Logo of the Military Writers Society of America, featuring an open book, a sword, a quill, and a background of American flag elements.

Military Writers Society of America

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet received the Gold Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America in 2025.

Gold medal award badge from the Military Writers Society of America.
Logo for Book Life Prize with the words 'book' in orange, 'life' in blue, and 'PRIZE' in black, connected by a horizontal line with star icons on both ends.

BookLife Prize Contest

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet earned a critics score of 9.5 out of 10 for BookLife Prize which is one of the highest scores of the year.

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Illumination Book Awards

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet won a Gold Medal in the Illumination Book Awards for the category of Memoir - Personal Struggle in February 2026.

A gold medal with a white ribbon, featuring the text 'ILLUMINATION BOOK AWARDS' and a slogan 'SHINING A LIGHT ON EXEMPLARY CHRISTIAN BOOKS,' against a purple background with gold confetti, indicating it is the 2026 Illumination Book Awards Gold Medal winner.
Gold and black literary award badge with five stars and a laurel wreath, labeled 'Literary Titan Book Award'

Literary Titan Book Awards

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award in Non-Fiction in 2025.

Gold and black Literary Titan Book Award badge with five stars and laurel leaves.
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Chanticleer Intl Book Awards

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet was selected as a 2025 Journey Finalist for Overcoming Adversity in Narrative Non-Fiction by Chanticleer International Book Awards

A badge with a rooster image at the top, the words 'JOURNEY Overcoming Adversity Non-Fiction FINALIST,' and a gold ribbon at the bottom with 'CIBA Chanticleer International Book Awards'.
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Chanticleer Intl Book Awards

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet was selected as a 2025 Military & Front Line Finalist for Non-Fiction Service to Others by Chanticleer International Book Awards

Badge featuring a lion's head, with text indicating a finalist position in the Military & Front Line Narrative Non-Fiction category at the CIBA, Chapterteleer International Book Awards.
Gold circular award badge with black text that reads "Feathered Quill Book Awards Finalist" and features a feather quill pen and ink stand in the center.

Feathered Quill Book Awards

Downriver was recognized by Feathered Quill as a Finalist in the category of Memoir - Inspirational in February 2026.

Gold seal with black text reading "Finalist" in the center, surrounded by the words "Feathered Quill Book Awards Finalist" on a ribbon banner, featuring a quill pen and ink bottle emblem.

Foreward INDIES Book Awards

Downriver was recognized by Foreward INDIES as a Finalist in the category of War & Military (Non-Fiction) in March 2026.

A circular badge with the words 'Indie Reader' around the edge and a red stamp across the center reading 'Approved'.

Indie Reader Reviews

Downriver was designated by Indie Reader as “Indie Reader Approved” based upon scoring by a literary critic,

A circular badge with a red stamp that reads 'Approved' across the center. The outer ring says 'Indie Reader' at the top and bottom. The badge has a vintage, distressed look.
A graphic with a black background featuring pink and white hearts, stars, and lines radiating outward. The text "LoveReading" is centered in a pink semi-circle with "INDIE BOOKS WE LOVE" around the bottom edge.

LoveReading (UK)

Downriver was designated by LoveReading (UK) as “Indie Books We Love” based upon scoring by a literary critic.

Logo for LoveReading, a pink bowl with white hearts, stars, and the words 'LoveReading' and 'INDIE BOOKS WE LOVE'.