This year, 2023, we had an unpreceded number of entrants for the industry-wide Selah Awards, sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for the express purpose of creating scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to deserving writers who, otherwise, would not be able to attend this great conference.

It is, therefore, with great honor that I present the 2023 Selah Awards Finalists within 29 genres. The number of finalists per genre is dependent upon both scores and the number of entries per genre. The finalists are listed in no particular order.

Articles Online

4 Subtle Ways Satan Uses Media to Sabotage our Spiritual Walk Annette Marie Griffin

Crosswalk.com

Editor: Tiffany Curtis

 

Why Does Jesus Say “Talitha Koum” in the Bible?

Annette Marie Griffin

Crhistianity.com

Editor: Connor Salter

 

Are you Ready for Bedtime?

Julie Lavender

More to Life Magazine

Editor: Andrea Stock

Agent: Cyle Young

 

How to Cope with Your Child’s Suicide

Candy Arrington

Focus on the Family

 

Invisible Disabilities: Hidden but Real

Martin Thomas Johnson

Focus on the Family

 

5 Reasons to Develop a Gospel-Oriented Lifestyle

Annie Yorty

LivingbyDesign.org

Editor: Sarah Koontz

 

 

Articles in Print:

How to Strengthen Your Relationship When Caring for a Child With Special Needs

Kristin and Todd Evans

Focus on the Family

Editor: Sheila Seifert

 

The Closer

Annie Yorty

Today’s Christian Living

Editor: Michelle Adserias

 

He Knows Your Name

Pam S. Walker

Today’s Christian Living

Editor: Dan Brownell

 

Freedom in Forgiveness

Maureen Miller

The Mountaineer

Editor: Vicki Hyatt

 

Devotions Online:

 Are You Still Sleeping?

Annie Yorty

Crosswalk.com

Editor: Liz Auld

 

Under Construction

Sara Cormany

Christian Devotions

Editors: Martin Wiles & Cindy Sproles

 

Jesus Loves Me

Maureen Miller

Arise Daily

Editor: Julie Coleman

 

Interruptions

Laurie Herlich

Christian Devotions

Editor: Cindy Sproles and Martin Wiles

 

Devotions In Print:

When Fear Slithers In

Julie Lavender

Guideposts Publications

Editor: Carolyn Mandarano

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Cleansing Tears

Suzanne Montgomery

The Upper Room

 

Comes a Warm Sunbeam

Candyce Carden

Good News Cleveland

Editor: Jodi Varnado

 

Cracked and Cared For

Julie Lavender

Guideposts

Editor: Caroly Mandarano

 

Lost But Loved

Becky Alexander

Kerysso Press

Editor: Lisa Worthey Smith

 

Contents of the Heart

Becky Alexander

Kerysso Press

Editor: Lisa Worthey Smith

 

Love at Harry’s Café

Becky Alexander

Kerysso Press

Lisa Worthey Smith

 

This Time Next Year

Maureen Miller

Abundance Books

Editor: Teresa Janzen

 

Essay in Print and Online

Angel or Alien

Harriet E. Michael

The Lutheran Digest

Editor: Samantha Berry

 

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Janet Morris Grimes

Inspire a Fire

Editor: Diana Flegal

 

If Jesus Had a Dog

Maureen Miller

Penning Pansies

 

Children’s Picture Books:

I’m Getting New Glasses

Beth Ann Ramos

Good Day Books

Editor: Beth Ann Ramos

 

The Mouse in the Manger

Eric and Meredith Schrotenboer

Fresh Wind Studios

Editor: Crystal Bowman

Agent: Karen Neumair

 

Blink, Blink, Blink in Sync

Sharon CassanoLochman

Ontario Shore Publishing

 

Who God Wants Me to Be

Crystal Bowman and Michelle S. Lazurek

Publisher: Waterbrook

Editor: Sarah Rubio & Bunmi Ishbola

Agent: Karen Neumair

 

Bedtime with Daddy

Nancy I. Sanders

End Game Press

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Too Many Pigs in the Pool

Wendy Hinote Lanier

Sleeping Bear Press

Editor: Sarah Rocket

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Fly High

Michelle Medlock Adams and Janet K. Johnson

End Game Press

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Children’s Literature

Lilibet the Brave

Katy Rose

End Game Press

Agent: Don Pape

 

Fruit Full

Christie Thomas

Kregel Publications

Editor: Janyre Tromp

Agent: Karen Neumair

 

You’re Joking Me: Jokes for Kids by a Kid

William Daniel

Revell

Editor: Sadina Brott

Agent: Blythe Daniel

 

Middle Grade Novels

Lions to the Rescue!

