Cost:

• Program fee: $425.00 per person ($450.00 per person staying off campus)
• Meals: $172 per person (includes 12 meals starting with Monday dinner through Friday lunch.
• Accommodations:
  $129.00 per room, per night for Mountain Laurel East,
  $109 per room, per night for Mountain Laurel West, and
  $99 per room, per night for Rhododendron.​

Edie Melson – BRMCWC
Director, Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference

Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.”

As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives.

Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Edwina Perkins
Assistant Director

Edwina Perkins is an award-winning writer, freelance editor, speaker, and a sensitive reader.

She is the Managing Editor of Harambee Press—an imprint which seeks to publish ethnic writers—with Iron Stream Media. As the Mentoring Coordinator with Blue Ridge Mountain Writers Conference, Edwina loves the excitement of writers and watching them develop in their craft.

She serves on the Word Weavers International Advisory Committee and is also a freelance writer for Guideposts Magazine.

After thirty years away, she loves calling North Carolina home again. Edwina is a wife, mother of four adult children, and grandmother of two.

Looking for:
We at Harambee Press are looking for writers who want to express the diversity of their culture and who have stories and life lessons. Whether through fiction or nonfiction, HP authors should carry a message of hope and redemption. At this time we are acquiring fiction, nonfiction, and YA by ethnic writers. We are not looking for poetry, articles, or children’s books. We are accepting submissions from people we meet at conferences, agents, and referrals.

Classes, Appointments, Paid Critiques

1. Practicum, Continuing Class, or Workshop.
   1. A practicum is a hands-on class. It can be offered as a workshop (a stand-alone class) or a continuing class.
   2. A continuing class is just that—a class that has new material every day that builds upon itself. These can be 2, 3 or 4 days in length.
   3. A workshop is a class that is possibly repeated more than once, and it will be the same material every time.
2. Act I, Act II, and Act III.
   1. Act I classes are for beginners or new writers in that specific area. For example, an established non-fiction writer who has lots of experience might be a beginner when it comes to writing fiction.
   2. Act II classes are for intermediate writers who may or may not be published in that specific area, but have writing experience.
   3. Act III classes are for advanced writers who have published multiple books and articles and such.

15-Minute Appointments
These are scheduled times when you can sit down with the author, agent, or editor of your choice and discuss your writing or brainstorm or have them answer your burning questions. You do NOT have to pay for these appointments, they are included as part of your conferee experience. You will NOT sign up for 15-minute appointments until you get to the conference.

Paid Critiques
Several of our faculty members offer to critique your writing and meet with you at the conference. Critiques cost $30 each, and you can find the list of faculty and what type of writing they will critique on the Blue Ridge Conference website soon. Please be sure to follow the guidelines when you submit your request to the faculty members.

These will be IN ADDITION to your regular 15-minute appointments and are paid appointments.

Contests
Eva Marie Everson is our contest director and works very hard every year to organize our contests. Please see the website for how to enter, and again, be sure to follow the submission instructions.

Here are the 3 contests we offer:

• The BRMCWC Foundation Awards Contest: This has previously been known as the Unpublished Contest. You must be registered for the entire conference in order to compete. If you have been paid for your writing in any publication category, then you are ineligible for this contest in that category. (For example, if a publication paid you for a devotion, then you may not enter the contest in the devotion category, but you may enter in a different category.) You may enter in more than one category but we accept only one entry per category.
• The Director’s Choice Award: The Director’s Choice Award is given to a published writer who is a past or current conferee. You’ve worked hard and it is our pleasure to recognize your achievement. We accept both fiction and non-fiction books for this contest.
  The Selah Awards: The Selah Awards are open to all published authors whose books were published between December 16, 2019 and December 15, 2020 with either traditional or non-traditional publishers. If the book is co-authored, both authors must sign the entry form.
• The 2023 Awards Ceremony and Dessert Reception: This event takes place on Wednesday evening and isn’t something you must register for separately. It is an opportunity to dress up—IF YOU CHOOSE. You’ll find our faculty in glittering evening wear and this is our chance to come together to celebrate all of our authors’ hard work by honoring them with awards. The results of all 3 contests will be announced during this time. There isn’t a formal dress code for the Awards Banquet. It’s as dressy as you want to make it. Some will wear tuxes or cocktail dresses or gowns. Others will wear their Sunday best, and still others will be in nice jeans and a polo or dress shirt. It’s really up to you how you would like to dress, but we want you to have the information you need to be comfortable in all situations.

