Montreal Novelist Wins Top Writing Prize
Toronto, Ont. – The 28th annual Word Awards Gala was held June 24th, hosting distinguished guests and outstanding writers and editors from across Canada. M.C. Cheryl Weber hosted the celebration of God given talents and outstanding works alongside the talented Dana Marie and her band.
Debut author Susan Doherty Hannaford’s A Secret Music (Cormorant Books) captivated judges earning the Grace Irwin Prize, a $5000 literary award and the evening’s top prize. The judge’s panel said, “This entry fit well with the pioneering spirit of Grace Irwin whom the prize was named after.” Hannaford also won in the Crossover Young Adult category.
The Word Guild was pleased to have in attendance Dr. James Houston who was the recipient of the Leslie K. Tarr award fo
r a lifetime of achievement. He wound down our evening by reminding us that our God is who we must give all glory, honour, and praise.
Among the Word Award winners was the Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, Brian C. Stiller; writing retreat partners Tim Huff and Greg Paul; and co-collaborators Karen Stiller and Patricia Paddey.
Some of the new categories released this year included the first full-length Christian script award won by Dennis Hassell and two French-language categories Anne Cattaruzza and Jean-Sébastien Morin of Montreal.
The Word Guild was pleased to unveil future award categories including the Debra Fieguth award for writing addressing social justice issues and Castle Quay’s Best New Canadian Manuscript Contest.
See the complete list of winners for The Word Guild’s 2016 Word Awards below or at www.thewordguild.com/media.
WINNER LIST – THE 2016 WORD AWARDS
Sponsor: John and Eleanor Irwin
The Grace Irwin Prize, Canada’s largest literary prize for Christian writers, celebrates the best book published in 2015.
Winner: Susan Doherty Hannaford of Montreal, Que. For A Secret Music (Cormorant Books)
Honourable Mention:
Craig G. Bartholomew of Hamilton, Ont. for Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Framework for Hearing God in Scripture (Baker Publishing Group)
Greg Paul of Toronto, Ont. for Simply Open (Thomas Nelson)
BOOK CATEGORIES
CHRISTIAN CATEGORIES
NON-FICTION
Book – Academic
Craig G. Bartholomew of Hamilton, Ont. for Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Framework for Hearing God in Scripture (Baker Publishing Group)
Book – Apologetics/Evangelism
James A. Beverley of Pickering, Ont, and Craig A. Evans of Moncton, N.B. for Getting Jesus Right: How Muslims Get Jesus and Islam Wrong (Castle Quay Books)
Book – Biblical Studies
Stanley Porter of Hamilton, Ont. for John, His Gospel, and Jesus: In Pursuit of the Johannine Voice (Wm. B. Eedermans Publishing)
Book – Children
Paul Boge of East St. Paul, Man. and Faye Hall of Winnipeg for The Biggest Family in the World (Castle Quay Books)
Book – Christian Living
Greg Paul of Toronto, Ont. for Simply Open (Thomas Nelson)
Book – Culture (tie)
Brian C. Stiller, of Newmarket, Ont., (chief editor) and editorial team Karen Stiller, Todd M. Johnson, and Mark Hutchinson for Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century (Thomas Nelson)
Karen Stiller of Port Perry and Patricia Paddey of Mississauga, Ont. for Shifting Stats Shaking The Church: 40 Canadian Churches Respond (World Vision Canada)
Book – Inspirational/Devotional
Tim Huff of Toronto, Ont. for The Yuletide Factor: Cause for Perpetual Comfort and Joy (Castle Quay Books)
Book – Instructional
David Sherbino of Toronto, Ont. for Renew: A Basic Guide For A Personal Retreat (Castle Quay Books)
Book – Life Stories
Robert Jones of St. Albert, Alta. for Ornament (Word Alive Press)
FICTION
Novel – Children
Karen Autio of Kelowna, B.C. for Kah-Lan the Adventurous Sea Otter (Sono Nis Press)
Novel – Contemporary
Valerie Comer of Creston, B.C. for Dandelions for Dinner (GreenWords Media)
Novel – Historical
Rose Seiler Scott of Surrey, B.C. for Threaten to Undo Us (Promontory Press)
Novel – Speculative
Peter Kazmaier of Mississauga, Ont. for The Battle for Halcyon (Word Alive Press)
Novel – Suspense
Sandra Orchard of Fenwick, Ont. for Desperate Measures (Revell Publishing)
FRENCH
Fictives
Anne Cattaruzza of Longueuil, Que. for À la recherche de Shéïda (La Maison de la Bible)
Vie Chrétienne
Jean-Sébastien Morin of Saint-Eustache, Que. for Mariés et heureux? (Ministères mult)
SCRIPTS
Full Length Christian Script
Dennis J. Hassell of Toronto, Ont. for “Shell Game”
CROSSOVER CATEGORIES
Book – Culture
Christina Crook of Toronto, Ont. for The Joy of Missing Out (New Society Publishers)
Novel – Romance
Bryan Norford of Lethbridge, Alta. for The Silent Remainder (Pebble Press)
Novel – Suspense
J.A. Menzies of Markham, Ont. for Shadow of a Butterfly: The Case of the Harmless Old Woman (MurderWillOut Mysteries)
