The 2023 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference 12th annual Selah Awards ceremony took place at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, North Carolina on May 31, 2023. Contest director Eva Marie Everson greeted over 600 people who gathered in Spilman Auditorium before awarding over 90 awards to nearly 100 recipients. This year, the Selah Awards brought in over 450 entries.
Following the Selah Awards, conference director Edie Melson and conference assistant director Edwina Perkins awarded The Director’s Choice awards. This year, over 80 alumni from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference entered their 2022 work in the contest.
Mrs. Everson returned to the stage following the Directors’ Choice Awards to award The Foundation Awards, presented to unpublished authors in 19 genres.
At the evening’s conclusion, Mrs. Melson and Mrs. Perkins returned to the stage to present The Yvonne Lehman Award for 2023. This legacy award, which honors the conference’s founder and multiple award-winning author Yvonne Lehman, was presented to Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency for his decades of exemplary work within the Christian publishing industry.
The 2023 Selah Awards
Articles Online
Third Place
Invisible Disabilities: Hidden but Real
Martin Thomas Johnson
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Second Place
Are you Ready for Bedtime?
Julie Lavender
More to Life Magazine
Editor: Andrea Stock
Agent: Cyle Young
Agent: Cyle Young
First Place
4 Subtle Ways Satan Uses Media to Sabotage our Spiritual Walk
Annette Marie Griffin
Annette Marie Griffin
Crosswalk.com
Editor: Tiffany Curtis
Articles in Print
Third Place
How to Strengthen Your Relationship When Caring for a Child with Special Needs
Kristin and Todd Evans
Focus on the Family
Editor: Sheila Seifert
Editor: Sheila Seifert
Second Place
Freedom in Forgiveness
Maureen Miller
The Mountaineer
Editor: Vicki Hyatt
Editor: Vicki Hyatt
First Place
The Closer
Annie Yorty
Today’s Christian Living
Editor: Michelle Adserias
Devotions Online
Third Place
Are You Still Sleeping?
Are You Still Sleeping?
Annie Yorty
Crosswalk.com
Editor: Liz Auld
Editor: Liz Auld
Second Place
Under Construction
Sara Cormany
Christian Devotions
Editors: Martin Wiles & Cindy Sproles
Editors: Martin Wiles & Cindy Sproles
First Place
Interruptions
Interruptions
Laurie Herlich
Christian Devotions
Editor: Cindy Sproles and Martin Wiles
Devotions In Print
Honorable Mention
When Fear Slithers In
When Fear Slithers In
Julie Lavender
Guideposts Publications
Editor: Carolyn Mandarano
Agent: Cyle Young
Agent: Cyle Young
Third Place
This Time Next Year
This Time Next Year
Maureen Miller
Abundance Books
Editor: Teresa Janzen
Editor: Teresa Janzen
Second Place
Comes a Warm Sunbeam
Comes a Warm Sunbeam
Candyce Carden
Good News Cleveland
Editor: Jodi Varnado
Editor: Jodi Varnado
First Place
Contents of the Heart
Becky Alexander
Kerysso Press
Editor: Lisa Worthey Smith
Essay in Print and Online
Third Place
Angel or Alien
Angel or Alien
Harriet E. Michael
The Lutheran Digest
Editor: Samantha Berry
Editor: Samantha Berry
Second Place
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
Janet Morris Grimes
Inspire a Fire
Editor: Diana Flegal
Editor: Diana Flegal
First Place
If Jesus Had a Dog
If Jesus Had a Dog
Maureen Miller
Penning Pansies
Children’s Picture Books
Third Place
I’m Getting New Glasses
I’m Getting New Glasses
Beth Ann Ramos
Good Day Books
Editor: Beth Ann Ramos
Editor: Beth Ann Ramos
Bedtime with Daddy
Nancy I. Sanders
End Game Press
Agent: Cyle Young
Agent: Cyle Young
Second Place
Who God Wants Me to Be
Who God Wants Me to Be
Crystal Bowman and Michelle S. Lazurek
Publisher: Waterbrook
Editor: Sarah Rubio & Bunmi Ishbola
Agent: Karen Neumair
Agent: Karen Neumair
First Place
Too Many Pigs in the Pool
Too Many Pigs in the Pool
Wendy Hinote Lanier
Sleeping Bear Press
Editor: Sarah Rocket
Agent: Cyle Young
Children’s Literature
Third Place
Fruit Full
Fruit Full
Christie Thomas
Kregel Publications
Editor: Janyre Tromp
Agent: Karen Neumair
Agent: Karen Neumair
Second Place
You’re Joking Me: Jokes for Kids by a Kid
William Daniel
Revell
Editor: Sadina Brott
Agent: Blythe Daniel
Agent: Blythe Daniel
First Place
Lilibet the Brave
Lilibet the Brave
Katy Rose
End Game Press
Agent: Don Pape
Middle Grade Novels
Third Place
Medium Well Done
Eddie Jones
Dry Bones Publishing
Editor: Kim Childress
Editor: Kim Childress
Second Place
Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods
Amanda Cleary Eastep
Moody Publishers
Editor: Marianne Hering
Editor: Marianne Hering
First Place
Lions to the Rescue!
