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 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
5 I GUESS I HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT YET
SHAUNA NIEQUIST
6 THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY
ANDREW KLAVAN
7 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
8 EMBRACE YOUR ALMOST
JORDAN LEE DOOLEY
9 LIFE MAKEOVER
DOMINIQUE SACHSE
10 PROPHETIC FORECAST
JOSHUA GILES
View All
1 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
2 WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING?
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF
3 THE LADY'S MINE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 UNCANCELED
PHIL ROBERTSON
5 40 DAYS THROUGH THE BIBLE
LYSA TERKEURST
6 IF THE TOMB IS EMPTY
JOBY MARTIN WITH CHARLES MARTIN
7 M IS FOR MAMA
ABBIE HALBERSTADT
8 BLESSED ARE THE CHOSEN, VOLUME 2
AMANDA JENKINS, DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
9 SAY ALL THE UNSPOKEN THINGS
JOHN A. SOWERS
10 ATTACKING ANXIETY
SHAWN JOHNSON
View All
1 THE LADY'S MINE
FRANCINE RIVERS
2 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
3 UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS
T. I. LOWE
4 REDEEMING LOVE (MOVIE TIE-IN)
FRANCINE RIVERS
5 MULBERRY HOLLOW
HUNTER, DENISE
6 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
7 THE HARBINGER
JONATHAN CAHN
8 THE SUGARCREEK SURPRISE, 2
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
9 SEA GLASS COTTAGE
IRENE HANNON
10 UNTIL LEAVES FALL IN PARIS
SARAH SUNDIN
View All
1 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
5 I GUESS I HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT YET
SHAUNA NIEQUIST
6 THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY
ANDREW KLAVAN
7 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
8 EMBRACE YOUR ALMOST
JORDAN LEE DOOLEY
9 LIFE MAKEOVER
DOMINIQUE SACHSE
10 PROPHETIC FORECAST
JOSHUA GILES
View All
1 GOD GAVE US EASTER, Hardcover
LISA TAWN BERGREN
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 GOD GAVE US EASTER, Board book
LISA TAWN BERGREN
4 THE CREATOR IN YOU
JORDAN RAYNOR
5 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
6 THE STORY OF EASTER
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
7 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
8 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
9 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
10 THANK YOU, MAMA
LINDA MEEKER
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH TAMA FORTNER AND BETH CLARK
2 LIVE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK
3 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
4 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
5 THE MANUAL TO MANHOOD
JONATHAN CATHERMAN
6 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
7 I AM
SONS &. DAUGHTERS
8 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Hardcover
PATTI M. HUMMEL
9 ADORED: 365 DEVOTIONS FOR YOUNG WOMEN
ZONDERVAN
10 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GIRLS FOR TEEN GIRLS
PATTI M. HUMMEL
View All
1 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE EASTER STORY
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
2 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST. JOHN
3 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
4 WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE
DONNA K. MALTESE
5 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS' EASTER SUNDAY
MIKE BERENSTAIN
6 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
7 THE CASE FOR EASTER
LEE STROBEL
8 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
9 GOD'S PROMISES FOR YOUR EVERY NEED, NKJV
THOMAS NELSON
10 HE FIGHTS FOR YOU
MAX LUCADO
View All
1 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
2 NLT PREMIUM GIFT BIBLE
TYNDALE
3 NLT DELUXE EXPLORER EVERY MAN'S BIBLE
STEPHEN ARTERBURN
4 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 ESV STUDY BIBLE
T. DESMOND ALEXANDER
6 NIV BEAUTIFUL WORD BIBLE UPDATED EDITION
ZONDERVAN
7 ESV STUDENT STUDY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Rose Gold
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS
10 NIRV ADVENTURE BIBLE FOR EARLY READERS
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
3 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
TYNDALE
4 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
5 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE FOR KIDS
ZONDERVAN
6 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV LARGER PRINT BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE, STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
10 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 New Living Translation
4 King James Version
5 Christian Standard Bible
6 New King James Version
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New Revised Standard Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
2 GANA LA GUERRA EN TU MENTE
CRAIG GROESCHEL
3 ERES MAS FUERTE DE LO QUE PIENSAS
JOEL OSTEEN
4 JESUS TE LLAMA
SARAH YOUNG
5 EL PODER DE LA GRATITUD
JOYCE MEYER
6 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H PUBLISHING GROUP
7 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
8 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
9 EL CAMPO DE BATALLA DE LA MENTE
JOYCE MEYER
10 MAPA DE ORACION PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL CON INDICE
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS, SIMIL PIEL
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL GRIS Y MARRON
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960/ESV SPANISH ENGLISH PARALLEL BIBLE
CROSSWAY BIBLES
7 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO PARA MUJERES
DOROTHY KELLEY PATTERSON AND RHONDA HARRINGTON KELLEY, EDITORS
10 NVI BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON, EDITOR
View All
1 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR (REVISADO)
GARY CHAPMAN
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
6 180 DEVOCIONALES PARA CUANDO LA VIDA ES DIFICIL: ANIMO PARA EL CORAZON DE LA MUJER
RENAE BRUMBAUGH GREEN AND COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 ORACIONES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
8 LECTURAS DEVOCIONALES PARA UNA MADRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
9 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
10 EL PODER DE LA ESPOSA QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All

Upcoming Events

Top Shelf Book Cover Award submission period
April 15 to August 15, 2022
International Christian Rights & Exports Fair (ICREF)
June 28-29 | Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 25-27 | Savannah, Georgia
ECPA PubU (Publishing University)
November 16-17, 2022 | Lipscomb University, Nashville

Career Center

Assistant Marketing Manager
Baker Publishing Group, Bloomington, Minnesota
Art Director, Worthy Kids
Worthy Publishing/ Hachette Book Group, Nashville or New York // hybrid, remote
INTERNSHIP: Editorial/Marketing/SPPI
InterVarsity Press, Westmont, Illinois or Remote
INTERNSHIP: Digital Marketing
Tyndale House Publishers, Illinois
INTERNSHIP: Help Desk
Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois
INTERNSHIP: Acquisitions
Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois
Operations Lead
Two Words Publishing, Remote
INTERNSHIP: Editorial
Our Daily Bread, Michigan
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 at jobs.ecpa.org, 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 @ChristianBkExpo
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2022 · ECPA