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On Thursday evening, May 28th, Edie Melson, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and Eva Marie Everson, Director of the International Selah Awards and the Foundation Awards (for unpublished BRMCWC conferees) announced the following winners:

The 15th Annual Selah Awards

Articles Published in Print

Third Place
Author’s Name: Denise Loock 
Title: The Scent of Cinnamon
Publisher: The Mountaineer Newspaper

Second Place
Name of Author: Julie Lavender
Title: Don’t Give Up On Your Dream
Publisher: Southern Christian Writer Magazine

First Place
Author’s Name: Pam S. Walker
Title: Redeeming Lives, Restoring Hope
Publisher: Today’s Christian Living

Articles Published Online

Third Place
Author’s Name: Melanie Stevenson
Title: Learning to Take Our Thought Captive
Publisher: Christian Life in London

Second Place
Author’s Name: Katherine Pasour
Title: When the New Journey is Hard
Publisher: Refresh Bible Study Magazine

First Place
Author’s Name: Leigh Ann Thomas
Title: How Old Was David When He . . .
Publisher: BibleStudyTools(dot)com

Devotions in Print

Third Place
Author’s Name: Becky Alexander
Title: A Red and Blue Striped Tie
From: “Coffee with God: 31 Red, White, and Blue Devotions”
Publisher: Happy Chair Books

Second Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Shannon Sue Dunlap
Title: In a Jar of Salsa 
From: “Where I Found God Today”
Publisher: Guideposts

Second Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Melissa McLaughlin
Title: Overflowing Gratitude
From: Glimpses of God in Nature
Publisher: Living Parables of Central Florida

First Place
Author’s Name: Carissa Lovvorn
Title: The Tattered Flag
From: “Coffee with God: 31 Red, White, and Blue Devotions”
Publisher: Happy Chair Books

Devotions Online

Third Place
Author’s Name: Harriet E. Michael
Title: Bundle Up!
Publisher: AriseDaily(dot)com

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Mary Rooney Armand
Title: Jesus Understands Our Tears
Publisher: AriseDaily(dot)com

First Place
Author’s Name: Maureen Miller
Title: The Backside of Beauty
Publisher: AriseDaily(dot)com

Essays In Print

Third Place
Author’s Name: Lori Vober
Title: Faith Over Fear
From: She Writes For Him: Stories of Courageous Leadership
Publisher: Redemption Press

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Jessica Van Roekel
Title: Take Courage, Warrior Woman
From: She Writes For Him: Stories of Courageous Leadership
Publisher: Redemption Press

First Place
Author’s Name: Gloria Fennimore
Title: Give Me Jesus, But Don’t Take My Day Planner
From: She Writes for Him: Stories of Courageous Leadership
Publisher: Redemption Press

Short Stories in Print & Online

Third Place

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Kimberly Kirkland Absher
Title: The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter
Publisher: Amazon

First Place
Author’s Name: Maureen Miller
Title: The Great Exchange
Publisher: The Mountaineer

Poetry

Third Place
Author’s Name: LaDonna Hope Crawford
Title: Front Porch Preacher
From: The Things We Did
Publisher: Kingdom Publishing Press

2026 BRMCWC Award Winners on @BRMCWC #Writingaward #Writingcontest #BRMCWC Share on X

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Maureen Miller 
Title: The Tree
From: ‘Tis the Season
Publisher: Grace Publishing House

First Place
Author’s Name: Patricia Tiffany Morris
Title: Hope Waits in Poetic Light
From: Grant Wood Country Chronicle
Publisher: Grand Wood Country Forum

Children’s Picture Books

Third Place
Author’s Name: Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley
Title: R is For Risen
Publisher: Tyndale Kids
Editor: Deborah King
Agent: Karen Neumair

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Robin Currie
Title: Just Enough Room for Christmas
Publisher: Good Books/Sky Horse
Editor: Abigail Gehring
Agent: Cyle Young

First Place
Author’s Name: Sherri Crandall
Title: Lexi the Butterfly
Publisher: Tapestry Tales Publishing
Editor: TLC Book Design

