Kilpack's Crown Prince Breaks Out at Outstanding Creator Awards

Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood by award-winning Utah author W.D. Kilpack III swept the most recent Outstanding Creator Awards (OCA) competition, receiving the Ultimate Championship Trophy, Super Championship in Fiction, Best Writing in Fiction, Best Fantasy Book, Best Romance Book, Best Action/Adventure Book, and Best Myths & Legends Book.

OCA Founder Steven Seril said, "A newcomer to our contest, W.D. Kilpack III, really broke out, topping the charts in many categories. Congratulations on a huge success in our recent Outstanding Creator Awards contest!"

OCA breaks its awards into four main sections: Ultimate Champions (a single championship-belt winner, and trophy winners), Super Champions (medals in Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children's Books), Category Winners (for books in categories like Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Myths & Legends, Romance, Science Fiction, etc.) and Special Award Winners (such as Best Writing, Best Character, Most Beautiful Character, Best Couple, etc.).

Although Kilpack's Crown Prince entry did not win the belt, it was awarded an Ultimate Champion Trophy as a top overall finalist, as well as a Super Champion medal in Fiction, category wins for books in Fantasy, Romance, Myths & Legends, Action/Adventure. It also received special awards for Best Writing in Fiction, Best World-Building, Best Character for Natharr and honorable mention in the same category for both Darshelle and Nathan, Most Beautiful Character for Darshelle, Best Couple for Natharr and Darshelle, and Coolest Character for Natharr. It received honorable mention for Best Supporting Character for both Ellis the Elder and King Valane, and for Best Villain for Brandt of the Green. That brings the honor total to seventeen.

Kilpack said, "The results from the Outstanding Creator Contest were really pretty mind-blowing. The 'review' I received was really more of an analysis. I still sometimes have parts of it pop up into my head when I'm sitting around and have to go back and give it another read. Like the name of the contest, it was outstanding."

The most recent contest included multiple doctors (PhDs, MDs, EdDs), a former CIA chief and founder of the CIA Leadership Academy.

Kilpack has published seven novels to date, five in the epic fantasy New Blood Saga (Crown Prince, Order of Light, Demon Seed, Rilari and Vengeance Borne), dystopian military science fiction novel Battle Calm, and the science-fiction novella, Pale Face. Between them, they have won 45 book awards and honors, including the International Impact Book Award, International Firebird Book Award, The BookFest Award, Honorable Mention in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, Editor's Choice and Top Pick from BooksShelf.com, and runner-up finishes in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category of the Online Book Club's Book of the Year Competition. Pale Face is currently in movie development, and book two in the Battle Calm Cycle, Battle Calm: Omega Message, is scheduled for release in July 2025.

According to Sinister Soup podcast co-founder, Clay Vermulm, "Bill [Kilpack] is a wonderful man who works extremely hard on his craft. Kilpack delivers a stunning blow to the belief that Indie-Fantasy is worth any less that its salt [with] well-crafted epic[s] with unique plot mechanisms, well-developed and believable characters, and a world grounded in the visceral and the real."