Amanda Cleary Eastep

Moody Publishers

Editor: Marianne Hering

 

Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods

Amanda Cleary Eastep

Moody Publishers

Editor: Marianne Hering

 

Medium Well Done

Eddie Jones

Dry Bones Publishing

Editor: Kim Childress

 

The Dog Snatcher

Phyllis Wheeler

Motherboard Books

Editor: Bob Shuman

 

YA Fiction:

Recruit of Talionis

C. J. Milacci

Fayette Press

Editors: Jonathan Shuerger & Erynn Newman

 

Once Upon the Shadows

Faith Colleen Weaver

Elk Lake Publishing

Editor: Sue Fairchild

 

A Thousand Lies

Kathy Cassel

Haven Point Publishing

 

Path of Totality

Heather Kreke

Cranberry Creek Press

Editors: Larry J. Leech II & Becky Antkowiak

 

Every Hidden Thing

Tim Shoemaker

Focus on the Family

Editor: Vance Fry

Agent: Cyle Young

 

General Nonfiction:

Essential Keys to Marital Success

Osaro Edosa Ogbewe with Kathy Bruins

The Well Publishers

Editor: Kathy Bruins

 

Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World

Stan and Cheryl Schuermann

Pen It Publications

Editor: Dina Husseini

 

Colorful Connections

Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Kregel Publications

Editor: Janyre Tromp

Agent: Bob Hostetler

 

Bible Study:

 From Shattered to Restored

Nanette Larson

Redemption Press

Editor: Rachel Bradley & Lesley McDaniel

 

Honoring God with My Body

Katherine Pasour

Morgan James

Editor: Aubrey Kosa

 

Deep Rooted: Romans

Kathy Howard

Bold Vision Books

Editor: Karen Porter

 

Bloom Where You Are

Deborah Malone

Lamp Post Publishing

Editor: Beverly Nault

 

The Letters of an Unexpected Mystic

Robert D. Flanagan

Wipf & Stock

 

Christian Life:

Upcycled

Tina Yeager

Bold Vision Books

Editor: Karen Porter

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Living for His Glory

Kim S. Kinney

Kim S. Kinney Publishing

Editor: Dr. Justin R. Kinney

 

Death to Destruction

Joshua S. Porter

Kregel Publications

Editor: Joel Armstrong

 

Fight Like Jesus

Jason Porterfield

Herald Press

Editor: Laura Leonard

Agent: Mary DeMuth

 

The Covenant Story

Sonya Leigh Anderson

Redemption Press

Editor: Rachel Overton

 

Inspiration and Gift:

I Love You, Mom

Blythe Daniel & Helen McIntosh

Tyndale House Publishers

Editor: Sarah Kelley

Agent: Blythe Daniel

 

After the Flowers Die

Renee Leonard Kennedy

End Game Press

 

Challenges Won’t Stop Me

Melony Brown

Fiction House Press

Editor: Marcie Bridges

 

Today is Going to be a Good Day

Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Revell

Editor: Vicki Crumpton

Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

 

Devotionals:

In the Eye of the Storm

Andy Clapp

End Game Press

Agent: Cyle Young

 

At Home in Your Heart

Carol McLeod

Whitaker House

Editor: Peg Fullon

Agent: Suzanne Kuhn

 

Fresh Hope for Today

Grace Fox

Aspire Press

Editor: Lynnette Pennings

Agent: Steve Laube

 

Keeping Hope Alive

Grace Fox

Aspire Press

Editor: Lynnette Pennings

Agent: Steve Laube

 

Springtime for Your Spirit

Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp

Good Books/Skyhorse

Editor: Nicole Frail

Agent: Cyle Young

 

Big Steps, Little Steps

M. Esther Lovejoy

CrossRiver Media

Editor: Debra Butterfield

Agent: David Fessenden

 

Memoir:

Five Tickets to Kansas

Susan Carter

Kaleidoscope Publishing

Editor: Shellie Arnold

 

You Don’t Know Just How I Feel

Gwendolyn O. Burton

Redemption Press

Editor: Tisha Martin

 

Only If God Says So!

Karen Black Mercer

Redemption Press

Editor: Lorraine M. Varela

 

Broken and Blessed

Tracy Michaud

Redemption Press

Editor: Jennifer Edwards

 

Running on Broken Legs

Elinor Young

Redemption Press

Editor: Judy Hagey

 

Anthology:

Room at the Table

Stephanie Pavlantos and Starr Ayers

Mt. Zion Ridge Press

Editors: Michelle Levigne & Tamera Lynn Kroft

 

A Hill Country Christmas

Lynn Dean, General Editor

Wordsworth Publishing

 

The Courage to Write

Rachel Britton and Lucinda Secrest McDowell, General Editors

reNew Writers

 

Short Story in Print and Online:

Fishing for Keeps

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Spark Flash Fiction

 

The Window Watcher

Hannah Linder

HannahLinderBooks.com

Editor: Catherine Posey

 

Booth

Kyle Keenan

Kyle Keenan Books

Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

 

Novella:

Deadly Objective

Lynn H. Blackburn

Revell Books

Editor: Kelsey Bowen

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Love’s Light Returns

Elizabeth Ludwig

Guideposts

Editors: Jane Haertel and Sabrina Diaz

Agent: Rachel Kent

 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

A.M. Heath

 

By Far and Away

Brett Armstrong

Expanse Books

Editors: Erin Howard, Linda Fulkerson

 

Eye of the Beholder

Kevin Thompson

Expanse Books

Editors: Erin R. Howard, Elena Hill, Linda Fulkerson

 

A Father’s Gift

Paula Peckham

Elk Lake Publishing

Editor: Cristel Phelps

 

Love in Any Language

Hallee Bridgeman

Olivia Kimbrell Press

Editor: Gregg Bridgeman

Agent: Chip MacGregor

 

First Novel:

When I Lost Me

Claire Lagerwall

Onwards and Upwards

Editor: Luke Jeffrey

 

Truth in the Name

F.D. Adkins

CKN Christian Publishing

Editor: Patience Bramlett

 

Buried Cold Case Secrets

Sami Abrams

Love Inspired Suspense

Editor: Shana Asaro

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Path of Totality

Heather Kreke

Cranberry Creek Press

Editor: Larry J. Leech II & Becky Antkowiak

 

General Fiction:

Where the Blue Sky Begins

Katie Powner

Bethany House

Editor: David Long

Agent: Keely Boeving

 

I’ll Be Seeing You

Robin Lee Hatcher

HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson

Editor: Laura Wheeler

Agent: Natasha Kern

 

When Stone Wings Fly

Karen Barnett

Kregel Publications

Editor: Janyre Tromp

Agent: Rachel Kent

 

Hope Beyond the Waves

Heidi Chiavaroli

Hope Creek Publishers

Editor: Melissa Jagears

 

Mystery/Suspense:

Elysium Tide

James R. Hannibal

Revell Books

Editor: Andrea Doering

Agent: Harvey Klinger

 

Uncommon Vengeance

Jennifer Haynie

On-the-Edge Publications

Editor: Linda Yezak

 

Circle of Vengeance

Ramona Richards

Kregel Publications

Editor: Janyre Tromp

Agent: Julie Gwinn

 

Gates of Hell

Andy DeWitt

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Peggy Ellis, Cristel Phelps, Deb Haggerty

 

Life Flight

Lynette Eason

Revell

Editor: Andrea Doering

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Twisted Vows

Bonita Y. McCoy

Gordian Books/Winged Publications

Editor: Sherri Stewart

 

Romantic Suspense:

Amish Cradle Conspiracy

Dana R. Lynn

Love Inspired

Editor: Tina James

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Into the Fog

Karen Randau

Editor: Roxx Tarantini

 

The Dark Guest

Sarah Hamaker

Seshva Press

Editor: Liz Tolsma

 

Vanished Without a Trace

Sarah Hamaker

Love Inspired Suspense

Editor: Tina James

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Buried Cold Case Secrets

Sami A. Abrams

Love Inspired Suspense

Editor: Shana Asaro

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Every Star in the Sky

Sara Davison

The Mosaic Collection

Editor: Deb Elkink

 

Code of Courage

Janice Cantore

Tyndale House Publishers

 

Inheritance of Secrets

Robin Patchen

JDO Publishing

Editors: Ray Rhamey and Pegg Thomas

 

Rocky Mountain Standoff

Laura Scott

Love Inspired Suspense

Editor: Tina James

Agent: Pam Hopkins

 

In Too Deep

Virginia Vaughan

Annie’s Fiction

Editor: Amy Woods

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Defending Honor

Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood

Sunrise Publishing

Editors: Susan May Warren & Lindsay Harrel

 

Contemporary Romance:

Seeking Tranquility

Amy Schisler

Chesapeake Sunrise Publishing

Editor: Cayley Ross

 

The Last Way Home

Liz Johnson

Revell

Editor: Vicki Crumpton

Agent: Rachel Kent

 

The Baby’s Christmas Blessing

Meghann Whistler

Love Inspired

Editor: Melissa Endlich

 

The Sweet Life

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Revell

Editor: Andrea Doering

Agent: Joyce Hart

 