Amanda Cleary Eastep
Moody Publishers
Editor: Marianne Hering
YA Fiction
Third Place
A Thousand Lies
A Thousand Lies
Kathy Cassel
Haven Point Publishing
Haven Point Publishing
Second Place
Every Hidden Thing
Tim Shoemaker
Focus on the Family
Editor: Vance Fry
Agent: Cyle Young
First Place
Recruit of Talionis
Recruit of Talionis
C. J. Milacci
Fayette Press
Editors: Jonathan Shuerger & Erynn Newman
General Nonfiction
Second Place
Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World
Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World
Stan and Cheryl Schuermann
Pen It Publications
Editor: Dina Husseini
Editor: Dina Husseini
First Place (Tie)
Essential Keys to Marital Success
Essential Keys to Marital Success
Osaro Edosa Ogbewe with Kathy Bruins
The Well Publishers
Editor: Kathy Bruins
Editor: Kathy Bruins
Colorful Connections
Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld
Kregel Publications
Editor: Janyre Tromp
Agent: Bob Hostetler
Bible Study
Third Place
Deep Rooted: Romans
Kathy Howard
Bold Vision Books
Editor: Karen Porter
Editor: Karen Porter
Second Place
Bloom Where You Are
Bloom Where You Are
Deborah Malone
Lamp Post Publishing
Editor: Beverly Nault
Editor: Beverly Nault
First Place
From Shattered to Restored
Nanette Larson
Redemption Press
Editor: Rachel Bradley & Lesley McDaniel
Christian Life
Third Place
Living for His Glory
Kim S. Kinney
Kim S. Kinney Publishing
Editor: Dr. Justin R. Kinney
Editor: Dr. Justin R. Kinney
Second Place
The Covenant Story
Sonya Leigh Anderson
Redemption Press
Editor: Rachel Overton
Editor: Rachel Overton
First Place
Death to Deconstruction
Death to Deconstruction
Joshua S. Porter
Kregel Publications
Editor: Joel Armstrong
Inspiration and Gift
Third Place
I Love You, Mom
I Love You, Mom
Blythe Daniel & Helen McIntosh
Tyndale House Publishers
Editor: Sarah Kelley
Agent: Blythe Daniel
Agent: Blythe Daniel
Second Place
Challenges Won’t Stop Me
Challenges Won’t Stop Me
Melony Brown
Fiction House Press
Editor: Marcie Bridges
Editor: Marcie Bridges
First Place
After the Flowers Die
After the Flowers Die
Renee Leonard Kennedy
End Game Press
Devotionals
Third Place
Keeping Hope Alive
Keeping Hope Alive
Grace Fox
Aspire Press
Editor: Lynnette Pennings
Agent: Steve Laube
Agent: Steve Laube
Second Place
At Home in Your Heart
At Home in Your Heart
Carol McLeod
Whitaker House
Editor: Peg Fullon
Agent: Suzanne Kuhn
Agent: Suzanne Kuhn
First Place
Springtime for Your Spirit
Springtime for Your Spirit
Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp
Good Books/Skyhorse
Editor: Nicole Frail
Agent: Cyle Young
Agent: Cyle Young
Memoir
Third Place
You Don’t Know Just How I Feel
You Don’t Know Just How I Feel
Gwendolyn O. Burton
Redemption Press
Editor: Tisha Martin
Editor: Tisha Martin
Second Place
Only If God Says So!
