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

For Immediate Release — October 11, 2022

ecpa logo

ECPA NAMES FINALISTS FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD® IN NINE CATEGORIES

30 titles announced as top contenders for the year’s best Christian novels

Winners to be revealed at The Christy Award Gala held November 17 in Nashville; Seats still available

The Christy Award®October 11, 2022, Tempe, AZ – Today, the ECPA announced 30 finalists for the THE CHRISTY AWARD® program in an online webcast hosted by Christy Hall of Fame author Chris Fabry and ECPA president Jeff Crosby.  The Christy Award® exists to celebrate excellence in the art of Christian fiction and to honor the power of faith in story.

Three finalists were named in nine categories, except for three ties in the Historical, Historical Romance and Speculative categories.  The finalists represent the work of 11 publishers, including 3 independent publishers.

The winners in each category – plus the Christy Book of the Year — will be announced on November 17 at a special Dinner Gala held at The Shinn Center at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.  The 2021 Christy Book of the Year® author AMANDA COX (The Edge of Belonging) will be the featured speaker that evening, which will also include Christy Hall of Fame inductee BECKY WADE (Stay With Me), and bestselling novelist and radio host CHRIS FABRY (Dogwood) as emcee.

The formal dinner will also include tribute to the literary contributions of JAN KARON, the New York Times bestselling author of 23 books including The Mitford Series novels. Karon will address the evening’s attendees via video as she is unable to attend the occasion.  Authors SARAH LOUDIN THOMAS (who directs The Mitford Museum) and AMANDA DYKES will present tributes.

The evening will also debut the AMPLIFY AWARD to honor the program’s best novel which amplifies a multiethnic perspective.

Registration is open for the Winners Gala and the preceding Art of Writing conference at TheChristyAward.com.  Bundle rates are available for the two events with the first 100 registered automatically entered to win a complete set of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, including a signed copy of At Home In Mitford.

“It was with great joy that I joined with Chris Fabry to announce the 2022 finalists for these prestigious awards,” stated ECPA president Jeff Crosby. “Stories told powerfully, truthfully, and artfully have the ability to sneak up on us, stay with us, and change us!  I congratulate each of the authors whose work has become a finalist and look forward to November when we gather in person to learn the ten recipients of this year’s awards.”

The FINALISTS in the nine fiction categories are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

All That Really Matters, Nicole Deese
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764234965

Bookshop by the Sea, Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 9780785240471

Husband Auditions, Angela Ruth Strong
Kregel Publications, 9780825447105

 


FIRST NOVEL

All That Is Secret, Patricia Raybon
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496458384

Recorder, Cathy McCrumb
Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9781621841999

Sugar Birds, Cheryl Grey Bostrom
She Writes Press, 9781647420680

 


GENERAL FICTION

The Letter Keeper, Charles Martin
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 9780785230953

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, Amanda Cox
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800737412

Under the Magnolias, T. I. Lowe
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496453617

 


HISTORICAL – tie

Between the Wild Branches, Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764234354

Drawn by The Current, Jocelyn Green
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764233326

The Widows of Champagne, Renee Ryan
Love Inspired, 9781335427076

Yours is the Night, Amanda Dykes
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764232688

 


HISTORICAL ROMANCE – tie

As Dawn Breaks, Kate Breslin
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764237485

Hope Between the Pages, Pepper Basham
Barbour Publishing, 9781643528267

Shadows of Swanford Abbey, Julie Klassen
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764234248

Until Leaves Fall in Paris, Sarah Sundin
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800736378

 


MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

Aftermath, Terri Blackstock
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 9780310345978

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque, Todd M. Johnson
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764212369

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor, Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764233906

 


SHORT FORM

A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe), Karen Witemeyer
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764239311

Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale, Christopher de Vinck
Paraclete Press, 9781640607354

False Pretense, Heather Day Gilbert
WoodHaven Press, 9781735565163

 


SPECULATIVE – tie

A Time to Seek, Tracy Higley
Stonewater Books LLC, 9781737057901

Dark Intercept, Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496451354

Recorder, Cathy McCrumb
Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9781621841999

