Polly Holmes

Meet Polly Holmes, the sassy, multi award-winning alter ego of Amazon best-selling author P.L. Harris! When she's not weaving romantic suspense tales as P.L. Harris, Polly's concocting her next deliciously devious murder mystery. She's a proud member of Romance Writers of Australia, Peter Cowan Writers Centre, with a Certificate in Romance Writing to boot! Polly's cozy mysteries are like a warm hug, brimming with rich storylines and characters that stick with you long after the final page. She whips up food-themed and paranormal cozy mysteries, along with paranormal women’s fiction and romantic suspense, all served exclusively by Gumnut Press. Nestled near the beach in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, Polly shares her cozy abode with her adorable Bichon Frise, Bella. When she's not writing, you might catch her sipping coffee at her favorite café, binge-watching Murder, She Wrote or Charmed, or strolling by the beach, soaking up that fresh, salty air. Awards and Accolades As P.L Harris, Hidden Secrets was a finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s 2017 IDA International Digital Awards, young adult category. Callie’s Dilemma, was a finalist in the Virginia Romance Writers of America’s 2017 Fools of Love Contest, short contemporary romance short category. In His Protection was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award. (Due to receiving a publishing contract, it had to be withdrawn from the contest). In His Protection won first place in 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in the short romantic suspense category. As P.L. Harris, she was a double finalist in the 2021 RWAus Sapphire Award and placed second in the 2022 RWAus Sapphire Award. Under the name Polly Holmes, she received equal third in the RWAus Ruby Book of the Year for The Secret Society in the speculative fictions category. She won silver in the 2020 ROAR! National Business Awards in the Writer/Blogger/Author category and, for the second year in a row, she was a finalist in the 2021 ROAR! National Business Awards winning bronze in the Writer/Blogger/Author and gold in the Hustle and Heart categories. She was a finalist in the Author category in the 2022 Mumpreneur Awards. The Secret Legacy received third place in the 2023 National Excellence in Story Telling Contest (NEST). As Polly Holmes, Cupcakes and Corpses was a finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s 2019 IDA International Digital Awards, short suspense category. Cupcakes and Curses claimed second place and Cupcakes and Cyanide gained third place, making it a clean sweep in the category. In the 2022, Muffins & Magic and Mistletoe, Murder & Mayhem by Polly Holmes and Deadly Obsession, by P.L. Harris were long-listed in the Davitt Awards, a prestigious award run by the Sisters of Crime, Australia. Muffins & Magic is a finalist in the 2022 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards followed by Black Magic Murder was successful in gaining a finalist position in the 2023 Silver Falchion Awards, it also received fifth place in the 2024 National Excellence in Story Telling Contest. (NEST). In 2023, for her contribution to writing and publishing, Polly’s alter ego Peta Flanigan won silver in the Women in Literature category of the International Women Changing the World Award presented by Dr. Terarai Trent. She was a finalist in the 2023 ALABI Awards with the Australian Ladies in Business Initiative and she also received Gold in Writer/Blogger/Author category as well as the Hustle and Heart category in the 2023! ROAR! National Business Awards.