It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese, a 2022 Christy Award and ACFW Carol Award winner.
What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?
About All That Really Matters
Molly McKenzie’s bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have made her a major social media influencer. When her manager-turned-boyfriend tells her of an upcoming audition to host a makeover show for America’s underprivileged youth, all her dreams finally seem to be coming true. There’s just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.
To gain an edge on her competitors, she plans to volunteer for the summer at a transitional program for aged-out foster kids, but the program’s director, Silas Whittaker, doesn’t find her as charming as her followers do. Despite his ridiculous rules and terms, Molly dives into mentoring, surprising herself with the genuine connections and concern she quickly develops for the girls–and Silas. But just as everything seems perfectly aligned for her professional future, it starts to crumble under the pressure. And as her once-narrow focus opens to the deep needs of those she’s come to know, she must face the ones she’s neglected inside herself for so long.
It depends on the award. I’ve tried reading a couple of Orange Booker Prize finalists or winners and haven’t made it through the first chapter. I can only conclude that means those awards recognise a style of writing I’m not especially interested in reading.
As a child, I realised one of my favourite novels had won something called the Newbery Medal.
If I saw a Newbery Medal award on a book cover, I’d then read it because I found they were consistently enjoyable books.
I would buy more Carol, Christy, and Inspy-Award winning books if it wasn’t for my current to-read pile. My current Kindle contains enough unread books to keep me quiet for the next two years, assuming I don’t download or agree to review any more books (as if). Then there’s my old Kindle Keyboard, which has enough books for the next eight to ten years …
But I’m always glad when a book I’ve read and enjoyed wins an award.
What about you? Does a book winning an award influence you to read it?
I’ve loved reading ever since I was a child. (Raise your hand if that sounds familiar!)
Most of the early books I read were from Scholastic, courtesy of the Lucky Book Club brochures that were delivered to school every few months. Mum would usually buy us a book out of the brochure. I also found many books from the brochure in the school library.
When I was about ten, I noticed that many of my favourite books had a picture of a medal on the cover—the Newbery Medal. I learned that if I was looking for a book, that medal often indicated a book I’d like.
Then I grew up, and grew out of Newbery Medal-winning books. Were there adult equivalents? My mother bought The Bone People by Keri Hulme, the first book by a New Zealand author to win the prestigious Booker Prize (back before it was sponsored by Man Group). She didn’t like The Bone People—she couldn’t get past the non-standard punctuation.
I think that put me off searching for adult equivalents to the Newberry Medal.
Now I read mostly Christian fiction, and I find there are a huge range of awards for Christian books, fiction and non-fiction. I enjoy following the fiction awards:
I find these four contests routinely have finalists and winners I enjoy—so if a book makes it to that coveted finalist position, I’m willing to give it a try even if I know nothing about the book or the author.
The Christy, Carol, and INSPY Awards all have several genre categories, and a first book category. I love checking out the lists of finalists in my favourite genres.
How many of the books have I read? Which did I like? Which would I pick to win?
I do find myself adding several books to my to-read pile. Sometimes I wonder how and why I missed them when they were first published.
So yes, I do read award-winning books, but only from the Christian contests I trust.
Yes, I know this week was meant to be my book recommendations for August, but I’ve got exciting news to share and I couldn’t wait a whole week.
I won a 2016 Genesis Award!
Play On, Jordan won the 2016 Genesis Award for unpublished authors from American Christian Fiction Writers in the Novella category!
The results were announced on Saturday night at the ACFW Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I couldn’t be there, so Wellington author Kara Isaac kindly agreed to collect the award on my behalf (which you can see on YouTube at 29:45).
My win was unexpected—I only prepared an acceptance speech because Kara asked me to. I didn’t think she’d need to actually read it!
Jebraun Clifford, who currently lives in Rotorua (about an hour from me) won the Young Adult category. Here she is with her plaque:
ACFW also announced the winners of the 2016 Carol Awards, for the best in published fiction across a range of genres. The winners were:
Contemporary:
The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert, Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House)
Historical:
Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
Historical Romance:
A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:
The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan
Novella:
A Bride for Bear from The Convenient Bride Collection by Erica Vetsch
Romance:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt
Romantic Suspense:
No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason
Short Novel:
Covert Justice by Lynn Huggins Blackburn
Speculative:
The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart
Young Adult:
Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman, Bethany House
Debut:
The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis
More books to add to my to-read pile!
