Holt Medallion Winner!

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 On Wednesday night, I received a terrific phone call. The Virginia Chapter of RWA awarded my novel FORGIVEN the HOLT  Medallion for the Best Short Inspirational Romance of 2009!  Since then, I’ve been stunned and oh, so excited. It’s such an honor even be in the same company as the other finalists, and truly gratifying for FORGIVEN to be given such recognition!  When I’ve talked to church groups, I’ve often talked about writing this book.

Writing FORGIVEN was truly a leap of faith for me. I loved the romance between Sam, an Amish man who had left his order, and Winnie, a somewhat spunky heroine who was recovering from burns in a hospital. However, I really felt God was beside me when I wrote the whole other storyline~Jonathan’s struggle to forgive the person who burned down his barn, injured his sister, and put his family and livestock in danger.

 Knowing other people enjoyed the novel enough to give it such high praise is humbling, indeed. And, of course, worth a celebration. 

In honor of the HOLT MEDALLION, I’m going to give away two copies of FORGIVEN. One is the regular paperback version. The other is the hardcover, large print version. If you know of someone who might enjoy this book…or perhaps even your local library, please leave a comment.  On July 1, I’ll have my husband draw two names.

So good luck! And, as always, thank you for visiting my website, reading my books, and sharing them with your friends and family.

Below is information from the Virginia Romance Writers of America website, telling more about the HOLT.

The HOLT Medallion Award was named for VRW’s first elected president, Cynthia Holt, and serves as the acronym for Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent.

In the early 1990s, there were several contests available to unpublished romance writers, but only a few recognizing the achievements of published writers in romantic fiction. The HOLT has been awarded annually since 1995.

Medallions are awarded to the authors whose books are selected by a panel of romance readers as the best in each of twelve categories.

Cast in pewter by a Virginia artisan, the medallion features a Dogwood blossom, the Virginia state flower, framed in a laurel wreath, the traditional emblem of victory. The flower rests on the pages of an open book representing the fiction we love to read and write. Above the wreath, a heart signifies the romance genre, and beneath it, a scroll with the inscription “HOLT.”

What makes the HOLT unique is our purpose of reflecting the actual marketplace. Judging panels are comprised only of avid romance readers who participate with enthusiasm and sincerity. They’re looking for a good read, a book they would buy and an author they would follow. Their judging decisions reflect these inclinations. No editors, agents or writers are eligible to judge.

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