For Immediate Release — September 22, 2025

ECPA NAMES FINALISTS FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD® IN NINE CATEGORIES

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

Winners to be revealed during online Gala on November 7

September 22, 2025 | Chandler, Ariz. – On Friday, ECPA announced 35 finalists for 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 fiction categories, with eight resulting ties.

Winners in each category will be announced during The Christy Award Gala, an online webcast taking place Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. Central, where the Book of the Year and the Amplify Award will also be revealed. Hosted by award-winning novelist and radio host Chris Fabry, the Gala will feature keynotes from Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University, and T.I. Lowe, award-winning novelist and Christy Book of the Year 2024 author.

The event will also include appearances by award-winning novelists Jaime Jo Wright, Johanna Rojas Vann, Lori Z. Scott, Katie Powner, Jamie Ogle, Rachelle Nelson, Vanessa Miller, Gabrielle Meyer, Crystal Caudill, and Amanda Barratt.

THE 2025 FINALISTS BY CATEGORY:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE – tie

A Run at Love, Toni Shiloh
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241512

The Nature of Love, Toni Shiloh
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241529

The Roads We Follow, Nicole Deese
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241192

Who Touches the Mountains, Deborah Raney
Raney Day Press, 9798301184345

FIRST NOVEL

Darkfell, Amanda Wright
Quill & Flame Publishing House, 9781964726052

Until Our Time Comes, Nicole M. Miller
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800744700

The Yellow Badge, Addison Crissone
Addison Crissone, 9798991435901

GENERAL FICTION – tie

Between the Sound and Sea, Amanda Cox
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800742744

Bitter and Sweet, Rhonda McKnight
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 9780840706577

Lowcountry Lost, T.I. Lowe
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496465658

The Way Back, Heidi Chiavaroli
Hope Creek Publishers, 9781957663074

HISTORICAL

All We Thought We Knew, Michelle Shocklee
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496484178

Born of Gilded Mountains, Amanda Dykes
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764239519

The Queen’s Cook, Tessa Afshar
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243691

HISTORICAL ROMANCE – tie

As Sure as the Sea, Jamie Ogle
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496479723

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, Joanna Davidson Politano
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800742973

The Seaside Homecoming, Julie Klassen
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241017

Walking on Hidden Wings, Rachel Scott McDaniel
Kregel Publications, 9780825448133

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER – tie

The Crown Conspiracy, Connie Mann
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496487391

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241451

Serial Burn, Lynette Eason
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800741211

Shattered Sanctuary, Nancy Mehl
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243363

Terminal Danger, Jerusha Agen
SDG Words, 9781956683363

SHORT FORM – tie

A Daffodil in the Dress, Susie Finkbeiner
(within Something Borrowed), Kregel Publications, 9780825448423

A Heart in Disguise, Rachel Scott McDaniel
(within Something Borrowed), Kregel Publications, 9780825448423

A Letter to Eli, Allison Pittman
(within Something Borrowed), Kregel Publications, 9780825448423

Forgiving the Cowboy, Tabitha Bouldin
Love Inspired, 9781335937049

SPECULATIVE – tie

A Slice of Sky, Nancy Moser
Mustard Seed Press, 9781961907683

Darkfell, Amanda Wright
Quill & Flame Publishing House, 9781964726052

Memoria, J. J. Fischer
Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886051667

Protector, Megan Schaulis
WhiteCrown, an imprint of WhiteFire Publishing, 9798887090481

YOUNG ADULT – tie

Ben Washington is the Newbie on the Block, Jasmine Mullen
Moody Publishers, 9780802432803

The Chaos Grid, Lyndsey Lewellen
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886051063

Echo Nova, Clint Hall
Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media, 9798886051704

Jake Rogers’ Planet, Philip Wilder
Great Commission Alliance, ‎9798986429342

View the full list of finalists and cover images at:
ChristyAwards.com/finalists-winners.html

The Christy Award is widely supported and promoted through a broad network of retailers and industry partners, including: Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, The Parable Group, Baker Book House, Logos, Mardel, More to Life, JustRead Rendezvous, JustRead Tours, Family Fiction, Crazy4Fiction, Christian Editors Association, Chris Fabry Live, Reading Is My Superpower, Write to Publish, Life Is Story, West Coast Christian Writers, Blue Ridge Writers Conference, Publishing in Color, Christian Retailers Association, NetGalley, and Christianity Today.

Registration is open for the free Winners Gala on November 7 at TheChristyAward.com. There are two in-person watch parties scheduled in St. Louis (JustRead Rendevous) and Grand Rapids (Baker Book House) with information detailed on The Christy Award registration page. The Christy Award Art of Writing program and Gala will return to in-person events next fall in the Nashville area. Sign up for updates at TheChristyAward.com.

ABOUT ECPA AND THE CHRISTY AWARD®

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization made up of member companies involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities for members to more effectively deliver transformational content. Learn more at ECPA.org.

The Christy Award® has honored and promoted excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. Named after Christy by Catherine Marshall—which has sold over 10 million copies since its 1967 release—this prestigious program became part of ECPA in 2017 to further elevate the role of fiction in Christian publishing. TheChristyAward.com FB: ChristyAward X: @ChristyAward IG: @thechristyaward

Media Contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President — jcrosby@ecpa.org, 630-989-0222
Cindy Carter, Awards & Recognition Manager — ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 x806

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