rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

ECPA to host the Art of Writing Conference and The Christy Award™ Christian Fiction Gala at Lipscomb University in Nashville

Conference and Awards program will celebrate the importance of faith in storytelling for creatives, writers, authors, and publishing curators

The Christy AwardTempe, AZ – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is proud to announce the annual gala for the CHRISTY AWARD™, taking place on November 8 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. As a day to celebrate the best in the art of Christian Fiction and honor the power of story, event organizers have also launched THE ART OF WRITING CONFERENCE to coincide with the Awards. Registration and information for both events can be found here.

The conference and awards program will attract aspiring and published writers, creatives and storytellers, along with publishing professionals. Writers will find encouragement, information and inspiration while Christian fiction fans and publishers will celebrate the best faith-affirming stories of the year and find new ways to elevate the genre.

The Art of Writing Conference, held on November 8 from 1-5 pm, will be a half-day event dedicated to writers, storytellers and publishing curators. Designed to bring together creators and curators, the conference will feature intensive seminars that celebrate the creative life, and provide practical tips for the challenges in this rapidly changing industry. Speakers and Panelists excel in a variety of roles and will be discussing issues including diversity in storytelling, handling discouragement, and various perspectives on living a creative life. Speakers include Andrew Peterson (musician, author and founder of The Rabbit Room), Theon Hill Ph.D.(Wheaton College), Carrie Schmidt (blogger), Cynthia Ruchti (author and agent), Beth Adams (Howard Books), Karen Watson (Tyndale House), Dan Balow (Gilead Publishing), Amy Green (Bethany House) and Chris Fabry (author and radio personality).

“Storytellers of faith and their stories have historical significance as an essential way to touch the human heart and contribute goodness, truth, and beauty to art and culture,” said Stan Jantz, ECPA’s Executive Director. “Through The Christy Award™ we are excited to recognize and support the publishers and the authors who write quality fiction.”

The Christy Award™ Gala will also take place on November 8, exactly 50 years after the novel Christy debuted on the New York Times Best Seller List for Fiction in 1967. The dinner event will be hosted by Best-Selling Christian Authors Karen Kingsbury, Andrew Peterson, and Chris Fabry and announce the winners of the 2017 Christy Awards in nine categories: General, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Visionary, First Novel, Young Adult and Short Form.

The Gala will also celebrate the 50th anniversary and re-release by Gilead Publishers of the groundbreaking novel Christy by Catherine Marshall and the awards’ namesake. Set in 1912, the novel shares the story of a young woman who leaves home to teach school in an impoverished community in the Smokey Mountains. Selling over 10 million copies, Christy opened doors for the genre, showcasing a need in the fiction market for stories of faith.

The Christy Award™ was established in 1999 to acknowledge the value and impact of faith-inspired storytelling in contemporary culture. Since the demand for great stories of faith have been exceptionally on the rise over the past few years, both the quality and quantity of offerings released in 2017 have exceeded expectations.  As film producers in Hollywood continue to actively pursue good stories with strong faith undertones, Christian Fiction projects will only continue to grow in exposure.

On Wednesday, November 8, The Art of Writing Conference will be held from 1-5pm. The Christy Awards Gala will be held at 7:00 pm at Lipscomb University, located at 1 University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204.  Both events are offered at a special bundle price of $99.  For more information and tickets, please see http://www.christyawards.com.

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. ECPA.org

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. ChristyAwards.com

Media contacts:
Lori Heiselman FrontGate Media, lori@frontgatemedia.com, 714-553-5181
Stan Jantz, ECPA Executive Director, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 WHEN GOD SPEAKS
JOSHUA GILES
2 SEEING THE SUPERNATURAL
LEE STROBEL
3 EXPERIENCE JESUS. REALLY.
JOHN ELDREDGE
4 THE TRUST JOURNEY
LYSA TERKEURST
5 AMBUSH
COBLE, COLLEEN
6 A MILLION TINY MOMENTS
EMILY A. JENSEN AND LAURA WIFLER
7 THE MARRIAGE YOU WANT
SHEILA WRAY GREGOIRE AND KEITH GREGOIRE
8 TOUGH TOPICS
KELLY K
9 LIFT YOUR EYES
WHITNEY NEWBY
10 MAKE SENSE OF YOUR STORY
ADAM YOUNG
View All
1 SILENT HORIZONS
CHAD ROBICHAUX
2 EVERY HOUR UNTIL THEN
GABRIELLE MEYER
3 THE HIDDEN PRINCE
TESSA AFSHAR
4 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
5 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
6 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
7 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
9 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
10 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
View All
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
5 WHEREVER YOU GO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW...
MELISSA B. KRUGER
6 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
7 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
8 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
9 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
10 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
3 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
4 THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE SELECTED THOUGHTS AND SCRIPTURES FOR THE GRADUATE
RICK WARREN
5 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
6 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
7 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
8 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All
1 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
2 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
6 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
7 MINI DEVOTIONS GRACE FOR TODAY
SOLLY OZROVECH
8 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
9 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
10 HEAVEN
RANDY ALCORN
View All
1 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
3 ESV STUDY BIBLE
PACKER, J. I.
4 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
MYERS, RAECHEL
5 KJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
6 ESV STUDENT STUDY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
7 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
8 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV ECONOMY LARGE PRINT BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NLT LARGE PRINT ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE, OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
9 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
10 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New Revised Standard Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 EL PODER DE LA MADRE QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
8 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
9 DE MENOS A MAS
RASHEL DIAZ
10 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, ROSA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
5 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, TURQUESA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
6 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 UN HOMBRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
JIM GEORGE
8 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
9 ESTUDIO BIBLICO DE 5 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
10 ESCOGE EL GOZO
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA webinar: Communicating Appreciation in the Workplace
August 8 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

Key Account Sales Coordinator
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Accounting Assistant
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Book Marketing Manager
Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL | Hybrid
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA