ACFW 2026 Genesis Finalists

At one time, this contest was called the Noble Theme, back when ACFW was in its early years. I was a finalist myself for 2 years before selling my first novel, so I'm certain the names listed below will soon join the ranks of published authors. And here they are:

2026 Genesis Finalists

Contemporary

Elise Browning - Chasing Light
Kate Mackereth - Binding Vines
Sarah Nichols - All the Ways We Come Home

Historical

Bryan Harsh - The Sign
Terri Miller - The Year They Buried King Cotton
Shannon Skaer - The Prisoner in the Library

Historical Romance

Jessica Gustafson - A Price for Her Hand
Amy King - More Precious than Silver
Megan Southon - Carry Me

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Marilyn Brandon - Finding Juvie Blue
Will Eason - Endgame Protocol
Jeffrey Friedel - Twelve Words

Novella

Lakeisha Heeringa - A Shard of Truth
Suzanne Montgomery - Storm Waters Rising
Bill Quimby - Ring Walker

Romance

Amy King - The Tempest
Grace Lakin - Considering Calla Lilies
Tiffany Miller - We’re Only Mostly Married

Romantic Suspense

Cherie Fresonke - A Dream Worth Fighting For
Jess Noble - True Believer
Brittney Peek - Cold Case Files: Off the Record

Short Novel

George Brooks - Grit and Greed
Laura Elizabeth Salas - Their Second Chance Family
Dave Sprecher - When Steeples Fall

Speculative

Faith Behrens - The Queen’s Assassination
Kimberly Cornelius - The Healer Prince
Kimberly Cornelius - The Temple Atoner

Young Adult

M. A. Bellers - Into the Rising Sun
Allison Cook - Gems of My Father
William DeWitt - The Memory Room

A huge congratulations to all the finalists!

ACFW Genesis 2012 Finalists Have Been Announced!

It thrills me to be able to do this, because I get to also give a personal shout-out to the folks I know. Here are your 2012 Genesis finalists:

Special congrats to Michelle Massaro, Kathleen Maher, Brandy Vallance, Becca Witham, Rich Bullock, Kelli Hughett, Caleb Breakey, and Carla Laureano.









Genesis 2012 Finalists

Contemporary Fiction
* Michelle Massaro
Anne Prado
Chris Storm

Contemporary Romance
Brenda Anderson
Amy Matayo
Cindy Wilson

Historical Fiction
Nancy Kimball
* Kathleen L. Maher
Terri Wangard

Historical Romance
Karen Barnett
* Brandy Vallance
* Becca Witham

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
* Rich Bullock
Christen Civiletto Morris
Matthew Sheehy

Romantic Suspense
Arlene Coulter
* Kelli Hughett
Pat Trainum

Speculative Fiction
* Caleb Jennings Breakey
* Carla Laureano
Amanda G. Stevens

Women’s Fiction
Susan Hill
Rachel Moore
Erin Taylor Young

Young Adult
Kathleen Freeman
Teresa Lockhart
Rondi Olson

The list of finalists can also be found on ACFW’s website: http://www.acfw.com/genesis/2012_genesis_finalists

Congratulations to 2012 ACFW Genesis Semi-Finalists

I don't often veer off my author guest posts, but since I'm a category coordinator for this contest, I wanted to take the time to tip my proverbial hat and post the list of the ACFW Genesis semi-finalists, just announced yesterday.

I especially want to give a big shout-out to local friends and writers here in Colorado: Michael Ehret, Brandy Cole-Vallance, Becca Witham, Kelli Hughett, Linda Abels, Carla Laureano, and Dena Netherton.

An extra kudos to friends, Shannon McNear, Sarah Hamaker, Michelle Shocklee, Martha Ramirez, and Rich Bullock.

The Genesis contest is for unpublished authors, and it provides budding novelists with excellent feedback on their writing, plus it offers the chance of having your work read by industry professionals such as editors and agents for major houses and agencies.