Only If God Says So!
Karen Black Mercer
Redemption Press
Editor: Lorraine M. Varela
Editor: Lorraine M. Varela
First Place
Five Tickets to Kansas
Five Tickets to Kansas
Susan Carter
Kaleidoscope Publishing
Editor: Shellie Arnold
Anthology
Third Place
The Courage to Write
The Courage to Write
Rachel Britton and Lucinda Secrest McDowell, General Editors
reNew Writers
reNew Writers
Second Place
A Hill Country Christmas
A Hill Country Christmas
Lynn Dean, General Editor
Wordsworth Publishing
Wordsworth Publishing
First Place
Room at the Table
Room at the Table
Stephanie Pavlantos and Starr Ayers
Mt. Zion Ridge Press
Editors: Michelle Levigne & Tamera Lynn Kroft
Short Story in Print and Online
Third Place
Fishing for Keeps
Kristen Hogrefe Parnell
Spark Flash Fiction
Spark Flash Fiction
Second Place
The Window Watcher
The Window Watcher
Hannah Linder
HannahLinderBooks.com
Editor: Catherine Posey
Editor: Catherine Posey
First Place
Booth
Kyle Keenan
Kyle Keenan Books
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti
Novella
Third Place
A Father’s Gift
Paula Peckham
Elk Lake Publishing
Editor: Cristel Phelps
Editor: Cristel Phelps
Second Place
Love in Any Language
Hallee Bridgeman
Olivia Kimbrell Press
Editor: Gregg Bridgeman
Agent: Chip MacGregor
Agent: Chip MacGregor
First Place
Deadly Objective
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell Books
Editor: Kelsey Bowen
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
First Novel
Third Place
Truth in the Name
F.D. Adkins
CKN Christian Publishing
Editor: Patience Bramlett
Editor: Patience Bramlett
Second Place
Buried Cold Case Secrets
Sami Abrams
Love Inspired Suspense
Editor: Shana Asaro
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
First Place
Path of Totality
Heather Kreke
Cranberry Creek Press
Editor: Larry J. Leech II & Becky Antkowiak
General Fiction
Third Place
Where the Blue Sky Begins
Katie Powner
Bethany House
Editor: David Long
Agent: Keely Boeving
Second Place (Tie)
I’ll Be Seeing You
Robin Lee Hatcher
HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson
Editor: Laura Wheeler
Agent: Natasha Kern
Agent: Natasha Kern
When Stone Wings Fly
Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications
Editor: Janyre Tromp
Agent: Rachel Kent
Agent: Rachel Kent
First Place
Hope Beyond the Waves
Heidi Chiavaroli
Hope Creek Publishers
Editor: Melissa Jagears
Mystery/Suspense
Third Place
Life Flight
Lynette Eason
Revell
Editor: Andrea Doering
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
Second Place
Circle of Vengeance
Ramona Richards
Kregel Publications
Editor: Janyre Tromp
Agent: Julie Gwinn
Agent: Julie Gwinn
First Place
Elysium Tide
James R. Hannibal
Revell Books
Editor: Andrea Doering
Agent: Harvey Klinger
Romantic Suspense
Third Place
Defending Honor
Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood
Sunrise Publishing
Editors: Susan May Warren & Lindsay Harrel
Editors: Susan May Warren & Lindsay Harrel
Second Place
Into the Fog
Karen Randau
Editor: Roxx Tarantini
First Place
The Dark Guest
Sarah Hamaker
Seshva Press
Editor: Liz Tolsma
Contemporary Romance
Third Place
The Last Way Home
Liz Johnson
Revell
Editor: Vicki Crumpton
Agent: Rachel Kent
Agent: Rachel Kent
Second Place
An Unlikely Alliance
