2008 Christy Award nominations announced
April 29, 2008 by Jeffrey Overstreet
It’s official today, so I can share the surprising news…
… and my thanks to the Christy Award Advisory board and the judges who enjoyed Auralia’s Colors. Wow… nominations in two categories? I’m really, really surprised and delighted. Thank you! It’s an honor to be nominated alongside these other writers… especially Stephen R. Lawhead, whose Pendragon Cycle books were inspiring to me when I was in high school and dreaming about writing fantasy someday! My wife Anne has been reading Scarlet, his new, nominated release.
And no, for those who have asked…. “Christy” does not mean “Jesus-y.” It’s a reference to the Catherine Marshall novel.
Ann Arbor, Mich.—The Christy Advisory Board is pleased to announce nominees in nine categories for the 2008 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction. The Christy Awards dinner will be held Saturday evening, July 12, 2008, at The Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. Visit the Christy Awards online at www.christyawards.com for more information.
The Christy Awards 2008 Nominees
CONTEMPORARY (STAND ALONE)
¨ Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
¨ In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
¨ Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)
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)
¨ Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
LITS (four nominees due to a tie)
¨ Doesn’t She Look Natural by Angela Elwell Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
¨ Hallie’s Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
¨ Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)
ROMANCE
¨ Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
¨ Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)
¨ 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)
¨ My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
¨ The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
VISIONARY
¨ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
FIRST NOVEL
¨ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
YOUNG ADULT
¨ Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ In Between by Jenny B.Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)
11 Responses to “2008 Christy Award nominations announced”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
“VISIONARY
¨ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)”
You are up against Stephen Lawhead. I would be torn with that one. Scarlet is a really good book.
Congrats on the nominations!
I’m really enjoying Auralia’s Colors.
I couldn’t get through Scarlet.
Good luck (or providential good fortune).
Did you read Hood first? Are you a Lawhead fan?
And no, “Christy” does not mean “Christ-y” or “Jesus-like.”
It’s a reference to Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy, which I’ve unfortunately never read.
Wow. In two separate categories. Double congratulations.
Is there any cash associated with these awards, or is it just prestige? And do they pay for the trip to Florida, or do you have to foot your own bill?
I hope I’m not prying, but I’ve always been curious about that and this is the first time I’ve had a chance to ask.
Thanks!
A) I don’t know yet.
B) I don’t know yet.
Stay tuned!
I loved both “Hood” and “Scarlet”-books that have permanent places on my bookshelf, along with “Auralia’s Colors.”
I’m anxious to read “Tuck”, even though it’s going to be awhile yet.
I have “Demon” by Tosca Lee, but haven’t had a chance to read it, yet. “The Stones Cry Out” was a good book, especially for a first novel, IMHO.
Congratulations, Jeffrey!
Congratulations, Jeff. The Visionary category had some stiff competition this year, including The Return of the Guardian King by four-time Christy Award winner Karen Hancock (assuming Bethany House Publishers entered it). Your book deserves this recognition, in my opinion.
And to be included in the First Novel category as well! A rare book to appear twice.
(And Christy is a great story.)
Becky
I grew up with Merlin and Taliesen, and I love the legend of Robin Hood, but I wasn’t thrilled with Hood, and I didn’t finish Scarlet. None of the characters really distinguished themselves in my mind.
To be fair, I started the series after reading Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, so I would probably have been disappointed with the plot and characterization of whatever book I read after those.
This is exciting news!
Your book’s been traveling some islands and people who’ve read your novel here (Philippines) are all looking forward to the sequel… we’ve been having great debates on some of the characters, too… will it help to give reviews to the judges from international readers?… Ha!
anyways, way to go!
Vikki
I know I’m a bit tardy in doing so, but congrats on the nominations! I haven’t read any of the other nominees, so I can’t offer any comparative insight, but on its own “Auralia” is a beautifully-written work. May these be the first of many to come.
Julio Ibanez