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Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Three Encounters of the Romantic Kind by TG Gore
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Grimdark Mindset
Remembering Demons follows a man trapped in an asylum with no memory of his past, haunted by visions and surrounded by physicists who may or may not be just as lost as he is. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I have no background in creative writing, it was something of a fluke. After talking about my idea for what would become The God Cycle trilogy with my father-in-law’s wife, I just sat down and started. I have always been fascinated by asylums. That may be why it started there.
What intrigues you about the horror and dark fantasy genres that led you to write this book?
I’ve always felt that if the fantastical elements of fantasy turned out to be true, they would invariably have to also be laced with horror. I am not of the grimdark mindset that all people are essentially morally gray, but I do think that dark fantasy offers an important alternative to more classic heroic fantasy.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
With The God Cycle I wanted to present my ideas for how the fantastical could co-exist with modern day science, (physics in particular) by filling the many knowledge gaps that exist both in quantum mechanics and cosmology with magic and gods. I am fascinated by these scientific subjects and it was very important to me that these unknowns of modern science are dealt with faithfully.
Moreover, I wanted to combine the former with a deeply personal tale of pain and loss as experienced by the main character. I have often felt that the main character’s emotions were giving too short thrift in classical fantasy, perhaps to further plot development at the expense of character. I wanted to make sure to give the character’s emotions room to breathe.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
I am currently editing book two of The God Cycle, Fighting Angels. The main character has inherited many problems from the conclusion of book one. Dealing with these issues will invariably lead to the setup for book three, Breaking Gods, in which the multiverse is explained and ultimately hangs in the balance. Anyone interested in a taste of what’s at stake can download my free short story, Catching Spiders, at my website. The short story takes place between books two and three, but is a non-spoiler stand-alone filled with clues that will make reading the books even more intriguing. The main character’s essential role in each book is perhaps best exemplified by my tongue-in-cheek subtitles for books one, two, and three, namely: Who is Daryl (book one)? What is Daryl (book two)? Why is Daryl (book three)?
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Daryl doesn’t have to wonder… he knows.
But why do they stalk him? Why can’t he remember anything?
It’s enough to drive a guy crazy!
Meanwhile, the eerie asylum seems to know more than an old pile of rock and mortar has any right to and his therapy is uncovering a blood-stained past of pain and death, alongside something dormant within him of disturbing power. When Dr. Walker teaches him how to face his demons, the psychoses and dreams conspire to warn him of something even worse stalking him. Something ancient and evil.
To survive, Daryl must confront the repressed memories that drove him insane.
For madness—is a blunt instrument.
This dark fantasy epic and paranormal thriller with a Shutter Island’esque vibe will have you questioning what is real. The story mixes dark and traditional fantasy with horror and science fiction elements to explore mental health, guilt, and a world where the physical realm of our experience blends seamlessly with the fantastical realm of monsters and gods. Perfect for fans of The Gunslinger, The Dresden Files, and the TV series Black Mirror.
Remembering Demons
J. Cornelius’ Remembering Demons is the kind of dark fantasy that pulls you in with its eerie atmosphere and relentless sense of mystery. The book follows Daryl, a man trapped in an asylum with no memory of his past, haunted by visions and surrounded by physicists who may or may not be just as lost as he is. From the first pages, the story weaves elements of psychological horror with cosmic dread, hinting at something ancient and terrifying lurking just beneath the surface of reality. The deeper Daryl digs into his past, the more the lines blur between madness and something far worse.
Cornelius has this way of making even simple conversations feel heavy and loaded with secrets waiting to spill out. The dialogue between Daryl and his therapist, Susan, for example, starts off clinical but gradually shifts into something much more personal and unnerving. There’s an unsettling moment early on where Daryl’s perception of reality starts slipping—he sees hands materializing in the mirror, hears whispers in the dark—and Cornelius doesn’t hold back on the creeping horror of it all. It’s subtle but chilling, and it keeps you on edge, wondering if Daryl is insane or if he’s actually seeing something beyond human comprehension.
Then there’s the world-building, or rather, the way the book bends the world we think we know. Remembering Demons plays with quantum physics and supernatural horror like they belong together, and Cornelius makes it work. The discussions between the asylum’s physicists about gravity, dimensions, and black holes don’t just feel like exposition, they add to the sense of unease. They talk about theories that seem far-fetched, but within the context of the story, they feel disturbingly plausible. When one of them disappears after an incident in the basement, it’s not just a scare, it’s a warning that the rules of reality might not apply here.
The book also does something I love in dark fantasy: it doesn’t spoon-feed answers. The character of Hubble, an imaginary (or maybe not) gnome, is a great example of this. He’s comic relief at times, but he also drops cryptic warnings that make you question what’s actually real. And then there’s Ginny, the little girl Daryl dreams of, draws obsessively, and mourns without knowing why. Every time she appears, the emotions hit hard. It’s not just grief, it’s something deeper, something wrong. When the book finally peels back the layers of what happened to her, it’s both heartbreaking and terrifying.
