August 2025

Early Praise for Simpleman

Curnes’ Simpleman named GRAND PRIZE SILVER AWARD WINNER in the 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards. The novel also won the GOLD AWARD for LGBTQIA+ FICTION in the 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards, and earned BEST BOOK OVERALL for the CANADA WEST REGION in the 2025 Reader Views Regional Literary Awards. Simpleman also earned the 2025 Royal Dragonfly BEST LGBTQ2+ FICTION prize, (the fourth Curnes title to win this prestigious award). Simpleman also picked up three Honourable Mentions for Best Fiction, Best Cover and Best Interior Book Design in the 2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.

The story begins in 2025, and the plot unfolds in reverse, a la Christopher Nolan’s film, Memento. Now, please don’t let this dissuade you, because Curnes knows how to write, and he is careful to fill in just enough space to keep the reader interested and get them to the big reveal, the ending. Or the beginning, since we’re reading backwards.

The prose is thoughtful and fluent, illuminating the subtle undercurrents
that drive interplay between the story’s characters. Curnes’s representation of the relationship between Ronald and Mitch is an intriguing study on the complexities of human attachment. 

BookLife Prize, October 6, 2025

Simpleman book trailer:

Multiple Award-Winning Author

SIMPLEMAN was named the GRAND PRIZE SILVER AWARD WINNER in the 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards. In the same juried literary contest, SIMPLEMAN was also the GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER for LGBTQIA+ FICTION as well as the CANADA WEST REGIONAL BEST BOOK WINNER. Previously, SIMPLEMAN was selected as the BEST LGBTQIA+ FICTION WINNER of the 2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.