There are several book award programs for Christian fiction, the Carol Awards (via American Christian Fiction Writers) and the Christy Awards are two of the most widely known and respected. But there's a new award that looks at inspirational literature through a slightly different lens, the INSPYs - The Bloggers' Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature.While the INSPYs are limited to books that reflect the Christian faith, not all books are published by CBA publishers. General market books and authors are considered as well.
The INSPYs are blogger created and blogger judged. Given the proliferation of bloggers who talk books, it only makes sense that those same bloggers have a say in who's the best in faith-driven literature.
I've read a number of the books on this year's list and I look forward to reading several more.
Congratulations to all who made the shortlist!
INSPY Shortlist:
Creative Nonfiction
Little Princes by Conor Grennan, William Morrow,
January, 2011
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, Zondervan, January,
2011
Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith, David C Cook,
January, 2011
The Waiting Place by Eileen Button, Thomas Nelson, June,
2011
The World is Bigger Now by Euna Lee & Lisa Dickey,
Broadway, September, 2010
General
City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, Henry Holt & Co,
September, 2010
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder, Summerside Press,
June, 2011
The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue, David C Cook, October,
2010
Wolves Among Us by Ginger Garrett, David C Cook,
April, 2011
Words by
Ginny Yttrup, B&H Publishing, February, 2011
Mystery/Thriller
Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand, Bethany House,
July, 2010
Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso, Realms, May, 2011
Digitalis by
Ronie Kendig, Barbour, January, 2011
Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins, B&H
Publishing, May, 2011
The Bishop by
Steven James, Revell, August, 2010
Romance
A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell, Bethany House,
March, 2011
A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman, Revell, September,
2010
The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund, Bethany House,
October, 2010
Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander, Bethany House,
September, 2010
Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West, Oak Tara, March,
2011
Speculative Fiction
Heartless by
Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Bethany House, July, 2010
The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers, Waterbrook Press,
October, 2010
The Falling Away by T. L. Hines, Thomas Nelson,
September, 2010
The Resurrection by Mike Duran, Realms, February, 2011
The Skin Map by
Stephen Lawhead, Thomas Nelson, August, 2010
Young Adult
A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes, Zondervan, August,
2010
Losing Faith by
Denise Jaden, Simon Pulse, September, 2010
Saint Training by Elizabeth Fixmer, Zondervan,
August, 2010
The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson, Scholastic,
September, 2010
The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan, Thomas Nelson,
September, 2010
I've read seven of these as opposed to one of the Carol Awards' novels.
ReplyDeleteI've read 9 of them, Nicole, most of those I really enjoyed (and you know how picky I am). Perhaps that taints my opinion of the INSPYs. They're definitely geared toward a different audience than the Carol Awards.
ReplyDelete