2010 Christy Award Winners!

The 2010 Christy Awards presentation was held Saturday evening, June 26, 2010, at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand in advance of the International Christian Retail Show. The dessert reception featured a keynote address entitled “Be That Well” by best-selling author and
entrepreneur Lisa Samson and was emceed by editor Lonnie Hull DuPont, Baker Publishing Group. To involve Christian fiction fans not able to attend the event in person, a liveblog of the event was provided online, and an archive of the event can be accessed online at www.ChristyAwards.com.

The Christy Awards honor the best in Christian fiction in nine categories. The Christy Awards
Advisory Board is pleased to announce the following winners of the 2010 Christy Awards.

Contemporary Romance
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Read our interview with DiAnn Mills






Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson (Thomas Nelson)

Read our review.
Read our interview with Neta.






Contemporary Standalone
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

Read our review






First Novel
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House Publishers)

Read our review
Read our interview with Jennifer





Historical
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)







Historical Romance
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)







Suspense
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster)

Read our review






Visionary
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Read our review






Young Adult
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Read our review
Read our interview with Andrew




The Christy Awards are proud to honor both Catherine Marshall and her novel through the annual presentation of the Christy Awards, which recognize novels of excellence. The Christy Awards were established in 1999 to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview; to bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership; and, to provide an opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristyAward
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChristyAward

Click here to read the full list of nominees.

And here's a pdf of all the winners with a summary of each book.

Visit the Christy Awards website.

B&H Thriller Book Tour Starts Friday!

This week on Friday, the B&H Thriller Tour launches. The four B&H authors taking part in this tour are Brandilyn Collins, Tosca Lee, Robin Caroll, and Jim Rubart. It will start in St. Louis, go to Philadelphia and Baltimore, and end up in New York. Note: additional New York area venues are being booked. Here's the schedule so far:

Friday, June 25: St. Louis area

2:00 – 4:00: Parable Bookstore
1716 Missouri State Road
Arnold, MO 63010
636-287-1231

6:00 – 8:00: Family Christian Store
167 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
St Peters, MO 63376-4309
636-278-2895

Saturday, June 26th

12:00 – 2:00 PM: Mainstreet Books
307 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
636-949-0105

4:00 – 6:00 PM: Lifeway Christian Store
11977 Saint Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
314-344-0014

Sunday, June 27th
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble
721 Gravois Road
Fenton, MO 63026
636-326-2148

Thursday, July 1: Philadelphia area and Baltimore
11:00 – 1:00--Lifeway Christian Store
2320 Industrial Highway
York, PA 17402
717-757-5311

4:00 – 6:00 PM--Lifeway Christian Store
White Marsh Plaza Shopping Center
7900 Honeygo Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-931-8038

Friday, July 9th: New Jersey
7:00-9:00 PM: Borders
290 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 231-0111

Saturday, July 10: New York area
1:00 – 3:00: Barnes & Noble
290 Baychester Ave.
Bronx, NY 10475
718-862-3945

NOTE: Brandilyn will be signing posters that look like this too (click to enlarge). Very cool:

Renee Riva's new book on Amazon Kindle for $.99!!

Check out Renee Riva's new book Farley's Five & Dime on Amazon Kindle for $.99! You can't lose with a price like that.

Description:
Farley’s Five-and-Dime plops the reader into a fun, folksy, small town setting, with a touch of romance, humor, and sweet southern charm.

Set in the small town of Hog Eye Holler, Kentucky, in the 1950’s. Kids, and the young at heart alike, will enjoy meeting eleven-year-old Mazie May Farley; a cross between Pippi Longstocking and Caddie Woodlawn. The high spirited, red-headed whirlwind who helps her family run the local Five-and–Dime, has her sights on the popular town hunk-a-hunk, Billy Ray Baxter. In her comical, self-defeating schemes to snag Billy Ray away from Emma Jean Jacobs, Mazie is taken by surprise at the outcome of her high jinx attempts. When Billy fails to fall for Mazie’s numerous attempts to get him to invite her to the long anticipated Sweetheart Waltz, she raises the stakes higher and higher. Chaos and calamity ensue. The story ends on a note of sweet serendipity—but may not be exactly what Mazie was shooting for. Sometimes life has a way of surprising us when we are busy making other plans.

Read our interview with Renee at TitleTrakk.com.

Braveheart screenwriter to pen novel for Tyndale House

Oscar-nominated screenwriter and New York Times bestselling author Randall Wallace will publish a new novel with Tyndale House Publishers, currently scheduled for release in the summer of 2011.

Wallace’s book, a contemporary drama about a grieving young doctor’s journey to recover and employ his unique surgical skills, is tentatively titled The Touch.

“Randall Wallace has an innate ability to tell a story that stirs our desire to display the best human qualities—courage, nobility, sacrifice, and faith. That’s why we’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner together to bring his inspiring and compelling writing to a new and broader audience of readers,” said Karen Watson, Associate Publisher of Fiction, Tyndale.

Wallace has written four feature films: We Were Soldiers, Pearl Harbor, The Man in the Iron Mask, and the 1995 Academy Award–winning film Braveheart. For his work on Braveheart, he received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. He is currently directing the film Secretariat,to be released by Disney Studios in the fall of 2010. A Southern California resident, Wallace is the founder of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity.

In the publishing agreement with Tyndale House, Mr. Wallace was represented by Mel Berger

of WME.

Tyndale House Publishers was founded in 1962 by Dr. Kenneth N. Taylor as a means of publishing The Living Bible. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and other resources for home and family. Within the past ten years, more than thirty Tyndale nonfiction or fiction books have become New York Times bestsellers, including the popular Left Behind fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins and novels by Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, and Joel C. Rosenberg. Tyndale is substantially owned by the Tyndale House Foundation. As a result, the company’s profits help underwrite charitable works around the world. Tyndale House is located in Carol Stream, Illinois.

New Online Christian Fiction Magazine Coming This Fall

NASHVILLE, TN—(June 15, 2010)—This fall, Salem Publishing will launch FamilyFiction, a major resource for helping consumers discover the best in Christian fiction, through a bimonthly digital magazine, email newsletter and website. FamilyFiction’s coverage will span the breadth of Christian fiction—Amish, Historical, Suspense, Speculative, Romance, Contemporary and Young Adult—with timely news updates, up-to-date release lists, reviews, interviews, book trailers and more.

“FamilyFiction addresses a great need,” says Michael Miller, General Manager of Salem Publishing. “We look forward to exposing more and more Christian fiction readers to these great authors.”

“There is a reason Jesus taught in parables,” says Robin Lee Hatcher, best-selling author of the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series (Zondervan). “The power of story is that it puts us into the lives of the characters, letting us see and experience things through those characters. In the process, we learn and sometimes are changed.”

“Fiction is a powerful tool in the hands of believers,” notes Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of Her Mother’s Hope (Tyndale House). “It is a non-threatening way to share our faith with unsaved friends and relatives who might not be willing to read the Bible or talk about Jesus. I know of many new authors who will gain a wider audience through this new resource. The quality of Christian fiction just keeps getting better. FamilyFiction will be a great place to let it shine!”

Adds Robert Liparulo, author of the YA time-travel thriller Frenzy (Thomas Nelson): “What? A way to find and promote stories by Christian authors who share my values? Where do I sign up? Way to go, guys!”

“I applaud Salem Communications in the launch of FamilyFiction,” says DiAnn Mills, author of The Call of Duty series (Tyndale) and the historical romance A Woman Called Sage (Zondervan). “This new resource will be helpful to me in my various roles—writer, promoter of Christian fiction, trainer and encourager of authors—and avid reader!”

Salem Publishing plans to launch the FamilyFiction digital magazine, newsletter and comprehensive website Fall 2010. In the meantime, Christian fiction readers can sign up for updates at FamilyFiction.com and connect on Facebook.com/FamilyFiction and Twitter.com/FamilyFiction.

About Salem Publishing
Salem Publishing is a top producer of Christian-themed magazines and websites that reach a broad spectrum of the Christian market. Salem Publishing is owned by Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM), a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. In addition to its radio properties and Salem Publishing, Salem Communications owns Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives, a national radio advertising sales force; and Salem Web Network, an Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming. Additional information about Salem Publishing may be accessed at the company’s website, SalemPublishing.com.

Ted Dekker teams with Tosca Lee for new trilogy

This just in from Ted Dekker's Facebook page:

Is it possible to write a story that eclipses the scope and impact of The Circle Series? Ted thinks so and he said as much at the Chicago Gathering on Saturday. In fact, he dropped a bombshell to the collective gasp of the 300 people in the room. Not only does he think it's possible, but it's already being written for a Summer 2011 release from Hachette Book Group.

It's entitled Forbidden and it's unlike any Dekker story you've read to date.

For those who weren't there to see the video trailer on Saturday, here is the synopsis:

Four hundred eighty years have passed since civilization's brush with extinction. Perfect order reigns. Humanity's greatest threats have all been silenced. There is no disease, no malice, no hate, no war. There is only peace.

Until the day when one man discovers the truth: Every single soul walking the earth is actually dead. The human heart has been stripped of all that makes it human. Now only he is alive and only he has the knowledge that can once again awaken humanity.

But the way is treacherous and the cost is staggering. For, indeed, in that day life itself is...Forbidden.

But this is going to be different, Ted explained. To pull this story off right would require a unique blend of Dekker style thrills and grit told with masterful prose like he's never delivered before. It would mean going beyond himself in a completely new way. It would mean collaborating with someone as unique and edgy as he is to create something better than he could on his own.

So the search began to find that one writer to elevate this story and make it larger than life. We thought it was an order too big to fill and we almost gave up. Then we found her.

Those at the Gathering met her already, but now we'd like to introduce you because you're going to hear a lot more about the extremely talented Tosca Lee very soon. Trust us.

For those who are unacquainted with her, Tosca is the acclaimed novelist of the groundbreaking (and controversial) books Demon and Havah. She's also working on a novel about Judas...told in first person. If you met her you might think she is the long lost female side of Ted. And you might be right.

She's grit and beauty in one package and has a way of finessing the English language in a way that's best described as lyrical.

Forbidden is the first in the series that will likely become a trilogy. The collaboration process is unlike anything he's done before. It had to be. Ted said that it had to be seamless and feel 100% Dekker or the world would never see it. As a collaborative title, it will be completely different than House, Kiss, or Burn.

More details will be released soon about this exciting venture and you'll be the first to hear about it right here. We haven't seen Ted this consumed with a story since the Circle. And if that's any indication of what's to come we should all get ready for the ride ahead.

2010 Christy Award nominees announced!

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The Christy Advisory Board is pleased to announce nominees in nine categories for the 2010 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction. The Christy Awards will be conferred in advance of the International Christian Retailing Show at a ceremony at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel, Sat., June 26, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. Author and entrepreneur Lisa Samson, a two-time Christy Award winner and seven-time nominee, will present the keynote address.

Tickets to the event are $30. For more information about the awards reception and to make reservations (beginning Apr. 30), visit the Christy Award website at http://www.christyawards.com.

The 2010 Christy Award nominees are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

• Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills • Tyndale House Publishers


• How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group


• Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus • Barbour Publishing

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS

• Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson • Thomas Nelson


• The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group


• Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth • Zondervan

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE

• June Bug by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers


• The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson


• Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle • Tyndale House Publishers

FIRST NOVEL

• The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry • Moody Publishers


• Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent • Tyndale House Publishers


• Scared by Tom Davis • David C. Cook

HISTORICAL

• A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group


• Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group


• The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey • Revell Books: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

HISTORICAL ROMANCE†

• Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group


• A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group


• The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander • Thomas Nelson


• The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

SUSPENSE

• Intervention by Terri Blackstock • Zondervan


• Lost Mission by Athol Dickson • Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster


• The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

VISIONARY

• By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson • Marcher Lord Press


• The Enclave by Karen Hancock • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group


• Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

YOUNG ADULT

• Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma • Thomas Nelson


• The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason • David C. Cook


• North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

†Historical Fiction includes four nominees due to a tie in scoring.

