The blogs I entered were "The movement to re-engineer writers:" and "Listening with Your Mind and Your Heart."

I'll be posting both of them on here in the next couple of days.

Currently looking for a picture of me getting the award so you can see the very cool dress I found to wear at the awards.

Here I am getting the certificate and cheque from Denise Rumble, the Managing Director of The Word Guild.

The award was actually sponsored by the Christian Herald, but due to printing difficulties,  the editor, Fazal Karim Jr., was unable to get to the gala in time for that presentation.

Thanks to Marianne Meed Ward, who was the judge for this award.

Anyway, on Wednesday night, I attended The Word Guild Awards Gala in Mississauga, where I received three Canadian Christian Writing Awards. Here is part of the press release:

June 18, 2009
For immediate release
 
NEWCOMERS AND VETERANS TOP THE WORD GUILD 2009 AWARDS
 
National writing awards highlight talents of Canadian authors, including poverty activists and a rugby-playing romance novelist

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 Th e 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.

Read the rest of the press release here:

The picture above is of Herbie Kuhn, the Air Canada voice of the Toronto Raptors and a passionate reader, who  emceed the Awards Gala for the second year.

My awards:
Article—General Readership (articles that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)
Winner: N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “The Diamond Ring” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Article—Inspirational/Devotional
Winner: N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “The Diamond Ring” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)
Award of Merit: N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “My Letter to the Editor” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

The picture to the right is of me receiving the Award for Inspirational/Devotional article from the representative from FaithLife Financial, the sponsor of that award.

Two other articles from Hot Apple Cider (by Angelina Fast-Vlaar and Eleanor Shepherd) also won awards. I edited both of them, so that made me feel doubly happy. :) 

The complete list of winners is here.

More pictures at http://hotapplecider.ca  

Photographer:  Audrey Tavares

Two hundred and fifty Canadian writers and editors who are Christian will gather in Guelph, Ont. from June 18 to 20 for the 25th annual Write! Canada conference. Sponsored by The Word Guild, the conference features inspiring keynote speakers, in-depth continuing classes and wide-ranging workshops, as well as a host of other learning and promotional opportunities.

Despite recent upheaval in the publishing industry—including the bankruptcy of Christian bookstore chains R. G. Mitchell and Blessings, declining readership for newspapers and magazines, and the rise of digital media and e-books—conference organizers chose the theme, “Celebrating God’s Blessings: Past, Present and Future.”

“While the mode of delivery may be changing, people still want to write and share their stories, and they need to know how to do it well, and how to connect with readers,” explained N. J. Lindquist, who has directed the conference for the last eight years with Wendy Elaine Nelles.

For 25 years, Write! Canada has been the place for writers and editors to sharpen their skills, advance their careers, meet publishers, and rub shoulders with some of the most outstanding people in Christian publishing today.

“I can hardly wait for this year’s Write! Canada. They are offering the best of the best—agents, editors, publishers and professional writers teaching the ‘no-holds-barred’ truth about the craft of writing,” commented Bonnie Grove of Saskatoon, Sask., whose first non-fiction book and first novel both will be released this year. “I cannot stress enough how important these classes are for writers. No matter what your experience level, they’ll take you to the next level, ” she added.

During the three-day conference, continuing classes provide a total of six hours of comprehensive instruction (an hour longer than in previous years). Registrants choose from eight topics, including beginner-level fiction and non-fiction writing; writing for children and teens; writing a non-fiction book; a complete primer on publishing a book in Canada; and strategic career planning for authors. In addition, there are two small-group intensives which offer hands-on experience in editing fiction and non-fiction.

Three well-known personalities will challenge the audience during keynote addresses—always a conference highlight. All have played a part in the conference’s 25-year history. Brian Stiller, an author and president of Tyndale University College and Seminary, was instrumental in starting the writers’ conference in 1984; Audrey Dorsch, currently a freelance editor, directed the conference in its formative years (1986 to 1995) during her tenure as managing editor of Faith Today; and Ray Wiseman, an author and newspaper columnist, has enhanced his career through participating in 20 of the past 25 conferences.

Canadian faculty members this year include publisher Don Pape from David C. Cook; agent Les Stobbe; New Brunswick young adult author Valerie Sherrard; veteran journalists Doug Koop, Bill Fledderus, Robert White and Marianne Meed Ward; and many others. Experts coming from the U.S. include well-known literary agent Chip MacGregor; Nicci Jordan Hubert, a New York-based acquisitions and developmental editor; and editor Steve Barclift from Kregel Publications.

The conference also offers 18 workshops, covering topics such as writing devotionals, poetry, opinion columns or articles for teens; finding your writing personality; handling controversial topics; developing products to augment your books; and tips from an image consultant about making public appearances.

Writers can take advantage of networking opportunities, manuscript critique services, appointments with literary agents and editors, question and answer panels with industry professionals, open-mike reading sessions and a well-stocked bookstore.

To find out more about Write! Canada or to register online, go to www.writecanada.org