Toni Shiloh
Love Inspired
Editor: Dina Davis
Agent: Rachel McMillian
Agent: Rachel McMillian
First Place
Her Christmas Redemption
Toni Shiloh
Love Inspired
Editor: Melissa Endlich
Agent: Rachel McMillian
Contemporary Women
Third Place
Falling Apart, Falling for You
Chris Posti
Elk Lake Publishing
Editors: Cristel Phelps & Deb Haggerty
Editors: Cristel Phelps & Deb Haggerty
Second Place
Breath of Heaven
Deborah Raney
Raney Day Press
Editor: Tobi Layton, Tavia Smith
Editor: Tobi Layton, Tavia Smith
First Place
Paper Dolls
Kara R. Hunt
Winged Publications
Agent: Sharon Norris Elliott
Historical Romance
Third Place
Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War
Mary Davis
Barbour Publishing
Editor: Rebecca Germany
Agent: Sarah Freese
Agent: Sarah Freese
Second Place
Beneath His Silence
Hannah Linder
Barbour Publishing
Editor: Becky Fish
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti
First Place
The Songs That Could Have Been
Amanda Wen
Kregel Publications
Editor: Janyre Tromp
Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray
Historical/Biblical
Third Place
When the Meadow Blooms
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell Books
Editor: Rachel McRae
Agent: Wendy Lawton
Agent: Wendy Lawton
Second Place
A Fallen Sparrow
Lynne Basham Tagawa
Blue Rock Press
Editor: Robin Patchen
Editor: Robin Patchen
First Place
By the Sweet Gum
Ane Mulligan
LPC
Editor: Denise Weimer
Western
Third Place
Texas Faith
Andrew Roth
Elk Lake Publishing
Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty
Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty
Second Place
Lasting Treasure
Andrew Roth
Elk Lake Publishing
Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty
Editors: Cristel Phelps and Deb Haggerty
First Place
A Texas Secret
Laura Conner Kestner
Laura Kestner, Publisher
Speculative Fiction
Third Place
Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Time
Tracy Higley
Stonewater Books
Editor: D’Ann Mateer
Editor: D’Ann Mateer
Second Place
Chrome World
Travis W. Inman
Elk Lake Publishing
Editors: Deb Haggerty, Cristel Phelps
Editors: Deb Haggerty, Cristel Phelps
First Place
When Legends Rise
Daphne Self
Ambassador International
Editor: Katie Cruice Smith
Audio Books
Third Place
The Egyptian Princess
KD Holmberg
Mountain Brook Ink
Narrated by Lillian Rachel
Agent: Linda Glaz
Agent: Linda Glaz
Second Place
The Choices She Made
Felicia Ferguson
End Game Press
Narrated by: Devon Sorvari
Narrated by: Devon Sorvari
First Place
Beneath His Silence
Hannah Linder
Barbour Publishing/Oasis Audio
Narrator: Anne Flosnik
Agent: Cynthia Ruchti
SELAH BOOKS OF THE YEAR
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (INCLUDES BOARD BOOKS TO YA FICTION)
Recruit of Talionis
C. J. Milacci
Fayette Press
Editors: Jonathan Shuerger & Erynn Newman
NONFICTION
Springtime for Your Spirit
Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp
Good Books/Skyhorse
Editor: Nicole Frail
Agent: Cyle Young
FICTION
The Dark Guest
Sarah Hamaker
Seshva Press
Editor: Liz Tolsma
The Directors’ Choice Awards
Romantic Suspense/Suspense/Mystery
Honorable Mention
The Wise Man
Michele Chynoweth
Elk Lake Publishing
Elk Lake Publishing
Third Place
Fatal Forensic Investigation
Darlene L. Turner
