News for September

Congratulations to our members on their achievements!

• Jennifer Chastain signed two new publishing contracts: one for Two Dogs Publishing for a romantic suspense novella, and one for Sunrise Publishing, for a romantic suspense novel.
• Two of Kim Peterson’s entries are finalists in the 2025 Scrivenings Press Novel Starts contest: Secrets Revealed in the Storm, in the mystery and suspense category, and Hanging on by a Single Chain Stitch, in the contemporary romance category.
• Darlene L. Turner’s book Danger in the Wilderness is #11 on Publishers Weekly Mass Market Bestseller list.
• Pat Iacuzzi, writing under the pen name Patience O’Brien, is a finalist in Scrivenings Press Historical Romance category.
• Sarah Hamaker signed a contract with Kregel for a Christmas novella collection with two other authors with a release date in fall 2026. Also, her novel Justice Delayed is a finalist in the inspirational romance category of the 2025 Maggie Award for Excellence Published.
• Shannon McNear signed a contract to include three of her now-indie-published novellas in an eastern frontier romance box set with Wild Heart Books, releasing in January 2026. She’s also signed a three-book contract for her Revolutionary War series, Loyalty’s Children, with Wild Heart Books. The first title, Loyalty’s Cadence, will release in October 2026.
• Hope Welborn signed her first contract with Love Inspired Suspense in August. Her book will release in September 2026.
• Edwina Kiernan’s novel, The Lamp, won a Silver Medal in the 2025 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, Christian Historical Romance category.
• Karen Barnett’s novel, Where Trees Touch the Sky, won the ACFW Carol Award for historical fiction.
• Who Touches the Mountains by Deborah Raney won Best Fiction in the Missouri Writers Guild 2025 Awards.
• “Tested, Not Arrested” by Kristi Woods was chosen to be included in Hope, Faith & Miracles by Chicken Soup for the Soul®. Publisher Amy Newmark has included this “story that could” in three books, highlighted it on her podcast, and considered it for their television show.
• Janette Johnson’s picture book won Honorable Mention in the 2025 ACFW KidLit Contest.