Some 2023 OCW Cascade Writing Contest Finalists
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS LISTED BELOW!
CONTEMPORARY FICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
The Bairn and the Bone Whisperers
Mollie Joy Rushmeyer
Unpublished Writers
The Chain
Stephanie Bolme
HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
That Lonesome Whippoorwill
Sarah Loudin Thomas
Unpublished Writers
A Long Way Home
Megan Soja
SPECULATIVE FICTION/YOUNG ADULT BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Daughter of the Decoy King
Kristen Joy Wilks
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOK
Unpublished Writers
Inverse
Andra J. Loy
YOUNG ADULT BOOK
Unpublished Writers
Echo of Secrets
Andra J. Loy
NONFICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Oasis Bible Study—Book 3: Pursuing Growth and Resilience
Diane Schnickels
Unpublished Writers
Pot-Stirring and Peacemaking Women of the Bible
Annette Marie Griffin
MEMOIR BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Journeys from an African Town
Samuel Hall
Unpublished Writers
The Bible Smuggler
Dale R. Gibson
MIDDLE GRADE BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Phooey Kerflooey
Kristen Joy Wilks
Unpublished Writers
The Trinity Knot
Debbie Austin
CHILDREN’S CHAPTER BOOK
Unpublished Writers
Snuckit McDuck and the Case of the Socknapper
Harley Roe Suprint
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
Previously Published Writers
The Gift Inside of Me
Becky Alexander
Unpublished Writers
Grandma Piggy, I Have a Question
Sherry V. Chidwick
POETRY
Previously Published Writers
“Covered”
Julie E. Kepler
Unpublished Writers
“The Redeemer’s Embrace”
Annette Marie Griffin
DEVOTIONAL
Previously Published Writers
“The Owner’s Manual”
Denise E. Arzoian
Unpublished Writers
“Coupons”
Grace A. Kyser
ARTICLE, COLUMN, NONFICTION SHORT STORY
Previously Published Writers
“Jesus People Forever”
Debbie Dueck
Unpublished Writers
“It Was Supposed to Last a Lifetime: Release and
Recovery from Adult Child Estrangement”
Lisa Baldwin
FICTION SHORT STORY (INCLUDING FLASH FICTION)
Previously Published Writers
“Silver Bay Getaway”
Jennifer Anne F. Messing
Unpublished Writers
“Far from Home”
Fiona Ruth Spence
2023 OCW Cascade Writing Contest Finalists
CONTEMPORARY FICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
The Bairns and the Bone Whisperers
Mollie Joy Rushmeyer
The Moment of Surrender
Rachel D. Russell
One Starlight Christmas
Jennifer Uhlarik
Unpublished Writers
The Chain
Stephanie Bolme
Finding Ginny
Jen Dodrill
Already in the Kudzu
Hannah Hood Lucero
HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Longing to Be Seen—Leah’s Story
Jacquie Hoekstra
The Light of Stars
Jenelle M. Hovde
That Lonesome Whippoorwill
Sarah Loudin Thomas
Unpublished Writers
Blossoms in the Wind
Sonja M. Anderson
Atomic Secrets
Janet W. Asbridge
A Long Way Home
Megan Soja
SPECULATIVE FICTION/YOUNG ADULT*
Previously Published Writers
Daughter of the Decoy King
Kristen Joy Wilks
Mojave Rock
John Gilbert Wozniak
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOK**
Unpublished Writers
Inverse
Andra J. Loy
The White Raven
Julia N. White
YOUNG ADULT, FICTION AND NONFICTION
Unpublished Writers
Under Pink Snow
Suzanne Young Cordatos
Echo of Secrets
Andra J. Loy
Cathey’s Creek Road
Hannah Hood Lucero
NONFICTION BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Unstoppable: Identify Your Calling and Make Your God-Given Dreams a Reality
