I learned over the weekend that my poem “Dragonfly Dance” won a Word Award! It is the second Canadian Christian writing award I have been honoured with by the Word Guild. I’ve had my writing shortlisted over the years, especially with my “Journey Thoughts” blog, but to actually win is very exciting!

I am amazed how God continues to bless my writing endeavours. My first published book, “Shoot the Wounded” is now fourteen years old. I thought when I published that book and the two other books in the series “Heal the Wounded” and “Love the Wounded” that if a handful of youth read them, I would be thrilled. The reality is that several hundred books have gotten into the hands of young readers, and I get feedback that those books are now being passed onto other youth! That excites me!

I can’t say I will ever claim book sales as my motivation to continue to write. I am probably like countless of other writers who definitely have NOT made money as an author and I still have boxes of my books at home if anyone is interested 😁. My blog has garnered the most attention from readers, and I believe it’s because I try to honour God in each of my postings.

I get comments from people around the world, who ask for prayer, they tell me they have felt encouraged by my postings, and just want to draw closer to God. That humbles as well as inspires me to keep writing. That God would use a little grandmother, from a small town in Alberta, to have any kind of impact on another through my writing, is beyond belief, but here I am praising God for this honour.

I would like to encourage all those Christian writers and bloggers across Canada to keep writing and perfecting your craft! There are countless readers who desperately need to read your work and find Hope in your message! The Word Guild is a great resource to connect Christian writers across our nation. I am one of many writers who has benefited by their prayers, as well as their expertise and zeal for recognizing the hard work of Christian writers through the organization and the Word Awards.

Thank-you to “That’s Life Communications” for sponsoring the award category I was shortlisted in, and to the Word Guild executive, and Word Award volunteers and organizers. As a Christian writer, I am thankful for your hard work, support and encouragement. Bless you for all you do!

I would also like to extend congratulations to all those writers who had their work shortlisted and those who won Word Awards over the weekend. May God be glorified in all you do!