Excerpts from the OCA Review/Analysis

• "The world in [Crown Prince] seems lived in, featuring its own history and culture. Scratch that, it not only features one history and one culture, there are numerous histories and numerous cultures shared by a diverse and interesting cast of characters. Each region and group introduces unique traditions, beliefs, and conflicts that intertwine seamlessly, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives. This diversity adds depth to the narrative, making the world feel expansive and authentic, as though it exists far beyond the pages of the book."
• "Something that [Crown Prince] does beautifully is to show how there are two sides to every story. In fact, sometimes there are numerous sides to every story. "Savages" and "barbarians" to one group may be heroes to another group. This book masterfully explores how perspective shapes truth, revealing that morality and justice are often subjective. Characters who are portrayed as villains by one faction are shown to have their own motivations, values, and struggles that make them sympathetic or even admirable from another point of view. This nuanced approach challenges readers to question assumptions, recognize the complexity of cultural conflicts, and understand that history is rarely black and white, but rather a collection of interwoven narratives shaped by those who tell them."
• "Darshelle is instantly a compelling character despite being introduced so subtly and in a relatively mundane role (given the enormity of the surrounding succession war and royal family drama). She begins as nothing more than a wet nurse, a role that could have easily left her overshadowed by the larger-than-life figures around her. However, Darshelle is anything but forgettable. From the moment she is introduced, there is an underlying strength and complexity to her that sets her apart. She isn't a warrior, a queen, or a sorceress-she's an ordinary woman thrown into extraordinary circumstances. And yet, she not only survives but thrives, carving out her own space in the narrative alongside characters who are physically stronger, politically more powerful, or mystically gifted."
• "Darshelle ... isn't portrayed as conventionally beautiful, sexy, or hot in the present-day sense. She isn't a skinny young little Barbie with perfectly smooth skin and shiny Revlon hair. In fact, some of her skin is covered in stretch marks-purple, pink, and red ones. However, Natharr-like many men (surprisingly)-finds this attractive, especially since they indicate fertility from an evolutionary standpoint. This is such a refreshing and realistic take on female beauty, especially in a genre where heroines are often described as impossibly flawless. Darshelle's attractiveness isn't based on societal standards but rather on her strength, resilience, and the natural marks of motherhood-things that, in many ways, make her more appealing. Her stretch marks aren't hidden, ignored, or framed as imperfections to be overcome; instead, they are embraced as part of who she is."
• "Natharr's appreciation of [Darshelle is] deeply character-driven. He isn't drawn to her because she fits some idealized vision of beauty; he is drawn to her because she is real-a woman who has endured hardship, brought life into the world, and continues to fight for those she loves. His attraction to her isn't just physical; it is rooted in admiration, respect, and an understanding of the life she has lived. This also adds another layer to their dynamic. Darshelle isn't presented as some untouchable fantasy figure - she's flesh and blood, with all the marks and scars that come with a real life. That makes her connection with Natharr feel more authentic, more earned and, ultimately, more meaningful. It also reinforces one of the book's strongest themes: strength, beauty, and worth are not defined by perfection, but by resilience and character. The relationship she has with Natharr makes this an exceptional romance tale as well as being a fantasy story."

About Kilpack

Kilpack is an award-winning and critically acclaimed science-fiction and fantasy author, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television. He has been editor and/or publisher of 23 news and literary publications, both online and in print, with circulations as high as 770,000. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling. For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is an accomplished cook and has cooked nearly every type of food on a grill. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, consult and educate. For more information go to www.Kilpack.net.

About the Outstanding Creator Awards

The Outstanding Creator Awards (OCA) is a literary and creative arts contest that recognizes talented, passionate, and imaginative people. The prestigious contest has included outstanding individuals including doctors, a two-time governor, a two-time Emmy Award winner, and even a Guinness World-Record holder. Some of the most respected names in the indie-author community have also participated in the contest. OCA provides opportunities to compete with multiple seasonal contests, many categories, and a bonus Best of the Year/End of the Year contest to recognize the best of the best. OCA is also known for its unique "Special Awards" which recognize niche or individual aspects of entries. OCA prides itself on being thorough and thoughtful in its reviewing/judging process, ensuring that each work has been seen and evaluated by an actual person who cares. For more information go to www.OutstandingCreator.com.

PO Box 1418
West Jordan, UT, 84084
author@kilpack.net

W.D. Kilpack III, MPC, PSMC, is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author recognized for his works across various media, including print, online, radio, and television. His writing journey began at the age of nine when he won an award for a poem. As an adult, his first four books - Crown Prince, Order of Light, Demon Seed and Pale Face - each won the International Firebird Book Award and The BookFest Award, with Crown Prince also receiving the International Impact Book Award and, in the Outstanding Creator Awards, won the Ultimate Championship Trophy, Super Champion Medal, Best Fiction Writing, Best Book in the following categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Myths/Legends, and Romance; Best Character for Natharr, Most Beautiful Character for Darshelle, and Best World-Building. His works Demon Seed, Rilari, and Vengeance Borne were featured as Editor's Choice on BooksShelf, and both Order of Light and Rilari were named Top Picks. He earned an Honorable Mention from L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest for his novella Pale Face. To date, his books have garnered 45 awards.

In addition to his writing career, W.D. Kilpack III has served as the editor and publisher of 23 print and online news and literary publications, with circulations as high as 770,000. He is also a partner at Safe Harbor Films, LLC, where he writes screenplays and oversees marketing efforts.

He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from Westminster University, where he double-majored in communication and philosophy and completed the Honors Program. He went on to earn a Master of Professional Communication with a writing emphasis. As a high-performing athlete, he also qualified for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.

For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. Outside of his professional accomplishments, he is an accomplished cook. He resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children.

This release was published on openPR.