The Parable Group, its retail partners and WestBow Press—the strategic self-publishing division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, the world’s largest Christian publisher—have announced that they are accepting submissions for their Second Annual Aspiring Authors Writing Contest.

Top 10 finalists will be announced Sunday, June 21, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, before the International Christian Retail Show.

“Now more than ever the world is in need of positive, inspirational Christian messages that help people deal with the challenges of our time,” said Steve Potratz, president of The Parable Group. “I believe books can be used by the Holy Spirit to transform hearts one person at a time, one message at a time. This is why I’m intrigued by the growing movement of undiscovered authors eager to help other people through their books. We’re honored to help those fresh voices get heard.”

The grand prize-winning book of the Second Annual Aspiring Authors Writing Contest will be self-published with WestBow Press and reviewed for possible traditional publication by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. Additionally, upon publication the grand-prize winner will receive a free marketing package from The Parable Group to promote the prize-winning book in catalogs and in bookstores across the nation.

In 2014, debut author Richard Newberry won the inaugural Aspiring Authors Writing Contest with his young adult Christian novel Light at the Rat Pond, an inspiring story set in 1970s Illinois. His book is available in Parable stores nationwide and on parable.com.

“We’re excited to partner with The Parable Group to give aspiring authors the opportunity to rise above the crowd and get noticed,” said Pete Nikolai, Publisher of WestBow Press and Director of Publishing Services for HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

The 2015 Aspiring Authors Writing Contest is open to authors who are at least 18 and have written an unpublished manuscript that is at least 10,000 words in length. Most genres are eligible, excluding children’s and picture books. All submissions must be received by May 31, 2015.

For more information, including the complete list of prizes, rules and regulations, and an explanation of editorial standards, please visit:  westbowpress.com/parable.

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