AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winners of the 2017 Golden Scroll Awards at the Golden Scroll Banquet, Tuesday, June 27th at the Hilton Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Honored for outstanding ministry partnerships with their authors, the Golden Scroll Publisher of the Year Award went to Kregel Publishers. AWSA author Letitia Suk says of Kregel, “I’m proud to have Kregel’s name on my book and so grateful for their support and investment in me.”
Stephen Barcliff was named the winner of the Golden Scroll Non-Fiction Editor of the Year Award. Letitia Suk said, “Steve is sharp and smart about business, but always has time for his authors.”
The Fiction Editor of the Year was awarded to Lisa McCaskill of Pelican Book Group. AWSA author Robin Bayne said, “Lisa put a lot of dedicated effort into the re-release of my novel. She made the entire experience a breeze.”
The Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year Award went to Lynn Eib for Peace in the Face of Cancer from Tyndale House Publishers. The judges remarked, “A comforting, practical book about living with cancer by a survivor with a long time ministry to patients.”
Golden Scroll Merit Awards for Nonfiction were also awarded to Letitia Suk for Getaway with God: The Every Women’s Guide to Personal Retreat from Kregel Publications, Margot Starbuck for He Knows Your Name from Kregel Publications and Lucinda Secrest McDowell for Dwelling Places – Words to Live in Every Season from Abingdon Press.
Silver Scroll Merit Awards for Nonfiction went to Edie Melson for While My Child is Away from Worthy Inspired, Margot Starbucks for Overplayed from Herald Press and Joy Schneider for How to Keep Grief from Stealing Your Destiny from Water of Life Unlimited.
The Golden Scroll Novel of the Year Award went to Cynthia Ruchti for Song of Silence from Abingdon Press. The judges described Ruchti’s novel as, “A stunning, beautiful, poetic, touching read.”
Golden Scroll Merit Awards for Fiction were also awarded to Martha Bolton for The Home Game from Faith Happenings Publishers, Lynette Eason for Without Warning from Revell and Edie Melson for Alone from Prism Book Group.
Silver Scroll Merit Awards for Fiction went to DiAnn Mills for Deadly Encounter from Tyndale House Publishers, Marilyn Turk for The Gilded Curse from Heritage Beacon Fiction and Lynette Eason for Moving Target from Revell.
The Golden Scroll Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley for Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers from Discovery House. The judges remarked, “This is an excellent book for teaching children ages 6 to 10 more about God.” The Golden Scroll Merit Award for Children’s Book of the Year went to Jeanne Dennis and Sheila Seifert for Bible Kid Adventures: Stories of Danger and Courage from Tyndale House Publishers.
AWSA’s official magazine, Leading Hearts, won their third straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award and honored their columnists including Pam Farrel, Michelle S. Cox, Rhonda Rhea, Penelope Carlevato, Saundra Dalton, Sharon Elliot, Kathy Collard Miller, Karen Porter and Cynthia Simmons.
The 2017 AWSA Member of the Year Award went to Suzanne Kuhn. AWSA founder Linda Evans Shepherd said, “Suzanne has so many hard-earned insights and gifts regarding building an author’s platform and she never hesitates to share her knowledge with her AWSA sisters.”
The Beyond Me Award went to Karynthia Phillips, a medical professional, who not only works with high risk pregnancies in the prison population but works with women audiences through her mentoring, writing and speaking. The prestigious 2017 Impact Award was presented to Carol Kent. Shepherd says of Kent, “Carol has served the Lord through both tragedy and pain, and made such a difference for the cause of Christ.”
Carol Kent served as the keynote speaker and recording artist, Ginny Owens, performed the special music. AWSA President Karen Porter served as emcee. Authors Carol Kent and Linda Evans Shepherd presented the awards and AWSA member Jeanne Dennis performed a parody written by Martha Bolton dedicated to editors and publishers.
AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of over 500 top ICRS women authors who both publish and speak nationally. See www.AWSA.com.
