American Christian Fiction Writers Lifetime Achievement Award Winner is Robin Jones Gunn
American Christian Fiction Writers is pleased to announce the 2025 award winners. The awards were presented Saturday, September 6 at the annual ACFW Gala, which was held in Springfield, Missouri during ACFW’s annual conference. American Christian Fiction Writers is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction and helping writers expand their knowledge of the publishing industry. More information can be found at ACFW.com.
The winners are as follows:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Robin Jones Gunn
- Mentor of the Year – Misty Beller
- Agent of the Year – Rachel Kent (Books & Such Literary Agency)
- Editor of the Year – Michelle Levigne (Michelle Levigne Editing and Mt. Zion Press)
- Volunteer of the Year – Pat Takamiya
- Martha Rogers Member Service Award – Paula Peckham
2025 Genesis Awards
- Contemporary – Elizabeth Daghfal for Calls in the Dark
- Historical – Hannah Benson for Beyond the Red Curtain
- Historical Romance – Donna Yarborough for Grace Like Rain
- Mystery/Suspense/Thriller – Renda Knapp for What She Knows
- Novella – Tiffany Burgess for The Lilith Assignment: A Sifting
- Romance – Ruth Schmeckpeper for Restoration
- Romantic Suspense – Breana Johnson for Golden Bluff Ghost Town
- Short Novel – Tracy Del Campo for The Road to Hope
- Speculative – Elise Haroldson for Treeple
- Young Adult – Sharon Jeong Ide for Pear Blossom Academy
2025 Carol Awards
Contemporary
When the Wildflowers Bloom Again by Donna Jo Stone
Independent Author
Editor – Anne Victory
Historical
Where Trees Touch the Sky by Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications
Editor – Janyre Tromp
Historical Romance
The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder
Barbour Publishing
Editor – Becky Fish
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Fatal Domain by Steven James
Tyndale House
Editors – Sarah Rische and Karen Watson
Novella
Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
Editors – Kelsey Bowen and Jessica English
Romance
The Heart of Sugarcreek by Serena B. Miller
Independent Author
Editor – Brenda Kallner
Romantic Suspense
Double Take by Lynette Eason
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
Editors – Barb Barnes and Andrea Doering
Short Novel
Waiting for Gilbert by Tasha Hackett
Independent Author
Editors – Crystal Nielson and Megan Schaulis
Speculative
Drawn by Light by John W. Otte
Independent Author
Editor – Megan Gerig
Young Adult
Mortal Queens by Victoria McCombs
Enclave Publishing (Oasis Family Media)
Editor – Sara Ella and Lisa Laube
Debut Author
Protector by Megan Schaulis
White Crown Publishing
Editors – Janelle Leonard and Marisa Stokley
American Christian Fiction Writers also announced that best-selling, multi-published author and speaker Robin Jones Gunn was presented with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
“The lifetime part of this “lifetime achievement” award should go to my husband. He pushed me out the door to my first writers conference and hasn’t stopped cheering me on and challenging me every step of the way for almost 5 decades. The “achievement” part I share with my agent and editor, Janet Grant whose careful touches to every book has made them better. Acts 20:24 still rings true as I continue to write the stories God puts on my heart. “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others, the Good News about the wonderful grace of God”. Says Gunn.
Robin Jones Gunn is the bestselling author of over 100 books with several award-winning fiction series including the timeless Christy Miller, Glenbrooke and Sisterchicks* novels. Her newest series is the bestselling Suitcase Sisters collection. Robin’s popular nonfiction includes her memoir, Victim of Grace along with Praying for your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. She also has ten giftbooks and devotionals published along with fourteen children’s books and fifty articles. Sales of her diverse collection of books top 6.5 million copies. In addition, four Hallmark Christmas movies were created from her novels. Many of Robin’s books have appeared multiple times on the ECPA bestseller list and have been both finalists and a winner of the Christy and Gold Medallion awards. She was honored to receive the Readers Choice Award twice from FHL of Romance Writers of America. More information can be found at www.robingunn.com
Media Contact: Jeane Burgess – Tall Oak Media, 918-630-9695 – jeane@mytalloak.com
