Today is March 1. That means Sand Creek Serenade’s birthday is just two short weeks away! So I was already celebrating this day. I’ve waited a very long time to launch a full-length novel out into the world, and finally hitting the first day of its launch month was a red-letter event.
Then I got the news.
The Selah Award Finalist list was announced just a short time ago, and, well…two of my Barbour novellas are finalists in the Western category! Beyond that, there are so many of my friends’ names on this list too! So here’s a shout-out to all the finalists for their hard work and dedication to their craft!
From: Eva Marie Everson, Director
BRMCWC Contests
Subject: The Selah Awards Finalists
Dear Edie and DiAnn:
As you know, The Selah Awards brought in a higher number of submissions this year than ever before! After months of reading by our judges, the preliminary scores are in. These scores were often so close, my heart ached that they didn’t all place in finals. Still, each category drew a number of finalists. The number of finalists per category was based on the number of entries per category.
And now, it is my pleasure to send you the following information:
These books and articles finaled for The Selah Awards:
In the category of ANTHOLOGIES, the finalists are:
Granola Bar Devotionals: Spiritual Snacks on the Go
Alisa Hope Wagner
Marked Writers Publishing
Moments with Billy Graham
Edited and Compiled by Yvonne Lehman
(Multiple Authors)
Grace Publishing
Words to Cheer Your Heart Devotional
Entries by Michelle Medlock Adams
Ellie Claire
In the category of ARTICLES (ONLINE), the finalists are:
3 Ways to Raise Kids Who Care
Leigh Ann Thomas
Charisma Magazine
My Brave
Kaley Rhea
Arise Daily
The Day I Chose to Smile
Lucinda Secrest McDowell
(In)Courage
The Rock that Saved My Marriage
Melinda Eye Cooper
The National Christian Voice
In the category of ARTICLES (PRINT), the finalists are:
Dramatic Considerations
Leigh Ann Thomas
Southern Writers Magazine
Dream Comes True for Young Dancer
Julie Lavender
Statesboro Herald Newspaper
Mason Jar Blessings
Robin Luftig
Leading Hearts
Personality and the Writer
Linda Gilden
Southern Writers Magazine
Rescuing the Rescuer
Julie Lavender
Nazarene Publishing House
Standard Adult Take-Home Paper
Tarantula!
Julie Lavender
Guideposts: All Creatures Magazine
In the category of BIBLE STUDY, the finalists are:
A Whole Lot of Wonderful
Beebe Kauffman
Lighthouse Bible Studies
God is Out to Get Us: At All Costs—The Life of Abraham
Carol Bond Wagner
Relentless Pursuit Media
Heart Renovation
Katy Kauffman
Lighthouse Bible Studies
I Call You Mine: Embracing God’s Gift of Adoption
Kim de Blecourt
New Hope Publishers
Legacy: Living Now for Future Generations
Patty Schell
Kindle Direct Publishing
Strength in Adversity
Donna E. Lane
David Lane
Create Space
In the category of CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, the finalists are:
C is for Christmas
Michelle Medlock Adams
Little Lamb Books
Dinosaur Devotions
Michelle Medlock Adams
Thomas Nelson
That Grand Easter Day
Jill Roman Lord
Worthy Kids/Ideals
The Silent Noisy Night
Jill Roman Lord
B&H Publishing Group
The Very Best Story Ever Told
Robin Currie
Beaming Books
In the category of CHRISTIAN LIFE, the finalists are:
Courageous Women of the Bible
LaTan Roland Murphy
Bethany House/Baker
Holy in the Moment
Ginger Harrington
Abingdon Press
Like Me or Not: Overcoming Approval Addiction
Dawn M. Owens
Worthy Publishing
Praying God’s Promises
Linda Evans Shepherd
Revell/Baker
Prepare for the Harvest
Pamela Christian
Protocol Ltd.
