SFFMedia congratulates Dora Machado on the nomination of her debut novel, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, for a Benjamin Franklin Award. Dora is one of three finalists in the Franklin's Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Fiction) category. The novel is also a finalist in ForeWord's Book of the Year Award, in the SFF category. Winners of the Benjamin Franklin Award will be announced on 28 May, and we wish Dora all the best.
In her debut novel, Dora Machado has crafted an enticing tale about a rebellious and head-strong young woman learning the truth about herself and the world in which she lives. The farther we travel with the novel's troubled heroine, Sariah, the more interesting and complex her world becomes, opening up unexpected vistas. For all its magic and wonder, Machado's fantasy is not escapist, and despite the humour and elements of romance it's not for the faint-hearted. There's a commitment to reality in her novels that makes for grim and yet satisfying reading.
Don't forget to enter our competition for a signed copy of Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone, the second novel in the Stonewiser trilogy. This is a great opportunity to pick up a signed copy of a novel by an author who is clearly gaining recognition and acclaim.
Read our review of the first novel, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, an interview with Dora we did last year, and our review of the new novel, Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone.
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