Living Water Awards

Awards for Christian Writers

The Living Waters Awards honor those whose lives reflect the love and mercy of Christ through extraordinary acts of service. This contest is open to all conference attendees except for faculty members. Join us as we celebrate the inspiring work of those who are living out their faith and building God’s kingdom on earth.

Living Water Awards 2026

The Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference (BLCWC) is excited to announce the Living Water Writing Contest for 2026. This contest is open to all conference attendees, with the exception of faculty members. Participants may submit entries whether previously published in the submission category or not. Assuming sufficient entries, awards will be given in each category for both published and unpublished authors.

Submission Categories

– Articles
– Children’s Picture Book
– Devotions
– Fiction Book
– Non-Fiction Book
– Poetry
– Young Adult Book

 

Entry Procedures

The Awards are now closed to new entries.

 

Submission Guidelines

– Text should be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, using black ink and 1-inch margins. Poetry may be single-spaced.
– Do NOT include the author’s name on any of the manuscript pages.
– Each participant may submit multiple entries, but only one entry per category is allowed.
– Devotions and poetry may include up to three pieces per entry.
– For children’s picture books, submit the complete book.
– For articles, submit one complete article.
– For non-fiction books, submit a table of contents and the first chapter; specify the word count.
– For fiction books, submit a synopsis, and the first chapter; specify word count.
– For young adult books, submit a table of contents and the first chapter; specify the word count.
– Unpublished entries for YA, fiction, and non-fiction may be works in progress.

Deadline

The deadline for entering the Living Water Award is February 17.

 

Awards Ceremony

– Winners will be announced at a semi-formal awards ceremony in March, during the conference. Attire ranges from Sunday best to sequins and bling.

We look forward to celebrating your creative efforts and wish you the best of luck in the Living Water Awards!

2025 Living Water Award Winners

Articles

Unpublished

    • Winner: “Right Timing” – Sally Jo Pitts

Published

      • Winner: “The Baby is Stronger Than Anyone Knows” – Cecil Taylor
      • Runner-up: “God Bless America” – Karen Moderow

Children’s and YA Books

Unpublished

    • Winner: The Garden of Hope—Napo Discovers Nutrition—Rachel Coggins
    • Runner-up: Beach Mice At Work Not Vacation – Gretchen Huesmann

    Devotional

    Unpublished

      • Winner: “Straightening My Crummy Posture” – Cecil Taylor
      • Runner-up: “Stone of Remembrance and Help” – Cecil Taylor

    Published

      • Winner: “A Devotion for Pastors’ Wives” – Gretchen Huesmann
      • Second Place: “Life in the Past Lane – Nancy Graves 
      • Runner-up: “Truth—No Claws Needed!” – Nancy Graves
      • Honorable mention: “He Calms the Storms” – Carissa Lovvorn
      • Honorable mention: “A Remedy with Stinging Words” – Gretchen Huesmann

    Poetry

    Published & Unpublished Combined

    • Winner: “Attest That God Loves All His Children – Michael Shoemaker
    • Second Place: “Three Stages of a King in John Thirteen” – Charisa Hagel
    • Third Place: “Maxine and Irene” – Michael Shoemaker 
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    Nonfiction Books

    Unpublished

    • Winner: Understanding God’s Universe – Michael Loudiana

    Published

    • Winner: Unison Parenting – Cecil Taylor

    Fiction Books

    Published

      • Winner: Second Chance Ranch – Ellen Fannon

    2024 Living Water Award Winners

    Articles

    Combined Published and Unpublished

      • First Place: “Rebecca’s Hope” – Rachel Coggins
      • Second Place: “The Pecan Pie of Love” – Cecil Taylor
      • Third Place: “Easter from the Dark Side” – David Holland

    Poetry

    Combined Published and Unpublished

      • First Place – Tie: “After the Play” – Raymond A Russell II and “Into the Deep” – Raymond A Russell II
      • Second Place: “Us” – Joy Cromer
      • Third Place: “In the Grey Dawn” – Michael Shoemaker

    Devotions

    Published

      • First Place: “In All Circumstances” – June Foster
      • Second Place: “The Day I Became a Boys’ PE Teacher” – Gretchen Huesman
      • Third Place: “Don’t Fence Me In” – Ellen Fann

    Unpublished

        • First Place: “United as Jesus Intended” – Cecil Taylor
        • Second Place: “Listen for Ways God Calls You” – Pam Antoun
        • Third Place: “Waiting for the Kingdom” – Cecil Taylor

    Children’s Books

    All Unpublished

      • First Place: A Time For Everything – Gretchen Huesmann
      • Second Place: David’s Journey To The Throne – Gretchen Huesmann
      • Third Place: Missing Flowers – Julie Schroeder

    Nonfiction Books

    • First Place: God Adopted Us First – Faith Lessons from an Adoption Attorney’s Adventures – Alice Murray
    • Second Place: Gangs, Guns and God – Art Wilson
    • Third Place: From Comfort Zone to Truth Zone – Cecil Taylor