Children’s Literature

Third Place
Author’s Name: Tyson Cavanaugh
Title: A Pirate’s Tale: Friends and Foes
Publisher: Barefaced Creative Media
Editor: Jodi Harris

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Kristen Joy Wilks
Title: Phooey Kerflooey vs The Deep, Deep Dark
Publisher: Kristen Joy Wilks
Editor: Devo Steele

First Place
Author’s Name: Jeff Maxim
Title: Smoke & Mirrors
Publisher: Fusion/End Game Press
Editor: Victoria Duerstock

Middle Grade Novels

Third Place
Author’s Name: Meredith Davis
Title: The Minor Rescue: The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor
Publisher: Waterbrook
Editor: Bunmi Ishola
Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Nell Branum
Title: Friends in Strange Places
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Editor: Catherine Parks

First Place
Author’s Name: Becca Wierwille
Title: Road Trip Redemption 
Publisher: Beloved Chronicles
Editor: Ellen McGinty, Megan Gerig

YA Fiction & Nonfiction

Third Place
Author’s Name: Carol Baldwin
Title: Half-Truths
Publisher: Monarch Educational Services
Editor: Stephanie Cotta

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Angela D. Shelton
Title: Echoes of the Imperium
Publisher: Two Oaks Publishing
Editor: Deirdre Lockhart

First Place
Author’s Name: C.J. Milacci
Title: Captive of Talionis
Publisher: Journey Perspective Publishing
Editor: Becca Wierwille

Bible Study

Third Place
Author’s Name: Theresa M. Miller
Title: The Posture of Victory
Publisher: Mt. Zion Ridge Press
Editor: Michelle Levigne

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Karen Westbrook Moderow
Title: The Bible Companion Book 8 Isaiah-Daniel
Publisher: Jordanwest Publications
Editor: Christina Miller & Dori Harrell

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Jamie Hulker
Title: Esteemed
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Libby Gontarz

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Michelle Spano
Title: God’s Loyal Love
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Jennifer Edwards

Christian Life

Third Place
Author’s Name: Amy Eaton
Title: Hope When It’s Heavy
Publisher: Amy R. Eaton
Editor: Nycole Sinks

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Nancy Susan Beverly
Title: Discover Your Great Adventure
Publisher: Bright Road Publisher
Editor: Maggie Bruehl

First Place
Author’s Name: Lisa Saruga
Title: The Trauma Tree
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Editor: Rachel Kirsch
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

Devotionals

Third Place
Author’s Name: Naomi Fata 
Title: Stitching Your Story Piece by Peace
Publisher: Christian Resource Ministry
Editor: Sarah Geringer

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Jacqi Kambish
Title: Stubborn Hope
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Dori Harrell

First Place
Author’s Name: Debora M. Coty
Title: Bless Your Heart
Publisher: Christian Art Gifts
Editor: Rob Teigen
Agent: Greg Johnson

General Nonfiction

Third Place
Author’s Name: Heather Greer
Title: You Write You
Publisher: ScrivCraft
Editor: Linda Fulkerson

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Peg Arnold
Title: Marking Your Message Memorable
Publisher: Abundance Books
Editor: Susan Cornell & Taryn Golliher

First Place
Author’s Name: H. Irving Wilson
Title: Rethinking the Sabbath
Publisher: Amazon

Inspiration & Gift

Third Place
Author’s Name: Julie and David Lavender
Title: Jumbo Bible Word Search
Publisher: Penguin Random House/Zeitgeist
Editor: Tahra Seplowin, Caroline Lee
Agent: Cyle Young

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Samantha Evans Tschritter
Title: Until the Day We Meet Again
Publisher: Love SE Tschritter

First Place
Author’s Name: Karen Casey
Title: Splash Joy
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Lesley McDaniel

Memoir

Third Place
Author’s Name: Amanda Schaefer 
Title: Holy Plot Twists
Publisher: Abundance Books
Editor: Teresa Janzen

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Megan Bean
Title: Just Megan
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Ross Holtz

First Place
Author’s Name: Denise Renken
Title: Triage
Publisher: Redemption Press
Editor: Jennifer Edwards

Podcasts–Interview

Third Place (TIE)
Host: Valerie Fentress
Title: The BookWorthy Podcast

Third Place (TIE)
Host: Terrie Hellard-Brown
Title: Sparking Everyday Discipleship

