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2022 Praiseworthy Award Winners

The LDSPMA Praiseworthy Awards program recognizes excellence in published works and media produced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We understand that it takes a number of devoted professionals to create a high-quality product. Awards are granted not only to the author/main producer, but also to the entire team involved in the publication or creation.

The winners and honorable mentions for each category were honored at the Praiseworthy Awards Gala on October 21.

Watch your email for an invitation in the spring of 2023 to nominate works for our 2023 Praiseworthy Awards contest. Not on our email list? Join here!

Jump to:

Fiction
Nonfiction
Multimedia

Praiseworthy Awards—Fiction Finalists

General Fiction

The Audacity of Sara Grayson

Winner

Author: Joani Elliott
Publisher: Post Hill Press
Managing Editor: Kate Monahan
Cover Design: Cody Corcoran & Mark Elliott
Production Editor: Rachel Hoge
Agent: Jennifer Weis
Production Assistant: Sarah French

The Slow March of Light

Honorable Mention

Author: Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Editor: Alison Palmer
Art Director: Richard Erickson
Typesetter: Breanna Anderl
Product Manager: Heidi Taylor Gordon
Product Director: Chris Schoebinger

Middle Grade / Young Adult

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

Winner

Author: Kaela Rivera
Publisher: HarperCollins
Editor: Stephanie Guerden
Cover designer: Catherine Lee

Falling through Stars

Honorable Mention

Author: Staci Olsen
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Cover artist: Garrett Hamon
Editor: Sarah Chorn

Picture Book

Stopping by Woods

Winner

Publisher: Familius
Author: Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Illustrator: Vivian Mineker
Creative Director: Christopher Robbins
Proofreader: Brooke Jorden
Cover and Interior Designer: Carlos Guerrero

Day-Old Child

Honorable Mention

Author: Carol Lynn Pearson
Illustrator: Corey Egbert
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Editor: Michelle Branson

Romance

A Proper Scoundrel

Winner

Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor: Ashley Gebert
Copyeditor: Carly Springer
Typesetter: Stacey Turner
Proofreaders: Joy Wouden and Rebecca Maxfield
Graphic Designer: Kimberly Kay
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Narrator: Noah Wall
Publicist: Amy Parker

Song of Salzburg

Honorable Mention

Author: Jen Geigle Johnson
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor: Ashley Gebert
Copyeditor: Jennifer Spell
Typesetter: Annie Petersen
Proofreaders: Sheri Bronson and Carly Springer
Cover Designer: Michelle Fryer
Narrator: Noah Wall
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Publicist: Amy Parker

Science Fiction / Fantasy

The Not So Chosen One

Winner

Author: Tamara Grantham
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Editors: Rachel Hathcock, Kate Staker, and Kimiko Hammari
Typesetters: Kate Staker and Kimiko Hammari
Cover Designer: Shawnda T. Craig
Cover Illustrator: Diego Alcala

Nora and the Sacred Stones

Honorable Mention

Author: Laura Rupper
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editors: Annie Petersen, Aubrey Parry, and Wendy Law
Illustrator: Jessica Parker
Typesetter: Annie Petersen
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Narrator: Luone Ingram
Publicists: Amy Parker and Jessica Bybee

Short Story / Anthology

Meet Me Under The Kissing Bough

Winner

Authors: Josi S. Kilpack, Anneka R. Walker, & Sarah L. McConkie
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor and Typesetter: Kami Hancock
Copyeditor: Aimee Robbins
Proofreaders: Julie Newman and Ashlin Awerkamp
Graphic Designer: Hannah Bischoff
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Narrator: Luone Ingram
Publicist: Amy Parker

The Best-Laid Plans

Honorable Mention

Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor: Samantha Millburn
Copyeditor: Mary Birdsall
Typesetter: Stacey Turner
Proofreaders: Rebecca Tuft and Laura Combrink
Graphic Designer: Michelle Fryer
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Narrator: Luone Ingram
Publicist: Amy Parker

Suspense/Mystery

The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet

Winner

Author: Katherine Cowley
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Editor: Sinclair Sawhney
Copyeditor: Beth Hicks
Cover Designer: Patrick Knowles
Proofreader: Marlene Engel

Heirs of Falcon Point

Honorable Mention

Authors: Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards, & A. L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor: Samantha Millburn
Copyeditor: Rebecca Tuft
Typesetter: Stacey Turner
Proofreaders: Suzanne Uchytil and Mary Birdsall
Graphic Designer: Natalie Brown
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Narrator: Jason Tatom
Publicist: Amy Parker

Praiseworthy Awards—Nonfiction Finalists

Short Form (Blogs, Essays, Articles)

The Heart Has Its Language

Winner | Read the article

Author: Annette Lyon
Publisher: Medium

“One step at a time”: What 1 woman’s escape from the 99th floor of the South Tower on 9/11 can teach the next generation

Honorable Mention | Read the article

Author: Emily Abel
Publisher: LDS Living
Editor: Erin Hallstrom

History/Biography

First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith

Winner

Author: Jennifer Reeder
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Tracy Keck
Designer: Shauna Gibby
Typesetter: Breanna Anderl
Product Director: Celia Barnes
Product Manager: Kristen Evans

In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks

Honorable Mention

Author: Richard E. Turley Jr.
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Emily Watts
Designers: Richard Erickson & Sheryl Dickert Smith
Typesetter: Rachael Ward
Product Director: Lisa Roper
Product Manager: Kristen Evans

Scripture Study Resource

And These Words: A Scripture Study Journal

Winner

Author: Emily Belle Freeman
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Emily Watts
Designers: Richard Erickson & Brooke Williams
Typesetter: Rachael Ward
Product Director: Lisa Roper
Product Manager: Kristen Evans

The Old Testament Made Easier

Honorable Mention

Author: David J. Ridges
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Cover Designer: Shawnda T. Craig
Editor & Typesetter: Heather Holm

Lifestyle

Farmhouse Weekends: Menus for Relaxing Country Meals All Year Long

Winner

Author: Melissa Bahen
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Editor: Michelle Branson
Illustrator: Celeste Rockwood-Jones
Designer: Michelle Farinella

¡Buen Provecho! Traditional Mexican Flavors from My Cocina to Yours

Honorable Mention

Author: Ericka Sanchez
Publisher: Familius
Editor: Ashlin Awerkamp
Proofreader: Spencer Skeen
Cover Designer: Carlos Guerrero
Interior Designer: Brooke Jorden
Typesetter: Mara Harris

Memoir

Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops

Winner

Author, Editor, & Copyeditor: Allison Hong Merrill
Publisher: She Writes Press
Cover Designer: Tabitha Lahr

Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree: Reflections on What God Sees in Us

Honorable Mention

Author: Edward Dube
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Alison Palmer
Designer: Heather Ward
Typesetter: Rachael Ward
Product Director: Lisa Roper
Product Manager: Kristen Evans

Picture Book

Dear Divine Daughter: Inspiring Stories of Bible Women

Winner

Authors: Amber Corkin & Aubri Robinson
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Interior and Cover Layout: Shawnda T. Craig
Editor: Heather Holm
Cover Art: Heather Ruttan
Interior Art: Brooke Bowen, Brooklynne Noe, Ellie Osborne, Emily Shay Tueller, Heather Ruttan, Justine Peterson, Samantha Long, and Sarah Hawkes

The Side-by-Side Declaration of Independence

Honorable Mention

Author, Editor, and Illustrator: David Miles
Publisher: Bushel & Peck Books

Religious Topic

Let’s Talk About Polygamy

Winner

Author: Brittany Chapman Nash
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Alison Palmer
Designers: Richard Erickson & Emily Remington
Typesetter: Rachael Ward
Product Director: Lisa Roper
Product Manager: Kristen Evans

When You Let God Prevail, His Promises Are Sure

Honorable Mention

Author: Ganel-Lyn Condie
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Editor: Samantha Millburn
Copyeditor: Aimee Robbins
Typesetter: Stacey Turner
Proofreader: Suzanne Uchytil
Graphic Designer: Christina Marcano
Sound Engineer: Blair Leishman
Publicist: Amy Parker

Resource / Self-Help

A Walk in My Shoes: Questions I’m Often Asked as a Gay Latter-day Saint

Winner

Author: Ben Schilaty
Publisher: Deseret Book
Product Director: Celia Barnes
Product Manager: Kristen Evans
Editor: Tracy Keck
Designer: Heather Ward
Typesetter: Breanna Anderl

The Freelance Editor’s Handbook: A Complete Guide to Making Your Business Thrive

Honorable Mention

Author: Suzy Bills
Publisher: University of California Press
Consultant: Aaron Ostler

Praiseworthy Awards—Multimedia Finalists


Audio Recording

The Spirit of Revelation (Audiobook)

Winner

Author: David A. Bednar
Narrators: David A. Bednar & Susan Bednar
Publisher: Deseret Book
Editor: Derk Koldewyn
Designers: Emily Remington & Richard Erickson
Typesetter: Rachael Ward
Product Manager: Kristen Evans 
Recorded by Trent Walker  
Producers: Lisa Roper and Trent Walker  
Post-Production and Editing: Kenny Hodges  
Executive Producer: Lisa Roper  

Come Follow Me: Real Talk – Steven C. Harper (Podcast Episode)

Honorable Mention | Listen to the episode

Guest: Steven Harper
Hosts: Ganel-Lyn Condie and Scott Sorensen
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Executive Producer: Amy Parker
Photographer & Social Media Manager: Lauryn Parker
Editor: Karri Sweeten
Camera & Post Production: Dan Lichtenstein
Producer: Ron Brough
Production Support: Phil Reschke
Audio Engineer: Blair Leishman

Short-Form Video

Witnesses: Official Trailer

Winner | Watch video

Director and Editor: Mark Goodman
Producer: Russell Richins
Executive Producers: Daniel and Deborah Peterson
Distribution: Purdie Distribution
Created by Redbrick Filmworks & The Interpreter Foundation

Elder Edward Dube: Stepping Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree

Honorable Mention | Watch video

Director and Editor: Dennis Agle
Narrator: Elder Edward Dube
Videographer: Abraham Robledo
Illustrator: Joseph Banda of Malawi

