Last night at The Groucho Club, the winners of the 2026 Selfies awards were announced before a crowd of authors, judges, and the BookBrunch team.
It was the biggest year to date for the Selfies with entries more than double than in 2025, and for the first time, the competition was open to entries from around the globe. Authors from every continent submitted their books for consideration. The judges were delighted by the standard of the shortlists, which exhibited what we all know to be true: self-publishing is booming, and the quality and standard of self-published books has never been higher.
At the ceremony, BookBrunch editor-in-chief Natasha Poliszczuk took to the stage alongside Ben Hughes, senior manager, sales and business development at Ingram Spark, and Orna Ross, author and Alliance of Independent Authors founders. They spoke about the joys of independent publishing, and emphasised that – like the indie authors shortlisted for the Selfies – it’s important for self-published authors to focus on editorial.
Powered by BookBrunch, the Selfies are sponsored by IngramSpark, and supported by NielsenIQ BookData, ALLi, LitPR, The Combined Book Exhibit and New Generation Publishing.
The winners:
Fiction: Flint in the Bones – Eva St. John
Judges: Liza DeBlock, Greenstone Literary; Rose Lihou, author and illustrator; Natasha Poliszczuk, BookBrunch, editor-in-chief
Twenty years ago, a magical accident in Oxford didn’t just ruin a drawer of maps – it rewrote Norwich. Detective Eliza ‘Bish’ Barnaby escaped as a child. Now, as a London detective with a secret talent for ‘map running’, she’s forced back to hunt down a murderer.
The judges were unanimous. “Magic, Murder, Maps – this book has it all, said DeBlock, who also admired Eva St John’s “thoughtful marketing campaign” and the way in which she has created a community around it. Tilly Fitzgerald praised its “fantastic characters, great dialogue, humour, great sense of place and history”, and Natasha Poliszczuk wants to know when the second instalment is being published: “a sure sign that a book – and its author – has done the job”.
Highly Commended: Death Valley – Jo Penn
“Clearly written by a wonderful author. This locked room mystery was a fun read in a unique and very deadly setting. If you enjoy a good thriller, you won’t want to miss out on this.” – Liza DeBlock
The shortlist:
Swimming with Manatees – Bill Bennett
Hunting the Sun – Jean Gill
The Silver Tide – Jason Mann
Death Valley – Jo Penn
Flint in the Bones – Eva St. John
The Butterfly Witch – E.L. Williams
Memoir: The Art in My Palm – Luke Icarus Simon
Judges: Peter Cox, literary agent and founder, Redhammer Management; Neill Denny, editor, BookBrunch; Benjamin Hughes, IngramSpark
A genre-defying debut blending memoir, autobiographical fiction and 1970s historical events. This bold, queer coming of age tale is set against the backdrop of war, abuse and displacement.
Neill Denny commented that it is both “well written and surprisingly moving… with a strong narrative drive and compelling cast of characters”. Peter Cox admired it from the start, commenting “I’d buy it just on the cover”, adding that he could find no fault in the marketing plan. “I’ve always suspected that there was a great and poignant story to be told about the Cypriot-Australian population; one of alienation, longing and redemption,” added Cox. “Maybe this is it.”
Australia-based Simon sent his thanks via video message. He said that writing it required both “vulnerability and audacity”, so he is thrilled it is so warmly received.
The shortlist:
Happy as Larry: A Psychiatrist’s Quest for Mental Health and Wellbeing – Larry Culliford
Greatfruit: How Cancer Led Me to Living a More Fruitful Life – Steve Garraty
Being Camilla: Life as a Royal Lookalike – Jane Mosse
Hot Banana – Abi Roberts
The Art in My Palm – Luke Icarus Simon
Bridging Time 1944 – 2024: Letters to My Father – Patricia Townsend
Children’s: Kringle’s Emporium – Jemma Hatt
Judges: Helen Lewis, Literally PR; Rose Lihou, children’s author and illustrator; Lucy Nathan, editor, BookBrunch
Laney and Ben stumble through the door of Kringle’s Emporium and find themselves in a world of hidden wonders. But the emporium is more than a shop of curiosities. It is Kris Kringle’s travelling hiding place, and the magic of Christmas is in danger…
Rose Lihou described Hatt’s book as “a middle grade must-read” – one she hopes will be “read in every Key Stage 2 classroom”. “The sales figures alone speak for themselves on this one – super impressive,” said Helen Lewis. And Lucy Nathan described Hatt as “a really good ambassador for self-publishing”. Hatt also won the award in 2020 for The Adventurers and the Cursed Castle, and has been shortlisted numerous times for her vibrant, well-published novels.
The shortlist
Kringle’s Emporium – Jemma Hatt
Searching for Amy – Becky Jones
Time Tub Travellers: Circus Mystery – Claire Linney
Pirate Penguin – Hunter McNeil-Ali
Seven: Distracted Detective – Rachel Pattinson
Tales of The Witch’s Cat: Escape From Petopia – Kirstie Watson