Second Place 
Host: Cecil Taylor
Title: The Practical Faith Academy

First Place
Host: Preston Poore
Title: P-3 (P-Cubed)

Podcasts: Co-Hosted

Third Place
Hosts: Brett Nelson & Melanie Dyer
Title: Bookish Introverts

Second Place 
Hosts: Deana Hale & Elizabeth McKee
Title: Surviving Toxic Relationship

First Place
Hosts: Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken
Title: Faith Over Fear

Podcasts: Solo

Third Place
Host: Carol Roper
Title: Building Strong Homes

Second Place 
Host: Wendy Jo Cerna
Title: So God Told You to Write A Book, Now What?

First Place
Host: Dr. Sharon O’Hara
Title: Be the 25

Audiobooks

Third Place
Author’s Name: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell
Narrator: Sandra Huston
Title: Hold Your Breath
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Editor: Miralee Ferrell
Agent: Stephanie Alton

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Carrie Cotten
Narrator: Joshua Ward & Eilidh Beaton
Title: The Huntress
Publisher: Windstep
Editor: Jennifer Q. Hunt, Heather Wood

First Place
Author’s Name: Tonya L. Matthews
Narrator: Linda Goldfarb
Title: Roxie Applesauce
Publisher: Haleya Publishing
Editor: Teresa Crumpton

Novella

Third Place
Author’s Name: Brett Armstrong
Title: Asunder
Publisher: Expanse Books/Scrivenings Press
Editor: Linda Fulkerson

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Beth K. Vogt
Title: Together This Christmas
Publisher: Story Architect
Editor: Barbara Curtis
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

First Place
Author’s Name: Colleen Snyder
Title: BondKeeper
Publisher: Winged Publications
Editor: Joan Baur Alley

Anthologies

Third Place
Author’s Name: Deb Elkink, General Editor
Title: BirdSong
Publisher: The Mosaic Collection

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Sara Davison
Title: This Little Nowhere, Nothing Town
Publisher: On the Edge Suspense
Editor: Deb Elkink

First Place
Author’s Name: Sara Davison, Gen Editor
Title: I Heard the Bells
Publisher: Fab Four Press

First Novel

Third Place
Author’s Name: Sydney F. Grey
Title: Those Who Trespass
Publisher: Two Mites Publishing
Editor: Dori Harrell, Heidi Kraakevik

Second Place 
Author’s Name: D. T. Powell
Title: With Mercy’s Eyes
Publisher: D. T. Powell
Editor: Angela R. Watts and Brianna DeMann

First Place
Author’s Name: Amanda Wright
Title: Darkfell
Publisher: Quill and Flame Publishing
Editor: April Skelly

Amish

Third Place
Author’s Name: Dana R. Lynn 
Title: Hunting the Amish Witness
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Editor: Tina James
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Kelly Irvin
Title: A Daughter’s Choice
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Editor: Joanne Simmons
Agent: Julie Gwinn

First Place
Author’s Name: Kelly Irvin
Title: With All Her Heart
Publisher: Zondervan
Editor: Becky Monds
Agent: Julie Gwinn

Contemporary Romance Fiction

Third Place
Author’s Name: Carrie Walker
Title: Right Before Their Eyes
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Editor: Miralee Ferrell
Agent: Tim Beals

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Rebekah Millet
Title: Kate Landry Has a Plan
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Editor: Jessica Sharpe
Agent: Bob Hostetler

First Place
Author’s Name: Ann Swindell
Title: Love in the Castle Library
Publisher: White Crown
Editor: Marisa Stoleley

Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Third Place
Author’s Name: Janell Goodrich York
Title: The Day Sarah Ran Away
Publisher: Scrivenings Press
Editor: Suzie Waltner and Denica McCall

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Sharon J. Mondragon
Title: Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go to Funerals
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Editor: Rachel Overton 
Agent: Ali Herring

First Place
Author’s Name: Sara Brunsvold
Title: The Atlas of Untold Stories
Publisher: Revell
Editor: Rachel McRae
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

General Fiction

Third Place
Author’s Name: Jessica Brodie
Title: Tangled Roots
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group

