Dive in Review of Stretched Thin

07 Jun 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

NEW RELEASE! The Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Universe EXPANDS with an epic new novella, written by Amber Gabriel, published by H.L. Burke.

STRETCHED THIN

Pulled between crime and the law, the Rubber Bandit is about to snap.

It’s hard enough keeping a job as a former supervillain without every gang initiate, cocky teen, and local tough trying to pick a fight with the notorious Rubber Bandit.

Elam Bentley has worked at the bar as a bouncer for 3 months. His criminal background makes spotting a fake ID easy. When an under-aged, super-powered teen’s escapades cause havoc, his employer reluctantly has to let him go. Unemployed and still under scrutiny from the local superhero team, what is he going to do?

Though Elam would love to see the look on his superhero nemesis Byte’s face, there’s no way he’s joining the Department of Super-Abled. At least that’s what he thinks until recently promoted Detective Fang asks him to go undercover.

Feeling he owes Fang, Elam agrees, but because he is a Sable, he has to go through DOSA to do it. Can he suck it up and do the job, or will the temptation to return to criminal life be too strong?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F3SYMLNC/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229186197-stretched-thin

My Dive-in Review

This newest Novella in the SVR universe is the first one written by someone other than H.L. Burke.

Amber Gabriel has contributed to the SVR lore before as an author in the DOSA Files anthologies. Now she takes her character, Elam, from those stories and gives him room to grow as a person.

Amber does a fantastic job of mirroring Burke’s style and tone from the original SVR series while still making this book her own.

The plot line and final resolution of the story are so perfectly suited to the world building that I am surprised it hasn’t already been done. 10/10 perfect addition to the SVR universe.

Want More Rubber Bandit?

If you want to read more about the Rubber Bandit you can find him in the following books. *indicates an Amazon affiliate link.

Rubber Bandit’s debuted in Refined by H.L. Burke: * https://amzn.to/4mQtpLC

Amber Gabriel took the Rubber Bandit and made him her own in “Oh, Snap” in DOSA Files #1: * https://amzn.to/3HIOqaY

The adventure continues in “Civic Duty” found in DOSA Files #2: * https://amzn.to/4kpJ6rD

BUY STRETCHED THIN ON AMAZON: https://amzn.to/4iZ2lXE

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SVR UNIVERSE: https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project

DOSA Files Anthologies are Here!

17 May 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news, Short Stories Tags: , , , , ,

So remember that Kickstarter I was promoting? Well the fruits of that endeavor are now available. If you have read and enjoyed volume one then go grab the next two.

On a personal level I’m very excited because DOSA Files volume II features a sequel to my volume I story. If you loved getting to know Violet Revelt in the Realm Award finalist story “Letting Off Steam,” then you won’t want to miss the continuation of her story in, “London Bridge is Falling Down.”

Shifters! Flyers! Lightning! Fire! Choose your power and join the fun. 17 Epic Superhero Stories
await. Volumes II & III available now!
Technically… the MCU has about 34 movies.
The DOSA-Verse has 21 (current) books and 29 short stories. Just sayin’.

Did you know Volume I of the DOSA Files includes THREE Realm Award finalist stories? One of them is mine! We have to wait until July 18th to learn who the winners are, so until then I’ll just enjoy the honor of being a finalist.


Also from May 16 through 20, get Volume I for FREE! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZWC9HYL

Links again:
Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZWC9HYL
Volume I: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D5JS32QJ
Volume II: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F3VG2S9P
Volume III: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F3VG3M23

Game Changer Cover Reveal

03 May 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , ,

Check out this ELECTRIFYING new cover for GAME CHANGER, H.L. Burke’s upcoming Superhero book release. 
Book 2 in the Young Adult Superhero series Supervillain Legacy Project.

This story continues the tale of Oliver, Ruby, and Curran, the Camp Sable teen team, but this time the stakes are a lot higher and actual lives are on the line. 

What would you sacrifice to save your father?

At only seventeen, Oliver Ortiz-Shelby has led his friends to victory in the Sable Games, marking him as the most promising superpowered youth in the country. With superhero teams offering internships, colleges promising scholarships, and the general admiration of his peers, his future is brighter than ever—until a supervillain attack threatens to upend everything.

When a banquet hosted by an up-and-coming superhero and politician turns into a firefight, innocent lives are lost. The top suspect? Oliver’s beloved father, reformed supervillain Switch.

Oliver knows his father would never return to the villain life, but with evidence mounting against Switch, even his friends begin to doubt him. Realizing the authorities have made up their minds, Oliver decides he has no other choice. He’s taking matters into his own hands, even if it means leaving everything he’s worked so hard for behind.

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231327798-game-changer

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/4jtttOX

GAME CHANGER,  drops June 27th!

Also, through May 6th, get book 1, GAME ON, for FREE! 5/2-5/6.

An underdog teen team story featuring epic superpowers, friendship, and family bonds. 

https://amzn.to/4jaQC9h

Realm Awards Readers’ Choice: 

Game On is in the running for the Readers’ Choice category of the REALM AWARDS! Have you read it yet? You can get the ebook FREE May 2-6! Grab it, read it, if you like it, give it a vote.

https://realm-makers.mn.co/posts/readers-choice-award-top-25-and-voting-link

Series:

https://amzn.to/3G2Wq5S

Author Site:

https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/supervillain-rehabilitation-project

Author Q&A, YouTube video, and free book weekend.

