Thinking about stories, writing, and the Art of Fiction Award.
Every now and then, something small pulls you back to why you started writing in the first place. Writing doesn’t come with fanfare; it just settles in quietly, and before you know it, you’re remembering the moment that first made you fall in love with stories. That happened to me this week and it took me right back to the beginning.
The editors at Novelist Post Magazine gave me The Art of Fiction Award for my latest epic fantasy, The Talismans of Faerie, and I’m honored to receive it. This award recognizes all the late nights, the stubborn drafts, the moments where the story finally clicked, and decided the work mattered. I’m grateful for their recognition of my efforts.
Writers don’t do this for trophies, but getting one makes you stop long enough to look back at everything you’ve poured into your worlds. They’re a reminder that the people and places you dream up can reach someone else. Recognition is proof that imagination doesn’t stay trapped in your head; it moves and connects you to your readers.
An award like this tells me the mythic ideas I chase in every chapter are meant to be shared. All those hours at my desk, trying to get the story right, actually meant something to someone else.
Receiving this award from Novelist Post Magazine means even more. They support writers who dig deep into fiction and care about how stories help us understand life. Their editors care about the craft, and the magazine elevates writers who take storytelling seriously. This recognition is humbling, and the award pushes me to keep honest and meaningful work.
The certificate defines everything I try to do in my writing, storytelling, and creative vision. For me, immersive worlds, and strong characters are the mythic backbone to my stories. Epic fantasy, when it’s working, is a conversation between myth and real life. The impossible starts to feel familiar, and a character’s journey can show us something about ourselves.
Earlier this year, Novelist Post published a feature about my approach to world building and the ideas behind my work. It was one of the most thoughtful interviews I’ve had. We talked about how I blend mythic themes with historical details, how I build characters from the inside out, and why I think fantasy is a powerful way to explore what it means to be human. If you’d like to read the interview, you can find it here:
Novelist Post Interview: J. D. Edwards – The Talismans of Faerie
Getting this award feels like a continuation of that conversation. It’s not just about one story, but the larger vision behind everything I write. This moment takes me back to long nights revising, chasing the right rhythm, and filling pages with world building notes. It reminds me that the work matters, and that the worlds I make have found a home in someone else’s imagination.
I’m grateful to the editors and team at Novelist Post Magazine for this honor. Their support means a lot, and I hope we get to work together again. Writing can feel lonely sometimes, but moments like this remind me that storytelling is something we share. It connects writers to readers, imagination to understanding, and creation to connection.