The top 3 finalists in each category will be announced at the end of May, and the overall winner will be announced at the ACFW conference gala in September. The semi-finalists comprise the top 20% of scores from the initial round. Please Join me in congratulating these up-and-coming authors. Here's the complete list:

Contemporary Fiction

Kimberli Buffaloe
Michael Ehret
Casey Herringshaw
Melissa Lewis
Michelle Massaro
Colleen Shine Phillips
Anne Prado
Will Schmitt
Sarah J. Smith
Chris Storm
Linda J. Truesdell
Brenda J. Young

Contemporary Romance

Cora Allen
Brenda Anderson
Jennie Atkins
Pepper Basham
Kimberly Buckner (double semi-finalist)
Tari Faris
Sarah Hamaker
Kara Isaac (double semi-finalist)
Ava W. Jenkins
Kimberly Johnson
Jessica Keller
Amy Matayo
Shannon McNear
Carol Moncado
Sherri Murray
Andrea Nell
Melissa Tagg
Cindy R. Wilson

Historical Fiction

Heidi Chiavaroli
Jessica Clochesy
Nancy Diekmann
Kathleen L. Maher
Christina Miller
Vanessa Morton
Rachel Neal
Leslie J. Payne
Sarah Thomas
Mary Kay Tuberty
Terri Wangard
Renee Yancy
Elizabeth Byler Younts

Historical Romance

Lance Albury
Whitney M. Bailey
Crystal L. Barnes
Karen Barnett
Debra Calloway
Brenda Carroll
Kay Chandler
Dawn Crandall
Barbara Curtis
Susanne Dietze
Terri Haynes
Lyndee Henderson
Kristi Ann Hunter
Melissa Jagears
Diane Kalas
Susan Anne Mason
Marilyn Rhoads
Christina Rich
Michelle Shocklee
Ginger Takamiya
Brenda B. Taylor
Brandy Vallance
Lanna Webb
Becca Whitham
Rachel Wilder
Lora Young

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Jerusha Agen
Rich Bullock
Morris Christen Civiletto
Joseph Robert Courtemanche
Randall Gannaway
Dena Netherton
Deborah Quigley Smith
Matthew Sheehy
Chris Storm
V.B. Tennery
 Larry W. Timm (double semi-finalist)
Michael J. Webb

Romantic Suspense

Sally Bayless
Paula Boire
Suzanne Bratcher
Arlene Coulter
Normandie Fischer
Kelli Hughett
Lesley McDaniel
Carrie Padgett
Ellen Parker
Pat Trainum
Katy Vorreiter
Terri Weldon

Speculative Fiction

Caleb Jennings Breakey
Dennis Brooke
Jo Hall
Stephanie Karfelt
Carla Laureano
John Leatherman (double semi-finalist)
William Ramirez (double semi-finalist)
Luke Scott
Regina Smeltzer
Amanda G. Stevens (double semi-finalist)
Heidi Treibel

Women’s Fiction

Connie Almony
Brenda Anderson
Robin Archibald
Sally Bradley
Kathy Buchanan
Diane Chase
Emily Conrad
Susan Hill
Kara Hunt
Ginger Marcinkowski
Susan Miura
Rachel Moore
Christina Nelson
Julie Scorziell
Katherine Scott-Jones
Dawn Alicia Shipman
Amy K. Sorrells
Julia Toto
Pamela Trawick
Erin Taylor Young

Young Adult

Linda Abels
Sandra Barnes
Kathleen Freeman
Sara Goff
Glenn Haggerty
Mary L. Hamilton
Barbara Hartzler
Katherine Hyde
Teresa Lockhart
Rondi Olson
Rajdeep Paulus
Martha Ramirez
Chawna Schroeder
Sarah Tipton
Cynthia Toney

ACFW 2009 Genesis Contest Winners!

Congratulations to all the winners of this contest for unpublished authors. I'm sure we'll be seeing novels from all of these writers real soon!

Contemporary Fiction
Jennifer Griffith, Magpies in Trees

Contemporary Romance
Christy LaShea Smith, The Bridge Between

Historical Fiction
Christine Schmidtke, Unveiled

Historical Romance
Lacy Williams, Marrying Miss Marshal

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Alan Schleimer, Q.doc

Romantic Suspense
Jan Warren, Katherine Octavia, C.I.A.

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction
David Fry, Lies to See

Women's Fiction
Cathleen Armstrong, The Church of Last Chance

Young Adult
Gretchen Hoffman, Rewind