ACFW Conference
Cara Putnam

Cara graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), moved to the Washington, DC area, married the man of her dreams, worked in the non-profit world, went to George Mason Law School at night. Cara is also an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, women's ministry leader, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids. Heartsong Presents is publishing her three book series of World War Two romances: Canteen Dreams (October 2007), Sandhill Dreams (May 2008), and Captive Dreams (September 2008). Love Inspired Suspense published her first romantic suspense in May 2008. Now she’s working on the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Business Law (don’t ask!) and the first book in an Ohio World War Two series.

2008 ACFW Book of the Year Contest Finalists


ACFW's Book of the Year Contest is quickly becoming a prestigious contest in Christian fiction. Open to members of ACFW who published books the prior year, the winners will be announced at the awards banquet at the ACFW conference on September 20 in Minneapolis. Congratulations to this year's finalists:

Debut Author


Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
My Soul Cries Out (Sherri Lewis)
Petticoat Ranch (Mary Connealy)


Contemporary Novella


A Cloud Mountain Christmas (Robin Lee Hatcher)
Finally Home (Deborah Raney in Missouri Memories anthology)
Mississippi Mud (DiAnn Mills in Sugar and Grits Anthology)
Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky in Big Apple Christmas
anthology)
Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover in the Race to the Altar anthology)
Sweet Dreams Drive (Robin Lee Hatcher)


HISTORICAL NOVELLA


Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills in Mississippi Memories anthology)
Finishing Touches (Kelly Hake in Missouri Memories anthology)
Love Notes (Mary Davis in Love Letters anthology)
The Spinster & the Cowboy (Lena Nelson Dooley in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)
The Spinster & the Tycoon (Vickie McDonough in Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology)


LITS


Around the World in 80 Dates (Christa Banister)
One Little Secret (Allison Bottke)
Renovating Becky Miller (Sharon Hinck)
Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh)
Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
The Book of Jane (Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt)


LONG CONTEMPORARY


Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)
Like Always (Robert Elmer)
Taming Rafe (Susan May Warren)
When the Nile Runs Red (DiAnn Mills)
Within This Circle (Deborah Raney)


LONG HISTORICAL


Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)
Fancy Pants (Cathy Hake)
Lady of Milkweed Manor (Julie Klassen)
Remember Me (Maureen Lang)
Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky)
Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)


MYSTERY


Days and Hours (Susan Meissner)
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
Gone with The Groom (Janice Thompson)
Sticks and Stones (Susan Meissner)
Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney)


SHORT CONTEMPORARY


Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight)
The Perfect Blend (Allie Pleiter)
Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y'Barbo)
When Love Comes Home (Arlene James)


SHORT CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE


Caught Red-handed (Gayle Roper)
Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)
Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti)
Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
See No Evil (Gayle Roper)
Vanished (Margaret Daley)


SHORT HISTORICAL


A Time to Keep (Kelly Hake)
A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman)
Corduroy Road to Love (Lynn Coleman)
Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
To Trust an Outlaw (Rhonda Gibson)


SPECULATIVE


Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
DragonFire (Donita Paul)
The Restorer (Sharon Hinck)
The Restorer's Son (Sharon Hinck)
Isle of Swords (Wayne Thomas Batson)


SUSPENSE


Abomination (Colleen Coble)
Black Ice (Linda Hall)
Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
Crimson Eve (Brandilyn Collins)
Ransomed Dreams (Amy Wallace)


WOMEN'S FICTION


A Promise to Remember (Katie Cushman)
Bygones (Kim Vogel Sawyer)
Remember to Forget (Deborah Raney)
The Oak Leaves (Maureen Lang)
Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Hawkins Adams)


YOUNG ADULT


In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
On the Loose (Jenny B. Jones)
Sara Jane: Liberty's Torch (Eleanor Clark)
Sarah's Long Ride (Susan Page Davis)
Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)