In a Facebook Live event on Friday, June 23, 2017, ACFW CEO Colleen Coble announced the 2017 Carol Award finalists for the best in Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. Coble also announced ACFW’s 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient—Jerry Jenkins. “Jerry Jenkins is one of the most successful writers of our time with more than 70 million books in print,” Coble says. “Even more importantly, he shows us what perseverance and hard work can do. Before the wildly popular Left Behind series, relatively few knew his name, yet he’d written 124 books before the 125th one that propelled him into major publishing stardom.” Coble continued, “Jerry is constantly working to help others reach their writing goals. ACFW is honored to present him with the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The 2017 Carol Award finalists, listed by author in alphabetical order by category:
Contemporary
- The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editor Amanda Bostic
- One More Song to Sing by Lindsay Harrel, Ashberry Lane Publishing, editors Christina Tarabochia and
Rachel Lulich - The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption) (Vol. 1) by Christa MacDonald, Mountain Brook Ink, editor Rachel Lulich
Historical
- This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editors Andrea Doering and Barbara Barnes
- Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editors Ann Tatlock and Amberlyn Dwinnell
- Like a River From Its Course by Kelli Stuart, Kregel Publications, editors Dawn Jackson and Janyre Tromp
Historical Romance
- The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischoff, ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published), editors Denise Harmer and Kara Swanson
- No Way Up (The Cimarron Legacy) by Mary Connealy, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors David Long and Luke Hinrichs
- Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editor David Long
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
- If I Run by Terri Blackstock, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and David Lambert
- Murder Comes by Mail: A Hidden Springs Mystery (The Hidden Springs Mysteries) by A.H. Gabhart, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing, editor Lonnie Hull DuPont
- When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Natalie Hanneman
Novella
- The Doctor’s Woman (The Courageous Brides Collection) by Michelle Griep, Barbour Publishing, editor Becky Germany
- The Warrior’s Seal by Ronie Kendig, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editors David Long and Jessica Barnes
- The Angel of Forest Hill: An Amish Christmas Romance by Cindy Woodsmall, Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House), editor Shannon Marchese
Romance
- A Season to Love by Nicole Deese, Waterfall Press, editors Amy Hosford and Kristin Mehus-Roe
- Just a Kiss (A Summer Harbor Novel) by Denise Hunter, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Karli Jackson and L B Norton
- The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editor Becky Monds
Romantic Suspense
- The Dragon Roars by Sara Davison, Ashberry Lane Publishing, editors Rachel Lulich and Christina Tarabochia
- Always Watching: A Novel (Elite Guardians) by Lynette Eason, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing, editor Andrea Doering
- You’re the One that I Want by Susan May Warren, Tyndale House, editors Karen Watson and Sarah Mason
Short Novel
- Falling for the Hometown Hero (Love Inspired) by Mindy Obenhaus, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editors Melissa Endlich and Emily Rodmell
- Restoring Christmas: A Novel by Cynthia Ruchti, Worthy Inspired, editors Pamela Clements and Jamie Chavez
- Burnin’ For You by Susan May Warren, SDG Publishing, editor Barbara Curtis
Speculative
- Unblemished by Sara Ella, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Becky Monds and Julee Schwarzburg
- The Healer’s Rune (Young Adult Fantasy) by Lauricia Matuska, Brimstone Fiction, editors Rowena Kuo and Eddie Jones
- The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy
Debut
- A Family for the Farmer (Love Inspired) by Laurel Blount, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editor Giselle Regis
- The Last Apostle: A Novel (John the Immortal Series) by Dennis Brooke, Made for Grace Publishing, editor John Harten
- You’re the Cream in my Coffee by Jennifer Lamont Leo, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editor Kathryn Davis
ACFW’s 2017 Editor of the Year Nominees, listed in alphabetical order:
- Amanda Bostic – HarperCollins
- Sarah Rische – Tyndale
- Annie Tipton – Barbour
ACFW’s 2017 Agent of the Year Nominees, listed in alphabetical order:
- Ann Byle – Credo Communications
- Tamela Hancock Murray – The Steve Laube Agency
- Sarah Elizabeth Younger – Nancy Yost Literary Agency
The Carol Award winners, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Editor and Agent of the Year, Genesis Contest winners for unpublished manuscripts, and other honors will be awarded at the Gala at the ACFW conference in Grapevine, Texas, September 23, 2017 (www.acfw.com/conference).
ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction. ACFW’s mission is to empower Christian novelists by inspiring them to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. For more information about ACFW, contact acfwrelations@acfw.com or www.acfw.com.
