By: Eva Marie Everson, Contest Director

The 2022 Selah Awards finalists have been named! This year’s contest has been the most intense with the highest number of entries at the highest level of competition. With 440 entries, the competition was fierce to say the least. 

The goal of The Selah Awards is to provide scholarship money for deserving writers who otherwise could not afford to attend the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. The contest was the brainchild of Dr. Alton Gansky who served as the conference director after founder (the late) Yvonne Lehman, with about 35 years under her belt, stepped down. 

We are even more thrilled because this year marks the ten-year anniversary of The Selah Awards. 

Without further ado, we announce the . . . 

2022 SELAH AWARDS FINALISTS

Audio Books

Prayer Walk
Janet Holm McHenry
ACX Audible

Sacred Sense from a Second Look
Phyllis Clark Nichols
Southern Stories Publishing

Soul Strong
Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Oasis Audio

The Stars in April
Peggy Wirgau
Illuminate YA/ Iron Stream Media

With My Soul
Laurie Batzel
Anaiah Press

Essays Online & In Print

A Letter to Officer Derek Chauvin
Maureen Miller
PenningPansies.com

This Crazy-Wonderful Little Life
Sara Cormany
From: She Writes for Him: Stories of Living Hope
Redemption Press

The Heart of Christmas
Jenni Clark Dickens
Chicken Soup for the Soul

Articles Online (Beyond Huge)

Are You A Pot-Stirrer or a Peacemaker
Annette Marie Griffin
Crosswalk.com

Five Hacks to Moving Beyond Spiritual People Pleasing
Janell Rardon
relevantmagazine.com

How Should Christians Live in a World That’s Not Our Home
Annette Marie Griffin
BibleStudyTools.com

The Black Binder
Sylvia Schroeder
Refresh

Articles in Print

Directly Affected
Whitney Ward
Focus on the Family’s Brio Magazine

Homeschooling Multiple Ages and Stages
Julie Lavender
Homeschool Indiana Magazine

My Homeless Teacher
Maureen Miller
Refresh

The Integration of Oakridge
Rachael M. Colby
The Oak Ridger Newspaper

Devotions (Online & In Print) HUGE

A Panda is Rare
Michelle Medlock Adams
From: All God’s Creatures
Little Lamb Books

Beauty Born of Fire
Maureen Miller
Arise Daily Devos

Brain Blahs and a Bird’s Nest
Sara Cormany
Christian Devotions Ministries

Come
Carolyn Thigpen
CarolynThigpen.com

Following the Instructions
Julie Lavender
MLTmagazine.com

Gift of Hope
Suzanne D. Nichols
From: Coffee and Cookies with God/ Kerysso Press

God Comes Down to Us
A C Williams
Arise Daily Devos

Monitoring Your Engine Lights
Tez Brooks
Bible.com

The Boy Without a Coat
Becky Alexander
From: Coffee and Cookies with God/ Kerysso Press

Subtle Deception of Sin
Candy Arrington
Arise Daily Devos

Bible Studies

Eyes to See: Seeing God in the Ordinary
Bendi Benson Schrambach
Book Baby

Ezra
Carol Tetzlaff
Redemption Press

Following Jesus: A 21-Day Journey
Dr. Tim Riordan
Greentree Publishers

The Kiss of Peace
Diane Virginia
Mt. Zion Ridge Press

Christian Life

A Faith Unleashed
Joshua J. Masters
Bold Vision Books

God’s Secret Place
Nate Stevens
KDP Direct

Life on Pause
Candy Arrington
Bold Vision Books

Messy Hope
Lori Wildenberg
New Hope Publishers/Iron Stream Media

Praying Through Every Emotion
Linda Evans Shepherd
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

Devotionals

Coffee and Cookies with God, Vol 2
Lisa Worthey Smith
Kerysso Press

Heirloom: Living & Leaving a Legacy of Faith
Kathy Howard
Tyndale House Publishers

Nothing More
Diane Harper
Redemption Press

Seeking Joy Through the Gospel
Christine Trimpe
Redemption Press

With Fresh Eyes
Karen Wingate
Kregel Publications

Inspiration & Gift

Christmas Traditions Through the Lens of Scripture
Marisa Barbee
Redemption Press

Guard Your Heart & Home
Victoria Duerstock
End Game Press

She Writes for Him; Black Voices of Wisdom
Cynthia Cavanaugh, ed.
Redemption Press

The Growing Season
Sarah Philpott
Harvest House Publishers 

The Wandering Wisemen Activity Set
Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer
Fresh Wind Studios

Memoir

Dear Bob: Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WWII
Martha Bolton with Linda Hope
University Press

Enough! Learning to Survive and Thrive in Brokenness
Diana Mood
Elk Lake Publishing

On Wings Like Eagles
Thomas Gregory Stewart
Redemption Press

Turtle Heart
Lucinda J. Kinsinger
Elk Lake Publishing

General Nonfiction

Discipled Leader
Preston Poore
Kregel Publications

God? Where Are You?
Sheri Schofield
Elk Lake Publishing

Spouse in the House
Cynthia Ruchti & Becky Melby
Kregel Publications

Unshakable! A 40-Day Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Emotional Distress
Larry Dugger
Fidelis

Children’s Picture Books (HUGE)

Bedtime with Mommy
Nancy I. Sanders
End Game Press

Dachshund Through the Snow
Michelle Medlock Adams
End Game Press

Dream Big, My Precious One
Jill Roman Lord
Worthy Kids

God Made Us Just Right
Allia Zobel Nolan/Illustrated by Katy Hudson
Kregel Publications

Mrs. Noah
Patti Richards
Little Lamb Books

My Arms Will Hold You Tight
Crystal Bowman, Teri McKinnley
Tyndale House Publishing

You’re More than a Sprout
Jill Roman Lord
BH Kids

Children’s Literature

Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime
Julie Lavender
Z Kids/Penguin Random House

Eat God’s Food
Susan Neal
Elk Lake Publishing

Ida Scudder Missionary Doctor
Terri Kelly
BJU Press

Puppy Dog Devotions
Michelle Medlock Adams
New Hope Kidz/Iron Stream Media

 Middle Grade Fiction & YA Literature (Remarkably Large)

Easy Target
Tim Shoemaker
Focus on the Family

Escape from the Everglades
Tim Shoemaker
Focus on the Family

Hesitant Heroes
Sharon Rene
Anaiah Press

Into The Great Marinara
Nicolas C. Day
Elk Lake Publishing

Secrets in September
Doreen McAvoy
Elk Lake Publishing

Wolf Soldier
James R. Hannibal
Enclave

Wraithwood
Alyssa Roat
Mountain Brook Fire/Mountain Brook Ink

Anthologies

Christmas in Mistletoe Square
Janine Rosche, Pepper Basham, Teresa Tysinger, Cara Putman
Independently Published

Real Life. Real Ladies.
Rita Klundt
E A Books

We May Be Done but We’re Not Finished
Deborah DeArmond
Elk Lake Publishing

Short Stories Online & In Print

Away in a Manger
Beth Pugh
Ally Press

His Touch
Maureen Miller
PenningPansies.com

Your Eve
Hannah Linder
HannahLinderBooks.com

First Novel (HUGE)

Every Window Filled with Light
Sheila Stovall
Elk Lake Publishing

Tempest
C J Campbell
Iron Stream Media 

The Chase
Bradley Caffee
Mountain Brook Fire/Mountain Brook Ink

The Endling
Deborah Maxey
Firefly Southern Fiction

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady
Sharon J. Mondragon
Kregel Publications

Novella

Abort
C. D. Hulen
C. D. Hulen Publisher

Made-to-Order Christmas
Dana R. Lynn
Blessed Publishing

New Wine Transportation Company
Heather Norman Smith
Ambassador International

Fiction: General Fiction

Keeping Bailey
Dan Walsh
Bainbridge Press

Mercy’s Song
Sarah Hanks
SonFlower Books

The Nature of Small Birds
Susie Finkbeiner
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

The Sound the Sun Makes
Buck Storm
Kregel Publishing

Fiction: Historical Biblical

Easton at Christmastide
Rebecca Price Janney
Elk Lake Publishing

The Finder of Forgotten Things
Sarah Loudin Thomas
Bethany House

This Hallowed Ground
Donna E. Lane
Bear’s Place Publishing

Whom Gods Destroy
Vincent B. Davis II
Thirteenth Press

Fiction: Contemporary Women (Large)

Bridges
Deborah Raney
Raney Day Press

Butterfly Cottage
Carrie Fancett Pagels
Hearts Overcoming Press 

Every Window Filled with Light
Sheila Stovall
Elk Lake Publishing

Facing the Dawn
Cynthia Ruchti
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

Fiction: Historical Romance (HUGE)

Along a Storied Trail
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell Books/Baker Publishing Group

Endless Mercy
Kimberley Woodhouse, Tracie Peterson
Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group

Maggie’s Strength
Pegg Thomas
Spinner of Yarns Publishing

Painted Memories
A. M. Heath
Independently Published

Sadie
Shanna Hatfield
Wholesome Hearts Publishing

Sarah’s Choice
Pegg Thomas
Spinner of Yarns Publishing

Sunny
Jennifer Lynn Cary
Tandem Services Press

The Indebted Earl
Erica Vetsch
Kregel Publications

Through the Lettered Veil
Candace West
Lost Creek Press

To Find Her Place
Susan Anne Mason
Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group

Fiction: Contemporary Romance (HUGE)

Anchor My Heart
Sara Beth Williams
Anaiah Press

Cake That!
Heather Greer
Scrivenings Press

Love’s Dwelling
Kelly Irvin
Zondervan

Royally Confused
Jill Boyce
Winged Publications

Royally Engaged
Jill Boyce
Winged Publications

The Billionaire’s Secret
Meghann Whistler
Independently Published

Fiction: Mystery/Suspense (Large)

Blueberry Bungalow
Konnie Viner
Redemption Press

Crosshairs
Patricia Bradley
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

Hoax
Leanna Sain
Lamplighter Suspense/Iron Stream Media

Obsession
Patricia Bradley
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

Operation Music Man
Jennifer Haynie
Independently Published

Poisoned
Patricia Hartman
E A Books

The Scandal of Mercy
Dan Walsh
Bainbridge Press

Fiction: Romantic Suspense (Huge)

Abducted in Alaska
Darlene L. Turner
Love Inspired Suspense/Harlequin

Bridge of Gold
Kimberley Woodhouse
Barbour Publishing

Lethal Coverup
Darlene L. Turner
Love Inspired Suspense/Harlequin

Protecting Her Witness
Sarah Hamaker
Seshua Press

Secret Presence
Darlia Sawyer
Winged Publications

Unknown Threat
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell/Baker Publishing Group

Fiction: Speculative

Beneath the Deep
Andrea Chatman
Elk Lake Publishing

Domestic Enemies
Kent Wyatt
Winged Publications

Tempest
C J Campbell
Iron Stream Media

The Chase
Bradley Caffee
Mountain Brook Fire/Mountain Brook Ink