Judges

Thank you to our 2009 Judges

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

2009 The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards

Donald G. Bastian is 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, and Henry Mintzberg. He operates Bastian Publishing Services Ltd.
Books—Apologetics, How-to/Instructional

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.
Books—Independently Published Fiction

Richard Buell is a regular contributor to Timber Trades Journal, Europe’s largest wood products magazine distributed weekly in 66 countries, and remains managing editor of Northern Impressions Magazine, a quarterly lifestyles magazine distributed throughout northeastern Ontario.
Article—Profile/Human Interest

Arthur Paul Boers is the author of six books, most recently The Way is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago. He is associate professor of Pastoral Theology at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. This summer he will take the R.J. Bernardo Family Chair of Leadership, at Tyndale Seminary.
Books—Culture

John Congram has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 40 years. He is an accomplished writer and retired editor for the Presbyterian Record.
Articles—Personal Experience

Ian Darling is an editorial writer at The Record and the father of three girls. He is the author of Go Ask Dad: Fathers are Nice Guys (Mosaic Press). Darling has appeared on TV and radio programs, including Canada AM and Breakfast TV.
Articles—Review

Ron Dart has published 20 books and contributed to at least five others. He has taught in the department of political science/philosophy/ religious studies at University College of the Fraser Valley since 1990.
Books—Biblical Studies

Elizabeth Davey, Associate Professor of English at Tyndale University College, has been teaching literature for 35 years. She is currently completing her doctoral thesis on the poetry of Margaret Avison at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and the University of Wales.
Poetry

John Franklin is the executive director of Imago a Judeo- Christian faith based organization that engages in promoting artistry of high calibre that will both enrich and carry positive influence on the Canadian cultural landscape.
Books—General Readership

W. Harold Fuller, Lit. D. served with SIM, edited Africa’s largest circulation magazine and ministered on six continents. He received the Leslie K. Tarr award in 1996 for his contribution to the field of Christian writing.
Articles—News

Jennifer Green has won more than 15 awards and scholarships for her work writing about faith and ethics for the Ottawa Citizen. She lives in Ottawa with her husband and daughters.
Articles—Long Feature

Alison Gresik is the author of Brick and Mortar, a story collection that was nominated for the Ottawa Book Award. She blogs at www.gresik.ca.
Short Story

Maxine Hancock, a past Tarr Award winner is an author and speaker, who is a member of the faculty of Regent College where she encourages students to read and create as an expression of their Christian faith.
Books—Special (poetry, anthology, gift book)

Nicci Jordan Hubert started her career in newspaper and magazine publishing. Now, a freelance editor basis in New York, Nicci serves numerous publishing houses, including Random House, Simon and Schuster, Guideposts, NavPress, and David C. Cook.
Books—Romance

Harold Jantz edited the Mennonite Brethren Herald for 20 years and was the founding editor of ChristianWeek. Journalism has been the joy of his life. He received the Leslie K. Tarr Award in 1993.
Articles—Inspirational/Devotional

Dr. Dave Jenkinson is Professor Emeritus of the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Education where he had taught courses in children's and adolescent literature for more than three decades. He is also the Editor of CM: Canadian Review of Materials. www.umanitoba.ca/cm
Books—Children and Historical

While Melanie Knox Larson trained in print journalism, she never could see herself "working the beat" at a small-town courthouse. But when she was offered an opportunity in book publishing, she knew she'd finally found a place where she belonged. Melanie has worked at NavPress, WaterBrook Multnomah, and David C. Cook, and is currently a freelance editor in Cheyenne, WY, where she and her air force husband are stationed.
Books—Life Stories

Lloyd Mackey, a past Tarr Award winner, is an Ottawa-based journalist with 40 years experience as a reporter, editor, publisher and columnist for faith-based and mainstream publications. He is the author of four books, including his most recent, Stephen Harper: The Case for Collaborative Governance (ECW Press, 2006).
Articles—General Readership, Short Feature

Stratford recording artist, Ali Matthews has built a strong international following as a performing songwriter. She has released five critically acclaimed CDs and has won numerous acknowledgements including nine GMA Covenant Awards.
Song Lyrics

Kevin Miller's screenwriting credits include Expelled, starring Ben Stein; the docudrama Hakani; the supernatural thriller After...; and two short films, Trunk and Detox. Prior to working in film, Kevin wrote, co-wrote, and edited more than forty books.
Books—Futuristic

Don Pape is currently publisher of trade books and study resources at David C. Cook. Formerly of Waterloo, Ontario, he resides with his wife and youngest son in Colorado Springs, CO. With a varied career that spans over 25 years in publishing, Pape has worked in design and marketing, sales and as a literary agent.
Books—Young Adult, Contemporary

Tim Perry (PhD) is the associate professor of Theology at Providence College, Otterburne, Man. Tim has written for both academic and popular audiences, is a lecturer and preacher.
Books—Leadership/Theoretical

Joseph Sinasac is publishing director of Novalis, the largest religious publisher in Canada. His journalistic work has appeared in newspapers across Canada, the religious press and on national radio and television.
Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (single)

Lloyd Rang holds an MA in history from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont., and an MA in creative writing and literature from the University of Guelph. He taught in Christian schools for eight years. He is Director of Writing and Web, Office of the Premier of Ontario; he worked for the last seven years in communications for the provincial government.
Books—Christian Living

Patricia Rushford is an award-winning author, speaker and teacher. She holds a master’s degree in counselling and has appeared as a featured guest on numerous radio and television shows.
Books—Mystery

Marian Van Til is a writer, editor and musician, and owns WordPower Publishing. She is a former managing editor of Christian Courier. She still writes a monthly column for the Courier and writes reviews for Faith Today.
Books—Independently Published Non-Fiction

Rod Wilson, president of Regent College, Vancouver, B.C., has been involved in the fields of theological education, counselling and consulting for over 30 years, as well as having served as a pastor in two churches. He is the award-winning author of Counselling and Community and How Do I Help a Hurting Friend?
Books—Relationship

Marianne Meed Ward is the “905” columnist for the Toronto Sun, and previously wrote on faith and ethics. Since 1998, she has run her own communications business, Meed Ward Media, in Burlington, Ont.
Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (series)

2009 Best New Canadian Christian Author Contest

Non-Fiction

After 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.

Ray Wiseman has written 900 columns, features, and editorials, and authored eight books including his latest novel, When Cobras Laugh. He and his wife critique manuscripts for beginners.

Fiction

Janice Dick is the award-winning author of three historical novels. Other writing credits include short stories, reviews, articles, devotional and editing. Dick is a professional member of The Word Guild, InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, His Imprint, and is an ACB Toastmaster.

N. J. Lindquist is an award-winning Canadian author and co-founder of The Word Guild. She has 11 books, including two adult crime novels and five coming-of-age novels for teens. Her latest project is Hot Apple Cider, which she co-edited.

2009 God Uses Ink Novice Writing Contest

Marcia Laycock is an award-winning writer, speaker and writing teacher whose articles have been published in magazines, newspapers and on the Web. She won the 2006 Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone.

M. D. (Dorene) Meyer, award-winning author of Deep Water, Colin's Choice, Get Lost!, Meet Manitoba Children's Authors and The Little Ones. A citizen of Norway House, Manitoba, Meyer is part-time instructor at University College of the North.