    Fiction Books

    • First Place: Love in the Wind – Ellen Fannon
    • Second Place: The Novice Rancher – June Foster
    • Third Place – Tie: Foreordained – Raymond A Russell II and Where the Dogwoods Bloom – Jennifer Cotney

    2023 Living Water Award Winners

    Articles

    Unpublished

      • Winner: “The Goose and I” – Sally Jo Pitts

    Published

        • Winner: “Only Five Minutes” – Sheryl H. Boldt
        • Runner-up: “Ministering to the Least of These–Prison Ministry” – Alice Murray
        • Honorable Mention: “It’s A Good Day to Be a Teacher” – Gretchen Huesmann

    Children’s and YA Books

    Unpublished

      • Winner: Grandma’s Little Helpers – Sheryl H. Boldt
      • Runner-up: Charcuterie Mouse – Gretchen Huesmann
      • Honorable mention: Newton’s Laws of Motion – Dorothy Fields

    Published

      • Winner: ABC’s of God with Blitz – Pam Antoun

    Devotional

    Unpublished

      • Winner: “Jesus, Help Me!–A Devotion Gretchen Huesmann For Educators”
      • Runner-up: “Love and Pray–A Devotion For Gretchen Huesmann Educators”
      • Honorable mention: “Cycle of Defeat” Sharon Atwood

    Published

      • Winner: “Outcasts Welcomed” Karen Allen
      • Runner-up: “Don’t Have It Your Way” Alice Murray
      • Honorable mention: “Watered Like A Willow” Alice Murray

    Poetry

    Unpublished

      • Winner: “The Redeemer’s Embrace” – Annette Griffin
      • Runner-up: “Moving Day” – Debra Dupre Williams
      • Honorable mention: “Mama Mantra” – Annette Griffin

    Published

      • Winner: “The River Beneath Us” – Raymond Russell
      • Runner-up: “Red Light, Green Arrow” – Jennifer Cotney
      • Honorable mention: “Phosphoresity” – Patricia Tiffany Morris

    Nonfiction Books

    Published and Unpublished Combined

    • Winner: Defined by Fire: Seven Life-Changing Lessons from Devastating Tragedy – John Rabins
    • Runner-up: The Next Thing: A Christian Model for Dealing with Crisis in Personal Life – Cecil Taylor

     

    Fiction Books

    Unpublished

      • Winner: The Lion’s Heart – Charlsie Estess
      • Runner-up: Bygone – Annette Griffin

    Published

      • Winner: Stumbling Upon Romance – Sally Jo Pitts

    2022 Living Water Award Winners

    Articles

    • 1st Place: “Christmas Miracle at the Mission” – Barbara Antoni Diggs
    • Runner-up: “The Real King and I – A Thai Woman’s Faith Journey” – Alice H. Murray
    • Honorable Mention: “Mom Journal #143”  – Dorothy Fields

    Children’s Picture Book

    Published:

    • 1st Place—Tie: The God Hunter – Annette Griffin
    • 1st Place—Tie: The Light We Cannot See – Chris Manion

    Unpublished:

    • 1st Place: Father’s Joy: A Fishing Adventure – Dorothy Fields
    • Runner-Up: God’s House – Debra DuPree Williams

    Devotional

    Published

    • 1st Place: “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” – Ellen Fannon
    • Runner-Up: “The Quieter You Become” – Melony Brown

    Unpublished

    • 1st Place: “Life in a Cocoon” – Rev. Rick Gillian
    • Runner-Up: “God’s Perfect Timing” – Rev. Rick Gillian

     

    Poetry

    Published

    • 1st Place: “Remembering” – Fay Guinn
    • Runner-up: “Christian Creek” – Fay Guinn

    Unpublished

    • 1st Place: “Promised Land” – Jennifer Cotney
    • Runner-Up: “Thirsty” – Jennifer Cotney

     

    Nonfiction Books

    Published and Unpublished Combined

    1st Place: Journey On! A Survival Guide for Overcoming Life’s Tough Challenges –    Melony Brown
    Runner-Up: Turkey, The Home of St. Paul – Rachel Coggins
    Honorable Mention: Poppy’s Proverbs – Mike Logan

     

     

    Fiction Books

    Published

    • 1st Place: And Then Love Blooms – Sally Jo Pitts
    • Runner-Up (Tie): Til Shiloh Come – Patricia Clark Blake
    • Runner-Up (Tie):When Secrets Come Calling – Felicia Ferguson

    Unpublished

    • 1st Place: The Knightly Stalker – Annette Griffin
    • Runner-Up: Prospect Mercy – Jennifer Cotney

    Young Adult

    • 1st Place: Recovery – Rosemary Althoff
    • Runner-Up: Liberty Loser: For The Win – Annette Griffin
    • Honorable Mention: Smoking Flax – Jennifer Hallmark

     

    2020 Living Water Award Winners

    Although we’d hoped to have an in-person celebration of our Living Water Award winners, our plans were forced to change. However, the winners had already been selected, so we want to recognize each of you online. An award certificate will be mailed to you as well.

