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

For Immediate Release — November 7, 2019

ecpa logo
https://www.christyawards.com/finalists-winners.html

Ten Novels Honored as the Year’s Best Christian Fiction

“Becoming Mrs. Lewis” by Patti Callahan wins The Christy Award® Book of the Year

Author James L. Rubart inducted into The Christy Award® Hall of Fame

The Christy Award®NASHVILLE, TENN., NOVEMBER 7, 2019 – Last night, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the winners of The Christy Award® in nine fiction categories at the Christy Award Gala held in Nashville at Lipscomb University’s new George Shinn Center.  The event was attended by more than 200 authors, writers, publishers and industry professionals to honor the year’s best in Christian fiction, and followed an afternoon of “Art of Writing” workshops led by authors and publishers, and headlined by LYSA TERKEURST.

The evening’s program featured award-winning authors PATTI CALLAHAN, BECKY WADE, and JAMES L. RUBART — and included an inspiring tribute to JANETTE OKE on the 40th anniversary of her seminal classic, Love Comes Softly (Bethany House).  Published in 1979, the novel and subsequent book series became a huge success, launching both the “inspirational fiction” genre and a successful career for Oke, who many consider the “pioneer of inspirational fiction.”  Janette Oke’s more than 70 novels have sold over 30 million copies in 14 languages, and have inspired successful television and film projects with the Hallmark Channel.

“BECOMING MRS. LEWIS” by Patti Callahan (Thomas Nelson) was awarded top honors as the 2019 Christy Award Book of the Year.  The title also won in the Historical Romance category, in a tie with “WITH THIS PLEDGE” by Tamera Alexander (Thomas Nelson).

The 2019 Christy Award winners by category are:

 

BOOK OF THE YEAR

Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Patti Callahan
Thomas Nelson, 9780785224501

 


CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Falling for You, Becky Wade
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764219375

 


FIRST NOVEL

The Baggage Handler, David Rawlings
Thomas Nelson, 9780785224938

 


GENERAL FICTION

No One Ever Asked, Katie Ganshert
WaterBrook, 9781601429049

 


HISTORICAL

Shelter of the Most High, Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764219870

 


HISTORICAL ROMANCE (tie)

With this Pledge, Tamera Alexander
Thomas Nelson, 9780718081836

Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Patti Callahan
Thomas Nelson, 9780785224501

 


MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

Every Wicked Man, Steven James
Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 9781101991596

 


SHORT FORM

Catching Christmas, Terri Blackstock
Thomas Nelson, 9780310351726

 


VISIONARY

Shivering World, Kathy Tyers
Enclave Publishing, 9781683701552

 


YOUNG ADULT

The Warrior Maiden, Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson, 9780718074777

 

“Once again ECPA was honored to host the Christy Award® Gala in Nashville,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “More than a special event, the Christy Award is an ongoing program that encourages, supports and recognizes excellence in fiction that is informed by the true Christian story. ECPA congratulates the authors and publishers of the winning titles and celebrates the important contributions they are making in storytelling.”

Also honored during the evening, was five-time Christy Award winning author JAMES L. RUBART, who was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for his legacy and contributions to Christian fiction.  He joins prior honorees Chris Fabry, Lynn Austin, Davis Bunn, and Karen Hancock in this highest author honor of the program.  All have won at least four Christy Awards.

The evening capped off two days of events that helped inspire, train and encourage those established in the publishing industry as well as those aspiring to break into the market as writers, authors, or business leaders:

> ECPA PubU was held as a training and connection event for the Christian publishing professional.

> The Art of Writing Conference was created to build community and explore the leading questions and pressing issues facing creators and curators.

For more information about The Christy Award® program and to sign up for award and event updates for the 2020 season, go to 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:
Stan Jantz, ECPA President & CEO, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103

 


Pictured below from left are:  Tamera Alexander, Amanda Bostic (publisher for Terri Blackstock), Leisl Huhn (accepted award for husband Steven James), Hall of Fame recipient James L. Rubart (accepted award for friend David Rawlings), Melanie Dickerson, Becky Wade, Connilyn Cossette, Patti Callahan, Katie Ganshert, and ECPA president Stan Jantz.  Photo credit: Sara Ella Carrington
Not pictured:  Enclave publisher Steve Laube who accepted the award for Kathy Tyers.

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
View All
1 LOVED TO LIFE
ANN VOSKAMP
2 DON'T LET DOUBT TAKE YOU OUT
TODD MULLINS
3 BELIEVE
ROSS DOUTHAT
4 HERE BE DRAGONS
MELANIE SHANKLE
5 BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
JOYCE MEYER
6 LIT UP WITH LOVE
DERWIN GRAY
7 LIVING FEARLESS GUIDED JOURNAL
JAMIE WINSHIP
8 I'VE GOT QUESTIONS
ERIN HICKS MOON
9 STEPS
JOHN ORTBERG
10 WHEN CULTURE HATES YOU
NATASHA CRAIN
View All
1 TWO SECONDS TOO LATE
DANI PETTREY
2 THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME
DENISE HUNTER
3 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
4 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
5 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
6 THE BEIJING BETRAYAL
JOEL C. ROSENBERG
7 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
8 THE CARPENTER'S SON
JOHN GRAY
9 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
10 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
View All
1 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
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 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
6 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
7 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
8 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE EASTER STORY
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
9 GOD GAVE US EASTER
LISA TAWN BERGREN
10 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
3 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
4 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Leather
PATTI M. HUMMEL
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE POWER OF A PRAYING TEEN
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All
1 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
2 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
3 THE CASE FOR EASTER
LEE STROBEL
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
8 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
9 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
10 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE THE VERY FIRST EASTER
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
View All
1 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
3 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS, AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS, CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
4 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER, MARK DEVER, JOHN PIPER
5 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
10 KJV LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
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
TYNDALE
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
8 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
9 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
10 NLT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
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 Revised Standard Version
9 New International Reader's Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
2 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
5 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
6 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
7 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
8 BATALLAS SILENCIOSAS
DAVID SCARPETA
9 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
6 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE CON CIERRE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA DE PROMESAS EDICION PARA NINOS
EDITORIAL UNILIT
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA ULTRAFINA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
2 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
6 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
7 EL VIA CRUCIS PARA TODOS
CLARENCE ENZLER
8 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
9 ¿Y AHORA QUE?
RALPH HARRIS
10 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: AI Legal Developments | AI & The Biblical Story
June 13 | 10 am central
ECPA International Christian Rights & Export Fair
June 17-18, 2025 | Chicago, Illinois
ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona

Career Center

Backlist and Brand Director
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, Remote
Publicity Manager
Baker Book House Company, Ada, Michigan (Hybrid)
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
Assistant Director of Marketing, Christian Publishing Group
Penguin Random House, Remote
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