2026 NERFA Winners Announced!
After months of judging, First Coast Romance Writers is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 NERFA Contest! Each year, the NERFA Contest celebrates excellence in romantic fiction, and this year’s winners represent some of the very best storytelling our genre has to offer.
Congratulations to all seven category winners:
- 🏆 Contemporary Romance: The Magical Tea Shop by Aimee O’Brian
- 🏆 Historical Romance: The Lyon Returns by Kimberly Keyes
- 🏆 Mainstream Romance: After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico
- 🏆 Romantic Novella: Love Lost and Found by Vanessa Victoria Kilmer
- 🏆 Romantic Suspense: Perfect Vengeance by Tee O’Fallon
- 🏆 Speculative Romance: The Magical Bed & Breakfast by Aimee O’Brian
- 🏆 First Book: This Kind of Love by Ashley Detweiler
A special congratulations goes to Aimee O’Brian, this year’s only double winner, taking top honors in both Contemporary Romance and Speculative Romance!
To every winner, every finalist, and every author who entered this year’s contest: thank you for making 2026 an unforgettable celebration of romantic fiction. Your creativity, craft, and dedication to the genre are exactly what the NERFA Contest exists to recognize.
Stay tuned to First Coast Romance Writers’ social media channels for more winner spotlights in the coming weeks, and join us in congratulating this year’s winners in the comments below!