General Information

Attire:
General Conference attire is business casual. This isn’t required but is what everyone seems most comfortable with. There is a lot of walking up and down hills, so be sure to pack some comfortable shoes.

Headshots:
One opportunity that we like to offer our conferees is the chance to have professional headshots taken by our conference photographer. You will notice Mallory Zynda snapping pictures throughout the conference. She will also have an appointment sheet so that you can sign up to meet with her and have your picture taken. There is a minimal cost for this service, and we will have more information for you shortly.

Bookstore:
Our bookstore will operate out of Spilman again this year.

Conference Schedule:
At the conference, the schedule will be provided to you as a hard copy, tri-fold brochure.

Class Recordings:
We do offer the opportunity for conference attendees to buy (cash only) a package of conference recordings.

Facebook:
We also encourage you to LIKE our Facebook page.

Visit BlueRidgeConference.com for more information, blogs, podcasts, and class information.

CONTEST INFORMATION

(Please note that some of our rules have changed.
Read these instructions carefully.)

The 2024 contests officially open on November 1, 2023.

The BRMCWC contests and dessert banquet are among the many highlights of BRMCWC. Every year gets better than previous years and we know this year will be no exception.

Whether you are published already or will be in the future, we have two contests designed for you. Please note that most of the fees collected for the contest go to our Scholarship Fund, which enables talented writers with financial needs to attend the conference at a reduced price. When you enter the contest, you are sowing seeds you may never see harvested … but God knows. You are a part of a winning team just by entering!

Please read the guidelines carefully for both contests before submitting. We now use PayPal for payment. You do not have to have a PayPal account, your credit or debit card is sufficient to use the program, which is one of the most secured payment options in the world. Also, we have discontinued the Directors’ Choice contest.

Ready? Set? Amaze us!

Eva Marie Everson
BRMCWC Contests Director

Contest 1: The Selah Awards (For Published Works)

(Closes for publishers sending in the work: Dec 31, 2023. Forms must include the agent (if applicable) and editor of the work.)

(Closes for authors sending in the work: Jan. 12, 2024)

Contest 2: Foundation Awards (For unpublished works from those in attendance for the current year’s event):

(Closes April 1, 2024)

2024 CONTESTS RULES AND GUIDELINES

THE SELAH AWARDS

Please Note: Entries that do not follow all rules will be disqualified.

Rules, Guidelines & Fees:

• All Selah entries must have a physical, mailed, printed entry form. Do not email your entry form. Without the printed entry form, the entry will be disqualified.
• The Selah Awards are open to all published authors with works published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 with either traditional or nontraditional publishers.
• If your work is co-authored, both authors must sign the entry form. If you are the editor of an anthology, your signature alone will suffice.
• Books that have been re-released by a publishing house different from the original house may not be entered.
• Two books per title with entry fee must be received by the due dates.
• Entry fees of $45 per entry must be paid via PayPal
  (PayPal Buy button can be found at end of post)
• Send books, “in print” articles, devotions, short stories, etc. along with printed entry form* to:

  Eva Marie Everson
  The Selah Awards
  504 Spoonbill Court
  Winter Springs, FL 32708

  *If you send your books directly from the publisher or an online bookstore, you must also mail your entry form in an envelope clearly marked with the above address.

• There are no refunds. Books will not be returned.
• The author or author’s agent or publisher shall select the appropriate category for the work.
• One category per title (exception: First Novel and Audio Book, which may also be entered into the genre category).
• Entries in “First Novel” are limited to authors who have not previously published a fiction title preceding that title.
• There is no limit to the number of eligible titles an author may enter in each category.
• All scores are final once returned from the judges and entered in the database. Scores are accessed by individual judges who score according to an established and upgraded guideline/score sheet. Scores and comments are not shared with the author(s).

  Please study the genre categories carefully. Not following the rules call for automatic disqualification.

Categories are:

• Audiobooks: Must come from Audible.com and must include ONE free downloadable code. (If your work finals, we will ask for a second code.) To enter your audio book, email the Audible.com link along with the downloadable code to   with “Audiobook Entry” in the subject line). Snail mail your form. Please include the narrator’s name on your form (you can write this in the “editors” section of the Selah Award form) and the genre your book falls under.
• Anthologies: Entire books of short stories or works of short nonfiction.
  
• Articles Published Online (Christian or Secular): Send a copy of the article’s link to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with Selah/Articles Online in the subject line. Do not send links for online articles with any other online genre, such as online devotions. Send your entry form to the Selah Awards snail mail address and not to the email address.
  
