#msa2021

CLICK HERE to view all the nominees and cast your votes!

Voting is limited by IP address to one vote per week. (This means each person can vote a total of two times before polls are closed.) Polls close at 11:59pm PST on February 1st, 2022. Winners will be announced on February 7th, 2022.

Best ZA (Complete)

and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

Carnie by Mrox

Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Lay Your Cheek On Down by MissMadimeow

The Crooked Trail by atomicbombshell

Two for the Road by devils_might_heed_us

what we gotta do by SquishyCool

Best ZA (WIP)

A Changed World by LittleG98

Blondie by asavoy1019

Boxed by twinswolf

Brave New World by LeathernLaces

Do Not Go Gentle by Darylslover33

Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Linger by deerntheheadlights

Magnolia by galadrieljones

Nature, Nurture, Heaven and Home by devils_might_heed_us

survival is insufficient by sheriffandsteel

Sweet Willow by CherryParfait

Terms and Conditions by Rckyfrk

Ten days and a full moon by Ylvi_on_the_Road

The Good Stars by dynamicsymmetry

You Do Me Good by witchmars

What Signs Remain by lindentree

Best AU (Complete)

$20 on souvenirs by wandering_gypsy_feet

A path we choose by LeighJ

Call Me Friend But Keep Me Closer by pietromavximoff

Dust by Piper1016

Living Next Door by Natreadsallnight

Lo-li-ta by erindeadwood

The Trucker by gneebee

thirsty by SquishyCool

Winds of Change by Pipergirl17

Best AU (WIP)

By Any Other Name by Audriss

Don’t Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

Inside Out by Spield

la douleur exquise by pleasantlydemented

My whole existence is flawed by weapon13WhiteFang

Roots & Wings by Courtneyshortney82

Saddle Tramp by On_A_Meat_Hook

Save Yourself by asavoy1019

Summer Hire by VeeCWS

the weight of these wings by peachthorns

Best One Shot

A Deal’s A Deal by Pipergirl17

Algorithm Love Song by lindentree

and if you say you’re okay / i’m gonna heal you, anyway by kattyshack

dim the sun and wonder where we’ve been by CherryParfait

dust off your highest hopes by maviswrites

Love and Vampires by gneebee

Make me a Believer by Rckyfrk

Marilyn by wandering_gypsy_feet

Phoenix Rising by LeathernLaces

Says He Can’t Believe He Found Me, Wraps His Arms Around Me by pietromavximoff

Talking In Your Sleep by weapon13WhiteFang

’tis the season by sheriffandsteel

what we gotta do by SquishyCool

Best Series

A Deal’s A Deal by Pipergirl17

in for a penny, in for a pound by SquishyCool

Love & Sex During the Apocalypse by crisismuffin

Lyrically by LeighJ

my trash son merle dixon by wandering_gypsy_feet

New Order by LeathernLaces

Rocky Mountain One Shots by Veecws

The Handcuff Series by Courtneyshortney82

The Humbling River by devils_might_heed_us

Best Multichapter (Complete)

and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Lay Your Cheek On Down by MissMadimeow

The Trucker by gneebee

thirsty by SquishyCool

Two for the Road by devils_might_heed_us

Best Multichapter (WIP)

baby, give me some by gutsforgarters and kattyshack

Boxed by twinswolf

Brave New World by LeathernLaces

By Any Other Name by Audriss

Don’t Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Linger by deerntheheadlights

Magnolia by galadrieljones

Sweet Willow by CherryParfait

The Good Stars by dynamicsymmetry

You Do Me Good by witchmars

Best Prison

baby, give me some by gutsforgarters and kattyshack

Baby, It’s Cold Inside by Pipergirl17

Nicknames are Fond Names by wandering_gypsy_feet

teach me by Courtneyshortney82

Best Alexandria Safe Zone

all the things yet to come are the things that have passed by amplifierverse

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Lay Your Cheek On Down by MissMadimeow

Like Eating Glass by justaconsequence (notverypunkofme)

Magnolia by galadrieljones

Marilyn by wandering_gypsy_feet

Sweet Willow by CherryParfait

Best Reunion/Fix It (Complete)

and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Make me a Believer by Rckyfrk

Two for the Road by devils_might_heed_us

Best Reunion/Fix It (WIP)

Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Magnolia by galadrieljones

Nature, Nurture, Heaven and Home by devils_might_heed_us

Outnumbered by McDrogo

What Signs Remain by lindentree

Best Happily Ever After

and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

The In Between by Piper1016

The Trucker by gneebee

Best Humor

A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

lost in the sauce by SquishyCool

put your hands on my body just like you think you know me by kattyshack

Sweet Willow by CherryParfait

The Daryl Dixon Diet by gneebee

Who Let Dog Out? by Courtneyshortney82

Best Smut (Complete)

and if you say you’re okay / i’m gonna heal you, anyway by kattyshack

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

Carnie by Mrox

Like Eating Glass by justaconsequence (notverypunkofme)

teach me by Courtneyshortney82

thirsty by SquishyCool

Best Smut (WIP)