2016 CALEB Prize Finalists
Closer to home, Omega Writers have announced the finalists in the 2016 CALEB Prize. Omega Writers are a group of Australian and New Zealand Christian writers, and I’m a member.
Children’s Picture Books
Same – Katrina Roe
The Word War – Mark Hadley
Fearlessly Madison – Penny Reeve
Hey! Is That How God Made Animals? – Penny Morrison
Jesus Walks on Water – Shan Joseph
Published Adult
Zenna Dare – Rosanne Hawke
The Pounamu Prophecy – Cindy Williams
Too Pretty – Andrea Grigg
Invincible – Cecily Paterson
Empires Children – Patricia Weerakoon
Unpublished Manuscripts
The Peacock Stone – Nick Hawkes
The Boy in the Blue Hoodie – Cate McKeowan
Jurisdiction – Joye Alit
The Fraught Ambitions of Man – Rebecca Hayman
10 Things I Hate About God – Susan Barnes
The winners will be announced at the 2016 Omega Writers Conference to be held in Sydney in October 2016. I’m looking forward to attending and cheering for the winners.
It’s been a busy week in terms of awards for Christian fiction. American Christian Fiction Writers have announced the finalists in the Carol Awards (with the winners to be announced at their conference in August), and the 2016 Christy Award and 2016 INSPY Award winners have been announced.
Winners of the 2016 Christy and INSPY awards
So if you’ve been looking for a Christian novel to read, here are some great choices!
First up, the winners of the 2016 Christy Awards:
Book of the Year and Visionary:
The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart
Contemporary:
The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate
Contemporary Romance/Suspense:
The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
Contemporary Series:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt
First Novel:
Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason
Historical:
Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
Historical Romance:
Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund
Suspense:
Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock
Young Adult:
The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker
The only surprise for me on this list was the winner of First Novel—I attempted to read it, but found the heroine so unlikeable I couldn’t finish it. I can only assume she improved a lot by the end.
The 2016 INSPY Award winners are:
Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense
The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer
Debut Fiction
Jaded by Varina Denman
General Fiction
Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
Historical Romance
Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin
Young Adult
An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund
Mystery/Thriller
The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks
Speculative Fiction
The Shock Of Night by Patrick Carr
I’m Thrilled To See Secrets She Kept On This List As Well—It Was An Outstanding Novel (And, In Fact, Cathy Gohlke Won This Category Last Year As Well, When I Was An Inspy Judge).
And the finalists for the Carol Awards are:
Contemporary:
Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman
The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert
As Waters Gone By by Cynthia Ruchti
Historical:
Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson
Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund
Historical Romance:
Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin
A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:
The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan
Blessings in Disguise by Nancy Mehl
Finding Amanda by Robin Patchen
What’s interesting about this category is that none of these are from ‘major’ Christian publishers.
Novella:
A Bride for Bear from The Convenient Bride Collection by Erica Vetsch
A Palace on the Plains from The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection by Erica Vetsch
The Archaeologist’s Find from The Homestead Brides Collection by Erica Vetsch
Huge congratulations to Erica Vetsch, who obviously has this category sewn up!
Romance:
The Beekeeper’s Son by Kelly Irvin
Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt
Romantic Suspense:
No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason
Submerged by Elizabeth Goddard
Miracle Drug by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
Short Novel:
Covert Justice by Lynn Huggins Blackburn
The Christmas Family by Linda Goodnight
The Doctor’s Second Chance by Missy Tippens
Speculative:
Vinnie’s Diner by Jennifer AlLee
Heir of Hope by Morgan L. Busse
The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart
Young Adult:
Angelhood by A.J. Cattapan
The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman
Debut:
The Thornbearer by Pepper Basham
The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis
The First Principle by Marissa Shrock
Another category where all the books are from smaller publishers, which is great news for authors.
It’s coming to that time of year again, when the publishing industry seeks to honour the best of the books published in the last calendar year. Entries to the various Christian fiction awards have closed, judging has commenced, and authors are waiting to find out if they’ve made the longlist or the shortlist or if they’ve won. I imagine each announcement brings a sense of relief for those authors still in the running for a prize, but also a raised sense of anxiety: so close, and yet so far.
