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The Word Guild

Contests/Awards

Judges

Thank you to our 2007Judges

Our sincere thanks to the judges who were willing to invest the time reading, evaluating and commenting on all of the award entries.

JUDGES FOR THE WORD GUILD 2007 CANADIAN CHRISTIAN WRITING AWARDS

 

Ian Adnams – Article, Long Feature

Ian Adnams is editor of The Canadian Lutheran and director of communications for Lutheran Church-Canada. He has won writing awards from The Canadian Church Press and received honours for writing and producing video productions. Adnams served as president of Canadian Church Press from 2004-2006.

Donald G. Bastian – Books, Christian Living

Through Bastian Publishing Services Ltd. (www.bastianpubserv.com), Donald G. Bastian works with writers and publishers as an editor, book project manager, and consultant. He has edited the books of many award-winning and best-selling authors, including Miriam Toews, Reg Bibby, David Chilton, Barbara Moses, and Henry Mintzberg.

Esther Barnes – Books, Mystery

Esther is an award-winning writer and editor who edited The Link & Visitor, a Baptist women’s magazine for 21 years. She has been borrowing mystery books from the library for almost fifty years and reads at least three each month.

Susan Brandt – Books, Special (poetry, anthology, gift book)

Susan Brandt was involved with the Mennonite Brethren Herald for 15 years in various positions, including managing editor and editor. She served on the executives of the Manitoba Editors Association executive and the Manitoba Evangelical Fellowship for a number of years. Now retired, she is volunteering and catching up on her reading.

Tom Carson – Article, Review; Scripts and Screenplays

Tom Carson is a successful professional theatre practitioner and writer. He is currently the General & Artistic Manager for the Smile Theatre, Canada’s only professional theatre dedicated to performing for senior citizens. Carson’s theatre has appeared on stages across Canada, winning the hearts of audiences and garnering critical acclaim—including three prestigious Dora Award nominations.

John Congram – Articles, Inspirational/Devotional and Short Feature

John Congram has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 40 years and is presently the interim minister at Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church. John is an accomplished writer and retired editor for the Presbyterian Record. He is also active in ministerial associations and conducts workshops for writers, editors and storytellers.

Hugh Cook – Short Story

Hugh Cook has published three books of fiction; his latest is an award-winning book of linked stories, Home In Alfalfa. In 1997 he was presented with the Leslie K. Tarr Award for outstanding contribution to the field of Christian writing. He teaches creative writing at Redeemer University College.

Larry Cornies – Books, General Readership

Larry Cornies is a page editor at The Globe and Mail and holds the Maclean-Hunter Chair in Communication Ethics at Ryerson University's School of Journalism in Toronto. He has worked in Christian and mainstream media in both Canada and the U.S. for more than 25 years.

Connie Brummel Crook – Books, Children

Connie Brummel Crook taught English for thirty years in Ontario’s public secondary schools and is qualified as a Reading Specialist for Grades One to Twelve. Her award-winning historical novels and picture books are used in public and private schools across Canada. www.conniebrummelcrook.ca

Ian Darling – Articles, Column Series

Ian Darling is the editorial writer at The Record (www.therecord.com) and the father of three girls. Darling wrote his humour book, Go Ask Dad: Fathers are Nice Guys (Mosaic Press), because he had a little experience as an overworked, under-rated dad. He has appeared on TV and radio programs, including Canada AM and Breakfast TV. One of his humorous editorials, along with an essay on humour writing, appeared in the book, Best Newspaper Writing 1997.

Ron Dart – Books, Apologetics

Ron Dart has published 20 books and contributed to at least five others. Most recently Ron co-edited Athens and Jerusalem: George Grant’s Theology, Philosophy, and Politics for the University of Toronto Press. He has taught in the department of political science/philosophy/religious studies at University College of the Fraser Valley since 1990.

Janice Dick –Books, Romance, Historical, Independently Published Fiction

Janice Dick is the award-winning author of three historical novels. Other writing credits include short stories, reviews, articles, devotionals and editing. Dick is a professional member of The Word Guild, InScribe Christian Writers Fellowship, His Imprint, and is an ATM Toastmaster. www. inscribe.org/JaniceDick

John Franklin – Books, How-to/Instructional

John Franklin is the Executive Director of Imago, a network of Christians in the arts in Canada. John has been a teacher of both philosophy and theology and is currently President of the Canadian Theological Society.

W. Harold Fuller – Article, General Readership

W. Harold Fuller, Lit. D., has served on the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's board and as editorial advisor. He is the award-winning author of 12 books, former editor-in-chief of SIM’s (Serving in Mission) mass-circulation monthly, African Challenge. Fuller received the Leslie K. Tarr Award in 1996.

Rick Heibert – Articles, Profiles

Rick Hiebert has been the editor of various newsletters, strategic bulletins and magazines like Testimony and The Canadian Baptist. His writing spans four decades and three continents.

Randall Holm – Books, Life Stories

Randall Holm is an associate professor in Biblical studies at Providence College. He holds a Ph.D. in theology from Laval University and has an interest in Pentecostal studies and in contemporary social and cultural issues.


Harold Jantz – Article, Profile Human Interest

Harold Jantz edited the Mennonite Brethren Herald for 20 years and was the founding editor of ChristianWeek. He was a high school teacher before becoming an editor. Journalism has been the joy of his life, although he has kept sturdy roots in church life preaching, teaching Sunday school and through a wide variety of church-related committee roles. Jantz received the Leslie K. Tarr Award in 1993.

Dave Jenkinson – Article, Children and Young Adult; Book, Young Adult

Since 1973, Dr. Dave Jenkinson has taught children’s and adolescent literature courses at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Education. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and Editor of CM: Canadian Review of Materials www. umanitoba.ca/cm

Doug Koop – Article, News

Doug Koop is the editorial director of ChristianWeek, publishers of news and comment about Christian faith and life in Canada for more than 20 years.

Fred Penny – Book, Biblical Studies

Fred Penny is a Professor of Homiletics at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto. A pastor for 20 years, he holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching and a Masters of Divinity in New Testament Studies.

Lloyd Rang – Book, Culture, Relationship

Lloyd Rang holds an MA in History from Queen's University and an MA in Creative writing and Literature from the University of Guelph. He taught in Christian schools for seven years. He is Lead Writer, Office of the Premier of Ontario; he worked for the last seven years in communications for the provincial government.

Elma Schemenauer – Books, Independently Published Non-Fiction

Elma Schemenauer is the author of 70 books published in Canada and the United States. They include how-to books like The Psychology of Driving and children’s books such as Newton McTootin and the Bang Bang Tree. She has also edited hundreds of titles for major publishers.

Michelle Sim – Song Lyrics

Michelle Sim is founder of Northern Praise Ministries and has provided support for the past 15 years in service to Christian artists in the field of music. She is also a singer, songwriter, recording artist and an ordained minister.

Kathy Shaidle – Poetry

Kathy Shaidle’s first volume of poetry, Lobotomy Magnificat (Oberon), was short-listed for the 1998 Governor General’s Award. Her second book was a collection of Canadian Church Press Award winning columns, God Rides a Yamaha: Musings on Pain, Poetry and Pop Culture (Northstone). She is a copywriter by day and a pioneering blogger by night.

Joe Sinasac – Column/First Person Essay, Guest/Occasional

Joe Sinasac edits and publishes The Catholic Register, a national weekly newspaper. A journalist for 25 years, his work has appeared in daily newspapers across Canada. He is a regular commentator on the Catholic Church for CBC, CTV, Vatican Radio, CITY TV and the CTS show Behind the Story. His most recent book is Fateful Passages: The Life of Henry Somerville, Catholic Journalist (Novalis, 2003).

Les Stobbe – Books, Leadership

Les Stobbe is editor-in-chief of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and founding editor of the Mennonite Observer. He served as editor at Christian Life Publications; editorial director of Cambridge Publishers, Moody Press Books, Christian Herald Books and Book Clubs, and Here’s Life Publishers; managing editor of curriculum for Scripture Press; and editor of Christian Education Journal. Stobbe is author or co-author of 14 books and has written more than 500 published articles. He is a consultant and operates the Leslie H. Stobbe Agency.

Richelle Wiseman – Contemporary Novel

Richelle Wiseman is the executive director of the Centre for Faith and the Media, a national non-profit that provides resources and training to journalists covering religion stories and provides media relations training to faith-based organizations. She has an MA in English and has taught University English Literature courses. She has been a communications professional for more than 20 years.

JUDGES FOR THE 2007 BEST NEW CANADIAN CHRISTIAN AUTHOR CONTEST

 

Gilbert G. Brandt

After spending a number of years teaching at the college level, Gilbert G. Brandt became involved in book publishing, first as the managing editor of Kindred Productions and later as President of Windflower Communications. Brandt has taught numerous publishing/writing seminars and worked with individual authors. In 2006, he joined his wife Susan in retirement. He continues to write and work with authors.

Elma Schemenauer

Elma Schemenauer is the author of 70 books published in Canada and the United States. They include how-to books like The Writing Programme and The Psychology of Driving and children’s books such as Jacob Jacobs Gets Up Early and Newton McTootin and the Bang Bang Tree. She has also edited hundreds of titles for major publishers.

JUDGES FOR THE 2007 GOD USES INK NOVICE WRITING CONTEST

 

Lorraine O’Donnell Williams

Lorraine O'Donnell Williams, a retired psychotherapist and marriage counsellor, is a freelance writer specializing in travel, profiles and human relationships, book reviews and teaching creative writing and memoir courses. She has acted as a judge for the Writers Union of Canada’s New Writers contest, The Word Guild and the Stephen Leacock Humour Contest.

Brian Austin

Brian Austin is the author of 80-plus articles and poems published in a number of media as well as a book of poetry. Austin has also tried his hand at a number of novels, not yet published. He has wide-ranging interests, a love for historical research and a love for the wonder of creating with words.