7 pieces were awards finalists and 5 won awards.

June 18, 2009
For immediate release

NEWCOMERS AND VETERANS TOP THE WORD GUILD 2009 AWARDS

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 The 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 complete press release here.

Below is the list of winning articles. Awards are given only if a certain standard of excellence is met. An Award of Merit is giving to an entry that gets a mark only very slightly less than the winner.

N. J. Lindquist

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)

Angelina Fast-Vlaar

Article—Personal Experience
Winner: Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. for “It Was Then That I Carried You” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Article—Profile/Human Interest
Award of Merit: Eleanor Shepherd of Pointe Claire, Que. for “Living Outside Our Comfort Zones” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Complete list of winners:

Other finalists from Hot Apple Cider were:

Article—Inspirational/Devotional
Angelina Fast Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. for  “It Was Then That I Carried You” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Short Story
Bonnie Grove of Saskatoon, Sask. for “Stuckville Cafe” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Ray Wiseman, co-author of the story, “Of Cobras, Culture and Change” was presented with the Leslie K. Tarr Award for Career Achievement, sponsored by Tyndale university and Seminary.

Ray’s wife Anna Wiseman was given a Special Recognition Award by The Word Guild for her contribution to Ray’s writing.

All photographs taken by Audrey Tavares.

Up first is Angelina Fast-Vlaar, who has two pieces in Hot Apple Cider. The book opens with her true story, “It Was Then That I Carried You,” in which she shares a little of what’s in her book, Seven Angels for Seven Days. Then on page 103 is the poem she wrote after she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

Angelina is a writer and inspirational speaker who has a passion to communicate encouragement to small or large audiences. Her writing career also includes articles and poetry published in Pioneer, Mennonite Brethren Herald and Christian Courier as well as two books. The Valley of Cancer was first published in 1999 and translated into Dutch in 2004 by her cousin, Hendrik Harssema. Seven Angels for Seven Days was published in 2005. "The Tenth Anniversary Expanded Edition" of The Valley of Cancer was published in 2008 by Word Alive Press. Click here to read our interview with Angelina.

The article includes sidebars for Hot Apple Cider and Seven Angels for Seven Days.

Angie’s website