Canteen Dreams Wins Book of the Year Category

I was going to add a lovely picture of my award, but that will have to wait. I thought I successfully downloaded Janna's pictures onto my computer, but can't find them anywhere so must have done something wrong.

Anyway, Saturday night was the Awards banquet at the ACFW conference. It was so much fun to watch my friends win awards. In the first category, debut author, Robin Carrol placed second and Camy Tang won. Sushi for One is a wonderful book, so I am so pleased for Camy! Sharon Hinck won the speculative category with Restorer's Son which was a thrill to see. She is such a dear friend and fabulous writer!

We finally got to short historical -- I think it was the last category called! I was beginning to be afraid I would have to leave the banquet to take care of Rebecca before they'd reach my category. I didn't want to miss my category, or in the alternative, have someone think I was leaving because I was a poor sport!

There were six finalists in short historical, and they are all great writers, so I was incredibly honored simply to place. There was a corner of my heart that hoped I placed, but I knew that was a long shot. Ronie Kendig read off the third place winner Kelly Eileen Hake and then the second place winner Vickie McDonough. By then I was convinced I hadn't placed, and was ready to celebrate with whoever did. Then Ronie said, "The first line of the first - first place winner is "She hated attending dances alone. ..." I didn't hear another thing she said!!!!

My editor, JoAnne Simmons, met me on stage. I wish Eric could have been there to celebrate with me since I wouldn't be writing books now without his prodding and support. But my mom and sister were there. It was so fun to honor Mom for all the years of homeschooling in that way.

My friend Mary Connealy placed first as well. It is such an honor to share the award with her. She received the contract for that book in front of everyone at the 2005 conference. I remember thinking someday that could be me, and it was in 2006. How fun that we shared the award for best short historical!

Debut Author

Sushi for One? (Camy Tang) àZondervan, Sue Brower
Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
In Between (Jenny B. Jones)


Contemporary Novella

Finally Home (Deborah Raney) à Barbour Publishing, Susan Downs
Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky)
Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover)


Historical Novella

Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology (Mary Davis) àBarbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany
Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills)
The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough)


Lits

Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh) àMultnomah Books, Julee Schwarzburg
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
One Little Secret (Allison Bottke) & The Book of Jane (Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt)

Long Contemporary

Within This Circle (Deborah Raney) àSteeple Hill Books, Krista Stroever
Like Always (Robert Elmer)
Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)

Long Historical

1. Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky) RiverOak, editors Jeff Dunn/Jon Woodhams

Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer) Bethany House, editor Charlene Patterson
2. Fancy Pants (Cathy Marie Hake) & Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
3. Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)

Mystery

Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney) àThomas Nelson, Amanda Bostic
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)

Short Contemporary

The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight) à Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Allison Lyons
Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y'Barbo)

Short Contemporary Suspense

Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper) àSteeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense, Krista Stroever
Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti) & Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)

Short Historical

1. Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman) & Golden Days (Mary Connealy)

àBarbour/Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons

àBarbour/Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons

A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
A Time to Keep (Kelly Eileen Hake)

Speculative

The Restorer's Son (Sharon Hinck) àNavPress, Reagan Reed
Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
DragonFire (Donita Paul)

Suspense

Black Ice (Linda Hall) àWaterBrook Press, Traci DePree
Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
Abomination (Colleen Coble)

Women's Fiction

Remember to Forget (Deborah Raney) àHoward Books/Simon & Schuster, Philis Boultinghouse
Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Hawkins Adams)
A Promise To Remember (Kathryn Cushman)

Young Adult

In Between (Jenny B. Jones) àNavPress, Jamie Chavez
Sara Jane: Liberty's Torch (Eleanor Clark)
Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)