David Brühlmann
Victory by Day, Peace by Night
Cheryl Delamarter
Oasis Bible Study—Book 3: Pursuing Growth and Resilience
Diane Schnickels
Unpublished Writers
The Gift of Living Water
Rhonda K. Bell
Pot-Stirring and Peacemaking Women of the Bible
Annette Marie Griffin
Power Ten, in Two: The Lord Is My Coxswain, I Shall Not Weigh Enough
Kimberly Solis
MEMOIR BOOK
Previously Published Writers
Journeys from an African Town
Samuel Hall
They Walk My Bridge
Sharon Chase Hoseley
Even There
Joy Ellen Ng
Unpublished Writers
I Thought They Would Bring Me Apples
Sherry V. Chidwick
The Bible Smuggler
Dale R. Gibson
Ghetto Boy
Pamela Rosales
MIDDLE GRADE BOOK, FICTION AND NONFICTION
Previously Published Writers
Mystery Fair
Linda Borromeo
The Case of the Mysterious Pranks
Mark Wainwright
Phooey Kerflooey
Kristen Joy Wilks
Unpublished Writers
The Trinity Knot
Debbie Austin
The Legend of the Chocolate Lily
Janie L. Berry
Rebecca and Abbie: Sisters of the Light
Annette Marie Griffin
CHILDREN’S CHAPTER BOOK, FICTION AND NONFICTION***
Unpublished Writers
Adventures with Charlie
Joy Ellen Ng
Snuckit McDuck and the Case of the Socknapper
Harley Roe Suprint
The Amazing Adventures of Octo the Curious Cat
Blanche N. Yates
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK, FICTION AND NONFICTION
Previously Published Writers
The Gift Inside of Me
Becky Alexander
The Lions’ Den
Nicole Monroe
Who Gives the Moon Its Glow?
Cheryl Secomb
Unpublished Writers
Grandma Piggy, I Have a Question
Sherry V. Chidwick
Bella’s Red Ball
Helen Heavirland
Kitten Adventures—To Play or Obey
Kendy L. Pearson
POETRY
Previously Published Writers
“Maker’s Mark”
L. Suzanne Felton
“Covered”
Julie E. Kepler
“Grief Like Rain”
Patricia Tiffany Morris
Unpublished Writers
“Fisherman’s Rest”
Sharon E. Fischer
“The Redeemer’s Embrace”
Annette Marie Griffin
“I Am”
Jill R. Stanton
DEVOTIONAL
Previously Published Writers
“The Owner’s Manual”
Denise E. Arzoian
“Faith, Hope, and Charity”
Yvonne E. Kays
“A Sacred Cloakroom”
Shirley Quiring Mozena
Unpublished Writers
“Chickens and God’s Purpose”
Sandra Beck
“John 3:16”
Ann Boyce
“Coupons”
Grace A. Kyser
ARTICLE, COLUMN, NONFICTION SHORT STORY
Previously Published Writers
“Jesus People Forever”
Debbie Dueck
“When Grandma Washed My Hands”
Kathleen R. Ruckman
“Strangers in the Church”
Virginia Wilcox
Unpublished Writers
“It Was Supposed to Last a Lifetime: Release and Recovery from Adult Child Estrangement”
Lisa Baldwin
“Colossal Cross”
Sandra Beck
“I’ll Be Around”
Amy P. Schones
FICTION SHORT STORY (INCLUDING FLASH FICTION)
Previously Published Writers
“Silver Bay Getaway”
Jennifer Anne F. Messing
“Pumpkin Pie Delight”
Jennifer Anne F. Messing
“Lost at Glacier”
Jennifer Noel Wilson
Unpublished Writers
“Far from Home”
Fiona Ruth Spence
“Casa Mia in Asbury Park”
Richard Taylor
“First There Was Joy”
Richard Taylor
* The speculative fiction and young adult genres for previously published authors was combined because there were insufficient entries in at least one of those categories to judge it alone. There are only two finalists because no other entry scored an 80 or above on average.
** There are only two finalists in the unpublished writer category of the speculative fiction genre because no other entry scored an 80 or above on average.
*** There are no finalists in the previously published writer category for children’s chapter books because there were no entries in this category.
