I’m thrilled to announce that my novel won.....
David Hearne, Editor In Chief of PenCraft Awards
We are delighted to announce that, after careful review, the judges of the 2026 Spring Seasonal PenCraft Book Awards have selected your book, "A Deadly Calm in Cedar Key," as the Spring Best Book winner in the “Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth” Genre.
We aim for the PenCraft Book Awards to honor genuine standouts—and your book met that standard. Winners in our competition exemplify literary excellence and have shown strong reader appeal.
This season’s competition was intense—more than 370 entries showcased remarkable talent and creativity across many genres. Every submission offered something distinct, making judging both demanding and exciting. Being a winner in the 2026 Spring competition is a noteworthy accomplishment: you have risen above a large field of strong contenders and stood out among exceptional writers and storytellers. This achievement reflects your dedication and hard work as an author.
Your book, “ A Deadly Calm in Cedar Key” remains eligible for one more seasonal PenCraft Book Award and will also compete in the 2026 Annual PenCraft Book Awards, marking our 10th anniversary of literary competitions.
Award Winning Author Ed Braddy
Edward Boyd Braddy
Edward Braddy was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and grew up in Dixie County, where the Suwannee River meets the Gulf. He attended Santa Fe College, the University of Florida, and earned a Master’s degree in history at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. With over twenty-five years of experience in higher education, he has also served in elective office, first as a city commissioner and later as mayor in Gainesville, Florida. In addition to his public service, Braddy is a crime thriller writer, known for his debut novel, 'A Deadly Calm in Cedar Key,' which showcases gripping Florida stories. He and his wife, Pauline, both love the outdoors and enjoy the tranquility of Old Town, Florida, where they reside as he continues to craft his next murder mystery.
Ed and Pauline loving life
Sneak Peek into A Deadly Calm in Cedar Key
WHAT AUTHORS KRISTIN MCTIERNAN AND NICK WEST HAVE TO SAY
"A GRIPPING CRIME THRILLER WITH LITERARY DEPTH. A DEADLY CALM IN CEDAR KEY immerses readers in a storm-torn Florida setting that jumps off the page. The fraught father-son relationship at its heart adds genuine emotional weight to the twists and turns. This thought-provoking, chilling debut novel is impossible to put down --- it’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after the final page!"
KRISTIN MCTIERNAN, AUTHOR OF THE TWITTER CRUSH
"IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MR. BRADDY'S FIRST NOVEL AS A MURDER MYSTERY AUTHOR. He grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and held it through the last. The crime thriller writer takes you on an exciting journey through the flawed yet sympathetic character of a disgraced, aging lawman in the small village of Cedar Key on Florida's Gulf Coast. He returns from forced retirement to solve the murder of his best friend. This is a story that will take your breath and your heart, and it is well worth the investment of your time to read. I am already looking forward to his next book!" IS
NICK WEST, AUTHOR OF STORM OF THE CENTURY