Where Two Paths Converge

Press Release
Friday, September 3, 2010
Church Library Association of Ontario

Five Canadian novels have been nominated for the One Book / One Conference program of the Church Library Association of Ontario.

This program, initiated in 2009 at the 40th anniversary of the Church Library Association of Ontario (CLAO) fall conference, encourages reading and discussion of a Canadian novel written by a Christian author. This program not only advocates a community of reading throughout the CLAO membership but it also promotes numerous Christian Canadian novels with a variety of genres.
 
And the 2020 winner is….

Captives of Minara, A Josh Radley Suspense Novel by Eric E. Wright.

Word Alive Press, 2009.  (ISBN 978-1-92667634-0).

One Book / One Conference organizer and Past-president of CLAO Alison McCullough expressed difficulty in making the final decision: "The five novels that were nominated by CLAO members were all outstanding. However, as I was travelling in my car, Cross Country Check-up was tuned in on CBC radio with a special edition on the floods in Pakistan and I knew then in my heart that there could only be one winner, and along with the endorsements of my colleagues on the CLAO executive, we chose Eric's award winning novel. Congratulations to all our nominees."

A discussion of the book will be held at our annual fall conference in Brighton on Saturday, October 2. All church librarians and other interested people are invited to attend.

Eric has agreed to be a guest speaker at the conference .

In interview style with Denise Rumble, Managing Director of The Word Guild, Eric will talk about Pakistan, his Josh Radley character, his writing career and more

Eric will also be available for book signings

http://www.churchlibraries.ca/conferences.htm

More about Captives of Minara.

The book immerses the reader in Pakistani culture at a time when we all desperately need to understand that country. The action races from the site of an ancient city buried in the desert, along canals that crisscross the countryside, through the bazaars of a Pakistani town, onto a first class carriage on the fabled Khyber Mail express train to Lahore.
 
For information on how to obtain a copy of the book, please see Eric's website.

For information on the other nominated books and their authors, visit 
http://onebookoneconference.wordpress.com/novels-2010/

The Church Library Association of Ontario has nominated books by four members of The Word Guild and this year's Leslie K. Tarr Award winner to be the "One Book " for their fall conference.

Nominated books include:

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove

Dark Water by Linda Hall

His Banner Over Me by Jean Little

What Rough Beast by Shawn J. Pollett

Captives of Minara by Eric E. Wright

More Details

Last year's winning book was Hot Apple Cider, which contained work by 30 members of The Word Guild.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 (Grand Rapids, MI)–The Canadian Christian Writing Awards were recently

presented on June 16, at The World Guild 2010 Awards Gala, held at the Word Vision Canada's headquarters, Mississauga, Ontario. Among the winners was Mags Storey (pictured below) and her book If Only You Knew: A Novel (Kregel Publications, 978-0-8254-3895-0, $12.99).

Of the hundreds of entries received, If Only You Knew was selected as the winner in both the "Novel -  Romance" and "Book – Young Adult" categories. As well as winning top honors in these categories, Mags Storey also received the prestigious new Grace Irwin Award, which according to The Word Guild is "Canada's largest literary prize for Christian writers."

The $5,000 award was named after Grace Lilian Irwin, a trailblazing Canadian Christian writer who published both fiction and nonfiction. It celebrates the best book published in 2009 by an author from the Canadian Christian community. The award is donated by retired book publisher John W. Irwin (nephew of the award's namesake) and his wife Eleanor (both pictured above with Mags Storey).

There were a total 245 nominations in 34 categories that included non-fiction, novels, articles, columns, blogs, poems, and song lyrics published in 2009. Mags Storey was one of 61 finalists announced in May, 2010.

Mags Story is a writer, editor, and journalist.

Born in Canada, she spent her childhood living as a missionary in the Middle East before studying journalism at Ryerson in Toronto. She lives and works in Canada with her husband, Mike, and their two daughters.

"Like" Mags Story on Facebook!

ABOUT THE NOVEL

A summer to live for… or a summer to die for?

Jo's summer vacation is off to a good start when she meets Kevin, an amazingly attractive guy, and Sam,

her soon-to-be best friend, on the same day. Now she only needs a job, future plans, and a few goals for her life. No big deal, right?

As if that's not enough, Jo would also like to know why no one talks about the horrible accident she witnessed last summer. But as much as she wants to know the truth, someone else wants to keep it a secret. Can she handle creepy stalkers, death threats, and her crazy love-life without losing control?

