HUMOR COLLECTION IS TOP BOOK OF THE 2025 BEACH BOOK FESTIVAL

LOS ANGELES_ A collection of short stories by one of America’s foremost humorists is the top book of the 2025 Beach Book Festival, which honors summer’s hottest reads.

AuthorClifford Fazzolari’s Are You An Idiot? Is a look at the universe through the eyes of a writer who sees the story in everything. It’s funny, feel-good, and a perfect beach read for the summer.

“Are you an idiot? Day after day, week after week, year after year, there was always a situation that would bring the question to the forefront,” writes Fazzolari. “Through it all, it dawned on me that the best way to answer such a question was with a sense of humor, and an opportunity to grow. There are many people who have shared in the story of my life, and this is my attempt to answer that question for them. I just might be.”

Other winners in the competition:

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

WINNER: Francis at the Beach - D.G. Stern

RUNNERS-UP:

• The Dachshund Dash - Michelle Medlock Adams
• Catching Memories - Peggy Lotz
• Bella and Bird Explore Anger - Deana Plaskon, PhD, LMHC

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• True Friends Indeed - Ralph Tufo
• The Selfish Shellfish and the Sick Sea - Andrea Harrison
• The Sock Monster - Nathanael Stump
• Seasons Change and So Do I - Carol Vigoda-Fuchs

GENERAL FICTION:

WINNER: Dinner at God’s House - Todd B. Lieman

RUNNERS-UP:

• The Cabernet Club - Margie Zable-Fisher & Rona Zable
• Bella and Bird Explore Anger - Deana Plaskon, PhD, LMHC
• Attacking the Dragon - A. Marc Ross

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• Solomon’s Porch - Janet Morris Grimes
• A Commotion on the Ocean - Carolyn Summer Quinn
• Jenna Slade: Enemy Within - Rich Blecher

HEALTH:

WINNER: Embrace Your Shadows - Christina Prokos

RUNNER-UP: When Cells Rebel - Lawrence Kane & Kris Wilder


GENERAL NONFICTION:

WINNER: Are You an Idiot? - Clifford Fazzolari

RUNNER-UP: Finding Real Yoga - Daren Black

HONORABLE MENTION:

• Go for Third - Derek Volk

ROMANCE:

WINNER: Maddie + Max - Megan Effertz

RUNNERS-UP:

• An Improbable Alliance - Diane Cola-Ramsay
• Living on a Prayer - Katrina Alexander
• The Game - Eve M. Riley

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• The Next Round - Eva Frances
• Silver Lake Awakening - D.D. Franklin

MEMOIR:

• WINNER: Hiding in Plain Sight - I.M. Enough

BUSINESS:

WINNER: Go For Third - Derek Volk


YOUNG ADULT:

WINNER: Faking It - Terri DeMitchell

RUNNER-UP: The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor - D.R. Berlin


SCIENCE FICTION:

WINNER: Republic of Mars - Sam Sammane

RUNNER-UP: Northfield Saga 4: Storm Break

HONORABLE MENTION:

• Nanite Evolution - B.D. Murphy

COMPILATIONS/ANTHOLOGIES:

WINNER: I Dream I Wake I Write - Jane Ruby


WILD CARD:

WINNER: Blonde Haired Girl’s The Scientist - Jayme Tener

RUNNER-UP: T.V. Holiday’s Cataclysm - T.V. Holiday

HONORABLE MENTION:

• Slaying Paradise - T.V. Holiday

POETRY:

WINNER: And you cannot tell me, why I must not love you anymore - Natia Khaduri

HOW-TO:

WINNER: The Warrior’s Garden - Richard Ryan

SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS:

WINNER: Moonlight Cruise - Yurie Kiri

RUNNER-UP: Finding Real Yoga - Daren Black