Press Room

• ACFW’s 2017 Gala Awards

  Monday, September 25, 2017 11:11 AM

  
  Hold for release until 10 PM Saturday, September 23, 2017

  ACFW’s CAROL AWARD/GENESIS WINNERS AND JERRY JENKINS HONORED

  GRAPEVINE, TX:  Significant achievements in the world of Christian Fiction were acknowledged at the 2017 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Awards Gala at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center during the annual ACFW conference on September 23, 2017. Among the honorees were author and writing instructor Jerry Jenkins, recipient of the 2017 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award.

  ACFW CEO Colleen Coble says, “Among the titles that instantly come to mind in the long list of Jerry Jenkins’ books is the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye, a series that impacted both the Christian and general markets and countless readers. Many readers report that their faith was awakened or reawakened by that series,” says Coble. “But there’s so much more to the story of the impact Jerry Jenkins has had in the Christian Fiction community.”

  Also honored for their contributions to Christian Fiction and to ACFW were:

  Mentor of the Year—Lynette Eason
  Agent of the Year—Tamela Hancock Murray (The Steve Laube Agency)
  Editor of the Year—Sarah Rische (Tyndale House Publishers)
  Volunteer of the Year—Cheryl Wyatt
  Member Service Award Recipient—Gail Gaymer Martin

  Representatives from many facets of the industry—publishers, editors, agents, the press, libraries, bookstores, reviewers, bloggers, publicists, specialty providers, and both veteran and aspiring novelists—gathered during the conference, which culminated with the Awards Gala.

  The 2017 CAROL AWARD winners for excellence in Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year by category are:

  Contemporary
  The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editor Amanda Bostic

  Historical
  Like a River From Its Course by Kelli Stuart, Kregel Publications, editors Dawn Jackson and Janyre Tromp

  Historical Romance
  The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof, ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published), editors Denise Harmer and Karen Swanson

  Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
  When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Natalie Hanneman

   

  Novella
  The Doctor’s Woman (The Courageous Brides Collection) by Michelle Griep, Barbour Publishing, editor Becky Germany

  Romance
  A Season to Love by Nicole Deese, Waterfall Press, editors Amy Hosford and Kristin Mehus-Roe

  Romantic Suspense
  Always Watching: A Novel (Elite Guardians) by Lynette Eason, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing, editor Andrea Doering

  Short Novel
  Restoring Christmas: A Novel by Cynthia Ruchti, Worthy Inspired, editors Pamela Clements and Jamie Chavez

  Speculative
  The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy

  Debut
  You’re the Cream in my Coffee by Jennifer Lamont Leo, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editor Kathryn Davis

  The 2017 GENESIS CONTEST winners for unpublished novels by category are:

  Contemporary—Carrie Padgett - Harley Taps Out
  Historical—Kendy Pearson – Kanawha Winds
  Historical Romance—Rachel Scott McDaniel – The Red Canary
  Mystery/Suspense/Thriller—Diane M. Campbell – Point Blank
  Novella—Tari Faris – Something About Him
  Romance—Andrea Michelle Wood – Feel the Music
  Romantic Suspense—Darlene L. Turner – Stolen Vows
  Short Novel—Sharon J. Mondragon – The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry
  Speculative—Rick Rosenkranz - Luminarium
  Young Adult—Kerry Johnson – The Golden Orb

  Throughout the year, ACFW instructs, informs, and inspires storytellers, and works to build relationships within the industry among those who create, publish, talk about, sell, and promote Christian Fiction.

  ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction. ACFW’s mission is to empower Christian novelists by inspiring them to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. For more information about ACFW, contact acfwrelations@acfw.com or member.acfw.com.

  Find this release in its entirety at http://member.acfw.com/about/press_room

   

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