Ada, Mich. (November 12, 2025)—On Friday, November 7, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the winners of the 2025 Christy Awards in an online gala presentation, which honored this year’s best Christian fiction. Four Baker Publishing Group authors were selected as recipients of this award, including Nicole Deese, Amanda Cox, Amanda Dykes, and Jaime Jo Wright.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Nicole Deese received a Christy Award in the Contemporary Romance category for The Roads We Follow (Bethany House), which is part of the Fog Harbor Romance series. Nicole, who also won both a Carol Award and a Christy Award in 2022 for All that Really Matters, is a bestselling author who writes hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels.
GENERAL FICTION
Amanda Cox was honored with a Christy Award in the General Fiction category for Between the Sound and Sea (Revell). Cox’s previous works The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery were both selected as Christy Book of the Year Award winners. As a former counselor, Amanda has used her studies and her interactions with hurting families to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.
HISTORICAL
Amanda Dykes tied for first place in the Historical category for her standalone novel Born of Gilded Mountains (Bethany House). Dykes was also honored in 2022 when her debut novel Whose Waves These Are was selected as the winner of the prestigious Christy Book of the Year award.
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Jaime Jo Wright claimed the Christy Award in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category for Night Falls on Predicament Avenue (Bethany House). Her previous titles The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and The House on Foster Hill have also been recipients of this award in 2024 and 2018, respectively. Wright is a Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author.
The 2025 webcast was hosted by ECPA president Jeff Crosby and award-winning novelist and radio host Chris Fabry. The featured keynote speaker was Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, who is the Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University and author of Reading for the Love of God (Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group). Crosby stated, “What a remarkable set of award-winning books that publishers and novelists have given to readers this year. It’s a joy to recognize excellence in Christian fiction across a diverse set of genres.”
Since 1999, the Christy Award has honored and promoted excellence in Christian fiction. This program became part of ECPA in 2017 as a means of further elevating the role of fiction in Christian publishing. For the complete list of winners, visit 2025 Christy Award Winners.
Baker Publishing Group extends heartfelt appreciation to ECPA for their commitment to strengthen the Christian publishing industry and to honoring inspirational fiction authors through the esteemed Christy Awards.
Bethany House seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.
Revell publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth resources, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.
Contact: Karen Steele, 616.676.9185 x 100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com
