Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2026 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2026 Finalists & Winners (announced on November 6th)!
You are Invited
The Christy Award Gala
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
Featuring Michelle Shocklee, Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.
This is our year to gather together in person to celebrate and honor the best Christian fiction of the year. The Christy Award Gala will be held the evening of Friday, November 6th and will feature a premiere cast of the industry’s authors to announce The Christy Award winners in nine categories, The Christy Book of the Year, and The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction.
This year’s gala features a keynote address from Michelle Shocklee, recipient of The Christy Book of the Year for her acclaimed novel All We Thought We Knew. Her story and perspective will set the tone for an evening rooted in faith, creativity, and impact. Continuing Christy tradition, recent honorees will present category awards, including Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.
The Christy Award Finalists 2026
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE – tie
Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen (Kregel Publications)
Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
FIRST NOVEL
In the Light of the Sun by Angela Shupe (WaterBrook, an imprint of PRH Christian)
The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz (Tyndale House Publishers)
Where Stillness Speaks by Chelsey Welwood (Chelsey Welwood)
GENERAL FICTION
South of Somewhere by T.I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers)
The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
HISTORICAL – tie
From the Valley We Rise by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson Fiction)
HISTORICAL ROMANCE – tie
Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White (Tyndale House Publishers)
Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett (Kregel Publications)
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER – tie
Final Approach by Lynette Eason (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Girl Lost by Kate Angelo (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Accused by Cara Putman (Kregel Publications)
SHORT FORM – tie
A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer (Tyndale House Publishers)
One Nine by Sara Davison (Sara Davison)
Planning for Nickie by Tasha Hackett (Tasha Hackett)
To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher (RobinSong, Inc.)
SPECULATIVE – tie
Every Hour until Then by Gabrielle Meyer (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Heir of Light by Niki Florica and Jill Williamson (Sunrise Publishing)
Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Of Dawn and Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
YOUNG ADULT – tie
Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Sons of Day and Night by Mariposa Aristeo (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
The Outsider by Katy Morgan (The Good Book Company)
The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Register for The Christy Award 2026 Events
Join us in Music City for a vibrant, can’t-miss gathering of the Christian fiction community.
Beyond the Books Add-On: Meet the finalist authors at this special morning gathering of authors and readers.
The Art of Writing conference will bring together writers, storytellers, and publishing professionals for an afternoon of relevant topics and networking.
The Christy Award Winners Gala celebrates this year’s finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!
The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. For more information about ECPA, visit ECPA.org. For more information about the Christy Awards and Art of Writing conferences, visit ChristyAwards.com or email [email protected]
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive their choice of The Art of Writing registration OR print copies of The Christy Award finalist titles for one category!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 25, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 2, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Tour Schedule
September 25
Life on Chickadee Lane
Beauty in the Binding
By The Book
Cindy’s Book Corner
Lisa’s Reading
Danielle’s Writing Spot
Cover Lover Book Review
Bookworlder
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
ReviewByErin
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews
Woven by Words
FINCHNWREN
A Modern Day Fairy Tale
Reading Is My SuperPower
Hallie Reads
Inspired by Fiction
All God’s Women
Read Write Rendezvous
Book looks by Lisa
Dana Loves Books
@jess.lost.in.pages
@readingintheheartland
@Alaskan.BookDragon
@reading.among.the.daisies
@charitys.book.escapes
@andrettemherron
@booklooks_lisa
@melissas_bookshelf
@regency_fan_michelle
@beautyinthebinding
@Tangentadventures
@bookstruckph
@faithfulbookish
@dana.loves.books
@randikaye
@genreadblog
@bookwormmama14
@sassybookishmama
@readingwmich
@yvette_bookworlder
@suziewaltner
@jerahwrites
@books.n.blossoms
Andrette Brown Herron
Book Looks by Lisa
Melissas Bookshelf
RegencyFan Michelle
Beauty in the Binding
Bookslesstravelledblog
Bookstruck Ph
Faithfully Bookish
Dana’s Book Obsession
A Modern Day Fairy Tale
Christian Book Devourers (Moderator)
Bookworm Mama
Michelle McElrath
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama
Laura Ashley Meyer
June McCrary Jacobs
@bookworlder
@suziewaltner27
@jerahwrites
@miminoblemn
@hszott
@AmandaGeaney
Congratulations to the finalists. This is so exciting. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Looks like a lot of wonderful reads
Incredible authors and books! I have loved all of Katie Powner’s books.
Congratulations to all these wonderful authors! All these books look wonderful!
Such a great list! I’m exciting to see so many books I’ve enjoyed, and since new ones I definitely need to check out.
How exciting! Congrats to all the authors.
I LOVE reading from the Christy Award list because they are ALL winners!
I love this event, even though I’ve only attended virtually!
I am so excited for this! I’m going Historical!
It’s a great giveaway.
Congratulations to all the finalists, a great group of authors.
I own five of the books, and have read four of them! I’ll be moving the other one up my TBR stack!
nice books
I have read several of these, but I am definitely adding more to my neverending TBR!
Congrats to all these amazing finalists!
So many wonderful stories!
I have read a few of these. They are all worthy.
They are all fantastic authors! I can’t wait to see who wins.
Thank you for the wonderful chance. Blessings
Hope all the attendees have a wonderful time. 📚🎉✨