    Congratulations to all participants and winners!

    Now, our contest coordinator Alice Murray has a word for you and will announce the winners. Thank you, Alice, for all your hard work coordinating this contest!

    Marilyn Turk, Director

    While BLCWR 2020 was a casualty of COVID-19, its writing contest survived. A record number of entries were received for an expanded number of categories. Although not every entrant won a Living Water Award for his or her writing, each one was a winner for taking on this writing contest challenge.

    Faculty members scheduled to present at BLCWR 2020 gave of their time and expertise to identify the top entries in their assigned categories. Virtual drum roll for the 2020 Living Water Award winners they selected:

    Articles

    • 1st Place – Renee Norris, “Being Jesus To Those With Dementia”
    • 2nd Place – Chris Manion, “5 Steps to Apologies Done Well: How to Say ‘I’m Sorry’”
    • 3rd Place – Bridget Carnley, “Oh Holy Night”

    Bible Study

     

    • 1st Place – Dottie Rogers, Reluctant Disciples, Becoming Faithful Followers
    • 2nd Place – Myrna Conrad, Love, Joy, Peace, Hope
    • 3rd Place – Carol McCracken, You Were Created To Wait

    Children’s Picture Book

    • 1st Place – Chris Manion, The Grateful Boat
    • 2nd Place – Renee Norris, Tails of Mercy and Grace: Mercy Shows Kindness
    • 3rd Place – Alice Murray, My Baby Sister Is A VEGETABLE?
    • Honorable Mention – Dottie Rogers, In The Middle
    • Honorable Mention – Marcella Ruch, My Mother’s Most Powerful Gift

     

     

    Devotional

    • 1st Place – Marcella Ruch, “A Brother in Need Is A Brother Indeed!”
    • 2nd Place – Ellen Fannon, “You Can’t Outgive God”
    • 3rd Place – Patricia Blake, “The Best Gift Ever”
    • Honorable Mention – Fay Guinn, “Bringing in the Sheaves”
    • Honorable Mention – David Holland, “The Healing Touch”

     

     

    Nonfiction Books

    Published and Unpublished Combined

    • 1st Place – Sherri Stone, Fat Pants, Scale Errors, and Finding Your True Measure
    • 2nd Place – Rebecca Whisnant, Confessions of an Interim Innkeeper
    • 3rd Place — Linda Schnepel, It Must Be Me/Destroyed by Lies, Restored by Grace

    Fiction Books

    • 1st Place – Paul Morgan, Nemesis
    • 2nd Place – Sherri Stone, Babs Has a Bra Burning
    • 3rd Place – Ron Lazenby, The Replacement
    • Honorable Mention – Jody Armstrong, Denial of the Enemy
    • Honorable Mention – Eliza Scalia, Kings Behind the Bars

    Young Adult

    • 1st Place – Sandy Quandt, No Easy Choice
    • 2nd Place — Rosemary B. Althoff, A Soul’s Warfare: The Hot Marble
    • 3rd Place – Richard Hartzer, A Confession of Faith

     

    Poetry

    • 1st Place – Fay Guinn, “Distraction in the Afternoon,”
    • 2nd Place – Fay Guinn, “Maysa Gabriel—Last Song”
    • 3rd Place — Alice Murray, “Mommy Loves Me”
    • Honorable Mention – Marcella Ruch, “I Love You”

    2019 Living Water Award Winners

    Articles

    • 1st Place   “An Unexpected Call” – Ginny Cruz
    • 2nd Place  “Beyond One Word” – Michelle Ruschmann
    • 3rd Place   “Overcoming Michael’s Fury” – Judy Ransom

    Poetry

     

    • 1st Place   “Evening Beauty” – Liz Coastworth
    • 2nd Place  “Despite It All” – Michelle Ruschmann
    • 3rd Place   “Wild Seed” – Jennifer Cotney

    Children’s Picture Book

    • 1st Place     L is for Liz Lizard – Liz Coastworth
    • 2nd Place    Adeline and Oscar Save The Kingdom – Cheri Strange
    • 3rd Place     Macy Monkey’s Mess Up – Ron Lazenby

     

     

    Devotional

    • 1st Place   “Forget Not His Benefits” – Judy Ransom
    • 2nd Place  “Victory Over Death” – Ellen Fannon
    • 3rd Place   “A Merry/Mary Heart” – Jennifer Dansby

     

     

    Nonfiction Books

    • 1st Place  Jesus and Me – Michelle Ruschmann
    • 2nd Place  Ho, Ho Holy Humor – Alice Murray
    • 3rd Place   His Bride – Cindy Peavy

    Fiction Books

    • 1st Place    God Is Not My Hitman – Lelia Alford
    • 2nd Place   Faith Move – Jennifer Cotney
    • 3rd Place    Eye of the Jewel – Paul Morgan