ACFW Genesis Contest Finalists

Well, I've been waiting not so patiently for the results of the Genesis contest finalists. You may remember that I entered two manuscripts in this contest - in the Womens Fiction and the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller categories. The finalists were to be notified between May 1st and 15th. I have to say, the longer it took, the more I was convinced I didn't final. In fact, for the past few days, I've been giving myself frequent pep talks to prepare me for the disappointment of NOT finaling. I know...way to think positive, right?

Well, I had to fill in at the consignment store yesterday and I called home for messages (several times), just in case.

And then it happened.

I got "The Message."

Yes, I am a finalist in this year's Genesis contest.

Hang on one sec....

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K, I'm back.

I can't give out the name of the manuscript that finaled until the scores are in from the final round judges, but I can say that it was one I entered in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category.

I now have until tomorrow at midnight to scour the first-round judges feedback and make any changes I feel are necessary before resubmitting for final-round judging.

Needless to say, I am thrilled, ecstatic, overjoyed, honored, excited, hopeful, nervous, and sore from all the Snoopy dancing I've done for the past 12 hours. Oh- and my face hurts, too, from all that grinning. Can't seem to wipe off the smile.

So here they are...all of the 2009 ACFW Genesis Contest finalists There were a total of 454 entries this year, which is a 43% increase from last year. Wow!

CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE FINALISTS!

CONTEMPORARY FICTION:
(total entries: 44)

Sharon Ball
David W. Fry
Jennifer Griffith
Ane Mulligan
Patty Slack

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE:
(total entries: 75)

Cathy Bryant
Kathleen Haynes
Lisa Jordan
Christy LaShea Smith
Eileen Astels Watson

HISTORICAL FICTION:
(total entries: 39)

Nancy Herriman
D'Ann Mateer
Christina Miller
Sandi Rog
Christine Schmidtke

HISTORICAL ROMANCE (six finalist entries due to a tie, but one is a
double finalist):
(total entries: 57)

Jody Hedlund (double finalist with two entries)
Lisa Richardson
Connie Stevens
Gina Welborn
Lacy Williams

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER:
(total entries: 45)

David Fry
Anne Greene
Dineen Miller
Lynda Schab
Alan Schleimer

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:
(total entries: 50)

Mary F. Allen
Wenda Dottridge
Danica Favorite-McDonald
Kelly Ann Riley
Janet Warren

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/SPECULATIVE FICTION:
(total entries: 45)

Valerie Comer
Megan Ebba
David Fry
Suzanne Krein
Lisa Tuttle

WOMEN'S FICTION:
(total entries: 62)

Cathleen Armstrong
Marie Wells Coutu
Candee Fick
Julie Garmon
Ashely Weis

YOUNG ADULT:
(total entries: 37)

Kasey L. Heinly
Gretchen Hoffman
Susan Miura
Diana Sharples (double finalist with two entries)