Chronicles of the Grim Reaper began with a simple idea and grew into a collection of stories about life, loss, love, friendship, sacrifice, compassion, and hope, all seen through the eyes of a figure so often misunderstood.
I am incredibly grateful that these stories have connected with readers and have now been honored through multiple literary awards and recognitions. From First Place and category wins to Author of the Year Finalist and Distinguished Author honors, each recognition represents another meaningful milestone in a journey I never imagined when I first began writing these stories.
What matters most to me, however, is what exists beyond the awards: the conversations these stories have started, the perspectives they have changed, and the readers who have welcomed the Reaper into their lives and come to see him differently.
These honors belong to everyone who has read the books, recommended them to others, left a review, shared a story, or simply spent time in the Reaper's world. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping these stories reach farther than I ever imagined.
I am honored to share that I have been named a Distinguished Author by the International Impact Book Awards for Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 2 in the Short Story Collection/Anthologies category.
This recognition is presented for Outstanding Literary Achievement and, as stated on the award certificate, recognizes an outstanding contribution to authorship and storytelling and the significance of the work within the global literary landscape.
Receiving this recognition for Volume 2 means so much to me. When I began writing Chronicles of the Grim Reaper, I wanted to take a figure so often associated with darkness and fear and show him differently. In these stories, the Grim Reaper is a silent, empathetic presence who witnesses the lives, final moments, and journeys of the souls he encounters.
Volume 2 allowed me to continue building that world, introduce new souls and stories, and explore more of the Reaper himself while remaining true to the heart of the series.
I am incredibly grateful to the International Impact Book Awards for this recognition and to everyone who has read, supported, shared, reviewed, and encouraged the Chronicles of the Grim Reaper series.
Recognition: Distinguished Author — Outstanding Literary Achievement
Category: Short Story Collection/Anthologies
Award Organization: International Impact Book Awards
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 2
Author: Griz Calderon
Awarded: September 2026
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was named a Winner of the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Awards in the Short Stories, Fiction category.
The IndieReader Discovery Awards recognize outstanding independently published books and connect winning authors with members of the publishing, media, entertainment, and literary communities. The 2026 competition included more than 1,000 submissions across more than 50 categories, making it the largest and most competitive award cycle in the program's history.
This recognition holds special meaning for Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1, a collection that approaches the Grim Reaper from an unexpected perspective. Rather than portraying him as something to fear, the stories present him as a silent guide and witness to the lives and final moments of the souls he encounters. Through these individual stories, the collection explores life, connection, compassion, courage, friendship, loss, and hope.
For Griz Calderon, the series began with a simple question: What if the Grim Reaper wasn't the villain we often imagine him to be? That idea grew into a collection told through the perspective of someone who witnesses every ending but is never truly part of the story.
Receiving the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award recognizes both the storytelling within Volume 1 and the distinctive interpretation of the Reaper at the heart of the series.
Recognition: 2026 IndieReader Discovery Awards — Winner
Category: Short Stories, Fiction
Award Organization: IndieReader
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Winner Announcement: May 28, 2026
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was named a Winner of the 2026 Independent Press Award in the Anthology category.
The Independent Press Award recognizes quality and excellence in book publishing. Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 received official recognition in the 2026 awards program for its achievement in the Anthology category.
The award recognizes a collection that approaches one of literature's most familiar figures from a different perspective. Rather than portraying the Grim Reaper as a figure of fear or evil, the stories present him as a silent, empathetic presence who witnesses the lives and final moments of the souls he encounters.
Published in 2025, Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 brings together interconnected and standalone stories exploring life, loss, friendship, sacrifice, courage, compassion, and hope. Through each encounter, the collection looks beyond death itself and focuses instead on the lives that came before it and the meaning found within them.
Receiving the 2026 Independent Press Award recognizes both the storytelling within Volume 1 and the distinctive vision behind the Chronicles of the Grim Reaper series.
Recognition: 2026 Independent Press Award — Winner
Category: Anthology
Award Organization: Independent Press Award
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Award Date: January 19, 2026
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was officially selected as a 2026 Author of the Year Finalist by the International Impact Book Awards in the Dark Fantasy Anthologies category.
