The books have been read, the scoresheets completed, the scores added …
I am delighted to announce the finalists in the 2021 CALEB Awards from Omega Writers: Christian Authors Lifting Each other’s Books.
I’d also like to add a big thank you to our sponsors for supporting Omega Writers, the CALEB Award, and Christian writers across Australia and New Zealand:
- Sheree Chambers & Emma Biddle at Impressum
- Marianne Musgrove at Marianne Musgrove
- Christina Booth at Christina Booth
- Nola Passmore at The Write Flourish
- Lisa Renee at The Collaborative Press
- Iola Goulton at Christian Editing Services
- Tamika Spaulding at His Herd
- A New Page at A New Page
- Devonport Bookshop, Tasmania at Devonport Bookshop
Children’s Picture Books
Sponsor: Christina Booth
The winners (author and illustrator) will each receive a one-hour manuscript or illustration assessment via Zoom.
If the winner is both writer and illustrator, they can choose between the above or two manuscript assessments, one month apart.
The finalists are:
All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum
Written and Illustrated by Kathy Hoopman
The Other Brother
Written by Penny Jaye and Illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith
WINNER! Grandma’s Treasured Shoes
Written by Coral Vass and Illustrated by Christina Huynh
Children’s Fiction (Early Reader and Middle Grade)
Sponsor: Marianne Musgrove
The winner will receive a manuscript assessment of the first 10,000 words (plus three-page synopsis), plus a one-hour Zoom chat.
The finalists are:
Where the Jungle Calls by Rosie Boom
The Adventures of Romy by Penelope Foote
WINNER! How Not to be Popular by Cecily Paterson
Young Adult Fiction
Sponsor: Nola Passmore at the Write Flourish
The winner will receive their choice of editing services to the value of $400.
The finalists are:
Saving Beth by Jenny Glazebrook
Golden City (Realm Trilogy #3) by Sharon Manssen
WINNER! Apprentice by Kristen Young
Adult Fiction
Sponsor: Iola Goulton of Christian Editing Services
The winner will receive their choice of editing services to the value of $400.
The finalists are:
Scattered by Nola Lorraine
Organized Backup by Meredith Resce
WINNER! The Silk Merchant of Sychar by Cindy Williams
Adult Biography or Memoir
Sponsor: Lisa Renee at The Collaborative Press
The winner will receive a full wraparound cover for paperback and ebook, valued at $400.
The finalists are:
WINNER! On the Way: An Australian Doctor in Yemen and Pakistan by Michael Babbage
Count Your Blessings: Colin’s Story by Colin & Hazel Barker
One Rich Girl by Gwenda Smithies
Adult Nonfiction
Sponsor: Sheree Chambers & Emma Biddle at Impressum
The winner will receive their choice of website updates, a six-week social media calendar, or a cover for their next book to the value of $400.
The finalists are:
Echoes of Jesus: Does the New Testament Reflect What He Said? by Jonathan Clerke
Riding the Wind: Writing for Children and Young Adults by Rosanne Hawke
WINNER! Sinned Against: Exploring the Scriptures by Valerie Wressell
Congratulations to all our finalists and winners!
Encouragement Awards
The CALEB Awards are about lifting and promoting the best of Australian and New Zealand Christian writing. But there is more to writing than getting published, so we’d also like to encourage our fellow writers.
Sponsors:
- Tamika Spaulding at His Herd (two stationery prize packs valued at $50 each)
- A New Page (stationery and trinkets to the value of $100)
- Devonport Bookshop (six Reading Friends soft animal bookmarks valued at $10 each)
If you’re a current paid member of Omega Writers, we would like to invite you to nominate a fellow Christian writer for an Encouragement Award. This could be:
- A writer who has gone out of their way to support other writers (this will be a NEW CALEB award launched at this year’s Retreat)
- A writer who you believe needs encouragement.
We have three simple guidelines for the writers you nominate for either type of award:
- Nominees must be Christian writers currently living in Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific.
- Nominees can be published or unpublished writers in any genre.
- Nominees do not have to be members of Omega Writers.
Please email caleb @ omegawriters.org and tell us:
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- The type of Encouragement Award you would like to nominate a writer for
- Your name and email address
- Up to 200 words explaining why you believe this writer should receive this prize.
- The name and email/website address of the author you’d like to nominate (so we can contact them if they win)