The most recent Stories of Life anthology, The Gecko Renewal, brims with stories of how our amazing God impacts ordinary lives. The tales within encourage, inspire and uplift. The anthology can be ordered now from Morning Star Publishing.
Thanks to Lyndal Gibson of Lyndal Gibson Photography for taking these fantastic photos of the event.
If you would like prints of any of these photos pleas contact Lyndal directly.
THE GECKO RENEWAL is on sale now!
The Gecko Renewal can now be purchased from MORNING STAR PUBLISHING. Head on over and order your copy now!
(Contributors check your email regarding ordering books)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF STORIES OF LIFE 2017!
Tabor Stories of Life (1000 to 1500 words)
First prize
Yvonne Smuts
Runners Up
Margot Ogilvie
Lisa Birch
Tracey Price
Janice MacMhuirich
Eternity Matters Short Stories of Life (up to 500 words)
First prize
Ester deBoer
Runners Up
Beth Robertson
Suzanne Piovesan
Sarah Turland
Robynne Milne
Lutheran Schools Association Young Stories of Life (500-1000 words, for writers aged 17 and under
First Prize
Hannah Elliot
Runners Up
Jirah Baker
Rebecca Harrison
Jaden Melbom
Bethany Willersdorf
Photos from the launch to follow soon!
Purchase?
Want to buy a copy of The Gecko Renewal?
Head on over to Morning Star Publishing and buy your copy!
INTERVIEW WITH MEREDITH RESCE THIS MORNING ON 107.9LIFE
THE GECKO RENEWAL is launching tonight, 16TH NOVEMBER, and Pete Court from 107.9Life interviewed Meredith Resce – Stories of Life judge and president of Omega Writers – on breakfast radio this morning.
LISTEN here to Meredith and Pete.
DOWNLOAD an invitation to the launch.
PURCHASE a copy of The Gecko Renewal!
You can buy a copy at the launch or order directly from Morning Star Publishing.
SPECIAL SPONSORS FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE GECKO RENEWAL
The launch is here and you can STILL COME. Thursday 16th November.
If you live in Adelaide please join us at Tabor College, 181 Goodwood Rd, Millswood. 6,30pm for a 7pm start. Download a flyer here!
Stories of Life would like to thank the special sponsors of the evening who are providing delicious food and entertainment so we can PARTY!
Sweet Truth Food For Life
A home-based catering service by Verina
Health food – “live longer live stronger”
Ph 0400868946
Rob Mayne and Ali Clark
Christian folk musicians
(to engage for events please phone Ali on 0410 645 698)
Stories of Life is proud to announce the short list in each category of the 2017 competition. Well done to all!
Follow this link to see the short list of the top five authors in each category!
AND please join us if you can for the launch of The Gecko Renewal at Tabor on November 16.
The Gecko Renewal invitation 2017
Purchase?
Want to buy copies of The Gecko Renewal in time for Christmas? Copies will be on sale from November 16 at the launch ($20 each) or you can purchase them directly from Morning Star Publishing.
JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE GECKO RENEWAL!
Last year we had an awesome time at the launch of the inaugural Stories of Life anthology, A Chicken Can Make a Difference, and now there’s just one month to go to the launch of our this year’s anthology, The Gecko Renewal.
The competition WINNERS will be announced on the night!
The launch will be held at Tabor College, Millswood. (Thursday 16th November, 2017. 6.30 for 7pm)). And you can buy copies of the book for $20 on the night (hint they make great christmas presents).
This anthology is full of AMAZING stories of life and faith.
Come along and bring your friends!
Click here for a printable version of the flyer.
ANNOUNCING…
The anthology cover is here!!!
And you are invited to the LAUNCH.
The Gecko Renewal will be launched at Tabor College on Thursday 16th November, 2017. Copies of the anthology will be on sale. Hint – they make awesome Christmas gifts!
More details to follow…
Proudly brought to you by our sponsors…
CONGRATULATIONS!
STORIES OF LIFE would like to congratulate all those who who entered the 2017 competition. WELL DONE to all! The judges have deliberated and the editors have collaborated and we now have the LONG LIST. Each of these stories have been chosen for publication in the our 2017 anthology: The Gecko Renewal. THE FINAL WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM AMONG THESE ENTRIES.
Stay tuned for the SHORT LIST which will be announced early in November. The winners of each category will be revealed during the launch of The Gecko Renewal, at Tabor College on Thursday, 16th November, 2017. All are welcome and copies of the anthology will be available for purchase!
LONG LIST
A Busload of Blessing by Elizabeth Robertson
Amazing Grace by Liisa Grace-Baun
Amazing Gracie by Jeanette Grant-Thompson
A Moving Experience by Jo-Anne Berthelson
An Unlikely Rescuer by Amy Ireland
Black Mamba by Sarah Turland
Dance with Me by Cassie Grace
Do Unto Others by Vickie Walker
Dream Team by Lisa Birch
East or West by Julianne Nguyen
Encountered by Yvonne Smuts
Expecting the Unexpected by Craig Chapman
Foolish by Catch Tilly
Freedom Calls byStephanie Smith
From Santa to Salvation by Carol Brewer
Giant Swing by Juni Desireé Hoel
God Believed in our Dream by Claire Bell
Grace on the Trail by Craig Chapman
Granny by Ruth Macaulay
Happiness is a New Handbag! by Gaynor Faulkner
Hugs that Hurt by Janine Altman
I Came Back from Death by Jayden Thompson
Identification by Janice Williams
I Don’t Want To Move! by Cindy Williams
If You Didn’t Laugh by Glenda Austin
I will stay by Janice MacMhuirich
Jericho in the Sun by Deborah Bennetts
Lost and Found by Claire-Louise Watson
Mechanic Intervention by Lisa Birch
My God in the Gaps by Robynne Milne
Never Too Late by Hannah Elliot
Not Alone by Glenda Austin
No Tigers in Sight by Trevor Hampel
On the Clifftop by Margaret Ogilvie
Renu by Nicola McGunnigle
Sally, Angel in Disguise by June Hopkins
Saving Autumn by D.J. Blackmore
Something Stronger Than Gravity by Jirah Baker
The Best Father Ever by Bethany Willersdorf
The Calf, the Cannibal, and Resurrection by Grant Lock
The Gecko Renewal by June Hopkins
The Steak that Gripped Me by Rebecca Hill
The Twilight Zone by Suzanne Piovesan
Triumph Over Fear by Rebekka Harrison
What a Journey by Julie Willersdorf
When Andy Met God by Ester deBoer
When Healing Doesn’t Come by Anusha Atukorala
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Stories judged suitable for the anthology but not eligible for a prize in 2017:
It Could Have Been Much Worse by Kathy Worthing
Three Miracles by Hazel Barker
THE ANTHOLOGY IS COMING!
The Stories of Life 2017 anthology will be called The Gecko Renewal and will be released on Thursday,16th November at Tabor College, Millswood. More information to follow!
Now listen to more stories …
To celebrate the anthology, we are releasing more audio-stories from the 2016 anthology. Listen. Be inspired. And get ready for the LAUNCH! http://storiesoflife.net/home/listen-stories-life/
MEREDITH RESCE ON 1079LIFE
Meredith Resce, our wonderful judge of the Open (1500 word) section, was interviewed on the 1079Life, Kit and Pete show, during the week. Meredith has written 18 books and talks with Pete about her writing, the Stories of Life judging, and the Omega Writiers conference (to be held in Sydney from the 27-29 of October). Follow this link for more details on the conference and check out the recording of Meredith’s interview below.
THE JUDGES ARE WORKING HARD
Stories of Life 2017 entries are judged in two stages. Stage one, where the stories are sorted and the top twenty are chosen in each category, has been COMPLETED. Now the judges are at work choosing the WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY from the many quality entries we received. They have a difficult but exciting job!
The anthology editors are also working through the stories to choose the best ones for the anthology. If you are shortlisted for a prize or chosen for the anthology you will be notified by email. Then all systems will be GO as the anthology entries are edited and a title is chosen for the book. The launch will take place mid November at a date to be advised so watch this space for more details.
It’s going to be awesome!
Stories of Life 2017 is now CLOSED. Well done to all who entered!
Congratulations to all who entered Stories of Life, 2017. Now the judges have the hard work of choosing the prize winners. But you know – if you entered you are already a winner 
. You’ve put YOUR story into words and given it the chance to touch lives. How awesome is that? We think God would be more than chuffed at your hard work in his name!
Coming soon …
Watch this space for more news about the judging and the 2017 anthology.
INTERVIEW WITH DM CORNISH
Author DM Cornish of ‘Monster Blood Tattoo’ trilogy fame was recently interviewed on the 1079Life Kit-and-Pete-Show. David talked about his writing and his work as an illustrator – and about his new job as a Stories of Life judge 😀😀😀. If you missed the interview you can listen here:
DM CORNISH ON 1079LIFE – PART 1
DM CORNISH 0N 1079LIFE – PART 2
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The Tabor College Stories of Life Seminar is NOW ON VIDEO!
Want some tips about how to write a life story? Are you wondering if the story you have written is what we’re looking for?
Then follow this link and check out this series of videos!
Want more input on writing stories of faith and life? Checkout this page of writing helps on the Tabor College website.
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A thought for the day…
Listen to Stories of Life!
During January, 2017, twenty stories from the anthology “A Chicken Can Make a Difference” were played on air on 107.9Life. You can still listen to these stories on 107.9 Life at 6.30pm every Sunday evening
Each week we will be publishing the recording of one (or two) of these stories here, on the Stories of Life website. This week we have TEN stories from the anthology available on audio. So have a listen and be inspired by what past authors have written.
Don’t forget to be thinking about your entries for Stories of Life 2017. The competition is open until midnight July 31!
Be inspired by the winning entries from Stories of Life 2016.
Want to enter Stories of Life 2017 but you’re not sure what what to write? Fear not! Help is at hand. Here are the winning entries from the 2016 Stories of Life Competition to inspire you.
Happy Easter from Stories of Life!
Do you have a resurrection story?
Entries for the 2017 Stories of Life competition are now open.
The purpose of the competition
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Radio Launch
This morning Sue Jeffrey launched the competition on 107.9 Life on the Kit and Pete breakfast program. Kit was unwell so couldn’t be there (I’m sure she was present in spirit) but Sue and Pete had a blast talking about the competition which went live on April 1st.
Wherever our extraordinary God meets ordinary people there’s a story to tell – and so we’d love to read yours.
We’re looking for creative, engaging, ‘real’ stories that tell of how God touches lives. You can tell your story or the story of another person – the key is to write from your heart.
You could win a prize, have your story chosen for an anthology or even be broadcast on radio or appear in the newspaper. Even if that doesn’t happen, the process of thinking through your story and finding words to tell it will help you share your story with your friends and family.
Story is powerful. Stories get under our skin and make us think. So don’t be shy – have a go.
It will be AWESOME!
Check out these key links:
The Purpose of the Competition
The Stories of Life Anthology is here!
Looking for a great read?
Interested in a book where people share true and amazing stories about how God has touched their lives?
Do you want to know what ‘chickens’ and ‘underpants gnomes’ have to do with faith?
Yes?
Then you are in luck as the Stories of Life anthology: A Chicken Can Make a Difference is now available to purchase online from Koorong books.
This anthology is an excellent gift for – let’s face it – EVERYONE. It will encourage people who already hold to the Christian faith but it also can show people who haven’t made that step, the infinitely creative ways Jesus can impact the lives of ordinary people.
Don’t forget to tune in to 1079 Life FM during January to hear many of these stories read on air.
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Presenting! The names of our 9 prize-winning entries in Stories of Life 2016 (top 3 in each category) are…
Our hearty congratulations goes out to the following writers, whose stories especially caught the judges’ attention this time around. The announcement of 1st 2nd and 3rd place etc will take place at the book launch in November, but for now here are the names of the winning authors (and their story titles) in alphabetical order:
- Bethany Balacco (My God, My Father)
- Marion Estelle (Hello Gorgeous)
- Jessica Fazzari (The Story of My Life)
- Jeanette Grant-Thomson (When I Think I’m Going Under)
- Sue Jeffrey (Lucky Underwear)
- Anna Kosmanavski (Waiting)
- Levi Schubert (Reason to Fly)
- Catch Tilly (Lessons in Theology from the Underpants Gnome)
- Jade Wyatt (Fighting for Peace)