Music Video: Religious Cover/Arrangement

Amazing Grace

Winner | Watch music video

Vocalists: Mat Shah, Savanna Shah, Mark Vaki, Aitana Alapa, and others
Arranger: Stephen Nelson
Video Director: Chase Walker
Videographer: Rod Santiano
Hair and Makeup: Eliza Tingey and Lindsey McSwain

Text: John Newton (1725–1807)
Melody: E. O. Excell (1851–1921)

This Is My Wish

Honorable Mention | Watch music video

Vocalists: Rise Up Children’s Choir & BYU Vocal Point
Arranger: Scott Shattuck
Producers: Amy Oakeson & McKay Crockett
Director: Amy Oakeson
Director of Photography: Josh Sales
2nd Camera Operator: Brayden Fielding
Production Assistant: Courtney Sales
Wardrobe Stylist: Elizabeth Evans
Hair and Makeup: Jenny Reynolds
Set Design: Amy Oakeson and Elizabeth Evans
Set Decorators and Lighting Design: Various
Mixing and Mastering by Scott Shattuck
Drums: Alex Brown
Artistic Director: McKay Crockett
Executive Producer: Ben Fales
Vocal Point Stage Manager: Britt Gray

Produced by Rise Up Productions, LLC, and BYU Vocal Point

Original song written by Tim Lauer & Angela Peters Lauer

Music Video: Secular Cover/Arrangement

Born to Be Brave

Winner | Watch music video

Arranger and Producer: Scott Shattuck
Producers: Suzy Oliveira and Amy Oakeson
Director: Suzy Oliveira
Cinematography and Editing: Josh Sales
Choreography and Blocking: Alex Stringham
Gaffer: Kevin Woodward
Wardrobe: Elizabeth Evans
Makeup: Jenny Reynolds

Featuring the Rise Up Children’s Choir
Produced by Rise Up Productions, LLC

Original song composed by Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell

Tiny Voice

Honorable Mention | Watch music video

Vocalist: Audrey Edwards
Composer: Lexi Walker
Arranger and Producer: Scott Shattuck Media
Video Production: Josh Sales Films

Note: “Waving Through a Window” was originally listed as a finalist work in this category but was removed because it was produced by the same group as “Born to Be Brave.”

Music Video: Childrens/Youth Religious Original

Living Water

Winner | Watch music video

Composers: Hinge Point sisters
Music by Hinge Point and Daniel Blomberg
Producers: Daniel Blomberg and Dave Zimmerman
Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Dave Zimmerman
Drums: Dave Zimmerman
Guitar: Mike Fjerstad
Keyboard: Daniel Blomberg
Video: Josh Sales Films

The Priesthood of God

Honorable Mention | Watch music video

Words and Music: Alaina Larsen & Cris Conerty
Piano Arrangement: Cris Conerty
Orchestral Arrangement: Daniel Blomberg
Sound Engineering: Dave Zimmerman
Vocals: Audrey Edwards, Alex Elggren, Eli Reynolds, Ella Brammer, Oliva Marshall, Miles Jeppson, Blake Walker, Savannah Lawrence, Mari Sakaguchi, Rachel Hellewell, Jace Kerns, and Christian Larsen

Video Producer/Director/Editor: Alaina Larsen
Cinematographer: Nick Sales

Music Video: Holiday Religious Original

Come, Oh Ye Christians

Winner | Watch music video

Words & Music: Alaina Larsen & Cris Conerty
Orchestration, Mixing & Mastering: Jarom Hansen
Vocal Recording Sound Engineering: Parker Robinson
Vocal Soloists: Sara Warr, Keili Palepoi, Abraham Thomas, and Jordan Hale
Other Vocalists: Allie Gardner Pollicky, David Allen, Kirsten Quist, and Bryan Woods

Video Producer/Editor: Alaina Larsen
Cinematographer (vocalists, nativities): Josh Sales

When We Seek Him

Honorable Mention | Watch music video

Composers and Producers: Shawna Edwards and Angie Killian
Vocalists: Janey Killian, Alex Elggren, Sierra Johnson, Nat Paxman, & Audrey Edwards
Choir: Friends and family of Angie Killian
Arranger: Daniel Blomberg
Videography: Josh Sales Films

Music Video: Adult Religious Original

Before the Calm

Winner | Watch music video

Performed by the Truman Brothers
Written by Ben Truman
Produced by Nate Pyfer
Mixed and mastered by Scott Wiley

Director: Cameron Gade
DP: Sidney Unga
Producer: Cameron Gade
AC: Chris Chrisenbery
Steadicam OP: John Williams
Gaffer: Trent Davis
Key Grip: Ambyr Bambyr
Swings: Kato Wong & Josh Koerpel
PAs: Matthew Pederson, Max Wenham, Grant Taylor, & Sam Skelton
Edit: Cameron Gade
Color: Tyler Roth @ Company 3

More Hope

Honorable Mention | Watch music video

Composer and performer: Abby Elwood
Videographer: Josh Sales
Production and mixing: Gavin McMahan
Mastering: Mitch Davis


Learn more about the Praiseworthy Awards

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