2008 Christy Nominees Announced

Whew, chil'ren. I can finally announce the Christy nominees! I enjoyed reading the books this year. Congratulations. And here we go...

The Christy Advisory Board is pleased to announce nominees in nine categories for the 2008 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction. The ChristyAwards dinner will be held Saturday evening, July 12, 2008, at The Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. Visit the Christy Awards online at www.christyawards.com for more information about the dinner and to make reservations.

The Christy Awards 2008 Nominees

CONTEMPORARY (STAND ALONE)

• Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
• In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
• Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

CONTEMPORARY (SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS)

• Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
• A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
• What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL

• Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
• A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
• Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

LITS (four nominees due to a tie)

• Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Elwell Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
• Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
• Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
• Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)

ROMANCE

• Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
• Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)
• Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

SUSPENSE

• The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
• My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
• The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

VISIONARY

• Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
• The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
• Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)

FIRST NOVEL

• Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
• Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
• The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

YOUNG ADULT?

• Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
• In Between by Jenny B.Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
• Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)

Review: Vanessa Davis Griggs' Strongholds

Inspirational, African American Romance

Strongholds

Vanessa Davis Griggs

3 Halleljah Handclaps, Mild

The congregation of Followers of Jesus Faith Church embark on a spiritual journey together as they tackle their personal strongholds(addictive behavior, traditions, anything that keeps a Christian from moving forward in spiritual maturity.) Fatima tackles adultery, Edwin: gambling, Desiree: overeating, Trinity: personality disorders, Bentley and Marcella: emotional infidelity, Arletha:self-righteousness, and Elaine: deception.(Dafina, 299 pp, $15) Read entire review on Romantic Times Magazine newstands now

The cover is churchtastic!

Reviewer,

Dee Stewart

Pat G'Orge Walker on Authors In Your Pocket

Check out my interview with Peggy Hicks of Second Life Podcast and AUTHORS IN YOUR POCKET... Make sure to pick up your copy of SOMEWHAT SAVED...it's sure to put some pep in your step... take the slack out of your back and somewhere along the line, ya just might get delivered!!!! - Pat


..
Watch Christian comedienne, speaker, & award winning author, Pat G'Orge-Walker talk about her latest novel SOMEWHAT SAVED and shedding some light on what the 'church ladies' are like.


What next?

• Review: Somewhat Saved
• Faith Fiction Lover's Weekend

10 Ways to Keep Your Inner Pulpit Out of Your Writing

Last night during the Ella Curry Radio Show we got into a discussion about Christian Fiction naysayers. Is Christian Fiction an oxymoron? Can you write Christian Fiction without sounding preachy? Great questions and great comments for the authors participating in the show, but I want to go a step further with this discussion. Christian writers create characters whot live within the world, but adjust to it, explores it, and loves it because of their Christian Worldview. Granted this worldview changes according to generation, denomination, culture adnd geography. These characters live according to it. WE all agree great storytellers infuse these worldviews into the character's story arc without taking away from the beauty of experiencing a great story. Writing becomes a form of worship between the Master Artist and His vessel. And the work is gracious expression of truth.

So how we do this? How do we write stories that invite our readers to the greatness of this world as we know it? By writing non-preachy stories.

Here are Tips to Taking Your Inner Pulpit out of Your Writing.

1. Save your scripture zeal for metaphor.

I am a huge Grisham fan. Have you noticed that many of his novels are titled after Biblical principles: "A Time to Kill",

2. Understand basic storytelling.

I know this sounds weird, but we all have read Christian novels that were really pulpit propaganda. Each chapter is a sermon. Each dialogue is a sermonette. Novels aren't that. Can't be that. Understand what a story is and how a plot is developed.

3. Remove the idea in your mind that your story has to have a scriptural reference in the beginning.

Some Christian Fiction editors and agents require that you submit a scriptural reference to buttress the theme thread of your story. I understand that. But when you're building your story you should put that out your mind and come up with a compelling, competitive story idea. Remember, you're Christian. Orthodoxy will emerge as you draft the story and especially during the rewriting process.

4. Stop naming your characters after Bible concepts and Characters.

We get the parable idea, but this kind of thing is like robbed or cheated metaphor. Change your character's names until you're final edit. These characters will become fleshy entities and then the best names for them will come. But if every story you write has a Jezebel, and Sheba, or Ezra in it I'll think twice before I read. Remember: your readers are smart.

5. Remove all sermons and sermonette dialogue scenes

Self explanatory. Redundancy does not prevail. Take a cue from the Preacher's Wife the Movie or Little House on the Prairie the series. The sermons are short, conclusive moments, reserved for the end, very end after the resolution...can we say epilogue.

Any others?

Photo courtesy of Gothelina