Conference Pics and Winners

First pictures--at the banquet. Mom in her sari with Chip MacGregor in his kilt.




















Mom and me at the banquet.

The skit parody about the operating and advisory board members was very funny. Mike Ehret in a shoulder-length blonde wig played publicity officer Cara Putman great. To every problem presented:

(Think perky, perky.) "A problem? I can handle it. I've already written a press release for that and ...

Gina Holmes as me, wearing a "breathe" T-shirt, a seatbelt belt and carrying a glitter purple purse. Not to mention the red wig. After every other board member is seated, she "made her entrance." Her solution to every problem?

"I know what we'll do! Let's kill somebody..."

D'Ann Mateer did a wonderful Deb Raney. Why, she was just so sweet, with all that head-shaking and worrying about ...

"Oh, pleeeaaase! Do we have to kill somebody?

Can't we all just get along?"

And later:

"Well, maybe if you send me five pounds of DeBrands chocolate ..."

And on a more serious note--major congrats too all the Book of the Year winners!

Contemporary Novella:

3rd Place: Diamond Place by Robin Lee Hatcher
2nd Place: A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher
1st Place: Home for the Holidays by Christine Lynxwiler…Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany, editor.

General Fiction, which includes Sci-Fi and Young Adult:

3rd Place: Feather by Susan Page Davis
2nd Place: A Bigger Life by Annette Smith
1st Place: DragonKnight by Donita K. Paul….WaterBrook Press, Shannon Hill, editor

Historical Novella

3rd Place: Reuben's Atonement by Lynette Sowell
2nd Place: To Do Justice by Cathy Marie Hake
1st Place: Joie de Vivre by Lynette Sowell…Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany, editor

Lits

3rd Place: Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer
2nd Place: The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck
1st Place: Hot Tropics and Cold Feet by Diann Hunt.…Westbow Press, Ami McConnell, editor

Long Historical

There was a tie for second place in this category.
2nd Place: The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist
2nd Place: William Henry is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke
1st Place: Waiting for Summer's Return by Kim Vogel Sawyer, Bethany House, Charlene Patterson, editor

Short Contemporary Suspense

3rd Place: Strictly Confidential by Terri Reed
2nd Place: Stormcatcher by Colleen Coble, writing as Colleen Rhoads
1st Place: Hearts on the Line by Margaret Daley, Steeple Hill, Diane Dietz, editor

Short Contemporary

3rd Place: That Wilder Boy by Kim Vogel Sawyer
2nd Place: My So-Called Love Life by Allie Pleiter
1st Place: A Season for Grace by Linda Goodnight, Steeple Hill, Allison Lyons, editor

Short Historical

3rd Place: Bayou Dreams by Kathleen Miller Y'Barbo
2nd Place: Spoke of Love by Cathy Marie Hake
1st Place: The Prisoner's Wife by Susan Page Davis, Heartsong Presents, Tracie Peterson, editor.

Suspense

3rd place winners with a three-way-tie are:

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt, Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble, and Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble
2nd Place: Widows and Orphans by Susan Meissner
1st Place: Dangerous Depths by Colleen Coble, Westbow Press, Ami McConnell, editor

Women's Fiction

There was a two way tie for second place in this category.
2nd Place: Reclaiming Nick by Susan May Warren
2nd Place: Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth
1st Place: The Fragrance of Roses by Nikki Arana, Revell/Baker Books, Jennifer Leep, editor