March 15, 2015, Sisters, Oregon — Winners were announced today in the 6th Annual Deep River Books Writers Contest. Among this year’s standout entries, judges noted an especially strong showing by fiction authors. Three of the four top prizes went to fiction manuscripts, including the Grand Prize.

Catherine Finger was awarded the Grand Prize for her thriller, “Shattered Masks.” By day, Finger is the superintendent of Grayslake Community High School District 127 in Grayslake, Illinois. She has recently been taking her craft of writing and her dream of being a published author more seriously. In “Shattered Masks,” a police chief’s faith is tested when her husband and his mistress are found brutally murdered, and she becomes the prime suspect.

“I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this honor,” said Finger, on hearing the news. “I’m reeling in gratitude and wonder.”

Second-place honors went to Sarah Sumner of Redding, California, for her thought-provoking Christian Living manuscript, “Angry Like Jesus.”

Two novels tied for third place: “The Laughing Place,” by Karen Rees; and “A Battle More Desperate” by Randal Pilz.

Deep River Books also gave Awards of Merit to fifteen other notable entries.

“All of our winners are well deserving,” said Bill Carmichael, Publisher of Deep River Books. “It’s always such a great honor to acknowledge writers who have worked hard, and to encourage them on their journey to publication.”

For complete details about the winners, as well as a list of those who earned Awards of Merit, please visit the Deep River Books contest page.

Download Press Release