• Articles Published in Print (Christian or Secular): Send one copy of the article along with a copy of the magazine or newspaper cover to the address provided above. Do not send as a link.
  
• Devotions in an individual book: (please note: the $45 fee covers up to three individual devotions which are judged separately.) Mail the entire book with your devotions clearly marked.
  
• Devotions online: (please note: the $45 fee covers up to three individual devotions which are judged separately.) Email your devotions in one email to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with “Selah/Online Devotions” in the subject line. You must include three separate forms per title, however. Send your entry forms by USPS.
  
• Bible Studies
  
• Children’s Picture Books
  
• Children’s Literature (works beyond picture books and to middle grade)
  
• Christian Life
  
• Devotionals (an entire book of devotions)
  
• Essays in Print: a work of nonfiction between 1,000 – 7,500 words of a true story that focuses on a central theme (example: works submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul books). Mail entire book with your entry clearly marked plus entry form.
  
• Essays Online: a work of nonfiction between 1,000 – 7,500 words of a true story that focuses on a central theme. Email your devotions in one email to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with “Selah/Essays Online” in the subject line. Send your entry form by USPS.
  
• Fiction
  
  • Contemporary Romance: a subgenre of romance novels generally set during contemporary times.
    
  • Contemporary Women’s: fiction that appeals to women set from the Vietnam War forward.
    
  • First Novel*: a novelist’s first work of published fiction
    
  • General Fiction: a subgenre of fiction sometimes referred to as contemporary fiction, which focuses on the everyday experiences and conflicts of a protagonist, usually an adult male or female, with detailed characterization and background. Typically written for mature audiences with mature themes.
    
  • Historical or Biblical: a broad category of fiction in which the plot takes place in a setting during or preceding the Vietnam War (or during biblical times).
    
  • Historical Romance: a subgenre of romance novels set during or preceding the Vietnam War.
    
  • Mystery/Suspense: a work of fiction in which the main character is occupied in tracking down the truth about a crime. In a mystery, the reader is exposed to the same information as the detective, but in a suspense story, the reader is aware of things unknown to the protagonist.
    
  • Novella: novels with a word count of between 17,000 – 50,000 words.
    
  • Romantic Suspense: a subgenre of romance novels that involves an intrigue or mystery for the protagonists to solve.
    
  • Short Stories in Print: a work of fiction between 900 – 7,500 words. A short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme. Send entire book with your work clearly marked.
    
  • Short Stories Online: a work of fiction between 900 – 7,500 words. A short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme. Email your devotions in one email to BlueRidgeCWC@aol.com with “Selah/Short Stories Online” in the subject line. Send your entry form by USPS.
    
  • Speculative: a genre of fiction that encompasses works in which the setting is other-worldly and involves supernatural, futuristic, or other imagined elements.
    
  • Western: a genre of fiction primarily set in the American Old West between the late eighteenth century and late nineteenth century and that tells the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier while taming the Wild West.
    
  • *First Novels may be entered here and in one of the fiction subcategories, but must include 2 books per genre (or 4 books).
• General Nonfiction: Christian/church topic (from history to theology to biography, etc.)
  
• Inspiration & Gift: this genre is often defined as the type of book you’d give as a gift, not necessarily to be read in one sitting or in several consecutive sittings, or one that may be found on a coffee table. Example: After the Flowers Die, by Renee Leonard Kennedy.
  
• Middle Grade Novels
  
• Memoir
  
• YA Fiction
  
• YA Nonfiction

First, Second, and Third Places are chosen from groups with five or more entries. Categories with less than five will only offer a first place or will be combined with a similar genre.

The Selah Book of the Year is chosen from all first-place winners based on scores. This award is given to a fiction, a nonfiction, and a children’s book title.

Finalists are announced around March 1 (all entrants will be notified before the announcement).

Winners for the Selahs are announced at the BRMCWC awards event and need not be present to win. We will notify all finalists as to how to attend (for those not attending the conference) or how to “watch online” a few weeks prior to the event.  

Click here to Download and print the PDF version of the Entry Form

“The caliber of the workshops and keynotes was exceptional. The best ever, I think. Well done, ladies. The faculty was kind, responsive, and humble.”

“Tim Shoemaker’s Deep POV class was the best I’ve ever heard on the subject. All of my classes were great and were what I needed to hear.”

“All of the keynote speakers did great! Their messages are very applicable.”

“Wonderful worship and fellowship and music and speakers.”