Fairfield native and award-winning author Clinton H. Simpson has earned first-place honors in the Fall 2026 BookFest Awards for his horror novel, Ready or Not, Here I Come: The Origin of Harlan Hayes.
Simpson, who now resides in Vandalia, Illinois, received the award in the Fiction, Horror, Ghosts and Paranormal category. The honor was announced as part of The BookFest Fall 2026 awards celebration, with entries evaluated by The BookFest judging team and its executive awards committee.
The novel draws inspiration from folklore surrounding Shannon County, Missouri, and the legend of Harlan Hayes, a young boy who died in 1883 but, according to the legend, never truly left.
The story centers on a chilling local legend in which anyone who touches Harlan’s headstone and says, “Tag, you’re it,” becomes part of a deadly game. The novel is the first installment in the Harlan Hayes series, with a sequel titled Aftermath 2026 planned for release in 2027.
“Winning First Place in Horror is an honor I do not take lightly,” Simpson said. “Harlan Hayes is the kind of legend that gets under your skin and stays there. I am grateful to The BookFest judges, and to every reader who has been brave enough to step into his game.”
Simpson is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling author specializing in thrillers, horror, and post-apocalyptic fiction. His Palisade trilogy, which begins with Palisade Meridian: Fallout Cruise, has surpassed one million pages read through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program.
In addition to his writing career, Simpson owns an insurance agency in Vandalia, where he lives with his wife, Marla. The couple is currently recording the audiobook edition of Ready or Not, Here I Come in their home studio.
The award-winning novel is available in Kindle and paperback editions through Amazon. Signed paperback copies can also be purchased through Simpson’s publishing website at www.palisadepublishing.com.