THE EAST TEXAS WRITERS GUILD is proud to announce the winners for Category II, unpublished works or works in progress, in its first annual First Chapter Book Awards.

According to Roger Middleton, president of the Guild, “We received an overwhelming number of entries from around the world, including authors submitting from Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Cyprus, Italy, South Africa, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.”

Each entry was judged by three different judges from a panel representing, editors, authors, educators, and avid book readers. An additional three judges were brought in to select winners from the finalists.

Judges reported that the critical and overriding factor in determining the winners was this: Will the first chapter make me want to read the rest of the book?

The top three winners, five finalists, and ten semi-finalists will all receive digital badges which can be placed on the covers of eBooks, printed and placed on paper books, or added to Websites, blog sites, or emails. The badges may be used in any way the author chooses to showcase and promote his or her book.

The finalists and semi-finalists are not listed in any particular order.

First Place

Tiger Wiseman

Chill Well Before Killing

Mystery

Connecticut

*

Second Place

Paul Paris

Flight Risk

Historical Fiction

Texas

*

Third Place

Thonie Hevron

With Malice Aforethought

Mystery Thriller

California

 

Finalists

Patricia J. La Vigne

Cool Murder

Mystery

Texas

*

FCEtier

A Year without Killing

Conspiracy Thriller

North Carolina

*

Jean Lauzier

Dragons of Blue Water

Fantasy

Texas

*

Vivra P.Beene

The Ravenwood Portal

Young Adult Paranormal

Texas

*

Maryann Miller

Evelyn Evolving

Mainstream

Texas

Semi-Finalist

Cyndi Lord

An Eye for an Eye

Thriller

Texas

*

Marvin Mayer

The Adventures of Preston & Oliver

Children’s Chapter Book

Texas

*

Janice Ernest

Queeny

Fiction

Texas

*

Janis Thornton

Dead Wait

Paranormal Mystery

Indiana

*

Jane Gorman

A Blind Eye

Mystery

New Jersey

*

Lorna Penland

A Man of Honor

Murder Mystery

Texas

*

Galand Nuchols

Play the Cards You Are Dealt

Young Adult Fiction

Texas

*

Sherry Scarpaci

The 13^th Victim

Mystery

Illinois

*

Claude Forthome

The Day’s Madness: Wildfire

Literary

Italy

*

Shalanna Collins

The Darkness at the Center

Young Adult/Fantasy

Texas