Today I’m going to give you information on the six contests I watch every year. Over the next few weeks I’ll introduce you to the finalists in each Award, as they are announced. If you’ve ever wondered what to read next, these lists will provide some ideas—and you’ll see a few of the same titles popping up on several lists.
Introducing the major Christian Fiction Awards
The CALEB Prize
The CALEB Prize is organized by Omega Writers, a writing organization for Australian and New Zealand Christian Writers. Entry is open to Australian and New Zealand authors, and there are two categories for the 2016 prize: fiction, and children’s picture books.
The Christy Awards are named for Christy, the groundbreaking novel by Catherine Marshall, who wrote over two dozen books which have sold in excess of 25 million copies. The awards were established in 1999 to honour and promote excellence in Christian fiction, and to showcase the diversity of Christian fiction genres.
The Carol Awards
The Carol Awards were established by American Christian Fiction Writers in 2002 to recognize the best in Christian fiction. Both print and ebooks are accepted, but ebook authors must submit print copies. Novels must be nominated by their authors, must be written from a Christian world view, and may be self-published or traditionally published.
Independent authors must apply to ACFW for Qualified Independently Published (QIP) status if they have not previously been traditionally published. In order to achieve QIP status, an author has to show evidence they have earned at least $4,000 from the sale of one novel over a 12-month period.
The Grace Awards
The Grace Awards were established in 2010 to “expand the tent pegs of Christian fiction”. They allow traditionally published and self-published novels, and make no distinction between paper or digital formats: anyone can enter, as long as the book is Christian Fiction, and 55,000 words or longer. Novels should be:
Traditional Christian, Inspirational, realistic and/or gritty Christian and edgy Christian, stories from a Christian worldview, redemptive themed, biblical, Messianic, catholic, faith-based, Christian and/or Messianic mystical themes, values imbued, grace and forgiveness oriented, marriage and family friendly, depicting Christian lifestyle (can be struggling with it), spiritually and emotionally healing fiction
The Grace Awards were founded by a group of small-press and independent authors, so they tend to feature a lot of small press and self-published books that are overlooked by the larger industry awards (which didn’t necessarily permit entries from these authors and publishers when the Grace Awards were founded).
Their process is unique: readers, reviewers and bloggers nominate titles along with a 40+ words outlining why they like the book. All nominated novels are then put to public vote, and three finalists are chosen for each category. A panel of judges then read the finalists and decide on a winner.
The INSPY Awards
The INPSY Awards were established in 2010, and is described as the Bloggers’ Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature. The INSPY Awards are only open to print books from a publishing house (be it a large traditional house, a small press, or a micropress publishing as few as two authors).
The Awards are looking to recognize books of exceptional literary qualities including but not limited to: innovative, original writing, and depth of characterization. The book must respectfully grapple with some element of the Christian faith.
Novels are nominated by readers (self nominations by authors are not permitted). The INSPY Advisory Board (also bloggers) determine a shortlist of five finalists in each category. A team of three blogger judges then choose a winner. Judges are chosen by the Advisory Board from a pool of self-nominated bloggers which makes the INPSY Awards unique, as the creators of the award have limited influence on the overall winners.
The RITA® Awards
The RITA® Awards are run by Romance Writers of America, and are named after the organisation’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada. The Awards are specifically for romance novels, in a range of sub-genres (including Inspirational) and lengths (including long, short and novella).
While the RITA® Awards were originally restricted to novels published through a traditional publisher, they now permit self-published novels, and several categories feature self-published or hybrid authors (being authors who have both self-published and been published by a traditional publisher).
Books are nominated by their author or publisher, and nominated authors act as first-round judges (not in their own category, of course). All novels achieving higher than a specific score are announced as finalist, which is unusual—most contests have a set number of finalists (usually three or five), and the top-scoring novels qualify. The RITA® approach caused problems one year, when one category had more than ten finalists and two others (Inspirational and Erotic) had only two each.
I’ll be back next week with the finalists for the Grace and RITA® Awards, and we can talk about our picks for each.
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