Downpour Named Finalist for Booklife Fiction Prize

Downpour has been named a finalist for the Booklife Prize in fiction.

The Booklife Prize was created by Publishers Weekly to honor superior achievements in independently published fiction, as decided by a panel of guest judges. Entries are evaluated on a scale of one to ten in four categories: Plot/Idea, Prose, Originality, and Character/Execution. Downpour scored a perfect ten in all four categories.

Here's some of what the judges had to say about the book:

“The genius behind Hawkins’s plot is his skill at revamping a natural phenomenon into a malignant, evil force. Suspense builds from the start, and readers will be on the edge of their seats until the very last sentence.”

“Hawkins is a polished, talented storyteller, with chilling prose that splatters visceral fright across the pages. The book’s setup is intense, and the writing style delivers shocking turns through succinct, measured phrasing.”

“The book’s premise—incessant rain that turns humans into uncontrollable, deadly creatures—is an extraordinarily original concept, and Hawkins melds the moments of horror and the characters’ experiences into an epic, not-to-be-missed read.”

As a finalist, Downpour will compete with finalists in other genres for a $5,000 cash prize. The winner will be announced on December 11, 2023.