The recognition was announced on April 22, 2026, following an evaluation by the International Impact Book Awards judging committee. According to the award organization, works were evaluated based on clarity of message, originality, impact, and overall quality of writing.
Being named an Author of the Year Finalist recognizes both the book and the vision behind the Chronicles of the Grim Reaper series: presenting the Grim Reaper from a different perspective, not as a figure of fear or evil, but as a silent, empathetic presence who witnesses the final moments of the souls he encounters.
Published in 2025, Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 introduced readers to this interpretation of the Reaper through a collection of stories exploring life, loss, compassion, choice, and what may exist beyond an ending.
Recognition: Author of the Year 2026 — Finalist
Category: Dark Fantasy Anthologies
Award Organization: International Impact Book Awards
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Finalist Notification: April 22, 2026
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was named a Winner of the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the Short Story Collection, Anthologies and Thematic Collections category.
The International Impact Book Awards recognize books that demonstrate excellence in storytelling, creativity, and the ability to connect with readers. Winning titles are selected from submissions across a wide range of genres and categories and are recognized for making a meaningful contribution to the literary world.
This recognition celebrates the distinctive vision behind Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1. The collection reimagines a figure traditionally associated with darkness and fear, presenting the Grim Reaper instead as a silent, empathetic presence who witnesses the lives and final moments of the souls he encounters.
Published in 2025, Volume 1 brings together interconnected and standalone stories centered on the Reaper and the people, animals, and other souls whose paths cross his. Through these encounters, the collection explores love, friendship, sacrifice, courage, loss, compassion, and hope while inviting readers to consider endings from a different perspective.
Receiving the International Impact Book Award recognizes both the storytelling within Volume 1 and its compassionate interpretation of the Grim Reaper, the idea at the heart of the Chronicles of the Grim Reaper series.
Recognition: 2025 International Impact Book Awards — Winner
Category: Short Story Collection, Anthologies and Thematic Collections
Award Organization: International Impact Book Awards
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Awarded: November 2025
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was featured by American Book Fest in both the Fantasy & Science Fiction and Short Story categories in connection with the 2026 Best Book Awards.
The dual-category recognition highlights two aspects of Volume 1 that define the collection: its imaginative interpretation of the Grim Reaper and its structure as a collection of individual short stories connected by a recurring central figure.
Published in 2025, Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 reimagines the Grim Reaper not as a figure of fear, but as a quiet, compassionate presence who witnesses the lives and final moments of the souls he encounters. The stories move across different times, places, and experiences, including encounters with humans, animals, and mythical beings, while exploring life, loss, friendship, courage, compassion, and the choices that shape a life.
Being featured in two categories provides recognition for the book's ability to cross traditional genre boundaries. Its fantasy elements establish the world of the Reaper, while its short-story format allows each soul and encounter to tell its own story within the larger collection.
Recognition: 2026 Best Book Awards — Featured Listing
Categories: Fantasy & Science Fiction | Short Story
Organization: American Book Fest
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Recognition Period: 2025–2026
Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 was awarded First Place in the Short Stories category at The BookFest Fall 2025 Awards.
The BookFest Awards recognize books for excellence in storytelling, originality, and impact across a wide range of genres and audiences. As part of its Fall 2025 recognition, The BookFest also featured Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1 among its “Outstanding Reads from The BookFest Awards,” a curated selection highlighting notable winners from the season.
This recognition celebrates the storytelling and distinctive perspective at the heart of Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1. Rather than portraying the Grim Reaper as a figure of fear, the collection presents him as a quiet, compassionate presence who witnesses the lives and final moments of the souls he encounters.
Published in 2025, Volume 1 brings together stories involving humans, animals, and other beings, each offering a different perspective on life, loss, friendship, sacrifice, courage, compassion, and hope. Through the Reaper's observations, the collection focuses not simply on how a life ends, but on the experiences, relationships, and choices that gave that life meaning.
Receiving First Place from The BookFest recognizes the collection's approach to short-form storytelling and the compassionate interpretation of the Grim Reaper that defines the series. The official award certificate describes the honor as acknowledging a contribution to the world of literature and books.
Recognition: The BookFest Fall 2025 Awards — First Place
Category: Short Stories
Award Organization: The BookFest
Book: Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 1
Author: Griz Calderon
Original Publication: 2025
Awarded: Fall 2025 (October)
