Best Of … Finalists

Thanks to all who voted in our “Best Of …” poll. The finalists for each category are listed in alphabetical order. Winners will be announced at ScrivCon 2024 and posted to our blog after the event. Because we’d never had an annual “Best Of” event before, a Book of the Year contest was held for the years 2020-2022. For 2023, we included various categories in addition to the Book of the Year.

Some of the categories had at least one tie. If there was no tie, then the top three finalists are listed. If the category had a tie (or multiple ties), then all titles involved in the tie(s) are listed as finalists. If only two titles received votes from a category, then only those two titles are listed.

2020 Book of the Year finalists

• Death of an Imposter by Deborah Sprinkle
• Hostage by Cindy Bonds
• Kokopelli’s Song by Suzanne J. Bratcher
• Saving Grace by Amy R. Anguish
• Scarred Vessels by Elaine Marie Cooper
• Succession by Brett Armstrong

2021 Book of the Year finalists

• Beyond These War-torn Lands by Cynthia Roemer
• Cake That! by Heather Greer
• Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams (Novella Collection) by Amy R. Anguish, Hope Toler Dougherty, Linda Fulkerson, Regina Rudd Merrick, and Shannon Vannatter
• Perfectly Arranged by Liana George

2022 Book of the Year finalists

• Beyond the Gates by Erin R. Howard
• Forever Home by Hope Toler Dougherty
• Love in the Squared Circle by Heather Greer
• Perfectly Placed by Liana George

Best Of 2023—Short Fiction finalists

• “A Lasting Legacy” by Cynthia Roemer (from Chiseled on the Heart)
• “Carving Out Love” by Ellen E. Withers (from A Gift for All Time)
• “Once Lost, Now Found” by Tonya B. Ashley (from A Gift for All Time)

Best Of 2023—Devotionals/Nonfiction finalists

• Reflecting on Christmas Past by Heather Greer
• Three Dogs’ Tales by Susan R. Lawrence

Best Of 2023—Speculative Fiction finalists

• The Girl with Fire in Her Veins by Dawn Ford
• Window of Time by Erin R. Howard
• Woodencloak by Dawn Ford

Best Of 2023—Mystery/Suspense finalists

• Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers
• The Case of Mistaken Identity by Deborah Sprinkle
• The Decision by Christina Rost

Best Of 2023—Historical Fiction finalists

• Beyond Wounded Hearts by Cynthia Roemer
• Redemption’s Trail by Betty Woods
• Window of Opportunity by Heather Greer

Best Of 2023—Contemporary Fiction finalists

• Faith Moves Mountains by Jenny Carlisle
• Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong
• Perfectly Matched by Liana George
• Window of the Heart by Amy R. Anguish

Best Of 2023—Debut Novel finalists

• Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong
• Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers
• The Decision by Christina Rost

2023 Editor of the Year finalists

• Amy R. Anguish
• Kaci Banks
• Susan Page Davis
• Linda Fulkerson
• Elena Hill
• Erin R. Howard

2023 Book of the Year finalists

• Love’s True Calling by Lori DeJong
• Perfectly Matched by Liana George
• Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers