Well, I’m home from Minnesota and I after a few weeks I’ve adjusted to life again. The trip was great. The conference was exceptional. I can’t begin to tell you how much my writing and my life was impacted by those four days. I’m already looking forward to next year in Denver.

One of the things I was thinking on as I traveled home was the real lack of Christian Fiction we have available here in our area. Yes, the CBA has other genres outside of Romance and historicals. The following list is the winners of the ACFW book of the year contest. Check them out. You should be able to order any of these titles from Amazon.com.

If you read any of these books please post a comment and let us know what you thought.

2008 ACFW Book of the Year Winners

Contemporary Novella

First
Finally Home
by Deborah Raney

Second
Moonlight & Mistletoe
by Carrie Turansky

Third
Remaking of Moe McKenna
by Gloria Clover

Debut Author

First
Sushi for One?
by Camy Tang

Second
Bayou Justice
by Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll

Third
In Between
by Jenny B. Jones

Historical Novella

First
Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology
by Mary Davis

Second
Beyond the Memories
by DiAnn Mills

Third
The Spinster & The Tycoon
by Vickie McDonough

Lits

First
Splitting Harriet
by Tamara Leigh

Second
Sushi for One?
by Camy Tang

Third
One Little Secret and The Book of Jane
Allison Bottke and Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

Long Contemporary

First
Within This Circle
by Deborah Raney

Second
Like Always
by Robert Elmer

Third
Autumn Blue
by Karen Harter

Long Historical

First
Veil of Fire and Where Willows Grow
by Marlo Schalesky

Second
Fancy Pants and Then Came Hope
by Cathy Marie Hake and Louise Gouge

Third
Courting Trouble
by Deeanne Gist

Mystery

First
Your Chariot Awaits
by Lorena McCourtney

Second
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie
by Sharon Dunn

Third
Sticks And Stones
by Susan Meissner

Short Contemporary

First
The Heart of Grace
by Linda Goodnight

Second
Heart of the Family
by Margaret Daley

Third
Wedded Bliss
by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Short Contemporary Suspense

First
Caught Redhanded
by Gayle Roper

Second
Pursuit of Justice
by Pamela Tracy

Third
Nowhere to Hide and Her Christmas Protector
by Debby Giusti and Terri Reed

Short Historical

First
Canteen Dreams and Golden Days
by Cara Putman

Second
A Wealth Beyond Riches
by Vickie McDonough

Third
A Time to Keep
by Kelly Eileen Hake

Speculative

First
The Restorer’s Son
by Sharon Hinck

Second
Demon: A Memoir
by Tosca Lee

Third
DragonFire
by Donita Paul

Suspense

First
Black Ice
by Linda Hall

Second
Coral Moon
by Brandilyn Collins

Third
Abomination
by Colleen Coble

Women’s Fiction

First
Remember to Forget
by Deborah Raney

Second
Watercolored Pearls
by Stacy Hawkins Adams

Third
A Promise To Remember
by Kathryn Cushman

Young Adult

First
In Between
by Jenny B. Jones

Second
Sara Jane: Liberty’s Torch
byEleanor Clark

Third
Saving Sailor
by Renee Riva

Overall Book of the Year Winner

Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble

I’m very excited to have the opportunity to attend the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writer’s conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 18-21. This will be my first full conference. If you know me well, you know that I am very shy, especially in crowds. One thing I am sure of is that this conference is sure to have a huge crowd. Another thing I’m sure of is that the knowledge and opportunity that this conference offers will be well worth being uncomfortable.

The other day a friend told be about a trick she uses to get warmed up in a group. She sets goal like, talk to five people wearing red, or talk to four people with brown hair. You get the picture. I think I’ll give it a try.

I’ve been listening to the audio from the 2008 Mount Hermon conference. I’m really loving the workshops that Angela Hunt taught. She will also be the key note speaker at the ACFW conference. Another great reason to jump into the unknown.

Some of you that read this blog are not writers, and you probably wonder why I would need to go halfway across the country. Couldn’t I read some books on writing or listen to more workshops on CD? Well, yes I could do that, but conferences also give writers the opportunity to meet with editors and agents, giving them the chance to pitch their manuscripts and ask questions.

If you’re interested in knowing more about ACFW, or the conference, go to http://www.acfw.com/.

On another note, I was offered a contract for a juvenile fiction book I wrote last year. I’ve had a chance to look over the contract and will be signing soon. I’m very excited to have A Typical Summer for Lilly McGilly available some time next year. Thanks so much to all of you that have been so encouraging. I really appreciate it.

Monday evening, I received my feedback from the Genesis Contest. Some good comments, some not so flattering. Overall, I loved it. Entering a contest has been one of the best things I have done on this writing journey. The comments from the three judges where like a series of light bulb moments. You know what I mean, your tripping along, doing what you think is your best, then, BAM, you realize there has been a simple problem holding you back. Now I am much more clear on my strengths and weakness. I know which areas I need to study more, and which areas I can have a measured amount of confidence in. Thanks judges! If any of you readers are also writers, I would encourage you to submit your work to a good contest.

So what does that mean for the book I’m working on now? After much thought, I have decided to go a different way with the first two chapters, starting the story in a different place, with slightly different circumstances. Wow, I like this new beginning so much better than the 1st or 2nd attempt.

I’m entering another contest in June. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Enjoy the weekend. It’s suppose to be sunny, and in the seventies here in Oregon.

Christina