Novelist's Retreat in Denver--2

The novelists' retreat, starting Thursday night and ending Sunday morning, was wonderful as usual. All day Friday we were taught by screenwriting consultant Michael Hauge. He gave us terrific insights into story, breaking down the different stages of story (including books and movies) both for the outer plot and the inner journey of the character. Fabulous stuff.

Saturday we had sessions on the business of writing--finances, taxes, contracts, etc. Saturday evening was the Christy banquet. Winners of the awards:

Contemporary Romance: Beyond the Night, Marlo Schalesky (Waterbrook Multnomah)

Contemporary Series, Sequels and Novellas: You Had Me At Goodbye, Tracey Bateman (FaithWords)

Contemporary Stand-Alone: Dogwood, Chris Fabry (Tyndale House)

First Novel: Blue Hole Back Home, Joy Jordan-Lake (David C. Cook)

Historical: Until We Reach Home, Lynn Austin (Bethany House)

Historical Romance: From a Distance, Tamera Alexander (Bethany House)

Suspense: The Rook, Steven James (Revell)

Visionary: Vanish, Tom Pawlik (Tyndale House)

Young Adult: I Have Seem Him in the Watchfires, Cathy Gohlke (Moody)

Tamera Alexander (Christy winner) and my daughter, Amberly

Jerry Jenkins and Amberly at Christy reception

Christy reception: Me, Robin Jones Gunn (Christy nominee), Amberly

Josh Singer, Randy Singer (Christy nominee), me,

Sue Brower (Zondervan editor), Amberly, Lee Hough (our agent)

Kim Sawyer, winner of this years Rotten Review award

at our retreat, being handed the medal from

last year's winner, Tamera Alexander

Homicide detective and novelist Mark Mynheir
teaching us about the cop world for our novels

Two Christy nominees for suspense category:

Athol Dickson and Randy Singer