I have just been through the most torturous experience of my life.
I've just read 20+ AH-MAY-ZING stories that were so unique, so heartfelt, so beautiful...and I've had to only pick a few.
Naturally, I couldn't pick only six out of twenty-two...I've selected twelve for the anthology and four to post on my blog (with the authors' permission, of course). After I announce the lucky winners here, I'll proceed to email the authors and begin editing their stories (for which I will probably need to bring in outside assistance).
Before that, though (yes, I'mma drag this out as long as possible), I would like to thank each and every single one of y'all who submitted. Y'all...this is insane. I've had old friends, published authors, and writers I've never heard of come out of the woodworks to submit their stories to me. That is a tremendous honor, and mere words cannot express my gratitude nor the weighty responsibility I feel.
Whether you were picked or not, your story was amazing. I greatly appreciate all the time, effort, thought, creativity, and courage you put into writing and submitting your story! God has a plan and a purpose for you and your writing, and I pray that He would lead, guide, and direct you into your destiny and use you to further His Kingdom!
Now, without further ado...
the winners
Always by Michaela Bush
As Beautiful as the Stars by Karynn Heckler
Until You Call Me Yours by Mackenzie Hendricks
Forever Loved by Lydia M. Jupp
For Better or Worse by H. S. Kylian
Love is the Little Things by Brooklyn O'Brennan
The Day Tragedy Strikes by Maggie Copeland
Old Time Devotion by Lulu Molano
To Be Loved by Saraina Whitney
Till Death Do Us Part by Sarah Lawton
He Wanted My Heart by Katherine Perry
Untitled by Amelia Cabot (don't worry, we'll get a title soon *winks*)
the runnersup
The Sweetest Gift by Judith McNees
Walk the Garden by Louise Taylor
The Time Thief by Abigail Ellison
Miss Verona by Linyang Zhang
I don't know about y'all, but I am SOOOOO EXCITED for this anthology!!! When I read Until You Call Me Yours, my heart just began to swell with delight and the purest happiness, and I realized just how much I (and the rest of the world, naturally) need these stories. I've been saying all along that the world needs more Christian romance...but more than that, we need true romance that's tender and sweet and warms your heart. We need true love that comes from the Father above. We need true Christianity that flows from every fiber of our (and our characters') beings.
We need truth.
And that's what these stories deliver...messages of hope, words of God's truth, reflections of Christ's love and sacrifice, purity and innocence. From fantasy stories of diversity to contemporaries that deal with feelings of belonging and worth, from first love as teenagers to lasting love as a married couple to finding love later in life...these stories capture it all, and I pray that they will be as much of a blessing to you as they've been to me!
I'm still hoping for a June release, but I'll leave that up to the Lord, and I will keep everyone posted as time goes on about our progress! Thank you all for your encouragement and enthusiasm and support! I can't wait for this anthology to be in your hands!
If y'all have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them below! And let me know what you're most excited about for this anthology, whether it's a specific story or theme! (And, y'know, if you think this might be something fun to do again in the future...maybe a fantasy anthology...or a pirate anthology...all ideas are welcome!)