As an editor, I am tremendously encouraged when the writers whose work we publish is singled out for special recognition in other venues. That was the case when two ChristianWeek columnists were awarded first place honours in The Word Guild 2005 Canadian Christian Writing Awards, presented in Guelph, Ontario earlier this summer.
An award in the “column/editorial/first person essay” category went to former ChristianWeek associate editor and senior writer Debra Fieguth, whose work currently appears on this page every second issue. Her winning column, “Too many people have died,” highlighted the horrendous global death toll of AIDS, and challenged readers with Bob Dylan’s plaintive cry—“How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?”
Inside Story columnist N.J. Lindquist also claimed a top award for her column in ChristianWeek. The judges specifically looked at her profiles of Canadian novelist Keith Clemons and science writer Denyse O’Leary, also a ChristianWeek columnist. Lindquist, a prolific author herself, is an inveterate promoter of publishing by Canadian writers who are Christian.
She and sometime ChristianWeek contributor Wendy Nelles are the driving force and guiding lights behind The Word Guild (www.thewordguild.com) “an association of Canadian writers and editors who are Christian, and who are committed to encouraging one another and fostering standards of excellence in the art, craft, business and ministry of writing.” They are doing good work.
ChristianWeek is pleased to be associated with columnists of this calibre and to provide a setting for writing that is worthy of wider recognition. Congratulations Debra and Nancy. Well done.
One of the first things I did upon my return to the office after six months away was to sit down with each of our staff members to re-establish our relationship and hear them express their own hopes and passions about work, home or any element of life they chose to discuss. It was a very gratifying exercise, but it did have a downside.
That was when our editorial assistant and part time administrator, Naomi Biesheuvel, informed that she’d been offered another position—a job that would not only take her away from our employ, but would land her far away at a desk on the other side of the world in Taiwan.
A few days later she accepted a two-year position as a magazine editor for Overseas Radio and Television Inc. (www.ortv.com), a ministry that produces radio and television programs, as well as three magazines, to help Chinese-speaking people learn English. She will begin by working on the Advanced magazine, but will also be doing some teaching via radio.
We will miss her talent and presence with us, but are well aware that this is a splendid opportunity for Naomi. We are delighted that she can serve in this way, and pleased that our office has provide some helpful training for this next step in her career. God bless you.