Second Place 
Author’s Name: D. T. Powell
Title: With Mercy’s Eyes
Publisher: D. T. Powell
Editor: Angela R. Watts and Brianna DeMann

First Place
Author’s Name: Heather Norman Smith
Title: A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Editor: Rachel Overton
Agent: Cyle Young

Historical/Biblical Fiction

Second Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Angela Hunt
Title: Rescued Heart: The Story of Sarah
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Editor: Rochelle Gloege
Agent: Danielle Egan-Miller

Second Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Heather Kaufman
Title: Before the King: Joanna’s Story
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Editor: Rochelle Gloege and Jen Veilleux
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

First Place
Author’s Name: Pegg Thomas
Title: The Carpenter
Publisher: Spinner of Yarns
Editor: Robin Patchen

Historical Romance Fiction

Third Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Rebecca Price Janney
Title: East of the Sun
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing
Editor: Cristel Phelps, Deb Haggerty
Agent: David E. Fessenden

Third Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Heather Tabers
Title: Their Burden to Bear
Publisher: Vintage House Publications

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Jennifer Deibel
Title: Heart of the Glen
Publisher: Revell
Editor: Rachel McCrae & Robin Turici
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Karen Witemeyer
Title: To Love a Beast
Publisher: Hope & Light Publishing
Editor: D’Ann Mateer

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Ann H. Gabhart
Title: The Pursuit of Elena Bradford
Publisher: Revell
Editor: Rachel McRae
Agent: Wendy Lawton

Mystery/Suspense Fiction

Third Place 
Author’s Name: Jaime Jo Wright
Title: The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Editor: Rochelle Gloege
Agent: Janet Kobobel Grant

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Nancy Mehl
Title: Dark Design
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Editor: Jessica Sharpe & Susan Downs
Agent: Steve Laube

First Place 
Author’s Name: Darlene L. Turner
Title: Echoes of Darkness
Publisher: Love Inspired
Editor: Tina James
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray

Romantic Suspense Fiction

Third Place 
Author’s Name: Jerusha Agen
Title: Waylaid
Publisher: SDG Words
Editor: Julie Agen

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell
Title: Watch Your Back
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Editor: Miraless Ferrell
Agent: Stephanie Alton

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Sara Davison
Title: One Nine
Publisher: On the Edge Suspense
Editor: Jayci Rook

First Place (TIE)
Author’s Name: Kate Angelo
Title: Girl Lost
Publisher: Revell
Editor: Kelsey Bowen & Kristen Kornoelje
Agent: Lynette Eason

Speculative Fiction

Third Place 
Author’s Name: Kelly Fernlake & Jill Williamson
Title: Lady of Shadows
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Editor: Jill Williamson & Susan May Warren

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Paige Reed
Title: Revealing Shadows
Publisher: Burning Hearts Publications
Editor: Bethany Kaczmarek, Suzie Waltner

First Place 
Author’s Name: Amanda Wright
Title: Darkfell
Publisher: Quill and Flame Publishing
Editor: April Skelly

Western Fiction

Third Place 
Author’s Name: Grace Hitchcock
Title: The Vanishing of Miss Victoria
Publisher: Valmont House Publishers
Editor: Chantelle Mills

Second Place 
Author’s Name: Wendy Galinetti
Title: A Dangerous Heart
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Editor: Lacy Williams

First Place 
Author’s Name: Jennifer Uhlarik
Title: Love and Order
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Editor: Becky Germany and JoAnne Simmons
Agent: Linda Glaz

Selah Books of the Year

Children’s Book of the Year

Author’s Name: Sherri Crandall 
Title: Lexi the Butterfly
Publisher: Tapestry Tales Publishing
Editor: TLC Book Design

Nonfiction Book of the Year

Author’s Name: Debora M. Coty
Title: Bless Your Heart
Publisher: Christian Art Gifts
Editor: Rob Teigen
Agent: Greg Johnson

Fiction Book of the Year

Author’s Name: Sara Brunsvold
Title: The Atlas of Untold Stories
Publisher: Revell
Editor: Rachel McRae
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti

The Foundations Awards

Articles & Essays

Third Place
Author: Theresa Parker Pierce
Title: Miss Congeniality

Second Place
Author: Ren Manning
Title: Changing the World One Drumstick at a Time

First Place
Author: Beth Mims
Title: The Miracle of Maggie

Blogs

Second Place
Author: Chris G. Thelen
Title: 140CharacterChristian.com

First Place

Author: Ashley McCray
Title: ThoughtfulGems.com

Poetry

Honorable Mention

Author: Janet Mullen
Title: The Denuded Tree

Third Place

Author: Annette Marie Griffin
Title: Every Baby is a Story

Second Place (TIE)

Author: Alisha Alphonse
Title: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Second Place (TIE):

Author: Debra DuPree Williams
Title: A Party to My Confusion

First Place

Author: Audrey Frank
Title: Explain Myself to Me

Devotions

Third Place

Author: Whit Jordan
Title: When the Waters Rise

Second Place

Author: Whit Jordan
Title: Nightlights on a Cliff

First Place

Author: Annette Marie Griffin
Title: Led by His Voice

Nonfiction Books

Second Place

Author: Karen Mills
Title: Case Files—Book One

First Place

Author: Suzanne Montgomery
Title: The Chicken Little Dilemma: Living with Courage and Faith in Fear-filled Times

Bible Studies

Second Place

Author: Jeremy Rivera
Title: Living in His Word, His Will & His Way

First Place

Author: Kim Miller
Title: How to Study and Memorize the Sermon on the Mount

Children’s Picture Books

Honorable Mention

Author: Beverly J. Smith
Title: A Racehorse Named Bree

Third Place

Author: Jennifer Carta
Title: Trust the Wind, Boo!

Second Place

Author: Whit Jordan
Title: The Beast Beneath the Bed

First Place

Author: Audrey Frank
Title: Murphy and Martha

Children’s Chapter Books

Third Place

Author: Janel Davis
Title: Kingdom Critters

Second Place

Author: Whit Jordan
Title: Taekwon-Dogs: A New Pack

First Place

Author: Jennifer Rosario
Title: Maggie McGee Book 1—The Wack-a-Moles

Young Adult (Fiction and Nonfiction)

First Place

Author: Kara Stalnaker
Title: Mimi the Rodeo Pony

Flash Fiction

Third Place

Author: Whit Jordan
Title: Left Turn on Disaster Drive

Second Place

Author: Patricia Tiffany Morris
Title: The Forgiving Tree

First Place

Author: Ren Manning
Title: The Rose

Short Stories

Honorable Mention

Author: Robin Currie
Title: The Shepherd’s Wife

Third Place

Author: Robert E. Day Jr.
Title: Twins

Second Place

Author: Suzanne Montgomery
Title: Christmas in the Holler

First Place

Author: Audrey Frank
Title: The Pen and the King

Fiction: Historical Romance

Second Place

Author: Leslie Ruth Damude
Title: Love in the Shadow of Freedom

First Place

Author: Marilyn Brandon
Title: Saving Arie

Fiction: Contemporary

Third Place

Author: Patricia Tiffany Morris
Title: The Pride of Being in Love Like Jane

Second Place

Author: Carrie Hachadurian
Title: Pursuing Simon

First Place

Author: Courtney Dailey
Title: Untying the Knot

Fiction: Speculative

Third Place

Author: Patricia Tiffany Morris
Title: Einstein’s Folly

Second Place

Author: K. L. Johnston
Title: The Heir

First Place

Author:  Jil Koller
Title: Scout’s Honor

Fiction: Suspense

Second Place

Author: Beth Gooch
Title: Texas Twin Targets

First Place

Author:  Courtney Dailey
Title: Open Me

Film & Teleplay Script

Second Place

Author: Kara Stalnaker
Title: The Arena

First Place

Author: Jennifer Rosario

Title: Christmas Dash

Before the evening’s events came to an end, Mrs. Melson, joined by conference co-directors Edwina Perkins and Lynette Eason, presented the prestigeous Yvonne Lehman award to Linda Evans Shepherd, CEO and founder of Advanced Writers & Speakers Association (AWSA). A dessert reception followed the ceremony.