Winners in nine fiction categories to be revealed at The Christy Award Gala on November 7 at Lipscomb University’s Shamblin Theatre in Nashville
Program to feature bestselling authors Francine Rivers, Charles Martin, Carla Laureano, and Cynthia Ruchti, plus a tribute to the storytelling legacy of Madeleine L’Engle.
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the 28 finalists in nine categories for the 19th annual Christy Award, which celebrates excellence in the art of Christian Fiction and to honor the power of faith in story.
As noted by ECPA President & CEO Stan Jantz:
These finalists use the power of story well to tackle the serious issues of today, the frailties in the human heart, and the gritty histories of our past and imagined future. From terrorism, mental illness, addiction, racism, and human trafficking to WW2, the Middle East, paranormal activity, and a fairy tale–these writers have woven in their faith, imagination, and the fine art of storytelling into 28 fantastic novels!
The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House) was named a finalist in both the First Novel category and in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller.
The Nominees for the best novels of the year in nine categories are:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck
Bethany Turner
Revell
Troubled Waters
Susan May Warren
Revell
True to You
Becky Wade
Bethany House
FIRST NOVEL (tie)
Freedom’s Ring
Heidi Chiavaroli
Tyndale House Publishers
The House on Foster Hill
Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House
Missing Isaac
Valerie Fraser Luesse
Revell
Turtles in the Road
Kaley Rhea and Rhonda Rhea
Bold Vision Books
GENERAL FICTION
A Time to Stand
Robert Whitlow
Thomas Nelson
Life After
Katie Ganshert
WaterBrook
The Space Between Words
Michele Phoenix
Thomas Nelson
HISTORICAL
Catching the Wind
Melanie Dobson
Tyndale House
Isaiah’s Daughter
Mesu Andrews
WaterBrook
Many Sparrows
Lori Benton
WaterBrook
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A Dangerous Legacy
Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House
The Lacemaker
Laura Frantz
Revell
To Wager Her Heart
Tamera Alexander
Zondervan
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Coldwater
Samuel Parker
Revell
The House on Foster Hill
Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House
Rule of Law
Randy Singer
Tyndale House
SHORT FORM
Guilt by Association
Heather Day Gilbert
Woodhaven Press
Her Secret Daughter
Ruth Logan Herne
Harlequin Love Inspired
12 Days at Bleakly Manor
Michelle Griep
Barbour Publishing
VISIONARY
Awakened
Morgan Busse
Enclave
The Day the Angels Fell
Shawn Smucker
Revell
The Man He Never Was
James Rubart
Thomas Nelson
YOUNG ADULT
The Delusion
Laura Gallier
Tyndale House
Last Summer at Eden
Christina Hergenrader
Concordia Publishing House
Unraveling
Sara Ella
Thomas Nelson
Winners will be announced at The Christy Award Gala, 7 pm November 7 in Nashville, Tennessee. The semi-formal dinner event will be hosted by bestselling Christian authors Francine Rivers, Charles Martin, Carla Laureano, and Cynthia Ruchti. The program will include a special tribute to the imaginative storytelling legacy of Madeleine L’Engle on what would be her 100th birthday, presented by her biographer Sarah Arthur (A Light So Lovely).
Tickets are on sale now for the Gala and the preceding Art of Writing Conference.
For the second year, ECPA will also host The Art of Writing Conference, held the afternoon of the Gala – from 1 to 5:30 pm – and featuring four intensive seminars for writers and publishers. Tickets for the Art of Writing conference and The Christy Award Gala are available for a special bundle price of only $99. Individual event tickets are $69. Register at ChristyAwards.com.
Both events follow the industry’s publisher program, ECPA PubU. PubU attendees receive a special rate to The Christy Award afternoon and evening events via their PubU registration form.
For more information about the program, visit ChristyAwards.com.
About The Christy Award™
The Christy Award is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999, and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel, “Christy,” which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing.
About ECPA
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content.