Love Inspired Suspense
Second Place (Tie)
Malicious Intent
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell
Revell
Honor Bound
Hallee Bridgeman
Revell
Revell
First Place
Circle of Vengeance
Ramona Richards
Kregel Publications
General Fiction
Honorable Mention
Addy of the Door Islands
Judy DuCharme
Ambassador International
Ambassador International
Third Place
By the Sweet Gum
Ane Mulligan
LPC
LPC
Second Place
The Choices She Made
Felicia Ferguson
End Game Press
First Place
Emma’s Quest
Starr Ayers
Mountain Brook Ink
Christian Life
Honorable Mention
Freedom from Brokenness, Lessons Learned Through Inner Healing Prayer
Gena Barnhill
Brookstone Publishing Group
Brookstone Publishing Group
Third Place
Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise
Lori Hatcher
Our Daily Bread Publishing
Our Daily Bread Publishing
Second Place
Colorful Connections, 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
Lori Stanley Roeleveld
Kregel Publications
Kregel Publications
First Place
On Purpose, Understanding God’s Freedom for Women Through Scripture
Julie Zine Coleman
Kregel Publications
Devotionals/Bible Studies/Gift Books
Honorable Mention
In The Eye of the Storm
Andy Clapp
End Game Press
End Game Press
Third Place
After the Flowers Die
Renee Leonard Kennedy
End Game Press
End Game Press
Second Place
For Love’s Sake
Beebe Kauffman
Lighthouse Bible Studies
Lighthouse Bible Studies
First Place
Room at the Table
Stephanie Pavlantos and Starr Ayers
Mt. Zion Ridge Press
Children’s
Honorable Mention
Our God is Bigger Than That!
Michelle Medlock Adams
Eva Marie Everson
Illustrated by Anna Jones
End Game Press
End Game Press
Third Place
Leo the Leafy Sea Dragon
Lynn Seta
Illustrated by Jessica Seta
Cedar River Publishing
Cedar River Publishing
Second Place
Howie’s Broken Hee-Haw
Josie Siler
Illustrated by Sebastien Braun
End Game Press
End Game Press
First Place (Tie)
Who God Wants Me to Be
Crystal Bowman and Michelle S. Lazurek
Waterbrook
Waterbrook
Too Many Pigs in the Pool
Wendy Hinote Lanier
Illustrated by Iris Amaya
Sleeping Bear Press
The Foundation Awards
Articles in Print & Online
THIRD
Deadly Darkness
Sandra Hastings
Sandra Hastings
SECOND
Firmly Rooted in Jesus
Suzanne Montgomery
Suzanne Montgomery
FIRST
Grandparents in the Gap
Cheryl Schuermann
Essays
HONORABLE MENTION
Luminosity
Karen Cerny
Karen Cerny
THIRD
Waiting on the God Who’s Never Late
Shelly Snead
Shelly Snead
SECOND
When God Gives You a New Life
Hulda Romero-Bennett
FIRST
Wailing Walks
Shelly Snead
Devotions
THIRD
Keep Pounding the Rock
Andy Hollifield
Andy Hollifield
SECOND
What Do You See?
Patricia Northcutt
Patricia Northcutt
FIRST
Waiting On God
Shelly Snead
Shelly Snead
Blogs
THIRD
Joni Vance
JoniVance.com
JoniVance.com
SECOND
Gabriel Tew
GabrielTew.com
GabrielTew.com
FIRST
Shelly Snead
UN-perfect.net
UN-perfect.net
Poetry
HONORABLE MENTION
The Procrastinator
Mark Drinnenberg
The Procrastinator
Mark Drinnenberg
THIRD
The View from Below and Above
Mark Drinnenberg
The View from Below and Above
Mark Drinnenberg
SECOND
So Let Us Run
Cassidy Lappin
So Let Us Run
Cassidy Lappin
FIRST
Like Water to Me
Sara Cormany
Sara Cormany
Children’s Literature
THIRD
Rainbow Snow
Mark Drinnenberg
Mark Drinnenberg
SECOND
Why is Ike a Grump?
Eric McPherson
Eric McPherson
FIRST
Shadow and Bubba’s Great Adventure
Suzanne Montgomery
Suzanne Montgomery
Middle Grade
THIRD
Galilee
MaryBeth Stephens
MaryBeth Stephens
SECOND
Over the Wall
Sandi Johnson Ruble
Sandi Johnson Ruble
FIRST
Best Worst Year Ever
Beverly Jackson Smith
Beverly Jackson Smith
Nonfiction Books/Bible Studies
THIRD
Praying Proverbs Over My Teenager
Cindy Carraway Williams
Cindy Carraway Williams
SECOND
Alone in Xi’an
Mary Hollowell
Mary Hollowell
FIRST
Restored
Denise Renken
Flash Fiction
THIRD
May the Source Be With You
Rachael M Colby
Rachael M Colby
SECOND
A New Model for 2099
Fred von KameckeFIRST
Tales of Aras: Snared!
Terrance Niedziela Jr
Fred von KameckeFIRST
Tales of Aras: Snared!
Terrance Niedziela Jr
Short Stories
SECOND
Living Water
MaryBeth Stephens
FIRST
The Fragrance of Surrender
Rhonda Dragomir
Rhonda Dragomir
Novellas
FIRST
Waylaid on Whidbey
Laurie Herlich
Mystery/Suspense
THIRD
Where There’s a Will
Mark Drinnenberg
SECOND
He Knows Her Truth
Kristine Delano
FIRST
In Life and Death
Courtney Dailey
Contemporary Romance/Contemporary Women
THIRD
Club Wed
Courtney DaileySECOND
The Chemistry of Love
Terri B. Kelly
Courtney DaileySECOND
The Chemistry of Love
Terri B. Kelly
FIRST
Forgive Me Nots
Courtney Dailey
Courtney Dailey
Romantic Suspense
SECOND
Out of the Grave
Dawn Marie DayFIRST
Shine
Marilyn Brandon
Dawn Marie DayFIRST
Shine
Marilyn Brandon
Historical Romance
THIRD
A Pearl Among Swine
Leslie MooreSECOND
The Weaver’s Dream
Tema Banner
Leslie MooreSECOND
The Weaver’s Dream
Tema Banner
FIRST
Foster’s Quest
Helen Liptak
Helen Liptak
Historical Biblical/Western
THIRD
A Picture of the Past
Jacinta Meredith
Jacinta Meredith
SECOND
Trapped in Coral Ridge
Lynne Marie Lanning
Lynne Marie Lanning
FIRST
So Great a Cloud of Witnesses
Scott Brunner
Scott Brunner
Speculative
THIRD
If a Feral Cat Had Nine Lives
Cindy Carraway Williams
Cindy Carraway Williams
SECOND
To Prepare a Place
Carolyn Jacobs
Carolyn Jacobs
FIRST
By His Wounds
Lyneta Smith
Lyneta Smith
Y A Fiction
THIRD
The Time Table
Kara Stalnaker
Kara Stalnaker
SECOND
The Supporting Role
Molly Hanberry
Molly Hanberry
FIRST
Dead Rising
Morgan Davis
Film & Teleplay Script
THIRD
Black Card
Shanda Neighbors and Renee Leonard Kennedy
Shanda Neighbors and Renee Leonard Kennedy
SECOND
No Room at the Inn
Mark Drinnenberg
Mark Drinnenberg
FIRST
A Season for Rose
Rhonda Dragomir
The Conversation
The BRMCWC was the first conference I ever attended back in 2002. I’ve come most years, with only a few exceptions. Eva Marie Everson taught the first class I took. Years later, she was the editor of my first published book. We both contributed to an anthology together. So when she announced I’d won the Selah for Historical/Biblical, it was a very special moment for me – like a gift from Father. Thank you, BRMCWC!!!
[…] See the full list of contest winners here: BRMCWC Award Winners […]
Is it appropriate to incorporate Selah Awards and or Selah Finalist designation on the cover of a winning book? If so, how do we obtain the appropriate images and permission to use them?
All finalists received the finalist seal upon announcement. This includes second and third placements in the Selahs.
All first-place winners received their winner’s seal after the ceremony.
All finalists and first-place winners are free to use their seals on the covers of their books.