Toronto – A novel set during the Roman Empire and a series of articles from the anthology Hot Apple Cider were the most awarded publications at The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards this year. Awards were given in 30 independently judged categories, including non-fiction books, novels, articles, columns and poems published during 2008.
The novel Christianus Sum (Latin for “I am a Christian”) won awards in three categories – best suspense, romance and historical novel – for first-time author Shawn J. Pollett of Golden Valley, Ontario (near Parry Sound). He had already won free publishing in last year’s Word Alive Press manuscript competition.
As Pollett received the awards, the burly, bearded former rugby player admitted his special surprise at the win in the “romance” category – he had not been aware his book had been entered in that category.
“But I believe that a good love story, one that is pure and true, reflects the truth of God’s love for us,” Pollett explained. He also pointed out that the religious persecution experienced by the fictional characters in his story is still experienced today by Christians in many countries around the world.
Two Toronto poverty activists were also multiple award winners. Tim Huff won for Bent Hope: A Street Journal (Castle Quay Books) and Greg Paul for The Twenty Piece Shuffle: Why the Poor and Rich Need Each Other (David C. Cook). Huff, a social activist who has worked for 20 years with homeless and marginalized youth and adults, won the general readership category and shared first place in the culture book category with Greg Paul. Paul, who founded the inner-city ministry Sanctuary, also won the Christian living book category.
Huff and Paul are friends. They received their awards on stage together and dedicated them in the name of friends who were surviving on the streets of Toronto during that night’s rainstorm. They explained that they had done some of their writing at the same time and given each other feedback and encouragement. Huff joked that he had ghost-written Paul’s book, to widespread laughter.
Three articles from the best-selling inspirational anthology Hot Apple Cider (That’s Life! Communications) were also winners. Two awards went to “The Diamond Ring” by N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ontario (inspirational and general readership categories) and the third went to “It Was Then That I Carried You,” by Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ontario (personal experience category). Both authors have previously published several books and won writing awards in previous years.
British Columbia is home for two multiple winners. Author and singer/songwriter Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C., who was shortlisted in five categories – the most of any writer this year – won two awards, in the category “Book – Life Stories” and for her columns in Christianity Today magazine. Her book is Wrestling with Angels: Adventures in Faith and Doubt (Harvest House Publishers). John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C., won for his review “Is Punishment All Bad?” in the Mennonite Brethren Herald and tied for his short feature article “Buying Two Farms” in Stillwood, the First 50 Years 1958-2008.
“Thanks be to God for the gifts of language, meaning and spell-check,” said Arends in her mailed-in acceptance speech. Redekop, a veteran writer who was present at the ceremony, thanked God for the gift of words.
Donna Dawson of St. Marys, Ontario, author of the suspense thriller Vengeance (Word Alive Press) and a writing instructor at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, won for best contemporary novel and best independently published fiction.
The awards, along with several others, were announced at a public gala event June 17 in Mississauga, Ontario. Each included a cash prize.
“The Awards Gala is the premier event honouring the work of Canadians who write from a Christian worldview,” explained Denise Rumble, the managing director of The Word Guild, the association that sponsors the awards. “We want to showcase examples of excellence, and to increase public awareness of the quality and variety of our homegrown writers.”
The black-tie gala was hosted by Herbie Kuhn, popular speaker and in-house announcer for the Toronto Raptors basketball team.
The complete list of winners, including several runner-up “awards of merit,” may be seen at
www.thewordguild.com. The contest received a record number of 237 entries from writers in eight provinces.
The Word Guild also sponsors Canada’s largest Christian writers’ conference, Write! Canada (
www.writecanada.org). After the gala, 250 writers, editors, agents and publishers were set to meet in Guelph, Ontario, from June 18 to 20 for professional development, networking and marketing opportunities.
ABOUT THE WORD GUILD CANADIAN CHRISTIAN WRITING AWARDS
The awards are sponsored by The Word Guild, a national association with the mandate of connecting, developing and promoting Canadian writers and editors who are Christian. Formerly known as The God Uses Ink Awards, these prizes have been awarded annually since 1988. The Word Guild assumed responsibility for them in 2002, revamping and expanding the program from its original eight categories to the current 34.
The contest is open to all writers who have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status, and is not restricted to members of The Word Guild. Entrants are asked to affirm The Apostles’ Creed as a condition of acceptance. Opinions and viewpoints in the winning works represent the authors’ personal beliefs and are not necessarily endorsed by The Word Guild.
Although contest rules do not require an explicit affirmation of Christian belief within an entered piece of writing, judges looked for an underlying expression of Christian worldview. Entries were judged according to excellence of writing; impact (the inspirational or informational value making it worthwhile); fulfillment of stated purpose; suitability to target audience; originality and freshness of style.
Businesses, organizations or individuals who would like to provide concrete support and encouragement to Canadian writers who are Christian are welcome to inquire about the benefits of awards sponsorships. Charitable tax receipts are available. Sponsorship opportunities may be seen at http://www.thewordguild.com/contestsawards/awardssponsorship.html.
