BookFest Gold for Towles

Lisa Towles Wins First Place at The BookFest Awards for The Weight of Cold Things

Lisa Towles has received First Place in the Psychological Thriller category at the Fall 2026 BookFest Awards for her latest novel, The Weight of Cold Things.

The BookFest is a twice-yearly virtual literary event that brings readers, authors, and publishing professionals together, with awards recognizing outstanding fiction and nonfiction across a wide range of genres. Books undergo a three-stage judging process, beginning with eligibility screening, followed by evaluations from judges with expertise in their respective literary fields. Final assessments are conducted by The BookFest Bellwethers, a panel of experts from the literary and entertainment industries. Learn more about the awards and judging process at TheBookFest.com.

Published in August 2026, The Weight of Cold Things is a propulsive, psychologicall thriller that follows Wyoming Deputy Sheriff Gretchen "Gree" Gooding into a disturbing investigation involving disappearances, buried secrets, and a conspiracy reaching into the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness.

Blending psychological suspense, environmental intrigue, and a deeply personal exploration of grief, the novel examines what happens when the past refuses to stay buried.

The BookFest recognition adds to the novel's growing list of literary honors, including a Literary Titan Gold Book Award and a Readers' Choice Silver Award.

Towles is the author of 16 books, including the E&A Investigations series and numerous standalone crime thrillers. She is also the founder of Story Impact, a multimedia platform dedicated to the power of storytelling through publishing, podcasting, and author development.

The Weight of Cold Things is available in paperback and Kindle editions through Amazon and all retail booksellers.

Learn more about Lisa Towles and her books at lisatowles.com.