Barry Maher's 'The Great Dick' Nominated for Literary Titan Book Award

Barry Maher's debut novel "The Great Dick" has earned a prestigious Literary Titan Book Award nomination, recognizing what critics are calling one of the most original debuts of the year. Published by Crystal Lake Publishing in September 2025, the novel follows Stephen Witowski, a down-on-his-luck drifter whose encounter with a mysterious woman triggers a surreal chain of events blending noir suspense, supernatural tension, and biting social satire. Maher's striking blend of dark humor, psychological depth, and genre-bending storytelling has earned both a loyal following and critical acclaim, with the author expressing deep honor at the nomination for this leading book award in the publishing industry.

The novel's nomination for the Literary Titan Book Award—bestowed upon books that exemplify exceptional standards in original content presentation—comes alongside glowing endorsements from New York Times bestselling authors Jacquelyn Mitchard, Gayle Lynds, and Michael Prescott. Mitchard described "The Great Dick" as "compulsively readable," while Lynds hailed Maher as "a brilliant new talent" and Prescott characterized the work as "a witches' brew of sensual tension, metaphysical speculation, lurid crime, tabloid scandal, and black magic—all served up with sly wit." The book takes readers on a wild ride through guilt, greed, and redemption set against the sun-scorched landscape of Southern California, drawing comparisons to both classic American anti-heroes and modern thrillers.

Maher, previously known for his nonfiction works including "Filling the Glass" and "No Lie: Truth Is the Ultimate Sales Tool" that have been featured in major publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, marks his highly acclaimed fiction debut with this psychologically complex narrative. The Literary Titan Book Award specifically honors books that demonstrate meticulous development of unique characters presented in authentically engaging contexts, valuing innovative narrative structures and the craft of elegant prose that transforms simple words into compelling, beautifully constructed text. This nomination represents a significant achievement for both Maher and Crystal Lake Publishing in the competitive literary landscape.