Local Author Wins Carol Award, Sugarcreek Celebrates Literary Recognition

Serena B. Miller's novel The Heart of Sugarcreek earned the 2025 Carol Award for Romance from American Christian Fiction Writers, an accolade announced at the ACFW annual conference. The book is a holiday romance set in and inspired by the Sugarcreek area, and the award marks a national recognition that connects directly to local places and stories familiar to Holmes County residents.

The Heart of Sugarcreek follows two couples who find second chances during a winter storm, a premise rooted in the rhythms and landmarks of the region. Miller is a USA Today bestselling author and a previous Carol Award recipient, winning in 2013. Her continued recognition underscores a sustained engagement with themes and settings that reflect the culture of Sugarcreek and surrounding communities.

The award has immediate cultural resonance here. For readers and local businesses it affirms the value of place based storytelling and may encourage more visits to sites that inspired the novel. Libraries, bookstores and community groups often see renewed interest after national recognition of local stories, and organizers in Holmes County could find opportunities for author events, book group discussions and heritage oriented activities that highlight both literature and local history.

Beyond cultural celebration, the win has public health and community wellbeing implications. Access to local stories and communal reading events enhances social connection and mental health, especially during winter months when isolation can increase. Supporting public programming around a recognized local author can strengthen community cohesion and provide equitable opportunities for residents to engage with arts and culture. Local leaders and funders who invest in library services and literacy programs can amplify these benefits, directing resources to ensure that residents of all ages and incomes can participate.

Miller also has a new mystery series set in the same region, with a new installment released Nov. 7. That continuity between genres keeps Holmes County in conversation among readers and publishers, potentially sustaining a longer term boost to local literary tourism. For a rural county that values heritage and story, repeated visibility in national literary circles can translate into modest economic gains for small businesses and cultural institutions.

While the Carol Award recognizes excellence in Christian fiction, the broader effect is civic. The attention invites reflection on how Holmes County supports the arts, how public spaces and libraries serve as health promoting venues, and how cultural recognition can be distributed equitably across the community. For residents who know the landscapes Miller writes about, the award is not just a personal achievement for an author, it is a community moment that affirms the county as a place worthy of national storytelling.