A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider Scores Major Wins at The Canadian Christian Writing Awards

Online, June 23, 2012 (Newswire.com) - A Canadian inspirational book is continuing its record-breaking streak, becoming the most winning book in the 24-year history of The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards.

The book won recognition for its excellence in all six categories in which it was nominated. The winners were announced at a gala presentation in Mississauga, Ont. on June 13. The awards recognized the best in Christian writing published during 2011.

Four of the anthology's contributors received multiple awards. Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. took two first prizes for her personal experience article "Forgiven," as did M. D. Meyer of Norway House, Man. for her short story "Bannock and Sweet Tea." Judges gave the book's co-editor, Wendy Elaine Nelles of Toronto, one first prize and two awards of merit for her profile "Soulmates." Adele Simmons of Whitby, Ont. won for her nonfiction piece, "Charlie," plus collected an award of merit for "The Bulletin Board."

Other awards of merit (acknowledging finalists who received judges' scores very close to the winning entry) went to Bonnie Beldan-Thomson of Pickering, Ont.; Glynis M. Belec of Drayton, Ont.; Marguerite Cummings of Toronto; and Evangeline Inman of Fredericton, N. B.

The bestselling book A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is a collection of stories by 37 Canadian writers who share a Christian faith perspective. It contains short fiction, poetry, and personal experience articles, all chosen to provide hope and encouragement.

It also broke records for being shortlisted 27 times, the most ever for any book, and for conducting the most extensive launch ever done for a Canadian Christian book, with more than 175 author events held in seven provinces.

In a separate contest, the Christian Small Publishers Association recently named A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider Gift Book of the Year.

"We're incredibly proud of our writers' achievements," says the book's co-editor and publisher N. J. Lindquist. "But more important, readers tell us the stories give them hope, and leave them feeling refreshed, encouraged, and inspired."

A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider and the first book in the series, Hot Apple Cider, are available through most book retailers, including Chapters/Indigo, and make ideal gifts. Both books are published by That's Life! Communications and edited by N. J. Lindquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles.

Book clubs, small groups, and churches can easily lead discussions on a wide range of topics and Bible passages through using the books' free downloadable Study Guides.

To download the Study Guides, find out about author readings in your area, or book one of the writers for your store, church or discussion group, visit the website http://hotapplecider.ca.

More reviews and photos at http://hotapplecider.ca.

Nine pieces from A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider anthology won awards:

Personal Experience
Winner (Tie): Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. for "Forgiven"
Winner (Tie): Adele Simmons of Whitby, Ont. for "Charlie"
Award of Merit: Evangeline Inman of Fredericton, N. B., for "Live Life to the Full"

Profile/Human Interest
Winner: Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. "Forgiven"
Award of Merit: Glynis M. Belec of Drayton, Ont. for "On Being Still and Knowing"
Award of Merit: Wendy Elaine Nelles of Toronto for "Soulmates"
Award of Merit: Adele Simmons of Whitby, Ont. for "The Bulletin Board"

Inspirational/Devotional
Winner: Wendy Elaine Nelles of Toronto for "Soulmates"
Award of Merit: Marguerite Cummings of Toronto for "O Canada"

General Readership
Winner: M. D. Meyer of Norway House, Man. for "Bannock and Sweet Tea"
Award of Merit: Bonnie Beldan-Thomson of Pickering, Ont. for "Love in the Ice and Snow"

Short Story
Winner: M. D. Meyer of Norway House, Man. for "Bannock and Sweet Tea"

Long Feature
Award of Merit: Wendy Elaine Nelles of Toronto for "Soulmates"

Finalists: Additional finalists from A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider were Vilma Blenman, Donna Fawcett, Ron Hughes, N. J. Lindquist, Ruth Smith Meyer, Kimberley Payne, and Gloria V. Phillips.

Further Information

A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stimulate the Mind and Delight the Spirit
ISBN 978-0-9784963-1-9

Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm the Soul
ISBN 978-0-9784963-0-2

Edited by N. J. Lindquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles
Published by That's Life! Communications, Markham, Ont.

MEDIA: To download photos from the Awards Gala of shortlisted authors in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, go to http://hotapplecider.ca/media/
• For review copies, interviews, photos, contact [email protected]
• Publisher's website http://thatslifecommunications.com
• Hot Apple Cider writers' website http://hotapplecider.ca
That's Life! Communications is a niche publisher committed to finding innovative ways to produce quality books written by Canadians with a Christian faith perspective. Sixty writers have been showcased through the two Hot Apple Cider volumes.

About The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards
Canada's top Christian writing awards are presented annually by The Word Guild http://www.thewordguild.com. A record of nearly 360 submissions were entered in 35 award categories for work published in 2011, including nonfiction books, novels, articles, columns, blogs, poems, scripts, and screenplays. http://canadianchristianwritingawards.com.

Note: The book itself A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider was not entered in The Canadian Christian Writing Awards because of its close ties to the leadership of The Word Guild. Individual authors, however, were free to enter their chapters in appropriate article categories.