(Palm Bay, FL) American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) is ringing in the New Year with contest news. The following writers’ first pages have risen to the top of their categories in ACFW’s 2013 First Impressions Contest. The First Impressions Contest applauds unpublished writers for excellence with their first few pages of a Christian fiction manuscript in process. ACFW anticipates these and other entrants of the First Impressions Contest will build on their accomplishment and move forward in the craft of writing fiction. Watch for their names on book covers of the future.
- Contemporary: Christy Distler
- Historical Romance: Betty Woods
- Historical: Terri Wangard
- Romance: Emily Grey
- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Voni Harris
- Novella: Jaye Bright
- Speculative: Deborah Marino
- Romantic Suspense: Carolyn Miller
- Young Adult: Sara Ella
The First Impressions Contest awarded these honors from among 272 entries in 2013.
Over the life of ACFW contests, a significant number of finalists and winners have gone on to publication. "Among them are authors who are now multi-published and whose books appear consistently on CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, and those whose published works receive recognition through readers’ choice and industry-awarded honors,” says ACFW Professional Relations Liaison and former president Cynthia Ruchti. “That speaks highly of the role of ACFW contests in helping launch author careers."
The First Impressions Contest joins the Genesis Contest for completed manuscripts by an unpublished author and the Carol Awards for the best Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year to round out ACFW’s complement of honors for writers focused on Christian fiction.
With membership of more than 2500 and 29 chapters in 21 states as well as an international e-chapter, ACFW—The Voice of Christian Fiction—is devoted to training in the craft of Christian fiction, educating in the market, and advocating for the Christian fiction industry. For more information, see www.acfw.com. For specific information about the First Impressions Contest, contact impress@acfw.com.