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

ACFW announces Carol Award finalists and Lifetime Achievement recipient, Liz Curtis Higgs

June 30, 2018, Palm Bay, FL — In a live video event, host Rachel Hauck, an executive board member of American Christian Fiction Writers, announced the 2018 finalists for ACFW’s 2018 Carol Awards, a premier Christian fiction recognition for books published in the previous calendar year. The Carol Award winners will be presented their honors during the gala awards dinner on September 22, 2018, in Nashville as part of ACFW’s annual conference, which will feature Debbie Macomber as keynote speaker.  https://www.acfw.com/conference/

ACFW encourages retailers, librarians, book club coordinators, and avid Christian fiction readers to start here when looking for recommended reading. ACFW 2018 Carol Award finalists are:

Contemporary

  • Maybe It’s You by Candace Calvert, Tyndale House, editors Sarah Rische and Jan Stob
  • The Long Highway Home by Elizabeth Musser, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editor LB Norton
  • A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti, Abingdon Press, editors Jamie Chavez and Ramona Richards

Historical

  • Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House, editors Stephanie Broene and Sarah Rische
  • A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors Dave Long and Jennifer Veilleux
  • Liar’s Winter by Cindy Sproles, Kregel Publications, editor Dawn Anderson

Historical Romance

  • A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editor Karen Schurrer
  • The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett, Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House), editor Shannon Marchese
  • Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors Jessica Barnes and Dave Long

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

  • Four Months in Cuba by Luana Ehrlich, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editors Pat Brown and Jodi Shumway
  • Ghost Heart by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editor Ellen Tarver
  • Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy

Novella

  • Puzzle House by Lillian Duncan, Harbourlight Books (Pelican), editor Jamie West
  • An Awakened Heart by Jody Hedlund, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editor Dave Long
  • One Enchanted Noel from Enchanted: A Christmas Collection by Melissa Tagg, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editor Terri Simmons

Romance

  • A New Shade of Summer by Nicole Deese, Waterfall Press, editors Amy Hosford and Sheryl Zajechowski
  • Then There Was You by Kara Isaac, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editors Iola Goulton and Halee Matthews
  • A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Andrea Doering and Kristin Kornoelje

Romantic Suspense

  • Justice Buried by Patricia Bradley, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Lonnie Hull DuPont and Kristin Kornoelje
  • Fatal Mistake by Susan Sleeman, Faith Words (Hachette), editor Christina Boys
  • The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editor Raela Schoenherr

Short Novel

  • Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Ami McConnell Abston and Becky Philpott
  • A Sweetwater River Romance by Misty M. Beller, ACFW Qualified Independently Published, editor Robin Patchen
  • Claiming Her Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editors Melissa Endlich and Giselle Regus

Speculative

  • Awakened by Morgan L. Busse, Enclave Publishing, editor Reagen Reed
  • Huntress by Julie Hall, Independently Published, editor Rachel Starr Thomson
  • King’s Blood by Jill Williamson, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors Dave Long and Elisa Tally

Young Adult

  • For Love & Honor by Jody Hedlund, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editor Sara Bierling
  • Playing by Heart by Carmela Martino, Vinspire Publishing, editor Dawn Carrington
  • Betrayal of the Band by Sarah Tipton, Watershed Books (Pelican Book Group), editor Jamie West

Debut

  • Freedom’s Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli, Tyndale House, editors Caleb Sjogren and Jan Stob
  • If We Make It Home by Christina Suzann Nelson, Kregel Publications, editor Dawn Anderson
  • Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Barbara Barnes and Vicki Crumpton

ACFW’s 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will also be given at the annual conference awards gala in September. This year’s recipient is prolific author, speaker, and beloved storyteller, Liz Curtis Higgs. Liz’s contributions to Christian fiction, to encouraging other writers, and to enhancing readers’ understanding of the power of story leads to this honor.