Unhitching from the Crazy Train
Julie Sparkman
Jennifer Phillips
New Hope Publishers
When God Says, “Go”
Elizabeth Laing Thompson
Shiloh Run Press
In the category of CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE FICTION, the finalists are:
Crossroads of the Heart
Dana R. Lynn
Annie’s Publishing
Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, WA
Annette M. Irby
Mountain Brook Ink
Freedom’s Kiss
Sarah Monzon
Radiant Publications
New Duet
Cindy Erving Huff
Clean Reads
Return to Walhalla
Laura Hodges Poole
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC
The Promise
Susan Lantz Simpson
Kensington Publishing Group
In the category of DEVOTIONALS, the finalists are:
Buckeye Believer: 40 Days of Devotions for the Ohio State Faithful
Del Duduit
Burnett Young Books
Extraordinary Hope
Elizabeth Ann Wallace
Morgan James Publishing
Fabulous & Focused
Michelle Medlock Adams
Gena Maselli
Worthy Inspired
Live Bold
Andrea Tomassi
Cynthia Cavanaugh
Redemption Press
In the category of FIRST NOVEL, the finalists are:
Hidden Danger
Jennifer Pierce
Anaiah Press
Seeing Beyond
Kent Wyatt
Winged Publications
The Children of Main Street
Merilyn Howton Marriott
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC
The Forgotten Life of Evelyn Lewis
Jane Rubietta
Guiding Light/LPC
The Secret Heir
Janice Broyles
Heritage Beacon Press/LPC
Yoshi of Bethlehem
Sharon Mullen
Woodsong Publishing
In the category of GENERAL NONFICTION, the finalists are:
Anchored: Leading Through the Storms
Cynthia Cavanaugh
New Hope Publishers
If You Give a Girl a Giant
Karen Porter
Bold Vision Books
The Final Race
Eric Eichinger
(with) Eva Marie Everson
Tyndale Publishing
In the category of HISTORICAL/BIBLICAL FICTION, the finalists are:
Dangerous to Know
Megan Whitson Lee
Elk Lake Publishing
Faith is Not Silent
Billie Fulton
Elk Lake Publishing
The Secret Heir
Janice Broyles
Heritage Beacon Press/LPC
The Shenandoah Road
Lynne Basham Tagawa
Blue Rock Press
In the category of HISTORICAL ROMANCE FICTION, the finalists are:
Across the Blue
Carrie Turansky
Multonomah/Penguin Random House
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Jennifer Lamont Leo
Smitten/LPC
A Love Restored
Kelly Goshorn
Pelican Book Group
A Mother for His Family
Susanne Dietze
Harlequin Love Inspired Historical
A Musket in My Hands
Sandra Merville Hart
Smitten/LPC
Minding the Light
Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell Books/Baker
Mist O’er the Voyageur
Naomi Musch
Smitten/LPC
River to Redemption
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell Book/Baker
In the category of INSPIRATION & GIFT, the finalists are:
Deep Waters: Lift Your Gaze
Kim M. Clark
Deep Waters Books
Spiritual Verse Today: God’s Light Volume One
Sharon CassanoLochman
Ontario Shore Publishing
When God Calls the Heart
Brian Bird
Michelle Cox
BroadStreet Publishing
When God Calls the Heart at Christmas
Brian Bird
Michelle Cox
BroadStreet Publishing
In the category of MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS, the finalists are:
Battle Buddies
Shelley Pierce
Elk Lake Publishing
Saving Mount Rushmore
Andrea Jo Rodgers
Anaiah Press
Sour Lemon and Sweet Tea
Julane Fisher
TouchPoint Press
In the category of MYSTERY/SUSPENSE FICTION, the finalists are:
Blood Moon Redemption
Judy DuCharme
Ambassador International
Deep State Stealth
Vikki Kestell
Faith-Filled Fiction
Perilous Treasure
Dan Walsh
Bainbridge Press
The Last Hemlock
Larry M. Arrowood
Woodsong Publishing
In the category of NOVELLAS, the finalists are:
Above All These Things
Connie Stevens
Barbour Publishing
Ice Melts in Spring
Linda W. Yezak
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC
Falling for Grace
