CAFE: A gathering place. A place of refreshment.

Thirsty for the latest releases in Christian fiction? Ready for a peek into the world of publishing and writing conferences? Hungry for spiritual and real-life nourishment? Pull up a seat; you're in the right place, and I'm so glad you've stopped by.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

CHRISTY AWARD NOMINEES

I've returned from the Christian Book Expo in Dallas and had a wonderful time. I'll give a full report tomorrow, but wanted to share one of the highlights here--being in the room when the Christy Finalists were named AND being able to hug two of my friends who made the list this year. A HUGE congrats to Mary Connealy in the Historical Romance category and to Shelley Adina in the Young Adult category. I was also really pleased that Alice Wisler was chosen for the First Book category as I simply loved her debut book.

The 2009 Christy Awards nominees are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren • Tyndale House Publishers
Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney • David C. Cook
CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Summer Snow by Nicole Baart • Tyndale House Publishers
You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman • FaithWords
CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
Dogwood by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers
Embrace Me by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson
Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas • Moody Publishers
FIRST NOVEL
Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake • David C. Cook
Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers
Safe at Home by Richard Doster • David C. Cook
HISTORICAL
Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley • B&H Publishing Group
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers
Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser • Bethany House Publishers


HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy • Barbour Publishers
From a Distance by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen • B&H Publishing Group
SUSPENSE
By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer • Tyndale House Publishers
The Rook by Steven James • Revell
Winter Haven by Athol Dickson • Bethany House Publishers
VISIONARY
The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka • Harvest House Publishers
Shade by John B. Olson • B&H Publishing Group
Vanish by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers
YOUNG ADULT
The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina • FaithWords
I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke • Moody Publishers
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Congrats to all the nominees!
I'll have pictures and some of the best moments for me from the CBE tomorrow.
Are there any books on this list that you've read or would like to read??? Please, do tell.

9 comments:

Erica Vetsch said...

Congratulations to all the nominees!

And a huge congrats to my friend, Mary Connealy. I'm so excited for her I can hardly stand it!

I LOVED Calico Canyon. It was easily the best book I read all last year.

Bonnie Way aka the Koala Mom said...

I like seeing whose names I recognize. :) I really want to read the book by Lisa Samson, as she's the main speaker in an upcoming writer's conference I'm attending (in about a month!!!). I've heard amazing things about her books.

carla stewart said...

Yep, Erica, it was very exciting to hear Mary's name called. She was tickled, but very humble.

Koala Bear friend, Lisa is an incredible author. I really liked Quaker Summer, Song Bird, The Church Ladies, and her latest, The Passion of Mary-Margaret. I hope you get to read a few of her books before your conference. It sounds like a great opportunity.

Alice. J. Wisler said...

I adore you, Carla!

Thanks!

~ Alice J. Wisler
author of RAIN SONG and HOW SWEET IT IS

carla stewart said...

I'm rootin' for you, Alice!

carla stewart said...

I'm rootin' for you, Alice!

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Carla,

Thanks for rooting for me. However, the competition is rough! Both books RAIN SONG is up against sound terrific!

My second novel is out, dear Carla! I want your input on HOW SWEET IT IS.

Thanks!

Alice

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Carla,
Are you going to read my second novel, How Sweet It Is? Hope so!

carla stewart said...

Hey, Alice! Hello, again. What a coincidence--I finished How Sweet It Is this morning. Wonderful!!! I'm planning on doing a review later this week.