Windward Shore, Sharon Hinck
Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9781621841678

 


YOUNG ADULT

A Gently Tyranny, Jess Corban
Wander, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496448347

Realms of Light, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9781621841647

Shadow, Kara Swanson
Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9781621841739

 


Leading up to the Winners Gala on November 17, will be the sixth annual Art of Writing conference.  The four-session conference that afternoon will bring together writers, creatives, and publishing curators for training and connection around these topics:

When Weary & Discouraged: How We Can Care for Our Writing Souls with author CAROLYN WEBER, whose debut book Surprised by Oxford, is being made into a feature film

To Tok or Not to Tok with reel pros EMILIE HANEY (pen name Bell Renshaw) and author/ podcaster KRISTI ANN HUNTER

How Reading Diverse Books Makes Us Better Authors and Humans with a panel of writers, agents, and publishers who share their own stories and best practices through this approach:  EDWINA PERKINS (Iron Stream), DEBORAH GONZALES (NavPress), DORENA WILLIAMSON (author), JEVON BOLDEN (Embolden Media) and JEFF CROSBY (ECPA)

What Makes a Gush-Worthy Book with book reviewer CARRIE SCHMIDT, Revell senior acquisitions editor KELSEY BOWEN, author and agent CYNTHIA RUCHTI, and WaterBrook editor JAMIE LAPEYROLERIE

Bundle pricing for the Gala and the conference is $139.  Registration and area hotels are posted at: ECPA.org/event/AOWChristyGala2022. (For publishers attending ECPA PubU the day prior, the Art of Writing conference is included in registration, along with other programming options.)

Finalist covers are posted at ChristyAwards.com/finalists-winners.html and will soon be featured in an e-blast for CT Women as part of Christianity Today’s media support.

The program receives widespread support and promotion from these promotional partners, retailers, and sponsors:  ACFW, American Christian Writers, Bookworm Mama, Chris Fabry Live, Christian Editors network, Christian Writers retreats, Crazy4Fiction, Faithfully Bookish, Family Fiction, Jerry Jenkins, Just Read Tours, Life Is Story, Reading Is My Superpower, Baker Book House, Christianbook.com, Mardel, More to Life, NetGalley, Parable Group, Ingram/Spring Arbor, Christianity Today, and Bethany Press.

For more information and to register, visit TheChristyAward.com.

 


ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) 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.  TheChristyAward.com  FB ChristyAward  TW @ChristyAward  IG @thechristyaward