Janet W. Ferguson
Southern Sun Press
Perfect for the Preacher
Megan Besing
Barbour Publishing
The Return
Marianne Evans
Pelican Book Group
In the category of ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FICTION, the finalists are:
Amish Christmas Emergency
Dana R. Lynn
Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Called to Protect
Lynette Eason
Revell/Baker
Expecting Danger
Jennifer Pierce
Anaiah Press
Fugitive Spy
Jordyn Redwood
Love Inspired Suspense
In Too Deep
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell/Baker
Lone Witness
Rachel Dylan
Bethany House/Baker
Vanished in the Night
Lynette Eason
Love Inspired Suspense
In the category of SPECULATIVE FICTION, the finalists are:
Mark of the Raven
Morgan L. Busse
Bethany House/Baker
Sky Light Falls
Donna E. Lane
Bear’s Place Publishing
The Revolutionary
Kristen Hogrefe
Write Integrity Press
In the category of WESTERN FICTION, the finalists are:
Heartfelt Echoes
Jennifer Uhlarik
Barbour Publishing
Rose’s Redemption
Donna L. H. Smith
Hartline
The Brigand and the Bride
Jennifer Uhlarik
Barbour Publishing
In the category of WOMEN’S CONTEMPORARY FICTION, the finalists are:
Daring to Live
Mary Vee
Never Give Up Stories Publications
Manhattan Grace
Clarice G. James
Elk Lake Publishing
Miles from Where we Started
Cynthia Ruchti
Gilead Publishing
Mourning Dove
Claire Fullerton
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC
The Children of Main Street
Merilyn Howton Marriott
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC
In the category of YA Fiction/Nonfiction, the finalists are:
Bold and Blessed
Trinitee Stokes
(with) Crystal Bowman
Teri Mckinley
Zonderkidz
F’lorna of Rodesh
Alisa Hope Wagner
Marked Writers Publishing
Get Your Spirit On: Devotions for Cheerleaders
Michelle Medlock Adams
SonRise Devotionals/LPC
Uninvited
Beckie Lindsey
Elk Lake Publishing
I look forward to receiving the winning scores and in announcing the winners at awards night during Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eva Marie Everson
Contest Director
(along with) Taryn Souders
Assistant to the Contest Director
BRMCWC
A heartfelt thank you to Edie Melson, DiAnn Mills, Eva Marie Everson, Taryn Souders, and the many judges who made this contest happen! I know we all are thankful for you!
And a huge congrats to all who entered. No matter the outcome, we are all winners, because we tried!
Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection
First Love Forever Romance Collection
It was a pins and needles kind of week for me. Wednesday, May 23, was the date that the Selah Awards were to be announced, and all day, I was anxious for 7 PM ET to arrive. Of course, I couldn’t be at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference this year (drat! I missed everyone!!!), but they were kind enough to try and set up a live feed for those like me who couldn’t attend. The live feed wasn’t without its issues, but the word did trickle out. Slowly…very, very slowly! LOL
Admirer Romance Collection) WON for the best western title in 2018! I say stunned because it was facing very stiff competition–two wonderful novel-length entries, one by Jayme Mansfield and the other by Donna L. H. Smith. I thought for sure that my 20,000-word novella didn’t have much chance, since novels provide so much more opportunity to develop characters and plotlines. But Lucky and Maisie’s story won! I’m very humbled and honored!
Have you heard the joke about the guy who thought he made a mistake? Well, turns out he was wrong.
Noelle Marchand is an award-winning author and a proud Texas-native. She enjoys spending time with family, dancing, and going on 
About Liz Tolsma:
Jennifer Uhlarik 