BookFest 2026 award winner

Twila Mason won third place in contemporary romance for the book Step by Step at The Spring 2026 BookFest® Awards 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

04/12/2026 

Bloomfield, Missouri — Twila Mason is a third-place winner of The BookFest Awards Spring 2026 for the book titled Step by Step. The book is honored in the contemporary romance category. 

The BookFest honors authors who create outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction. The BookFest's mission is rooted in the belief that literature has transformative power and, in a desire to support and celebrate those who create it. 

Desireé Duffy, Founder of The BookFest, emphasizes, “Now more than ever, it's essential to honor authors and creatives for their crucial role in shaping the stories that define our humanity. Books transport us to different worlds, offer new adventures, and allow us to reflect on our own lives while fostering empathy. By celebrating the accomplishments of authors, we elevate literature and, in turn, elevate ourselves.” 

Twila Mason says, "Being selected as a winner of The BookFest Awards is an incredible honor. I appreciate all those who have supported me in this journey." 

For more information about The BookFest Awards and to see the list of winners, please visit the Awards Page on The BookFest website.  

To watch the Salute to The BookFest Award Winners video montage, or to see recordings of The BookFest videos, please visit the Programming Page of The BookFest Website. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

 Twila Mason has been writing her own stories since she learned how to read. She is a writer of romance, women's fiction, poetry, and short stories. Her work explores raw emotions and the complexities of life while finding hope within every obstacle. 

After obtaining a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology, she decided to follow her lifelong dream of putting her fictional stories out into the world. She lives the rural, small-town life in Missouri with her husband, two kids, and menagerie of animals. When she's not reading or writing, Twila can be found crafting, farming, doing home improvement projects, or going on adventures with her family.

About The BookFest Adventure® 

The BookFest is the leader in virtual literary events, producing vital conversations on the world’s stage for those who love to read and those who love to write. It launched in May 2020, at a time when many live events were canceled. Free to attend, the biannual event takes place in the spring and fall, streaming panel discussions, conversations, and live interactive sessions. As an award-winning event, The BookFest has received recognition from the Webby Awards with a nomination in 2021, a gold award from the Muse Creative Awards in 2020, and a silver award from the w3 Awards in 2020. The BookFest features an array of literary speakers, experts, and authors, including: Mitch Albom; Kevin J. Anderson; Angela Bole; Mark Coker; James Dashner; Robert G. Diforio; Dr. Michael Greger; Cheryl Willis Hudson; Wade Hudson; Sarah Kendzior; Jonathan Maberry; Josh Malerman; Lisa Morton; Karla Olson; Deborah M. Pratt; James Rollins; Connie Schultz; Michael Shermer; Mark K. Shriver; Danny Trejo; Helene Wecker; Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, and many others. The BookFest is presented by Books That Make You and produced by Black Château Enterprises. The BookFest is a registered trademark of Desireé Duffy, founder of all three. For more information, visit The BookFest.com.