An Unlikely Alliance

Toni Shiloh

Love Inspired

Editor: Dina Davis

Agent: Rachel McMillian

 

Her Christmas Redemption

Toni Shiloh

Love Inspired

Editor: Melissa Endlich

Agent: Rachel McMillian

 

Contemporary Women:

Every Day Filled with Hope

Shelia Stovall

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Michele Chynoweth & Deb Haggerty

Agent: Tim Beals

 

Falling Apart, Falling for You

Chris Posti

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Cristel Phelps & Deb Haggerty

 

Breath of Heaven

Deborah Raney

Raney Day Press

Editor: Tobi Layton, Tavia Smith

 

Paper Dolls

Kara R. Hunt

Winged Publications

Agent: Sharon Norris Elliott

 

Historical Romance:

A Feeling of Home

Susan Anne Mason

Bethany House

Editors: David Long & Jen Veuilleux

Agent: Natasha Kern

 

The Lady’s Mission

Mary Davis

Mountain Brook Ink

Editor: Miralee Ferrell

Agent: Sarah Freese

 

Emma’s Quest

Starr Ayers

Mountain Brook Ink

Editor: Miralee Ferrell

Agent: Cyle Young

 

The Songs That Could Have Been

Amanda Wen

Kregel Publications

Editor: Janyre Tromp

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Finding Her Frontier Family

Louise M. Gouge

Love Inspired Historical

Editor: Shana Asaro

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War

Mary Davis

Barbour Publishing

Editor: Rebecca Germany

Agent: Sarah Freese

 

The Finding of Miss Fairfield

Grace Hitchcock

Valmont House Publishers

Editor: Chantelle Mills

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

His Delightful Lady Delia

Grace Hitchcock

Bethany House Publishers

Editor: Dave Long and Luke Hinrichs

Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

 

Abigail’s Peace

Pegg Thomas

Spinner of Yarns Publishing

Editor: Robin Patchen

 

Beneath His Silence

Hannah Linder

Barbour Publishing

Editor: Becky Fish

Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

 

A Not So Convenient Marriage

Sandra Merville Hart

Wild Heart Books

Editor: Robin Patchen

Agent: Joyce Hart

 

Historical/Biblical:

 A Fallen Sparrow

Lynne Basham Tagawa

Blue Rock Press

Editor: Robin Patchen

 

When the Meadow Blooms

Ann H. Gabhart

Revell Books

Editor: Rachel McRae

Agent: Wendy Lawton

 

The Sister’s Search

Susan Page Davis

Srivenings Press

Editors: Linda Fulkerson & Elena Hill

 

By the Sweet Gum

Ane Mulligan

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Editor: Denise Weimer

 

On My Honor

Patty Smith Hall

Barbour Publishing

Editor: JoAnn Simmons

 

What Hides Behind the Walls

Sherri Stewart

Winged Publications

Editor: Denise Weimer

 

The Apostle’s Sister

Angela Hunt

Bethany House

Editor: David Long

Agent: Danielle Egan-Miller

 

And They Came with Haste

Whitney Lane Ward

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Cristel Phelps & Deb Haggerty

Agent: Del Duduit

 

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye

Janyre Tromp

Kregel Publications

Editor: Jean Bloom

 

Western:

A Texas Secret

Laura Conner Kestner

Laura Kestner, Publisher

 

Texas Faith

Andrew Roth

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty

 

Lasting Treasure

Andrew Roth

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty

 

Speculative Fiction:

When Legends Rise

Daphne Self

Ambassador International

Editor: Katie Cruice Smith

 

Beauty from Ashes

Pamela Hart

Christian Faith Publishing

 

Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Time

Tracy Higley

Stonewater Books

Editor: D’Ann Mateer

 

Chrome World

Travis W. Inman

Elk Lake Publishing

Editors: Deb Haggerty, Cristel Phelps

 

Audio Books:

The Choices She Made

Felicia Ferguson

End Game Press

Narrated by: Devon Sorvari

 

Chrome World

Travis W. Inman

Elk Lake Publishing

Narrated by: Christy Lou

 

Beneath His Silence

Hannah Linder

Barbour Publishing/Oasis Audio

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

 

Fight Like Jesus

Jason Porterfield

Books & Such

Narrated by Tom Parks

Agent: Mary DeMuth

 

The Egyptian Princess

KD Holmberg

Mountain Brook Ink

Narrated by Lillian Rachel

Agent: Linda Glaz

___________________________________________

This concludes the finalists for the 2023 Selah Awards.

Respectfully Submitted,

Eva Marie Everson, Contest Director

The Selah Awards