Media contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President and CEO, 
jcrosby@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, 
ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 LIKE A RIVER
GRANGER SMITH
2 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
3 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
4 YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU'VE BEEN TOLD
HOSANNA WONG
5 GOOD BOUNDARIES AND GOODBYES
LYSA TERKEURST
6 TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER CLASSIC EDITION
DAVE RAMSEY
7 THE AWE OF GOD
JOHN BEVERE
8 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
9 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
10 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
View All
1 HOLY SPIRIT
DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ
2 THE BODY REVELATION
ALISA KEETON
3 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY 2023-2024
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY LARGE PRINT EDITION 2023-2024
STANDARD PUBLISHING
5 WHEN YOUR WAY ISN'T WORKING
KYLE IDLEMAN
6 BELIEVE
JOEL OSTEEN
7 SEEING GOD AS A PERFECT FATHER
LOUIE GIGLIO
8 THE TOXIC WAR ON MASCULINITY
NANCY R. PEARCEY
9 NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY 2023-2024
STANDARD PUBLISHING
10 MISLED
ALLEN PARR
View All
1 LETTERS OF COMFORT: VOLUME 2
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
2 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
3 COUNTDOWN
LYNETTE EASON
4 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
5 THE COFFEE CORNER
AMY CLIPSTON
6 THE HARBINGER
JONATHAN CAHN
7 LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
9 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
10 VOICE OF THE ANCIENT
CONNILYN COSSETTE
View All
1 LIKE A RIVER
GRANGER SMITH
2 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
3 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
4 YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU'VE BEEN TOLD
HOSANNA WONG
5 GOOD BOUNDARIES AND GOODBYES
LYSA TERKEURST
6 TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER CLASSIC EDITION
DAVE RAMSEY
7 THE AWE OF GOD
JOHN BEVERE
8 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
9 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
10 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
View All
1 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
2 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
5 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
6 THE BIBLE MADE EASY FOR KIDS
DAVE STREHLER
7 THE BIGGEST STORY BIBLE STORYBOOK
KEVIN DEYOUNG
8 I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN
AINSLEY EARHARDT
9 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
10 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
3 GOD CALLS YOU LOVED, GIRL
MARILEE PARRISH
4 OUTDATED
JONATHAN JP POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
5 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GIRLS FOR TEEN GIRLS
PATTI M. HUMMEL
6 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Leather
PATTI M. HUMMEL
7 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
8 FEARLESS FAITH
OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES
9 MORNINGS WITH GOD FOR TEEN GIRLS
MARILEE PARRISH
10 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
View All
1 77 MEMORY VERSES EVERY KID SHOULD KNOW
Not Specified
2 KEYS TO POWERFUL PRAYER
STORMIE OMARTIAN
3 THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - NLV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
4 PROMISES FOR A FRUITFUL LIFE
BETH MOORE
5 WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE
DONNA K. MALTESE
6 GOD WILL USE THIS FOR GOOD
MAX LUCADO
7 WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?
RICK WARREN
8 FREEDOM OF SELF FORGETFULNESS
TIMOTHY J. KELLER
9 HEAVEN
RANDY ALCORN
10 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
View All
1 KJV GIANT PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
2 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
3 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
Not Specified
4 NKJV SUPER GIANT PRINT BIBLE
NELSON BIBLES
5 NKJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 ESV STUDY BIBLE
T. DESMOND ALEXANDER AND JOHN D. CURRID AND KENNETH LAING HARRIS
7 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Rose Gold
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
8 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 MY CREATIVE BIBLE
Not Specified
10 CSB PEW BIBLE
CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 CSB OUTREACH BIBLE
CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
3 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
4 NIV HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
5 NIV LARGER PRINT BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
TYNDALE
8 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
9 NIV HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION, PAPERBACK
ZONDERVAN
10 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
View All
1 New International Version
2 King James Version
3 English Standard Version
4 Christian Standard Bible
5 New Living Translation
6 New King James Version
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 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
3 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 LA RESPUESTA A LA ANSIEDAD
JOYCE MEYER
5 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 INCENDIARIO
ITIEL ARROYO
7 THELOGIA BIBLICA Y SISTEMATICA
MYER PEARLMAN
8 EL PODER PARA CAMBIAR
CRAIG GROESCHEL
9 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Paperback
RICK WARREN
10 LIMITES SALUDABLES, DESPEDIDAS NECESARIAS
LYSA TERKEURST
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RV1960 BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA ULTRAFINA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA SUPER GIGANTE
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960/NKJV BIBLIA BILINGUE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
8 NVI BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, BORGONA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO PARA MUJERES
DOROTHY KELLEY PATTERSON
View All
1 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR (REVISADO)
GARY CHAPMAN
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
5 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
6 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
7 EL PODER DE LA ESPOSA QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
8 EL AYUNO DEL SENOR
YIYE AVILA
9 EL PODER DE LA MADRE QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
10 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All

Upcoming Events

Christian Collective, Frankfurt Book Fair
October 18-22 | Frankfurt, Germany
ECPA PubU Online
October 27 - November 13, 2023 | webinars in Editorial, Marketing, Design, Rights, Production, Children's Books
The Christy Award® virtual events
Finalist reveal Oct. 12 | Winners Gala Nov. 16 | Art of Writing webinars Oct. 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9
FOCUS webinar on Organizational Change
December 1st: A Christ-Centered Action Plan for Organizational Change with Skot Welch

Career Center

Sales Director, General and Special Markets
David C Cook, Colorado Springs, Colorado // Hybrid
Publishing Coordinator
Our Daily Bread, Grand Rapids, 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
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2023 · ECPA