Novel – Young Adult
Susan Doherty Hannaford of Montreal, Que. For A Secret Music (Cormorant Books)
ARTICLE, POETRY, AND SONG LYRIC
CHRISTIAN CATEGORIES
Article – Blog
Thomas Froese of Ancaster, Ont. for “Fear and Childbirth in Uganda” (http://www.dailydad.net)
Article – Inspirational/Devotional
Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Our “Holy” Sins” (Today’s Christian Woman)
Article – Long Feature
Ray Wiseman of Fergus, Ont. for “Until Death Do Us Part” (Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon)
Article – Personal Experience
Kimberley Parker of St. Thomas, Ont. for “The Mission on My Street – When Love Comes Back Around” (testimony)
Article – Poetry
Stephen Kennedy of Peterborough, Ont. for “Afar Feast” (Presbyterian Record)
Article – Profile/Human Interest
Angela Reitsma Bick of Newcastle, Ont. for “Every moment holy” (Christian Courier)
Article – Short Feature
Lisa Hall-Wilson of London, Ont. for “Violence Against Women – Stories That Need To Be Told and Listened To” (testimony)
Article – Short Story
N.J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “Mary’s Dream” (Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon)
Column – series
Josh Valley of Toronto, Ont. for “Donald Drumpf and other madness Evangelicals fall for” and “Seeing Jesus as a refugee” (Christian Week)
Column – single
John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C. for “An oppressive ruling” (The Garden Park Journal)
TERENCE L. BINGLEY AWARD FOR BEST SONG LYRICS
Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Just getting Started” (Running Arends Music/ASCAP)
CROSSOVER CATEGORIES
Article – Long Feature
Christina Van Starkenburg of Victoria, B.C. for “Taming the TV: Turning TV Time into Teachable Moments” (Island Parent)
Article – Personal Experience
Heather Rae Rodin of Selwyn for “Angel At Our Door” (Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon)
Short Story
Bobbi Junior of Edmonton, Alta. for “Chapter Book” (Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon)
Column – Series
Thomas Froese of Ancaster, Ont. for “Of lions, children and innocence of lives given” and “Life is in the small pleasures, the simple moments” (Hamilton Spectator)
Column – Single
Michael Coren of Toronto, Ont. for “The Real War on Christmas Comes from the Right” (The Toronto Star)
Harvey/Mackey Award (celebrates the best of Canada’s up and coming Christian journalists)
Christina Van Starkenburg of Victoria, B.C. for “Taming the TV: Turning TV Time into Teachable Moments” (Island Parent)
IN THE BEGINNING
Grand Prize Winner:
Ellen Hooge of Calgary, Alta. for Ruth (first three chapters)
First three chapters runner up:
Diana Holvik of Guelph, Ont. for Love in the Storm
Non-fiction short piece runner up:
Beckie Evans of Abbotsford, B.C. for “I did learn something”
Poem runner up:
Mike Bonikowsky of Melancthon, Ont. for “Daughter Songs”
Short Story runner up:
Annie Carpenter of London, Ont. for “Livvy & the Queen Bee”
First fifteen pages of a Short Script runner up:
Nicole Arnt of St.Catharines, Ont. for “How about L for Love”
FRESH INK
University Category:
Grand Prize Winner:
Carolyn Felker of Brantford, Ont. for The Desert’s Secret
First three chapters runner up:
Heather Shore of Milton, Ont. for Sands of Kemet
Short Story runner up:
Anna-Marina Giurin of Chatham, Ont. for “The Music of Life”
High School Category:
Grand Prize Winner:
Lindsay Evans of Trenton, Ont. for “Forever Love” (poem)
Special thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of the Word Awards and Christian writers across Canada:
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada/Alliance Évangélique du Canada • Canadian Christian News Service • Bingley Family • Castle Quay Books • Compassion Canada • D.L. Deeks Insurance • Faith FM • FaithStrongToday • Willner Family • Hit Logic Solution • HopeStreamRadio • Hume Media Inc. • InScribe • Joy 1250 • Kobo Canada • McMaster Divinity College • Stone Church • Swordfish Digital Audio • testimony (PAOC) • That’s Life! Communications • The Christian Herald • UCB Canada • Cecil Murphey • Hall-Wilson family • Lloyd & Edna Mackey (in memory of Hilda MacKenzie)
ABOUT THE WORD GUILD
The Word Guild is an association of Canadian writers, editors, speakers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and other Christian individuals. From all parts of Canada and many denominational and cultural backgrounds, they are united in their common passion to positively influence individuals, and ultimately Canadian culture, through life-changing words that bring God’s message of hope.
For more information about The Word Guild, The Word Awards, other awards or other events please visit the contest page or visit www.thewordguild.com and click on Contests & Awards.