For Jo, unraveling the mystery and piecing her life together will mean discovering if God really listens–and if he cares enough to answer.

REVIEW COPY & INTERVIEW REQUESTS

To arrange interviews, book signings, articles, or other media events with Mags Storey, or to request review copies of If Only You Knew: A Novel, please contact Leslie Paladino by phone (616-430-0423) or e-mail.

ABOUT KREGEL PUBLICATIONS

Kregel Publications is a division of Kregel, Inc., which also includes Editorial Portavoz, a Spanish publishing division; and two full-service Christian retail stores in the greater Grand Rapids, Mich., area.

The Word Guild Awards Gala was held at World Vision Auditorium, 1 World Drive, Mississauga, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16th.

The MC was Herbie Kuhn, Air Canada voice of the Toronto Raptors.

See our awards website for more details and the list of winners.

"Hilda Young is awarded the Base Commander’s Commendation in recognition of her outstanding contribution to chapel life at St. George’s Church.

"For several years, Hilda has been the driving force behind community relations within the chapel. She organized a newsletter and has faithfully published this for over 5 years using her own resources. She routinely provides articles to the Petawawa Post and Pembroke Observer.

"Her dedication encompasses maintaining a pictorial history of the chapel which she shares with the entire congregation. She has stepped in on many occasions when others would not and has served faithfully as the Chapel Committee Secretary. She is a fine example to all within the congregation of St. George’s and a credit to her faith."

The commendation was presented by the Base Commander Lt. Col Rudderham, who is on Hilda's left.
 

Lorraine O'Donnell Williams will be discussing memoir writing and doing selected readings from her latest book, Memories of The Beach: Reflections on a Toronto Childhood.

Monday, June 14th at 2 pm at the Toronto Reference Library, Yonge St. at Asquith. in the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium.  416-393-7017
 
Lorraine, who teaches memoir writing to both men and women, will be discussing the process of writing memoirs and basic principles to follow in order to get started. She will read selections from her book to illustrate these points.

Signed copies will be available.
 

Other author appearances

May 29 and 30: Colborne Apple Blossom Tyme Festival, Colborne, Ontario

Saturday, May 29th, 9 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday, May 30th, 9 am to 4:30 pm

Eric E. Wright will be signing copies of his fiction and non-fiction books including Down A Country Road
 
Go to www.appleblossomtyme.com for further information.

Find out about other appearances by Eric and other Canadian authors.

Brenda Wood will be speaking on "The Healing Power of Laughter!"

Wednesday, May 19th, 9:30 am, at Compass Point Church, 2501 Eaglesfield Drive, Burlington

Other dates:

Monday, June 20th, Central Pentecostal Church, Elora

Tuesday, June 22, Whiteshields Banquet Hall, Toronto

Brian C. Austin launched his new young adult historical novel, Muninn's Keep, on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at the Hanover Bible Book Music & Video Store in Hanover, Ontario.

In the harsh world of northern Britain at the close of the 9th century, Theodoric has suffered a beating so brutal it has distorted his memories. Now, baffled by a past that has given him rare skills, he searches for clues to his origin, to his heritage. A fabled ring, a growing conflict, ancient prophecies, and ruthless enemies bent on destruction, all challenge Theodoric to the utmost.

"Brian Austin’s poetic prose put life into this excellent novel. I felt myself reeling from the sting of the lash, ducking Pictish arrows, raging at the horror of slavery, and weeping as love spanned impossible gaps. Well done Brian!"  Ray Wiseman, Author and Speaker, winner of the 2009 Leslie K. Tarr Award

"An exceptional novel from a gifted writer. Not since Stephen Lawhead have I read a novel with such historical verve. I sat down to read Austin's book expecting a good read, but was delighted to find I was wrong. It wasn't good – it was great!" Keith Clemons – author of Mohamed's Moon

“Very well written! It’s very important when writing historical fiction for the author to really get the period right, and in this case I think he has done it in spades. The author wraps you in the world like a cozy blanket. The amount of research that’s gone into this book is pretty intensive; just look at the glossary and the author’s notes for proof of this. In addition to being a good read, there’s also a spiritually significant story here, showing a character searching for the reality of a more worthy, unknown god, while in the midst of a pagan culture. A fascinating book, highly unique and original.” Judge of the 2009 Word Alive Press Contest

Read the first chapter