To Henry McLaughlin for his romantic western and winner of the 2009 Operation First Novel contest:

Journey to Riverbend

Henry McLaughlin's novel Journey to Riverbend received first place in the 2009 Operation First Novel at the opening session of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild's annual Writing for the Soul conference, Feb. 18, in Denver. The prize includes $20,000 and publication by Tyndale House Publishers.

“We're looking forward to working with Henry McLaughlin, on Journey to Riverbend,” said Karen Watson, Tyndale's associate publisher for fiction. “Henry's story is a unique blend of characters, setting, and action that give this western drama a touch of romance. It makes for an entertaining read that readers will find difficult to put down.”

“This award is a great honor and also very humbling,” said McLaughlin, 62, of Saginaw, Texas . “I give God all the glory and all the honor for opening this door. ” He said he desires to “ write stories that communicate the Father's love and desire for a close, intimate, and personal relationship with each of us.”

McLaughlin is part of the Christian Writer's Guild's third Craftsman class in advanced fiction. During the intensive one-year course, he worked with CWG mentor John Perrodin to polish his novel. McLaughlin began his writing studies with the Christian Writers Guild in 2005 in the two-year Apprentice course, then took the one-year Journeyman fiction course.

“We're proud of Henry,” said Guild owner and bestselling novelist Jerry B. Jenkins. “He proved to be a dogged writer who has evoked the old west in a poignant story of forgiveness and redemption.”

Other Operation First Novel finalists include Deb Harper of Anchorage, Alaska, for Misstep, Sara Richardson of Littleton, Colorado, for New Every Morning, Mark Sylvester of Auburn , California, for Coming Up Short, and Jonathan Wakefield of Richmond, Virginia, for Fatal Reality. Harper, Sylvester, and Wakefield are all CWG Craftsman.

Begun in 2004, the annual Operation First Novel contest is open to members of the Christian Writers Guild who have not yet had a book published by a royalty publishing house. The winner is announced at the opening session of the Guild's Writing for the Soul conference.

The deadline for entries for the 2010 contest is October 1. Contest details are available at http://www.christianwritersguild.com/Contest.asp