View this press release as a PDF: http://ajast.com/ChristyNomineesPR2010.pdf

Frank Peretti signs with Howard Books

According to Christian Retailing, Frank Peretti has signed with Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.

Howard has announced they will publish a new novel by Peretti in 2011. The novel is as yet unnamed but according to vice President and editor in chief Becky Nesbitt, "We believe the book will captivate readers in much the same way as his New York Times best-selling titles This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness."

Read the full piece at Christian Retailing here.

ECPA 2010 Christian Book Award Finalists Announced

Christian Book Awards Finalists for 2010

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announces the finalists for the 2010 Christian Book Awards. Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Awards honor titles in six categories: Bibles, Bible Reference & Study, Christian Life, Fiction, Children & Youth, and Inspiration & Gift. More information on the Christian Book Award

Category: Bibles

	American Patriot's Bible, NKJV Richard Lee, Editor Thomas Nelson, 9781418541538		Stewardship Study Bible, NIV Zondervan, 9780310948483
	Chronological Study Bible, NKJV Thomas Nelson, 9780718020682		The Word of Promise: Complete Audio Bible, NKJV Thomas Nelson, 9780718024130
	Glo, Immersion Digital Zondervan, 9780981990200

Category: Bible Reference & Study

	A Visual Guide to Bible Events James Martin, John Beck and David Hansen Baker Books/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780801012853		Peoples of the New Testament World William A. Simmons Hendrickson Publishers, 9781565632240
	The New Moody Atlas of the Bible Barry J. Beitzel Moody Publishers, 9780802404411		The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible Merril C. Tenney and Moisés Silva Zondervan, 9780310241362
	Pastoring Men Patrick Morley Moody Publishers, 9780802475534

Category: Children & Youth

	A Young Woman's Guide to Making Right Choices Elizabeth George Harvest House Publishers, 9780736921077		Jesus Is Alive: Evidence for the Resurrection Children's Edition Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell Regal Books, 9780830747863
	B4UD8- Before You Date Hayley and Michael DiMarco Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800733087		Take Your Best Shot Austin Gutwein with Todd Hillard Thomas Nelson, 9781400315154
	God's Little Princess Bedtime Bible Stories Devotions, & Prayers, Sheila Walsh Thomas Nelson, 9781400312979		Wild Cat Dandi Daley Mackall Tyndale House Publishers, 9781414312705

Category: Christian Life

	The Hole in Our Gospel Richard Stearns Thomas Nelson, 9780785229186		The Pilgrim's Progress: From this World to That Which Is to Come John Bunyan Crossway Books & Bibles, 9781433506994
	If God Is Good Randy Alcorn WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, 9781601421326		The Principle of the Path Andy Stanley Thomas Nelson, 9780849920608
	Inside the Revolution Joel Rosenberg Tyndale House Publishers, 978141431931

Category: Fiction

	Blood Bayou Karen Young Howard Books, 9781416587507		Michal Jill Eileen Smith Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800733209
	The Centurion's Wife Davis Bunn and Jannette Oke Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764205149		Veiled Freedom Jeanette Windle Tyndale House Publishers, 9781414314754
	Healing Waters Stephen Arterburn and Nancy Rue Thomas Nelson, 9781595544315		Watch Over Me Christa Parrish Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764205545
	June Bug Chris Fabry Tyndale House Publishers, 9781414319568

Category: Inspiration & Gift

	Amish Peace Suzanne Woods Fisher Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800733384		He Was Crucified Gerard J. Stanley Concordia Publishing House, 9780758613158
	Fresh Grounded Faith Jennifer Rothschild Harvest House Publishers, 9780736925754		Look Unto Me Jim Reimann Zondervan, 9780310283874
	Grace Notes Philip Yancey Zondervan, 9780310287728