Friday, November 13, 2020

The Christy Award 2020 Winners


In a year when everything feels topsy turvy, many of us are turning to stories (whether reading or writing them) to help us make sense of the world or simply cope by escaping our present reality for a few moments. Even the most contented solitary bookworm among us has felt the tremors of disaster or heard the rumblings of controversial headlines in 2020, it's inescapable. 

The world shouts at us to fear, hate, and divide... yet we, beloved friends, not only have the gift of story but we have the security of knowing and being known by the Author of all stories. Past, present, future, and eternity are in His hands and so are we. Whether you reach for a book or a pen, remember that God crafted and created each one of us for His purpose and glory. 

Be still. He's whispering to His chosen ones through His Word, through songs, through stories, through fellow believers... you were made with purpose and for a purpose. Glorify Him in fulfilling it. Be encouraged and edified, fellow believers! Love wins and Jesus is on the throne.


Okay, y'all it's time to let our hair down and celebrate story! I don't know who left that soapbox sitting out but I am not taking it home with me, I'll never get a moment of peace with that thing around. 

Can we just say BRAVO to The Christy Award and The Art of Writing Webinar Series organizers?! That was some tasty lemonade if you know what I'm sayin'! If you were an attendee or a participant of either event, I want to hear all your thoughts and experiences! 

I don't think I can fully express my gratitude to the 28 authors, 58 judges, The Christy Advisory Board, organizational team, sponsoring publishers, partnering booksellers, and extraordinary people behind the scenes dedicated to honoring excellence in Christian fiction. 

If it's starting to sound like I won an award, I obviously didn't but I DO get to read a lot of fabulous books and that's kind of the same thing without all the writing! Clearly, I need to wind down soon so without further ado or shenanigans, join me in congratulating The Christy Award winners of 2020!

Young Adult 

The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg (Bellflower Press)

Visionary 

Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing)

Historical 

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke (Tyndale House Publishers)

General Fiction

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance

The Painted Castle
 by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson)

Short Form 

A Christmas Haven
by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall (WaterBrook)

First Novel  

A Long Time Comin’
by Robin W. Pearson (Tyndale House Publishers)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller 

The Girl Behind the Red Rope
by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Romance 

Now and Then and Always
by Melissa Tagg (Larkspur Press)

Book of the Year

Whose Waves These Are
 by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)


Were you watching the Winners Webcast? Did you attend the Art of Writing Webinars? Share your thoughts and experiences!


Beth Erin is a Christian fiction enthusiast who works too hard and doesn't read nearly as much as she'd like to. You'll occasionally find her on Faithfully Bookish and on social media but mostly she's happily plugging away in the back office at JustRead Publicity Tours. Beth is passionate about promoting authors and their entertaining, encouraging, and redemptive stories. Plus she's kind of goofy when it's past her bedtime.

21 comments:

  1. Best. Bio. Ever. LOL (i love you)

    And CONGRATULATIONS to the winners (and the finalists too!)

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    1. I love you too and it was fun watching the results together even though we couldn't BE together!

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  2. Congratulations to all the winners and to all the finalists! What a lovely lineup of books!

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    1. It really is! What a wonderful year of fiction!

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  3. Congratulations to all of the winners and all of the finalists!

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  4. Congrats to all the winners and all of the nominees.... Just making it to the Christy finals is a wonderful achievement. Kudos to all of you and huge congrats to the winners. I'm so sorry you couldn't have a gala this year... but we're celebrating with you from afar!

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    1. It is! I'll have to encourage the powers that be to share a little more about the rigorous judging process. To be named a finalist among so many wonderful stories is an honor in itself!

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  5. Wow! Looks like I'm going to have to carve out some reading time because the only one of those I've read is Hidden Current. That book is beautiful inside and out. Highly recommended. Thanks for rounding them up for us! Congratulations to all the winners!

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    1. I'm adding a few to my list as well. There is joyful reading in our future, no doubt!

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  7. Beth, this is so great and such an encouragement to us all to keep going.

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  8. What a great shout-out to the Christy winners, Beth!

    And for aspiring authors, this is your reading list! The best of the best. :-)

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    1. Absolutely! Many of the categories had only a one point difference so the entire finalists list is excellent reading!

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  9. I've read a few of the winners and look forward to reading some of the other ones.
    Thanks for sharing the list!

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  10. Congrats to all the winners! Congrats to the finalists too! Thanks, Beth, for highlighting the winning books. Love those covers. I'm sure I'll also love the stories!

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  11. How exciting!! Congrats to all these winners! And to the finalists. Thanks for sharing, Beth.

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  12. Congratulations to all the winners. Definitely books I will have to read.

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