SHF Producer Partner's Fantasy Novel Wins International Impact Book Award

The International Impact Book Awards announced the winners of their most recent book competition. Winning in the Epic Fantasy category was Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood by Safe Harbor Films Producer Partner/Writer Bill Kilpack (writing as W.D. Kilpack III).

Tony A. Angelo, president of Safe Harbor Films, said, "Times like this, I feel like a proud papa! Bill's a great writer and, I've said it before I'll say it again, we're lucky to have him on our team. I just love seeing him rack up accolades for his books."

Kilpack said, "Seeing some of the past winners, it's a real honor for my name to be on that list. It's always amazing to have someone recognize the value of my work, but this feels a little more significant to me coming from an organization like this. It's incredibly gratifying."

Crown Prince is the first of the eight-book New Blood Saga, which centers around Natharr, the Guardian of Maarihk. He is one of a long line of protectors dating back to the Firstborn Age, before the Aa Conquest. Natharr's is an ancient role, rooted in his Firstblood, giving him Sight to see what is yet to be. He adheres to his sacred duties even in the centuries since the Firstborn were forced to the brink of extinction by the Aa. Natharr still stands guard over all men, Aa or Firstborn, Seeing what will come to pass, deciding what is unavoidable and what is not. He spends decades planning, even for saving the life of the newborn Crown Prince, Vikari, so he may one day reclaim the throne of the land where Mankind was created in the time when the Olde Gods walked.

The International Impact Book Awards is a prestigious platform that welcomes submissions from self-published authors, traditional publishing houses, and innovative publishers alike. Entrants can be print or e-book format, because the organization seeks to recognize and celebrate "impactful stories that resonate with excellence." According to their Web site, "Winning an International Impact Book Award is more than an accolade – it’s a testament to the quality and significance of your work."

USA Today best-selling author K.C. Finn said, "Author W.D. Kilpack III presents an atmospheric and immersive journey into a richly crafted fantasy world, balancing a strong character-led adventure with a wider web of plots, setting up a highly complex and enjoyable fantasy saga to follow. There’s a clear flair for character, dialogue, and attitude from the start, with Natharr's intense presence affecting all who encounter him and making for some really dynamic clashes. The weightiness of his responsibilities and the depth of the world-building immediately gripped my attention and, as the story unfolded, the way the characters’ attitudes and actions were shaped by the realism of the worldbuilding was totally compelling. This book delivers on every promise of pulse-pounding adventure — thanks to the swift pacing of the plot, coupled with dark storytelling, strong descriptive skills, and captivating character development that balances emotion with duty well. Overall, I would certainly recommend Crown Prince as an incredible opener to an exciting new fantasy series, and I’m all the more eager to continue exploring this fantastical realm."

In 2020, international best-selling author and philanthropist Nim Stant founded the International Impact Book Awards "to inspire others to unleash their limiting beliefs, commit to their dreams and goals, and take real action."

According to OnlineBookClub.org, "Crown Prince stands out with amazing descriptions, complex characters, and intriguing supernatural elements ... book one in the New Blood series, the storyline is incredibly promising ... the author has a flair for setting the scene and creating memorable characters ... I absolutely loved the descriptive prowess of this author ... Kilpack genuinely takes the time to help us immerse in the fantasy world, no matter if he describes a battle scene, a peaceful moment, or a mythological creature like a Hamadryad or a Manticore, he always manages to conjure the best images in our minds ... the author does a great job of incorporating the supernatural elements in a general atmosphere of myth and legend ... there was nothing I disliked about this novel ... the series has the potential to acquire epic dimensions."

This is the fifth award Kilpack has received for Crown Prince. The other four include finalist in the 2023 Indie Ink Awards Best Mentor Character; 2021 International Firebird Book Award; a runner-up finish in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category of the Online Book Club's 2020 Book of the Year Competition; and the Washington-based podcast, Sinister Soup, named Kilpack Author of the Month in April 2021 for the novel. In total, Kilpack's five novels have earned 23 book awards.

According to Sinister Soup co-founder, Clay Vermulm, "Kilpack delivers a stunning blow to the belief that Indie-Fantasy is worth any less that its salt. Crown Prince is a well-crafted epic with unique plot mechanisms, well-developed and believable characters, and a world grounded in the visceral and the real. I could not recommend this series any higher!"

About Kilpack

Kilpack is an award-winning and critically acclaimed internationally published writer, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television. He has been editor and/or publisher of 19 news and literary publications, both online and in print. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling. For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, consult and educate. For more information go to www.Kilpack.net.

About the International Impact Book Award

Earning the International Impact Book Award signals to readers and media professionals that your book stands out in a crowded literary landscape. We firmly believe that every book deserves the opportunity to be recognized and assessed based on criteria such as content, quality, writing style, presentation, and cover design. For more information go to www.InternationalImpactBookAwards.com.

About Safe Harbor Films, LLC

The name of the company, Safe Harbor Films, is not just a catchy turn of phrase: it is a mission, a mantra, a way of doing business, a way of life. A primary goal at Safe Harbor Films is not just to produce quality entertainment, but to do it in an atmosphere that is safe and secure to let creativity flourish and people to realize their potential. Whether a veteran of the industry or a rookie, we believe in the power of opportunity and generosity. For more information, go to www.SafeHarborFilms.com.