Middle School Writing Contest!

Wanted: Young Readers and Writers

The New Christian Books Online Magazine is recruiting readers and writers for its 2012 Summer Writing Contest. Readers will be junior judges and writers will submit short stories that teach the lesson of Jonah: There is a price to pay when you disobey.

The first place winner will receive $100 and a $50 Walmart gift card, plus free books from Christian authors Acacia Beumer, Laura Davis, Lorilyn Roberts and Cheryl Rogers.

Entries will be accepted from June 1 though July 15 at contest.newchristianbooks@earthlink.net .  All stories must be wail tales, or short stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words that teach the importance of obedience to God.

Wail tales are, in essence, exaggerated tales of woe involving a youth who has made bad choices and lands in a whale of trouble, just like Jonah in the Bible. In the end, the youth must call upon God and be restored through his grace.

The contest is being held in conjunction with the John 3:16 Marketing Network, a group of Christian writers who have bonded to promote the gospel through their writing.

 “I believe the contest is a fun way reinforce the lesson of Jonah,” says Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine. “It’s also a chance for budding writers to practice their craft.”

Rogers authored Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, a storybook collection featuring modern Jonahs who make mistakes but turn to God and receive his mercy.

Judges include:

* Acacia Beumer, who was awarded the Dove Foundation’s “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12 plus for her book Launch Out Into the Deep!  Beumer also is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award Gold Medal for the Most Outstanding Religion and Spirituality Book.

 * Katherine Harms, author of Oceans of Love, a book with 30 days of meditations on God’s love built on texts relating to oceans and water;

 * Lisa Lickel, author of First Children of Farmington, six stories of settler children and their families, which is illustrated by Brenda K. Hendricks, slated for release in time for Christmas 2012;

 * Diane Tatum, author of the historical love story Gold Earrings, who taught middle school Language Arts for 11 years in Tullahoma City Schools; and

 * Cheryl Rogers, publisher of New Christian Books Online Magazine.

 Junior judges are volunteers ages 9 through 17, who will receive free copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales and the John 3:16 Marketing Network's sampler book, Taste and See.

Here is a list of prizes:

First place: $100, $50 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me and the accompanying Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert's upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed paperback copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Second prize: $75, $25 Walmart gift card, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ novel Come to Me, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions book by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Third prize: $25, a paperback and audiobook CD of Acacia Beumer’s Launch Out Into the Deep, a copy of Laura Davis’ Bible Study Guide Learning from the Master: Living the Surrendered Life, a copy of Lorilyn Robert’s upcoming young adult novel Seventh Dimension slated for release later this year, an autographed copy of Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook by Cheryl Rogers; an e-copy of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales by Cheryl Rogers; an 18" x 12" Scripture poster quoting John 3:16; and an e-copy of John 3:16 Marketing Networks’ sampler book Taste and See.

Honorable Mention Awards will be given if the judges choose to recognize one or more excellent wail tales not chosen for the other awards. These award winners will receive e-copies of Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, the John 3:16 Marketing Network sampler book Taste and See, and Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about our Maker by Cheryl Rogers.

All of the award winners will have their wail tales published in either the New Christian Books Online Magazine, an ebook, or both.

Learn more.