If you love dark fantasy that makes you question reality, this one’s for you. It’s a slow burn, but the payoffs are worth it. Fans of The Silent Patient with a Lovecraftian twist, or House of Leaves but with more tangible horror, will eat this up.
Pages: 282 | ASIN : B0D2XQQ73J
An Invisible Illness
Shadow Legacy follows a powerful necromancer, as she struggles with her dark heritage, battles for her soul, and faces an impossible choice between love and ultimate power. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story originally came to me in a dream several years ago. It was so realistic that it stuck with me and wouldn’t let go. At the time I was working full time as well as completing a masters program, so I put the story to the wayside for a few years. However, I always knew I wanted to return to it someday, and I am beyond thrilled to see it now published.
Rowan is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Living with an invisible illness myself, I wanted Rowan’s character arc to genuinely reflect that reality. It was crucial for me to portray her emotional journey, encompassing both triumphs and setbacks, and her battle against significant internal and external challenges.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Exploring healing from generational trauma and strong female characters defying the silencing of women’s voices to maintain their inner power was important to me. I feel that it’s such a relevant issue right now that will resonate with many of my readers.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m writing a new novel about a tropical matriarchal kingdom. I’d like to delve into the portrayal of corruption from the perspective of a female-led society. My first draft is about 3/4 finished, and I plan to publish it in late 2025 after several rounds of self-editing and professional editing.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Rowan escapes certain death, as punishment for a crime she didn’t commit, with the help of Casimir—a vampire knight seeking redemption. As they embark on a perilous journey to uncover her mysterious past, they must navigate the harsh northern terrain and the electrifying passion building between them.
During an attack by rogue assailants, Rowan uncovers her shocking power to control vampires against their will, threatening the hierarchy of both the supernatural and human worlds. When the chilling truth about Rowan’s family’s dark history comes to light and a master vampire targets her in his ruthless plot to overthrow the kingdom, Rowan and Casimir’s forbidden love is put to the ultimate test.
With danger closing in, they face insurmountable odds as they battle not only for survival but for the very essence of who they are. Will Rowan sacrifice everything to save a corrupt kingdom that never gave a damn about her or become the catalyst to tear it apart piece by bloody piece?
SHADOW LEGACY, a captivating new adult dark fantasy romance, will enthrall fans of From Blood and Ash and The Serpent & The Wings of Night with its tantalizing romance, death magic, and forbidden love.
Rage (The Lit Series Book 3)
Rage is a relentless, mind-bending thriller drenched in supernatural horror. The third book in The Lit Series, it drops us into the chaos of Sam Morris, a man shackled by both his past and the terrifying entities clawing at his mind. The story grips from page one as Sam, bloodstained and half-conscious, sits in police custody, interrogated for a crime steeped in mystery. What follows is a disturbing descent into an eerie world where reality and nightmare bleed together. As Sam’s fragile grip on sanity crumbles, the novel introduces Ellie and Josh—two figures tangled in the same supernatural horror—desperately navigating an existence where monstrous forces lurk in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Mark Anthony’s writing style is an experience in itself. It’s raw, visceral, and utterly immersive. The way he captures Sam’s unraveling psyche in the opening scene is haunting. Sam isn’t just confused or traumatized he’s drowning in a thick fog of something unexplainable. The story thrives in these moments, where reality feels slippery, and every shadow threatens to come alive. Anthony’s prose flickers between poetic and grotesque, making the horror feel as much psychological as it is physical. It’s messy, unpredictable, and wildly effective.
What truly sets Rage apart is its unsettling atmosphere. From the interrogation room to the rain-drenched streets, everything feels oppressively claustrophobic. The scene where Ellie and Josh, exhausted and terrified, realize they are being stalked by a presence they cannot see is particularly chilling. The horror isn’t just in the grotesque creatures that lurk in the dark; it’s in the dread that builds before they strike. The tension never lets up, and Anthony’s knack for drawing out suspense leaves the reader in a constant state of unease.
Rage doesn’t shy away from violence, and when things go bad, they go bad fast. The moment the Dark Child enters the police station, reality collapses into chaos. One officer, blindly grappling with an incomprehensible horror, has his face torn apart before he can even scream. The scene is savage and cinematic, a blood-soaked spectacle of terror. But Anthony balances brutality with a sense of sorrow, this isn’t just horror for horror’s sake. The violence means something, and the characters are acutely aware that every drop of blood spilled has consequences.
By the time the dust settles, Rage leaves a mark. It’s intense, deeply unsettling, and lingers long after the last page. This is a book for readers who crave horror that gets under their skin. If you like your thrillers laced with paranoia, supernatural terror, and gut-wrenching suspense, Rage is for you.
