Gerald Everett Jones’ Jonathan’s Journal earns NYC Big Book Award honor

Gerald Everett Jones’ historical novel Jonathan’s Journal was named a Distinguished Favorite in the 2026 NYC Big Book Award’s General Fiction category. The recognition adds to the book’s momentum after it also won Gold at The BookFest Spring competition.

Why it matters: - The NYC Big Book Award recognition puts "Jonathan’s Journal" in a field judged across the book industry and includes entries from major publishers and indie presses. - The award gives Gerald Everett Jones broader visibility for a novel that centers the often-overlooked Mesopotamian front of World War I. - The book’s subject matter connects a historical war story to modern questions about empire, secrecy, and geopolitical strategy.

What happened: - The 2026 NYC Big Book Award named "Jonathan’s Journal" a Distinguished Favorite in General Fiction. - The award judges included publishers, writers, editors, designers, booksellers, librarians and professional copywriters. - Earlier this year, "Jonathan’s Journal" won Gold in The BookFest Spring competition. - Gerald Everett Jones said the General Fiction recognition was especially meaningful because it was his first win in that category.

The details: - "Jonathan’s Journal" follows a modern art historian who finds a handwritten World War I diary among his late mother’s belongings. - The diary is signed only with the historian’s initials. - The journal traces a British officer’s path from the Devon coast to France and then to the Middle East. - The story ties the officer’s experience to imperial ambition, oil routes and the strategic importance of the Suez Canal. - The novel uses dual narration, pairing the modern scholar’s investigation with the soldier’s account. - The book blends literary fiction, historical research, geopolitical intrigue and second-chance romance. - The novel is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and through major distributors. - The NYC Big Book Award receives submissions worldwide from first-time indie authors, established names, large presses and small presses. - Named publishers on the awarded list included LaPuerta Books and Media, Beacon Press, Berrett-Koehler, Casemate, Edinburgh University Press, Forbes Books, Kiplinger Books, NYU Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Rizzoli, Routledge, University of California Press, University of Nebraska Press, Weaving Influence Press and Wiley. - Other highlighted winners and Distinguished Favorites included "Essentials Vol. 1," "Catch People Doing Things Right," "White House Memories 1970 – 2007:" and "Eternal Love."

Between the lines: - The recognition suggests continued interest in World War I stories that move beyond the Western Front. - The novel’s structure points to a theme of historical recovery, where a present-day investigation reshapes how the past is understood. - The award list places an indie-published title alongside books tied to major houses and well-known institutions, which can help signal reach and credibility.

What’s next: - The New York City Big Book Awards will continue sharing the 2026 Winners and Distinguished Favorites list with readers. - Jones is likely to use the award momentum to widen attention for "Jonathan’s Journal" across retail and distributor channels. - More readers can find the book through its existing sales outlets and the awards listing.