CAROL STREAM, Ill. (December 19, 2022)—Tyndale fiction is pleased to announce that Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Shocklee is the Christianity Today 2023 Book Award winner in the fiction category. According to its website, Christianity Today selects “the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.”
Count the Nights by Stars is Michelle Shocklee’s second novel with Tyndale, following on the heels of Under the Tulip Tree. This historical time-slip novel explores how two women, connected across decades by an old scrapbook, uncover the truth behind an unsettling tragedy that took place at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897.
In response to this honor, Jan Stob, acquisitions director, shared, “We are so proud to partner with Michelle Shocklee in publishing her award-winning novel, Count the Nights by Stars. We knew she could strike a chord with readers by the strong response to her first novel with us, Under the Tulip Tree. Her stories are always well-researched and bring fresh light to issues that are both heartbreaking and current. I couldn’t be more pleased!”
Shocklee’s books tell stories set in Nashville, Tennessee. Count the Nights by Stars features events around the state’s 1897 centennial celebration with a second story line in 1961 during the growing Civil Rights Movement, as well as the waning years of the historic Maxwell House Hotel and its fascinating and tragic history. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly said, “Shocklee masterfully weaves mystery and romance in this spellbinding study of the horrors of xenophobia and the bravery of those who stand up to it. This is a timely and expertly crafted tale.”
A complete list of award winners can be found on Christianity Today’s website: https://www.christianitytoday.
Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.
