WEST JORDAN, Utah - s4story -- Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of the International Firebird Book Awards. Amongst them was W.D. Kilpack III for Battle Calm in the Science Fiction category, and received a special award: Best Literary Merit.

Kilpack said, "It's very gratifying to have my work recognized. Whether it's readers telling me how much they enjoyed it or winning an award, it's incredibly satisfying."

This year, special awards were given: Best Evolution of Style, Best Literary Merit, Best Risk Taker, Best Series Continuation, Best Thematic Exploration, and Most Innovative Genre Use. Unlike the other categories, each category had only one winner. Battle Calm received Best Literary Merit.

Battle Calm is book one in the Battle Calm Cycle, a trilogy centered around Badger, Keeper Base Leader. He knows to never celebrate victories, no matter how hard-won, because the enemy never stops. When he became Keeper Base Leader, he was well prepared, ready to handle anything the enemy threw at him. Most importantly, he was always calm, no matter how frenzied the combat.

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The International Firebird Book Awards celebrate outstanding authors and publishers globally, featuring a diverse range of genres. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of 29 judges, with each entry reviewed by two judges. Only those with the highest scores win.

These are the third and fourth awards Kilpack has received for Battle Calm. The other two were both in October 2025: finalist in the Utah Book Awards in Speculative Fiction and the Editor's Choice Award for Literary Excellence from Reader's House Magazine (London, England).

Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, said, "The Firebird Book Awards, powered by Speak Up Talk Radio, celebrate creative talents and provide authors with opportunities to share their stories. They recognize outstanding books and podcasts ... to help authors succeed."

According to Jessica Bair, former Special Agent, US Army CID, "Battle Calm is a visceral dystopian war novel. Kilpack brings you into the lives, histories and hopes of soldiers fighting for survival. Combat is fierce, on the battlefield and in the calm between enemy engagements."

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About Kilpack
Kilpack is an award-winning writer with works appearing in print, online, radio and television. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University, where he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. He also earned a master of professional communication (writing emphasis). He was a high-performing athlete who qualified to represent the USA in Greco-Roman wrestling. For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. www.Kilpack.net. (https://www.kilpack.net/)

About the International Firebird Book Awards
The International Firebird Book Awards is an inclusive competition that welcomes all genres and accepts submissions from traditionally published, indie, and self-published writers. www.speakuptalkradio.com.