Press Room

• ACFW AWARDS BANQUET 2010 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

  Tuesday, November 9, 2010 3:41 PM

  With a record turnout of more than 600 attendees, marking it as the largest Christian writing conference, ACFW ended its conference Sunday evening with the awards presentations.

  Well-known advocate for Christian fiction, Carol Johnson (long-time editor with Bethany House Publishers), was awarded ACFW’s first ever Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to acquiring, editing, and championing Christian fiction. Present to participate in honoring Carol Johnson was one of her most recognized acquisitions-prolific author of the Love Comes Softly series, Janette Oke.

  Following that presentation, Mrs. Johnson helped honor the best Christian novels published in 2009 with the award named for her-the Carol Awards.

  Winners of the Carol Awards for the best Christian fiction in the following categories were:

  Contemporary Novella
  Susan May Warren - The Great Christmas Bowl (Tyndale House, Karen Watson - Editor)

  Historical Novella
  Janet Tronstad - Christmas Bells for Dry Creek (Steeple Hill, Tina James - Editor)

  Short Contemporary
  Mae Nunn - A Texas Ranger’s Family (Steeple Hill, Melissa Endlich - Editor)

  Short Contemporary Suspense
  Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Evidence of Murder (Steeple Hill, Emily Rodmell - Editor)

  Short Historical
  Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell, Andrea Doering)

  Young Adult
  Jenny B. Jones - I’m So Sure (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann/Jamie Chavez - Editors)

  Long Contemporary
  Christina Berry - The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers, Paul Santhouse - Editor)

  Long Contemporary Romance
  Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson, Natalie Hanemann/Jamie Chavez - Editors)

  Mystery
  A.K. Arenz - The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House, Joan M. Shoup - Editor)

  Suspense/Thriller
  Terri Blackstock - Intervention (Zondervan, Sue Brower/Dave Lambert - Editors)

  Long Historical
  Allison Pittman - Stealing Home (Multnomah, Alice Crider - Editor)

  Long Historical Romance
  Mary Connealy - Cowboy Christmas (Barbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany - Editor)

  Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory)
  Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke - Editor)

  Women’s Fiction
  Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge - Never the Bride (Waterbrook Press, Shannon Marchese - Editor)

  Debut Author
  Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell, Andrea Doering - Editor)

  Zondervan editor Sue Brower was awarded ACFW’s Editor of the Year honor. Sandra Bishop from MacGregor Literary was named ACFW’s Agent of the Year.

  Each year, ACFW also awards honors for the best entries from unpublished writers through the Genesis contest. This year’s Genesis winners by category are:

  Contemporary Fiction
  Lynnette P. Horner, The Assistant

  Contemporary Romance
  Janice LaQuiere, Truckload of Love

  Historical Fiction
  Brenda Jackson, Principle Engagement

  Historical Romance
  Pam Hillman, Terms of Indenturement

  Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
  Rich Bullock, Storm Lake/Storm Song

  Romantic Suspense
  Valerie Goree, Weep in the Night

  Speculative Fiction
  Andra Marquardt, Traitors

  Women’s Fiction
  Jennifer Fromke, Docking

  Young Adult
  Stefanie Morris, Shyla, Desert Daughter/Shyla, Child of the Desert

  Included in the evening’s honors were Fay Lamb, who received the Member Service Award, and Susan May Warren, who was honored as Mentor of the Year.

  ACFW is devoted to training its writers, educating them in the market, and serving as an advocate in the traditional Christian fiction publishing industry. With more than 2200 members and 24 local chapters in 15 states as well as a beyond-the-borders online chapter, ACFW represents The Voice of Christian fiction.

  For interviews or more information about ACFW (member.acfw.com), contact Cynthia Ruchti, ACFW President, at president@acfw.com or Angela Breidenbach, ACFW Publicity Officer, at pr@acfw.com.