Barry Maher's debut novel, The Great Dick (ISBN 978-1968532130, Crystal Lake Publishing, 2025), has been nominated for the Literary Titan Book Award. The award honors books that exemplify exceptional standards in presenting original content, and the nomination underscores the novel's critical acclaim since its release in September.
The novel follows Stephen Witowski, a down-on-his-luck drifter whose encounter with a mysterious woman sets off a surreal chain of events mixing noir suspense, supernatural tension, and biting social satire. Set in the sun-scorched landscape of Southern California, the story explores guilt, greed, and redemption through a darkly humorous lens.
Maher, known for his nonfiction works such as Filling the Glass and No Lie: Truth Is the Ultimate Sales Tool, has been praised by New York Times bestselling authors. Jacquelyn Mitchard called it "compulsively readable," Gayle Lynds hailed Maher as "a brilliant new talent," and Michael Prescott described it as "a witches' brew of sensual tension, metaphysical speculation, lurid crime, tabloid scandal, and black magic—all served up with sly wit."
The nomination is significant as the Literary Titan Book Award is considered a leading book award in the publishing industry, recognizing both fiction and nonfiction works for innovative narrative structure, compelling argumentation, and elegant prose. For The Great Dick, the nomination highlights Maher's successful transition from nonfiction to fiction and his ability to deliver a genre-bending story that resonates with readers.
"I'm deeply honored and humbled by this nomination," said Maher. "This book started as an exploration of how we define ourselves through failure and redemption, and I'm thrilled that readers and critics alike have connected with that journey."
The novel has already earned a loyal following and critical acclaim, positioning Maher as a distinctive new voice in fiction. More information about the award can be found at Literary Titan. Details about The Great Dick are available through Crystal Lake Publishing.
