In September, I was humbled to receive the 2025 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Novels for my novel Calls in the Dark.

But awards are never won by just one person.

I would never have received it if it hadn’t been for those who supported me, and this is the speech I gave that night—plus a few additions that I left out in my total shock at winning (and trying not to bawl):

In 7th grade at the end of the year, I received a note from my English teacher that said,

“Elizabeth, please keep writing. You have the potential to become a writer if you are so inclined. If you keep up with this story, please let me read the end.”

I had written a novel every day in class during the time that she gave us, and that novel has since disappeared.

But I still have the note that Mrs. Rectanus sent me!

I actually recently reconnected with her on Facebook and got to share the story of how I’m still writing. What a sweet connection.

And she’s not the only one who has supported me.

*My husband scraped together enough money for me to go to my first writers’ conference. He’s withstood all my very late nights writing—and then wakes up to find my latest draft on the bathroom sink for him to read while he shaves.

*My kids have always believed in me. When I joked, “I’m going to write a bestseller. And it’s going to become a movie, and then a Broadway play, and then there will be little bobbleheads of the characters,” they didn’t bat an eyelash. They just said, “Okay, Mom. When’s the movie coming out?”

*My friend Laura DeNooyer, who commiserated with me when I received discouraging news.

*And Ruth Schmeckpeper, who would tell me “No, you won’t!” every time I thought about quitting.

*Cynthia Ruchti believed in me when I shared the story with her to begin with.

*Becky Melby told me, “I just want to shake you!” when I was letting other things get in the way of working on my writing.

*My ACFW-WI SE chapter who have been there to encourage me and allowed me to encourage them.

*And to ACFW—the board, the judges, and the administrators—for all the work that goes into putting on awards like this.

Exodus 17:12-14 says,

“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on one side, one on the other, so his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame [the army] with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure the others hear it.'”

All of these people have been the ones who held up my arms.

And they sat me on the stone who is Jesus, pointing me to Him when I wanted to give up.

So thank you all. Thank you for this award.