Additional honors to be awarded at the gala include Editor of the Year and Agent of the Year. The nominees are:

ACFW 2018 Agent of the Year Finalists

  • Julie Gwinn – The Seymour Agency
  • Jim Hart – Hartline Literary Agency
  • Natasha Kern – The Natasha Kern Literary Agency

2018 ACFW Editor of the Year Finalists

  • Kelsey Bowen – Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group
  • Andrea Doering – Revell, A Division of Baker Publishing Group
  • Robin Patchen – Robin’s Red Pen (freelance)

Complete lists of these and the Genesis Contest finalists (unpublished) are available at https://www.acfw.com/contests/.

ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction. ACFW’s mission is to empower Christian novelists by inspiring them to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. For more information about ACFW, contact acfwrelations@acfw.com or www.acfw.com.

 

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
2 I JUST WISH I HAD A BIGGER KITCHEN
KATE STRICKLER
3 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY
GARY HAMRICK
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
7 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
8 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE PLUS STREAMING VIDEO
LISA HARPER
9 THE STRONGHOLD OF THE CHOSEN
AMANDA JENKINS. AND DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
10 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
View All
1 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 NIV® STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 HOLY SPIRIT
DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ
5 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
ANGELA HALILI AND ARIELLE REITSMA
6 100 DAYS OF JOY AND STRENGTH
CANDACE CAMERON BURE
7 GOD CHOSE ME
CHARLES HENRY METCALF
8 NIV® STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
9 THE IMMORTAL MIND
MICHAEL EGNOR AND DENYSE O'LEARY
10 WHERE SECRETS LIE
COLLEEN COBLE AND RICK ACKER
View All
1 FINAL APPROACH
LYNETTE EASON
2 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
5 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
6 GELATO AT THE VILLA
ROBIN JONES GUNN
7 THE FRENCH KITCHEN
KRISTY CAMBRON
8 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
9 SPLENDOR OF THE LAND
CONNILYN COSSETTE
10 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
View All
1 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
2 I JUST WISH I HAD A BIGGER KITCHEN
KATE STRICKLER
3 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY
GARY HAMRICK
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
7 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
8 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE PLUS STREAMING VIDEO
LISA HARPER
9 THE STRONGHOLD OF THE CHOSEN
AMANDA JENKINS. AND DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
10 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
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 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 GOD GAVE US YOU
LISA TAWN BERGREN
6 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
7 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
8 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
9 THE BIGGEST STORY BIBLE STORYBOOK
KEVIN DEYOUNG
10 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
STUART, BEN
3 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
SCOTT, CAREY
4 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 THE HARBINGER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
JONATHAN CAHN
9 EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FOR TEEN GIRLS
JANICE THOMPSON
10 STRONG AND SECURE
MICHELLE NIETERT AND LYNN COWELL
View All
1 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
2 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
3 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
4 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
5 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
8 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
9 PRAYER BASICS FOR EVERYONE
TERRY GLASPEY
10 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
View All
1 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
3 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
5 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 KJV LARGE PRINT PEW BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER
10 NLT LARGE PRINT PREMIUM VALUE THINLINE BIBLE, Garden Pink
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
5 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
10 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE STUDENT EDITION
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 American Standard Bible
10 New Revised Standard Version
View All
1 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
2 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
3 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
7 HISTORIA DE LA IGLESIA CRISTIANA
JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT
8 LA MUJER EMOCIONALMENTE SANA
GERI SCAZZERO AND PETER SCAZZERO
9 TEOLOGIA BIBLICA Y SISTEMATICA
MYER PEARLMAN
10 VIVIENDO SU VOLUNTAD
SEBASTIAN FRANZ
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 LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TIERRA SANTA CON CIERRE
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
4 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
5 LA BIBLIA PARA TODOS LOS NINOS
JOAN G. ANGURELL
6 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
7 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
8 COMO ORAR EN EL ESPIRITU
JOHN BUNYAN
9 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
10 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
The Christy Award® Finalist Reveal webcast
September 19 | 10 am central
Christian Book Award submission period
September 1-30, 2025
The Christy Award® Winners Gala webcast
November 7 | 7 pm central
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

VP of Finance & Administration
The Church Initiative (GriefShare / DivorceCare), Wake Forest, NC (Hybrid)
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