Today -- a short excerpt from each of the Non-Fiction contest finalists -- the winner, and the two honourable mentions.

But first -- a word about the judges...

Elizabeth Lyon has worked as an independent book editor and writing teacher for two decades. She enjoys the challenge and discovery that are a part of editing works, each one an original creation.
Elizabeth is the author of A Writer’s Guide to Fiction, A Writer’s Guide to Nonfiction, The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write, and National Directory of Editors & Writers. Elizabeth considers her sixth book, Manuscript Makeover, on revising fiction, as a culmination of her experience helping novelists.
The Writer, Writer’s Digest, 2008 Guide to Literary Agents, and other guides and handbooks have published her articles. For 20 years, Elizabeth has worked intensely with writers from all over the world, seeing publication of about 40 of her nonfiction book clients while some 20 novelists have found agent representation and a dozen have published. Elizabeth lives in Springfield, Oregon.