AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winners of the 2022 Golden Scroll Awards at the Golden Scroll Banquet, Sunday, August 14, at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Awards were presented by Linda Evans Shepherd, founder and CEO of AWSA, and Rebecca White, author.
This is the 14th year that AWSA has presented the Golden Scroll Awards. The Golden Scroll Awards are open to the nearly 800 members of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
- Sharon Tedford was named AWSA of the Year.
- The Jennifer Kennedy Dean Award went to Lee Ann Mancini.
- Eva Marie Everson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Everson is the author of over 40 books, a former nurse and a seminary graduate. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s running Word Weavers International, an international membership group of writers who, using the art of critique, become iron sharpening iron. She’s one of the original members and a founding board member of AWSA and the director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference. She speaks at writers conferences across America and to women’s groups as well as to congregations. She’s written some amazing books, including The Third Path—Intimacy with God on the Path of Questioning, her latest novel, Five Brides, her new children’s book, My God is Bigger Than That (with Michelle Medlock Adams) and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd).
- The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Coleman for “On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture” (Kregel).
- The Nonfiction Book of the Year Award went to Michelle Nietert and Denise Pass for “Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life” (Randall House).
- The Novel of the Year Award went to DiAnn Mills for “Trace of Doubt” (Tyndale).
- The Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).
- The Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Susan U. Neal, illustrated by Courtney Smith, for “Eat God’s Food” (Elk Lake).
Second place for Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House). Third place went to Karen Whiting and Jesse Florea for “Devos for Brave Boys” (Tyndale).
- The Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer and Amy Parker, illustrated by Monica De Rivas for “The Grumbles” (Running Press Kids).
Second place for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press). Third place went to Jeanne Dennis, illustrated by Jeannie St. John Taylor, for “Matt’s Compusonic” (Elk Lake).
- The Christian Education Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “52 Weekly Devotions for Family Prayer” (RoseKidz).
Second place for Christian Educational Book of the Year went to Rebecca White and Karen Whiting for “The Super-Sized Book of Bible Craft Gifts” (RoseKidz). Third place went to DiAnn Mills for “Exploring the Art of Plotting” (Bold Vision Books).
- The Christian Living Book of the Year went to Tracy Hester for “Get Up, Girl, Let’s Go: Getting Unstuck and Living Free” (Elk Lake).
Second place for Christian Living Book of the Year was a tie with Lynn Eib for “When God and Cancer Meet” (Tyndale) and Tricia Goyer for “Heart Happy” (Salem Books). Third place went to Jennifer Hand for “My Yes Is on the Table” (Moody).
- The Bible Study Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart Bible Study” (AMG).
Second place for Bible Study Book of the Year went to Shadia Hrichi for “Tamar: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me” (Leafwood). Third place went to Andy Lee for “Radiant Influence: How an Ordinary Girl Changed the World” (CrossRiver Media).
- The Memoir of the Year was awarded to Sandra Flack for “Orphans No More” (Brookstone Publishing).
Second place for Memoir of the Year went to Kris Rystrom Emmert with Julie Voudrie for “Providing Promise: A Navy Widow’s Journey to Hope” (Carpenter and Son). Third place went to Lucinda Kinsinger for “Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond” (Elk Lake).
- The Inspirational Gift Book of the Year was awarded to Kathy Howard for “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (Tyndale).
Second place for Inspirational Gift Book of the Year went to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart: Devotions of Faith, Hope, and Love from Mothers” (AMG). Third place went to Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh for “I Love You, Mom!” (Tyndale).
- The Devotional Book of the Year went to Grace Fox “Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm” (Aspire Press).
Second place for Devotional Book of the Year Danita Jenae for “When Mountains Crumble: Rebuilding Your Life after Losing Someone You Love” (Moody). Third place went to Ava Pennington for “Reflections on the Name of God” (Revell).
- The Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “Bridge of God” (Barbour).