Pages: 545 | ASIN : B0DRKP5GMT
Complex Beings
Heatseeker: A Story of the Vampire Alex Chance follows a former FBI agent turned vampire, investigating a gruesome serial killer who has to navigate the murky line between human law and vampire justice. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story was greatly influenced by a short story I wrote in my writing group back in 2015 when I came up with an idea of a modern-day lawman hunting an elusive and brilliant serial killer and getting exposed to the secret world of vampires. That short story was only five pages long and featured only two main protagonists, Alex Chance, who was a police detective in that story, and vampire boy, Jake, who hunted down child molesters with lethal precision. I later modified the story several times, and many years later, came up with a broader tale involving more characters that had enough material to turn it into a novella. And so, the Heatseeker book was born.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Emotional and moral guidelines in any story are important. I always loved the detective genre and introducing a supernatural element into it made it more interesting and added more depth to the story. Alex Chance is an FBI agent, trained to be strong, honorable, and devoted to his duty. The vampires are creatures of the night, who have their own codes of honor and justice system, only they operate without human bureaucracy and red tape, which makes them far more efficient. Alex Chance follows his personal and moral code even after he becomes a vampire, which I think makes him very likable. The vampire boy, Jake, on the other hand, is driven by an ancient hate for people who hurt and abuse children and his moral compass can only be affected by the elements of human law, which he breaks often in pursuit of justice.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Horror and paranormal genres are very intriguing because as a writer, I do find them very stimulating for the creative process. There were movies and shows that played a great part in its development, such as the vampire series Forever Knight and Moonlight, where vampires and humans must find common ground and ways to coexist. The horror element derives from the vampires’ ability to instill in morals great fascination and fear. In traditional vampire stories, the immortals are often depicted as killers, who justify their way of life by their constant need for human blood. The supernatural genre is even more fascinating. In my vampire story, I described vampires as complex beings with their own secret civilization that had evolved alongside humanity in parallel evolution. So in a way, both human and vampire worlds mirror each other.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the following story?
Heatseeker is a stand-alone novella that features Alex Chance as the main protagonist. It is set in a world of vampires that were introduced in my previous vampire novels, Beyond Sunlight, Before the Dawn, and Eighteen Forever. Heatseeker is the fourth book that is related to them but follows its own path. My fans can expect a few more stories about vampires, which are currently resting on the development shelf, waiting to be picked up, analyzed and selected. Currently, I am at work on a new post-apocalyptic story that features human survival after a devastating asteroid impact.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The Warning Signs: Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy
M. Ainihi’s The Warning Signs is a collection of dark fantasy and horror short stories that plunges readers into eerie landscapes filled with unsettling truths, strange creatures, and psychological terror. The book is split into three sections: One-Shot Shorts, Tales from Sumir, and Day 32,854, each offering its own brand of nightmare fuel. Whether it’s ghosts that refuse to be forgotten, twisted mermaids exacting revenge, or apocalyptic survivors battling unseen forces, every tale grips with an uncanny sense of doom. This isn’t a book about cheap thrills—it’s about slow-burning horror that lingers long after the last page.
What I love most about Ainihi’s writing is her ability to create an atmosphere. She doesn’t just tell you a horror story; she makes you feel it. Take “Dead Already,” for example. The protagonist gradually realizes she’s watching her own body being hidden away, and the dread seeps in line by line. It’s not just the horror of death; it’s the horror of being erased and forgotten. That’s the kind of existential terror Ainihi plays with, and it’s chilling. Similarly, in “The Warning,” a house isn’t just haunted; it feels alive, like it’s waiting to consume its new occupants. These aren’t just ghost stories; they feel like whispers of something deeper, something ancient.
Not every story delivers the same kind of impact, but that’s part of what makes The Warning Signs so engaging. Some, like Cultivating Wrath, lean more into dark fantasy, bringing a sense of adventure alongside the horror. Others, like The Three Percent, take bold risks by exploring post-pandemic dread in a way that sparks the imagination. Ainihi’s strength lies in her ability to craft diverse narratives, each with its own unique style and pace. When she allows her stories to unfold naturally, they become truly mesmerizing.
What makes this collection stand out is its originality and refusal to rely on predictable horror tropes. Ainihi doesn’t hand out easy answers, she makes you think. In stories like Amma, the real horror isn’t just the physical threats but the unsettling realization that reality itself may not be what it seems. It’s this kind of storytelling that lingers, making you question and reflect.
The Warning Signs is the perfect collection for anyone who loves eerie, thought-provoking horror that lingers long after the last page. Ainihi has a knack for crafting unsettling, immersive tales that pull you into strange and terrifying worlds. If you enjoy slow-burning suspense, psychological twists, and a blend of dark fantasy and horror, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B091YR9H1M
LITERARY TITAN 