Debut Author

Talking to the Dead

Bonnie Grove (David C. Cook Publishing, Nicci Hubert – Editor)

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn

Liz Johnson (Steeple Hill, Elizabeth Mazer – Editor)

Eternity Falls

Kirk Outerbridge (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke – Editor)

Michal

Jill Eileen Smith (Revell, Lonnie Hull DuPont – Editor)

The Unfinished Gift

Dan Walsh (Revell, Andrea Doering – Editor)

Contemporary Novella – 6 Finalists due to a tie

One Child

Barbara Cameron (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann – Editor)

When Winter Comes

Barbara Cameron (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann – Editor)

A Mule Hollow Match

Debra Clopton (Steeple Hill, Krista Stroever – Editor)

The Great Christmas Bowl

Susan May Warren (Tyndale House, Karen Watson – Editor)

A Change of Heart

Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann – Editor)

A Choice to Forgive

Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann- Editor)

Historical Novella

Home Again

Victoria Bylin (Steeple Hill, Melissa Endlich – Editor)

A Breed Apart

Vickie McDonough (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany – Editor)

Beloved Enemy

Vickie McDonough (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany – Editor)

Christmas Bells for Dry Creek

Janet Tronstad (Steeple Hill, Tina James – Editor)

A Shelter in the Storm

Carrie Turansky (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany – Editor)

Long Contemporary – 6 Finalists due to a tie

The Familiar Stranger

Christina Berry (Moody Publishers, Paul Santhouse – Editor)

A Widow’s Hope

Mary Ellis (Harvest House Publishers, Betty Fletcher – Editor)

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow

Joyce Magnin (Abingdon Press, Barbara Scott – Editor)

White Picket Fences

Susan Meissner (Waterbrook Press, Shannon Marchese – Editor)

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Marlo Schalesky (Multnomah, Julee Schwarzburg – Editor)

Nothing But Trouble

Susan May Warren (Tyndale House, Karen Watson – Editor)

Long Contemporary Romance

Critical Care

Candace Calvert (Tyndale House, Jan Stob/Lorie Popp – Editors)

Seaside Letters

Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson, Ami McConnell/Jessica Alvarez – Editors)

Just Between You and Me

Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann/Jamie Chavez – Editors)

Plain Promise

Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann – Editor)

The Hope of Refuge

Cindy Woodsmall (Waterbrook Press, Shannon Marchese – Editor)

Mystery

The Case of the Mystified M.D.

A.K. Arenz (Sheaf House, Joan M. Shoup – Editor)

Under the Cajun Moon

Mindy Starns Clark (Harvest House Publishers, Kim Moore – Editor)

A String of Murders

Darlene Franklin (Heartsong Mysteries, Susan Downs – Editor)

Polly Dent Loses Grip

S. Dionne Moore (Heartsong Mysteries, Susan Downs – Editor)

Pushing up Daisies

Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna (Heartsong Mysteries, Susan Downs – Editor)

Long Historical

A Bride in the Bargain

Deeanne Gist (Bethany House, David Long/Julie Klassen – Editors)

Fit To Be Tied

Robin Lee Hatcher (Zondervan, Sue Brower/Leslie Peterson – Editors)

Look to the East

Maureen Lang (Tyndale House, Stephanie Broene – Editor)

Love’s Pursuit

Siri Mitchell (Bethany House, Dave & Sarah Long – Editors)

Stealing Home

Allison Pittman (Multnomah, Alice Crider – Editor)

Long Historical Romance – 8 Finalists due to a tie

Paper Roses

Amanda Cabot (Revell, Vicki Crumpton – Editor)

Cowboy Christmas

Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany – Editor)

Montana Rose

Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany – Editor)

The Frontiersman’s Daughter

Laura Frantz (Revell, Andrea Doering – Editor)

The Believer

Ann Gabhart (Revell, Lonnie Hull DuPont – Editor)

A Passion Denied

Julie Lessman (Revell, Lonnie Hall DuPont – Editor)

Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas

Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna (Summerside Press, Rachel Meisel – Editor)

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper

Kathleen Y’Barbo (Waterbrook Press, Jessica Barnes – Editor)

Short Contemporary

His Cowgirl Bride

Debra Clopton (Steeple Hill, Krista Stroever – Editor)

Autumn Rains

Myra Johnson (Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons – Editor)

A Wagonload of Trouble

Vickie McDonough (Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons – Editor)

A Texas Ranger’s Family

Mae Nunn (Steeple Hill, Melissa Endlich – Editor)

Dreaming of Home

Glynna Sirpless writing as Glynna Kaye (Steeple Hill, Melissa Endlich – Editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense – 6 Finalists due to a tie

Evidence of Murder

Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Steeple Hill, Emily Rodmell – Editor)

Final Warning

Sandra Robbins (Steeple Hill, Tina James – Editor)

Murder at Eagle Summit

Virginia Smith (Steeple Hill, Krista Stroever – Editor)

Scent of Murder

Virginia Smith (Steeple Hill, Krista Stroever/Tina James – Editors)

Double Take

Jenness Walker (Steeple Hill, Emily Rodmell – Editor)

Code of Honor

Lenora Worth (Steeple Hill, Patience Smith/Tina James – Editors)

Short Historical

Her Patchwork Family

Lyn Cote (Steeple Hill, Tina James – Editor)

The Glassblower

Laurie Alice Eakes (Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons – Editor)

The Outlaw’s Lady

Laurie Kingery (Steeple Hill, Melissa Endlich – Editor)

All That Glitters

Lynette Sowell (Heartsong Presents, JoAnne Simmons – Editor)

The Unfinished Gift

Dan Walsh (Revell, Andrea Doering)

Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory) – 6 Finalists due to a tie

Eternity Falls

Kirk Outerbridge (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke – Editor)

The Vanishing Sculptor

Donita K. Paul (Waterbrook Press, Shannon Marchese – Editor)

The Word Reclaimed

Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke – Editor)

Starfire

Stuart Vaughn Stockton (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke – Editor)

The Muse

Fred Warren (Splashdown Books, Grace Bridges – Editor)

By Darkness Hid

Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke – Editor)

Suspense/Thriller

Intervention

Terri Blackstock (Zondervan, Sue Brower/Dave Lambert – Editors)

Lonestar Secrets

Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson, Ami McConnell – Editor)

Exposure

Brandilyn Collins (Zondervan, Rachelle Gardner/Sue Brower – Editors)

Salty Like Blood

Harry Kraus (Howard/Simon & Schuster, David Lambert – Editor)

Breach of Trust

DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House, Karen Watson – Editor)

Women’s Fiction – 7 Finalists due to a tie

Sweet Waters

Julie Carobini (B&H Publishing, Karen Ball – Editor)

Leaving Yesterday

Kathryn Cushman (Bethany House, Dave Long – Editor)

Sweet By and By

Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck (Thomas Nelson, Ami McConnell – Editor)

Never the Bride

Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay (Waterbrook Press, Shannon Marchese – Editor)

Yesterday’s Embers

Deborah Raney (Howard/Simon & Schuster, David Lambert – Editor)

All Things

Deborah Raney (Steeple Hill, Krista Stroever – Editor(

The Summer Kitchen

Lisa Wingate (New American Library/Penguin, Ellen Edwards – Editor)

Young Adult

Who Made You a Princess?

Shelley Adina (Hachette FaithWords, Anne Goldsmith Horch – Editor)

Always Watching

Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann/Jamie Chavez – Editors)

So Not Happening

Booker T. Mattison (Revell, Andrea Doering – Editor)