Second place for the Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year went to Lynette Eason for “Peril on the Ranch” (Love Inspired Suspense). Third place went to Lisa Betz for “Fountains and Secrets” (Redemption Press).
- The Contemporary Novel of the Year was awarded to Terri Gillespie for “Really Bad Hair Day: The Hair Mavens, Book 3” (Terri Gillespie).
Second place for Contemporary Novel of the Year went to Cynthia Ruchti for “Facing the Dawn” (Revell). Third place went to Christina Suzann Nelson “Shaped by the Waves” (Bethany House).
- The Historical Novel of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer for “The Elder Sister” (Guideposts).
Second place for Historical Novel of the Year went to Jocelyn Green for “Drawn by the Current” (Bethany House). Third place went to Cynthia L. Simmons for “Reflecting Gold” (Elk Lake).
- The Romance Novel of the Year was awarded to Lane Jordan for “Evangeline” (Elk Lake).
- The Novella of the Year was awarded to T. E. Bradford for “Awakened” (Elk Lake).
- The Arise Daily Writer of the Year was awarded to A. C. Williams.
AWSA’s official magazine, “Leading Hearts,” won their eighth straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award. The “Leading Hearts” Contributor of the Year went to Cynthia L. Simmons. Feature Article of the Year went to Christine Trimpe for her article “Protégé to Published Author.” The EPA Higher Goals Award went to Mabel Ninan for her article “Lockdown Lessons: How the Pandemic Reshaped My Understanding of the Church.”
The 2022 graduating Certified Coaches were recognized: Lauren Crews, Loretta Eidson, Virginia Grounds, Sarah Hatmaker and Lisa Worthey Smith.
New ASWA P.O.W.E.R. Speakers were recognized: Sandy Austin, Sandi Banks, Karin Beery, Joan Benson, Penny Carlevato, Laine Craft, Julie Coleman, Cheri Cowell, Tammy Dove, Joy Dunlap, Catherine Finger, Donna Frisinger, Tricia Goyer, Teresa Janzen, Janet Johnson, Betty Kulrich, Lee Ann Mancini, Michele McCarthy, Laura McPherson, Edie Melson, Susan Neal, Carolyn Newell, Cindy Noonan, Joy A. Schneider, Evelyn Taylor and Jessica Van Roekel.
This is the third year to present the Christian Market Book Awards. These awards are open to all authors who publish in the Christian market.
- The Christian Market Book of the Year was awarded to Natalie Ford for “Seeking Answers—Finding Peace” (Elk Lake).
- The Christian Market Christian Living Book of the Year was awarded to Edie Melson for “Soul Care When You’re Grieving” (Bold Vision Books).
- The Christian Market Devotional of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp for “Springtime for Your Spirit: 90 Devotions of Hope, Joy & New Beginnings” (Good Books).
- The Christian Market Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House).
- The Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Bethany Jett and Victoria Duerstock for “Navigating Mindfields” (End Game Press).
Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Girls: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press). Third place went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press).
- The Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press).
Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Nancy I. Sanders, illustrated by Felia Hanakata, for “Bedtime with Mommy” (End Game Press). Third place went to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).
- The Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Dr. Craig von Buseck for “Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant” (Iron Stream Media).
Second place for the Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Kathy Howard for “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts” (Bold Vision Books). Third place went to Christine Trimpe for “Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown” (Redemption Press).
- The Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “A Deep Divide” (Bethany House).
Second place for the Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Anne Greene for “Trail of Tears: The Story of John Ross” (Elk Lake). Third place went to Janet Morris Grimes for “Solomon’s Porch” (Elk Lake).
- The Christian Market Bible Study of the Year was awarded to Leigh Powers for “Unforgotten: Lessons from Lesser-Known Women of the Bible on Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (AMG).
A parody, written by Martha Bolton, was performed by Sharon Tedford. Eva Marie Everson delivered the keynote address.
AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of nearly 800 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. See www.AWSA.com.
