I had the privilege to be the Contest Coordinator for the 2013 International Society of Family History Writers & Editors’ “Excellence-in-Writing” competition. There were some great submissions; you did not have to be a member to submit to the different categories. As you research your family history, why not consider writing about it and submitting to a contest online or in your area! It is exciting to win, but just as exciting to share your story.

Here are the winners of this year’s competition. Hope to see your name next year! Information for the 2014 competition will be posted soon.

Category 1 – Columns
1st Place – Tara Cajacob, “Discover Zimmerman”
2nd Place – Pat Biallas, “Government Delivers in Honoring Civil War Vet” & “Graveside Rededication Presents a Step Back in Time”
3rd Place – Diana Crisman Smith, “Bitten by the Typo Bug”, & “The Research Report”
Honorable Mention – Susan Zacharias, “Web of Deceit – April-June 2012 & Oct-Dec 2012”
Honorable Mention – Pat Biallas, “Stamp Series Commemorates Civil War” & “Civil War Sesquicentennial Generates Abundance of Historical Offerings”

Category 2 – Articles
1st Place – Janis Forte, “What Legacy for David H. Driver”
2nd Place - Smiljka Kitanovic, “Military Family Research”
3rd Place – James W. Petty, “Black Slavery Emancipation Research in the Northern States”
Honorable Mention – Shannon Bennett, “How_to_get_started_with_genetic_genealogy_and_dna_research”
Honorable Mention – Margaret Barker, “The Twins”

Category 3 – Genealogy Newsletters
1st Place – Phyllis Matthews Ziller, “Nov 2012 NCGS News” & “Sept 2012 NCGS News”
2nd Place – Mary W. Parker, “Newsletter June 2012” & “Newsletter Sept 2012”
3rd Place – Sunny Morton, “2012 02 OGN”, & “2012 03 OGN”
Honorable Mention – Janis Forte, “July/Aug2012 Newsletter” & “Sept/Oct 2012 Newsletter”

Category 4 – Unpublished Authors
1st Place – Sherri Hessick, “Just Another Love Story”
2nd Place – Victoria Kauzlarich, “The Accidental Historian”
3rd Place – Jodi Strait, “Curious Case of Charles Karthaeuser”
Honorable Mention – Robin Thomas, “Beneficiary of a Pack Rat”
Honorable Mention – Rondie Yancey, “After the War”

Category 5 – Unpublished Material by Published Authors
1st Place - LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, “Searching for the Slave Owners”
2nd Place – Nancy Calhoun, “A Lost Stone”
3rd Place – Andrea Ramsey, “Desperately Seeking Charlotte”
Honorable Mention – Kenneth Castle, “My Norwegian Ancestors”
Honorable Mention – Kathleen Broomer, “James A. Spillet Hatter, Newsdealer, Captialist”