History of the Awards:In the spring of 1999, nearly a dozen Christian publishers confirmed the need for establishing a Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction. By late summer, ideas and planning had come together to launch The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read.
The Christy Award is designed to:
* Nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview.
* Bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership.
* Provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.
How the Awards Work:
Every year publishers are invited to submit novels written from a Christian worldview and copyrighted in the year preceding the awards. Each novel is entered in one of several genre categories and/or the first novel category. Each category of novels is then read and evaluated against a ten-point criteria by a panel of seven judges composed of librarians, reviewers, academicians, literary critics, and other qualified readers, none of whom have a direct affiliation with a publishing company.
Catherine Marshall:
Catherine Marshall, writer of more than two dozen books and the subject of at least one biography, is one of America's most notable and bestselling Christian writers. Her readers around the world know Catherine as "America's most inspirational author," as described in The New York Times. More than 25 million copies of her books are in print. Nine years in the making and perhaps Catherines's best-known work, the novel Christy has more than 10 million copies in print and is estimated to have been read by more than 30 million people.
The Christy Awards is proud to honor both the novelist and her novel through this annual award recognizing Christian novels of excellence.
Visit the official website here.
CONTEMPORARY (Stand Alone)
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)Read our review of the novel here.
In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)Read our review of the novel here.
CONTEMPORARY (Series, Sequels and Novellas)
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)HISTORICAL
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
LITS (tie)
Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)Read our review of the novel here.
Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)Read our review of the novel here.
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)Read our review of the novel here.
ROMANCE
Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)Read our review of the novel here.
Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)Read our review of the novel here.
Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)SUSPENSE
The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)Read our review of the novel here.
The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
VISIONARY:
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group) Read our review of the novel here.
Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)Read our review of the novel here.
FIRST NOVEL
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
YOUNG ADULT
Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
In Between by Jenny B. Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)Read our review of the novel here.
Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)
