ACFW Conference, Part I, Carol Award Winners

I'm just back from the annual ACFW Conference and will be sharing this week some of the highlights and lists of winners. I'm still getting organized so to get the wheels spinning, let's start off with the last event of the conference - the Awards Gala and the Carol Award Winners. I must admit I'm partial to some of the people on this list because they're dear friends, but they are all deserving - the best of the best! 

A special shout out, though, to Hillary Manton Lodge who was a finalist in the Long Contemporary Romance category. Her Amish romance, Plain Jayne, didn't take home the trophy, but Hillary's an amazing, sharp-witted writer who has a bright future, and I'm sure one day she'll be in the winner's circle.  

Hillary and Danny Lodge

Hillary with her editor, Kim Moore (Harvest House)

Hillary and me with our agent, Sandra Bishop

Now for that list of winners:

Debut Author

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, editor)

Long Contemporary

Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group - Dave Long, editor)

Long Contemporary Romance

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, editor)

Long Historical

Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press - Susan Downs, editor)

Long Historical Romance

Love Finds You in Homestead Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, editors)

Mystery

The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour Publishing - Rebecca Germany, editor)

Novella

A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour Publishing - Rebecca Germany, editor)

Romantic Suspense

The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs/Ellen Tarver, editors)

Short Contemporary

A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense

Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, editor)

Short Historical

Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, editor)

Speculative Fiction

König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press - Jeff Gerke, editor)

Suspense/Thriller

Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, editors)

Women’s Fiction

Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, editors)

Young Adult

Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group - Lonnie Hull Dupont, editor)

Do you see any of your favorites here?