Clara Fay has won three international literary awards for her debut fiction novel.

The Bermudian author released Mark of a Crescent Moon in April, and it has gone on to win the 2023 Readers’ Favourite International Book Award, the Brag Medallion (Book Readers’ Appreciation Group) and the 2023 IAN Book of the Year Award.

Named a Silver Medal winner in the Fiction-Fantasy-General category, Mark of a Crescent Moon was highlighted by the 2023 Readers' Favourite as “magical and suspenseful” and “an unforgettable adventure of romance, magic and so much more”, Ms Fay said.

She added that the Readers' Favourite International Book Award featured thousands of contestants from more than a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to New York Times bestsellers and celebrities.

A gold Brag Medallion was awarded to Mark of a Crescent Moon based on scores against a comprehensive list of relevant literary criteria.

Books that earn a gold Brag Medallion have gone through a rigorous review process, which includes reviews of the quality of the writing, editing, formatting and cover.

Only 20 per cent to 25 per cent of books nominated for the award receive the distinction of the medallion, Ms Fay said.

Her book was named as a finalist in the 2023 IAN Book of the Year awards in the First Book 40,000 to 80,000 Words category.

Ms Fay said the qualities that the IAN Book of the Year recognises include vibrant covers, attention-grabbing openings, memorable characters, crisp dialogue, captivating and original plots, and climactic, memorable endings.

After retiring from a 30-year career with Bacardi, which is headquartered in Bermuda, Ms Fay turned her hand to writing fiction and non-fiction.

She is also the author of two non-fiction books, Greater than a Tourist — Bermuda and 50 Things to know about Birds in Bermuda.

Published by Wild Geese Bookworks, Mark of a Crescent Moon is sold at The Bookmart and the Bermuda Bookstore. It is also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Ms Fay is holding a book-signing event at The Bookmart in Brown & Co on Friday, December 8, from noon to 3pm.