25 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news Tags: , , , , ,

This is the last of the self promo posts for a while but I wanted you to know some exciting things happening this weekend. First off: Remember that social platform I told you about?

I’m going to participating in a Q&A event in the Realm Sphere. The Q&As are only available to subscribing members but there is a 30 day free trial.

My time slot is Saturday at 3pm eastern time. Once you make your account and sign up for you subscription then you just get on the realm Sphere at the correct time. If you are a subscribing member then you should see the live banner at the top of the scree. Click on that to join.

RealmSphere link: https://realm-makers.mn.co/

The premier of The Towers Of Light Family Theater happened Thursday night. You can watch the entire show on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aN6fuI13ZI&pp=0gcJCYQJAYcqIYzv.

My part is small but I’m quite happy with it.

The last thing I need to tell you is that Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival is free on Amazon Kindle this weekend. April 25-April 28, 2025.

DOWNLOAD IT WHILE YOU CAN!: https://amzn.to/4cIyIIk

And after you download it, why don’t you read it.

After you read it why don’t you vote for it in the Realm Awards readers choice category with your new Realm Sphere account.

Realm Sphere link: https://realm-makers.mn.co/

Thanks for Reading!-

Awards and an Invitation.

18 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Author news Tags: , , , , ,

This has been the week of exciting news! First on Monday I got the news that my short story “Letting Off Steam,” is one of the finalist for the short audio category of the Realm Awards! This is the first time I’ve ever finalled. I am excited to see if I win the award but at the same time looking at the three finalists makes me want to point somethings out.

First thing I want to point out is that the entries list the narrator and the publisher of each submission. The author gets no mention. Anyway even though “Letting Off Steam” is listed under the name of the talented narrator Rena Gail. I promise that I wrote it.

The other thing to point out is that these are not all short stories.

Sing to Me of Rain, is a novella by E.B. Dawson and narrated by Lila-May Murdoch.

The Prophecy’s Chosen Heir, is a middle grade novel written and self-narrated by Trista Shaye.

My little steampunk superhero story is on the longer side of short but it’s still under ten thousand words. Make of this what you will.

The DOSA Files has two other finalists.

“Rethink” by H.L. Burke and “Playdate” by Jenelle Leann Schmidt both finalled in the short story category.

This little superhero anthology is really getting it’s time in the spotlight.

Today I got the Second Announcement:

Daisy Dunlap and the cartoon Carnival is one of the Reader’s Choice nominees. That means that you can help get it to the top by voting for it.

However there are some catches:

  • You can only vote once. Any duplicate entries will be disqualified.
  • Only vote for books you’ve read. Be fair to the authors.
  • List your Top 3 favorites. If more than one book stood out, we want to know.
  • Voting happens in the RealmSphere.
  • What this means is that you need to create a free account in the RealmSphere (a social media platform where authors and readers can get together and discuss books, writing, or anything creative really.)


RealmSphere link: https://realm-makers.mn.co/
 

Once you create your account make sure you know which three books you’re voting for before you start voting. Because. you only get one entry. There are 25 books that got nominated and you may recognize some of them.

THE TOP 25 NOMINEES

A Stolen Heart, by Selina R. Gonzalez

Blood of the Stars, by Karyne Norton

Daisy Dunlap & the Cartoon Carnival, by C.O. Bonham

Falling Through the Black, by E.A. Hendryx

Flashpoint, by C.M. Banschbach

Game On, by H.L. Burke

Guardian, by Cathy McCrumb

Hearts of Stone and Steel, by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Hybrid, by Candace Kade

Ignite, by Kara Swanson

Lightshed, by Crystal D. Grant

Memoria, by J.J. Fischer

Mortal Queens, by Victoria McCombs

Page Magic, by Dawn E. Dagger

Protector, by Megan Schaulis

Saints and Monsters, by Ellen McGinty

The Chaos Grid, by Lyndsey Lewellen

The Immortal Abyss, by Katherine Briggs

The Nightmare Virus, by Nadine Brandes

There Bleeds the Light, by Andrea Renae

Thread of Dreams, by Emily Barnett

To Weave the Wind, by Sharon Rose

Waters Break, by Sophia L. Hansen

What Comes of Attending the Commoner’s Ball, by Elisabeth Aimee Brown

Winter’s Maiden, by Morgan L. Busse

Now that you have your RealmSphere account, you can come hang out next week at the Realm Makers, Spring Book Fest. It’s April 24th through the 25th.

There’s going to be fun, games, giveaways, and author Q&As.

And don’t forget: to vote for a book you need to have read it.

Have you read Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival yet?

It’s in Kindle Unlimited, ebook and print: https://amzn.to/4216XY0

You can listen to the audio as part of your Spotify Premium https://open.spotify.com/show/14hn7gTm6VbfCGhfx9HmoS

Audio is also available in other markets I did a whole blog post where I list them all: https://open.spotify.com/show/14hn7gTm6VbfCGhfx9HmoS

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries