Introducing the Best Christian Fiction of 2015

Ever wondered what to read during these long, cold winter nights? 

It's award season in Christian fiction publishing right now, so today we're bringing you the winners from five (yes, five) awards for published authors, as judged by authors and publishing professionals (the Christy and RITA awards for inspirational fiction), and by readers and bloggers (the Grace, INSPY, and Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards).

Christy Awards

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 2016 winners are:

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 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).

Inspirational Romance

A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

Historical Romance – Long

Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist (Howard Books)

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. The 2106 winners were:

Womens Fiction/General Fiction

Annabelle’s Ruth by Betty Thomason Owens

Romance/Historical Romance

Bridge Of Faith by Catherine West

Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Historic Suspense

Trial By Twelve by Heather Day Gilbert

Speculative Fiction

Storming by K. M. Weiland

Action-Adventure/Western/Epic Fiction

Saving Eric by Joan Deneve

Young Adult

To Get To You by Joanne Bischof

The 2016 INSPY Awards

The INSPY 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).

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

2016 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award Winners

The IRCA is run by the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Long Contemporary

Together With You by Victoria Bylin

Long Historical

To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Short Contemporary

Second Chance Reunion by Merrillee Whren

Short Historical

Out of the Ashes by Sandi Rog

Romantic Suspense

Gone Without a Trace by Patricia Bradley

Women’s Fiction

Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall

Novella

Daughters of the Wind by DiAnn Mills


Congratulations to all these authors from those of us here at Australasian Christian Writers!

Readers (and writers): there are some great authors on these lists, so check one out and tell us what you think.

Should I Enter Writing Competitions?

G'day, Lucy here.

Writing competitions

ACFW's "Genesis" competition. RWA's "Golden Heart" or "RITA". Plus a slew of other slightly less known, but nonetheless well attended competitions.

But, should you enter one? Put your work, your hard-won writing out there for some stranger to pore over, pick at, and express some (perhaps) lofty opinion about?

Sounds a bit ... scary ... daunting ...

"Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net"

So, what are some of the reasons for entering a writing competition? I'll list some for and against below.

REASONS FOR

* Unbiased feedback. 

Not just any old unbiased feedback--the judges for theses contests are seasoned writers who have been through the obstacle course of publishing at least once. They know what good writing looks like, and they know what to say to help you polish your book to that standard.
Also, being unbiased (like say, your mum or a close friend) they won't tiptoe around hurting your feelings by telling you that perhaps your book isn't quite as perfect as you'd thought it was.

* Toughen up that author hide.

We can't afford to be sensitive about our work. If a book has problems (plot mites as I like to call them), then they'll be visible to critique partners, to agents, to editors, and, to those readers who may quite well hand out one star reviews.
Evaluating and applying contest feedback is a great way to take a step back from your book and look at it objectively. Weak hero? (ouch!) Lack of conflict? (grr!) Run on descriptions? (but, but, I like description!) Sure, wallow in how unfair life seems and how much work is in front of you etc etc etc--for about 3 minutes. Then pull up those fuzzy house socks and get to work!

* To learn.

We never stop learning. Let me say that again: We never stop learning. Good writers--great writers are continually learning. Finding out ways to deepen characters, widen plots, weave themes, to say more with less. NYT best sellers, authors with fifty books under their belt, the first time author--they, we, are all learning.

* Hopefully get an agent/editor's attention.

This is waaaay down on the list. If your book makes it past the eagle-eyed judges and up the score ranking and (gasp) finals or even (double gasp) wins then--depending on the sort of contest--will land on the desk of an agent or editor. And hopefully they like your story so much that they offer you representation or a contract.

"Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net"

Rewards. Risks. Which is which? To enter a contest or not? Let's look at the reasons against entering...

REASONS AGAINST

* People could steal your cool story ideas. 

I haven't heard of this happening, but who's to say it couldn't?

* Judges can have conflicting opinions.

Most bigger contest have three judges. Sometimes their opinions, suggestions, and comments can be very contradictory. If that's the case, then why bother entering at all? (To which I would suggest you take the mindset of 'well, I'm here to learn, so what can I learn from what all the judges have to say).

* God gives me the talent to write and every success, therefore I don't need to enter a contest.

This is both true ... and not true. 

God does gift us with the talent to write (or sing, or dance, or rock babies), and he does bless us with success, BUT like the parable of the talents I don't believe that God intends us to simply bury our talents and not seek ways to improve and develop what he has give us. 

So, there are the options. I've probably missed a few ;) but there's a few things to get you thinking about whether or not to enter.

For an up-to-date list of what contests are open I recommend the Seekerville blog. Here's the link.

All the best as we write for His glory,

Lucy

Lucy Morgan-Jones is a stay-at-home mum to four precocious children by day and a snoop by night, stalking interesting characters through historical Colorado, and writing about their exploits. 

She enjoys meeting new people from all over the world and learning about the craft of writing. When she can be separated from her laptop, she is a professional time waster on facebook, a slave to the towering stack of books on her bedside table, and a bottler, preserving fruit the old fashioned way so she can swap recipes and tips with her characters. Her home is in country Victoria, Australia where she does not ride a kangaroo to the shops, mainly because four children won’t fit. Represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.

*cross posted over at International Christian Fiction Writers blog.