In My Blood by Courtneyshortney82

My whole existence is flawed by weapon13WhiteFang

put your hands on my body just like you think you know me by kattyshack

Terms and Conditions by Rckyfrk

The Shadow of a Doubt by BabyB239

You Do Me Good by witchmars

Best Classic

Feral by Silvergryphon06

Fifty Four Days by LemonStar

Halo by tanglingshadows

Home Isn’t Always a Place by leftmywingshome

How Impolite, How Imprudent by smallestbird (jenwryn)

Just a dream by wallflow3r

She’s Breathing by burningupasun

The Crow’s Song by SquishyCool

The Gift by Feliz

The Stranger Upstairs by gneebee

Wild Love by LeighJ

Wild Things (The Moonshine Poet) by Abelina

Best Merle Dixon (2021 Exclusive)

A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

Deep Blue Funk by gneebee

Don’t Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

Like a Drunken Fairy Godmother by VeeCWS

Who Let Dog Out? by Courtneyshortney82

Best Fan Art (ZA)

Beth and Daryl by ShlyaBlu

Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in by auxsentiers

Haunted House by lemortehomme

Home for Christmas by gala-art

Soulmate by scarlettdixon

Under a Hunter’s Moon by Paperdollgirl

Best Fan Art (AU)

Daryl and Beth: End of Watch by boltthrutheheart

Daryl and Beth as Hades and Persephone by scarlettdixon

Dust off Your Highest Hopes by gala-art

God Says No by lemortehomme

My Biggest What If by Paperdollgirl

Postcards from Maggie and Glenn’s Wedding by auxsentiers

Artist of The Year

auxsentiers

boltthrutheheart

gala-art

lemortehomme

paperdollgirl

scarlettdixon

Author of The Year

CherryParfait

Courtneyshortney82

galadrieljones

gneebee

LittleG98

pietromavximoff

Rckyfrk

sheriffandsteel

SquishyCool

wandering_gypsy_feet

Breakthrough New Author of The Year

devils_might_heed_us

LittleG98

Pipergirl17

Spield

VeeCWS

witchmars

Ylvi_on_the_Road

Fandom Supporter of The Year

bitchywaldof

Courtneyshortney82

galadrieljones

paperdollgirl

SquishyCool

x23evolution

Keep Reading to see the list of Ineligible Nominations and Honorable Mentions.

First Place: and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Third Place: Two for the Road by devils_might_heed_us

First Place: Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: Magnolia by galadrieljones

Third Place: What Signs Remain by lindentree

First Place: $20 on souvenirs by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: thirsty by SquishyCool

Third Place: Call Me Friend But Keep Me Closer by pietromavximoff

First Place: Don't Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

Second Place: Summer Hire by VeeCWS

Third Place: Save Yourself by asavoy1019

First Place: Marilyn by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: what we gotta do by SquishyCool

Third Place: Love and Vampires by gneebee

First Place: The Humbling River by devils_might_heed_us

Second Place: in for a penny, in for a pound by SquishyCool

Third Place: my trash son merle dixon by wandering_gypsy_feet

First Place: and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Third Place: The Trucker by gneebee

First Place: Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: Magnolia by galadrieljones

Third Place: Don't Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

First Place: Baby, It's Cold Inside by Pipergirl17

Second Place: teach me by Courtneyshortney82

Third Place: Nicknames are Fond Names by wandering_gypsy_feet

First Place: Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: Marilyn by wandering_gypsy_feet

Third Place: Magnolia by galadrieljones

First Place: and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: Two for the Road by devils_might_heed_us

Third Place: Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

First Place: Gracie by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: What Signs Remain by lindentree

Third Place: Nature, Nurture, Heaven and Home by devils_might_heed_us

First Place: Dandelions by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

Third Place: and a ring made from a spoon by wandering_gypsy_feet

First Place: Who Let Dog Out? by Courtneyshortney82

Second Place: A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

Third Place: lost in the sauce by SquishyCool

First Place: thirsty by SquishyCool

Second Place: Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

Third Place: Carnie by Mrox

First Place: You Do Me Good by witchmars

Second Place: Terms and Conditions by Rckyfrk

Third Place: My whole existence is flawed by weapon13whitefang

First Place: Fifty Four Days by LemonStar

Second Place: Home Isn't Always A Place by leftmywingshome

Third Place: The Stranger Upstairs by gneebee

First Place: A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

Second Place: Who Let Dog Out? by Courtneshortney82

Third Place: Don't Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

First Place: Home for Christmas by gala_art

Second Place: Haunted House by lemortehomme

Third Place: Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in by auxsentiers

First Place: God Says No by lemortehomme

Second Place: dust off your highest hopes by gala-art

Third Place: Postcards from Maggie and Glenn's Wedding by auxsentiers

Winner: @gala-art

Runner-Up: @lemortehomme

Winner: SquishyCool 

Runner-Up: wandering_gypsy_feet

Winner: devils_might_heed_us

Runner-Up: Pipergirl17

Winner: @courtneyshortney82

Runner-Up: @paperdollgirl​

Congratulations to everyone, and thank you all for voting!

There is no limit to how many fics can be nominated per category.

Most categories have one for Completed works and one for In Progress works. Completed works must have been completed between January 1st, 2021 and December 31st, 2021. Works In Progress must have been updated at least once between January 1st, 2021 and December 31st, 2021.

If there is only one category, nominated fics can be either Complete or WIP.

Fics can be nominated in multiple categories.

Authors are limited to ONE fic nominated per category, so choose wisely.

First Place winners of previous years’ categories are ineligible for nomination. However, Second and Third Place winners are still eligible. This includes the Best Classic category.

Yearly “Exclusive” categories are open for fics from any year, regardless of previous wins.

Please nominate a specific piece of fan art for the Fan Art categories, preferably with a link to the source. We will NOT count general artist nominations for any category except Artist of the Year.

The Fan Art category has been split into 2 categories this year: ZA and AU. Only pieces posted between January 1st, 2021 and December 31st, 2021 are eligible.

The yearly exclusive category for 2021 is Best Merle Dixon. This can be any fic from any year that gives Merle a chance to shine.

Friendly reminder: spamming nominations with the same entries is completely unnecessary and uncalled for, so please only nominate your fics once; all we need is one (1) nomination to include them as a voting option.

CLICK HERE to view the Google Doc of all fics that have won First Place in previous years and are therefore ineligible for nomination in the 2021 categories.

Nominations will close at 11:59pm PST on January 17th, 2022.

As part of winning Best Fandom Supporter 2021, we asked @courtneyshortney82​​​ for a (short) rec list of their own choosing.

Congratulations, Courtneyshortney82!

I feel like I've done so many of these lists that I'm not sure what to do anymore, but there are some fics that I always want to recommend, and then this year there have been so many new fics that are so good.

The Humbling River Series by devils_might_heed_us

You Do Me Good by witchmars

Ten Days and a Full Moon by Ylvi_on_the_road

Inside Out by Spield

Baby, Are You Coming For The Ride? by pietromavximoff

Summer Hire by VeeCWS

A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Aireabella

Magnolia by galadrieljones

Brave New World by LeathernLaces

between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

Don't Make Me Haunt You by SquishyCool

A Deal's a Deal Series by Pipergirl17

Sweet Willow by Cherryparfait

To celebrate winning Breakthrough New Author 2021, we asked @lemortehomme​​ for a hand-picked list of their feature fics and a rec list.

Congratulations, devils_might_heed_us!

Two for the Road

Nature, Nurture, Heaven and Home

God Says No

Fic Rec List:

Between the Fire and the Sky by Swiftsnowmane

This fic was my introduction to Bethyl and I still think about it all these years later.

The Crow's Song by SquishyCool

The only (only) fanfiction to make me cry

Natural State by breakingoftheshell

An excellent Daryl and just plain hilarious (and smutty)

Shadowstream by dynamicsymmetry

To celebrate winning Author of The Year 2021, we asked @im-immortal​ for a hand-picked list of their feature fics.

Congratulations, SquishyCool!

The Crow’s Song

Most Wanted

In Toto Corde

in for a penny, in for a pound Series

Let us always find each other

what we gotta do

Yellow Bikini

Bloodlust

Carnival Games

To celebrate winning Artist of The Year, we asked @gala-art for a hand-picked list of their feature art and a rec list.

Congratulations, @gala-art​ !

Postcards from Maggie and Glenn's Wedding by auxsentiers

Such a lovely fix-it idea, and so much fun. I always love a good fix-it.

Haunted House by lemortehomme

These pieces are what I live for—a perfect encapsulation of the pain that Daryl never shows us, even as we know it is there.

All of the works by @paperdollgirl and @boltthrutheheart​ who always bring such fresh, emotional takes on our beautifully tragic ship.

Personal Rec List

Home for Christmas

My Home for Christmas comic, which I worked really hard on for several weeks. I have always wanted to tell this story, one where Daryl goes back to Atlanta, and I finally found the occasion to do that. My favorite part is probably Part III: I knew it. I just had a really fun time drawing these scenes from “Alone,” and finding the symmetry between the shape of the human heart and the shape of their hands intertwined.

(A or B)

(A or) B, which is another story I’ve wanted to tell for a while. I have many theories about the relationship between A/B in the series and how they may pertain to Beth. Whether B is a storyline we simply did not see, or a story that exists as part of a multiverse theory, I don’t know, but I know there is a story somewhere in which Beth is not dead, and perhaps even where Team Family does not have to endure the hell and tragic loss after tragic loss that comprise nearly all of seasons 6-8.

Still Screenshot Studies Part 1 & Part 2

The full list of 2021 Moonshine Award winners is now posted and available to view. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and everyone who won! And a huge THANK YOU to all who submitted nominations and casted votes!

Click here to view the list of winners.