WEST JORDAN, Utah - s4story -- Battle Calm by award-winning Utah author W.D. Kilpack III is one of five finalists in the Utah Book Awards in the Speculative Fiction category.

Awards are given based on the strength of the publication's literary merit, lasting importance, and overall quality. The Utah Book Awards is a project of The Utah Center for the Book at Utah Humanities, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, the Utah State Library Division, and The League of Utah Writers.

Kilpack said, "I will never get tired of hearing from readers who like my work. So much goes into writing a novel, let alone a trilogy, and having a little appreciation shown goes a long way in making it feel worthwhile!"

Winners for each category, General Fiction, Speculative Fiction, General Nonfiction, Memoir/Narrative Nonfiction, Illustrated, Young Adult/Middle Grade Readers, and Poetry, will be announced by July 15, with an award ceremony during the Utah Humanities Book Festival in October.

Kilpack has published seven novels to date. Between them, they have won 27 book awards and honors. Pale Face is currently in movie development, and Battle Calm: Omega Message is scheduled for release in July 2025.

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To be eligible for competition, the entries had to be written by permanent residents of Utah, and published between Jan. 1, 2022, and Oct. 1, 2024.

About Kilpack
Kilpack is an award-winning and critically acclaimed sci-fi and fantasy author and screenwriter. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University. As a high-performing athlete, he qualified to represent the USA in Greco-Roman wrestling. For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. Kilpack.net (https://www.kilpack.net/).

About Utah Humanities
UH offers public humanities programs across the state that involve thousands of people and organizations. To do its work, UH partners with organizations that want to improve their communities through the humanities. UtahHumanities.org (https://www.utahhumanities.org/).

About Utah Arts and Museums
Utah Arts & Museums seeks to benefit Utahns through arts and museum experiences and cultural opportunities. They offer a variety of professional development opportunities to serve serve schools, local arts agencies, community centers, performing groups, museums, and individuals across Utah. artsandmuseums.utah.gov.

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About Utah State Library Division
The Utah State Library provides funding, training, professional expertise, and technical advice to Utah library directors, library staff, and trustees. Through the Program for the Blind and Disabled, Utah Bookmobiles, Utah's Online Public Library, Utah Government Digital Library and more. library.utah.gov (https://library.utah.gov/about/).

About the League of Utah Writers
LUW is a vibrant writing community. It has grown into a strong network of writers and authors. Its members strive to promote literacy and creativity through education, mentoring, and inclusivity accessible through its local chapters. LeagueofUtahWriters.org (https://www.leagueofutahwriters.org/).