Ada, MI (November 21, 2022)
On Thursday, November 17, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the 2022 Christy Award winners at a gala held at Lipscomb University’s George Shinn Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Approximately 150 publishers, authors, and fiction fans gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Six Baker Publishing Group authors were recipients of this prestigious award, including Amanda Cox, whose novel The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery (Revell) won both the General Fiction award and the 2022 Christy Book of the Year award. This is the first time in the Christy Award’s history that an author has won consecutive Book of the Year awards. Cox’s debut novel, The Edge of Belonging, won the First Novel award and the Book of the Year award in 2021.
Toni Shiloh’s novel In Search of a Prince (Bethany House) won the new Amplify Award, which was “created by publishers and agents to elevate and recognize under-represented ethnic stories of excellence, and their authors.” Program consultant Jevon Bolden, who presented the award to Shiloh, stated, “Our judges agreed that it was hard not to be overtaken by the superb storytelling, world-building, and character development that Shiloh mastered with seemingly extraordinary ease and flow. We found it to be an outstanding representation of literary excellence and an authentic ‘own voices’ story that stood out in every way. We find it a unique privilege, as an ethnically diverse judge panel, to contribute toward a deeper read of books by BIPOC authors and look forward to continuing to amplify their voices and stories.”
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese (Bethany House)
Molly McKenzie has made social media influencing a lucrative career, but nailing a TV show means proving she’s as good in real life as she is online. So she volunteers with a youth program. Challenged at every turn by the program director, Silas, and the kids’ struggles, she’s surprised by her growing attachment. Has her perfect life been imperfectly built?
HISTORICAL
Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House)
A birthday excursion turns deadly when the SS Eastland capsizes with insurance agent Olive Pierce and her best friend on board. After her escape, Olive discovers her friend is among the missing victims. When she begins investigating the accident, more setbacks arise. It will take all she has to overcome those who want to sabotage her search for the truth.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin (Revell)
When the Nazis march into Paris, an American woman uses her bookstore to aid the resistance, while a businessman chooses to sell his products to Germany—and send vital information home to the US. Can they work together for the higher good, or will it cost them everything they love?
SHORT FORM
A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House)
A town’s wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors.