The Carol Awards are ACFW’s recognition for the best Christian fiction published by traditional publishing houses in the previous calendar year. Here are the 2011 finalists and winners (in bold):
DEBUT NOVEL
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers)
The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House)
Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing)
LONG CONTEMPORARY
Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House)
The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books)
Red Ink by Kathi Macias (New Hope Publishers)
LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)
Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge (Harvest House)
Anna’s Return by Marta Perry (Berkley)
LONG HISTORICAL
Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press)
Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs (Waterbrook Press)
Petra: City in Stone by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing)
LONG HISTORICAL ROMANCE:
Love Finds You In Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press)
The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy (Barbour Books)
Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Revell Books)
MYSTERY
The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour Books)
Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz (Sheaf House)
Muslin Mystery by Vera Dodge (Guideposts)
NOVELLAS
A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour Books)
The Prodigal Groom by Vickie McDonough (Barbour Books)
Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips (Barbour Books)
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press)
Don’t Look Back by Lynette Eason (Revell Books)
Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale Publishers)
SHORT CONTEMPORARY
A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired)
The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Love Inspired)
Winter’s End by Ruth Logan Herne (Love Inspired)
SHORT CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE
Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense)
Legacy of Lies by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Love Inspired Suspense)
Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Love Inspired Suspense)
SHORT HISTORICAL
Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical)
Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore (Barbour Books)
The Columns of Cottonwood by Sandra Robbins (Barbour Books)
SPECULATIVE FICTION
König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)
The Wolf of Tebron by C. S. Lakin (AMG Publishers)
Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing)
SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)
Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll (B&H Publishing)
Medical Error by Richard L. Mabry (Abingdon Press)
WOMEN’S FICTION
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers)
They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti (Abingdon Press)
Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate (NAL)
YOUNG ADULT
Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell Books)
The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zonderkid)
Katy’s New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Zonderkidz)
The ACFW also announced winners in the Genesis Contest, for unpublished Christian writers:
Contemporary Fiction: Katy Pistole
Contemporary Romance: Mary Curry
Historical Fiction: Johnnie Alexander Donley
Historical Romance:
Sarah Ladd
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:
Dianna T. Benson
Romantic Suspense: Renee Ann Smith
Speculative Fiction:
Matt Jones
Women’s Fiction:
Camille Eide
Young Adult: Nicole Quigley
The American Christian Fiction Writers is an organization that promotes Christian Fiction through developing the skills of its authors, educating them in the market, and serving as an advocate in the traditional publishing industry.
ACFW has over 2000 members worldwide, consisting of authors, editors, agents, publicists and aspiring writers and was organized in 2000 under the name of American Christian Romance Writers (ACRW). In 2004, the group changed the name to American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in response to the diverse needs of its membership, who write across many genres. Find the organization online at ACFW.com