Monday, December 12, 2011

2011 INSPY Award Winners

I was privileged this year to be a judge for the 2011 INSPY Awards in the General Fiction category. I never imagined what a difficult job it would be as all the novels merited praise.

One thing I really appreciate about the INSPYs is that they pull nominees from outside the normal Christian literature box, drawing them from the general market as well. It proves that faith-driven literature can reach beyond the Christian market. The winner of the General Fiction category, City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, is firm proof of that. It's a book I would recommend to anyone, Christian or not. I'm certain the winners (and nominees) in the other categories share the same outreach.

So, congratulations, INSPY Award Winners, on your well-deserved victory! And thank you, INSPY Awards, for introducing all these great books to us.

Creative Nonfiction: Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith (David C. Cook, January 2011)

General Fiction: City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell (Henry Holt & Co, September 2010)

Literature for Young People: Saint Training by Elizabeth Fixmer (Zondervan, 2010)

Mystery/Thriller: The Bishop by Steven James (Revell, July 2010)

Romance: Yesterday's Tomorrow by Cathy West (OakTara, March 2011)

Speculative Fiction: The Falling Away by T.L. Hines (Thomas Nelson, September 2010)


2 comments:

  1. In your category, Bren, were the judges' choices unanimous?

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  2. Good question, Nicole, but I'm afraid it's one I can't answer due to confidentiality issues.

    I will say this: I absolutely LOVED City of Tranquil Light. I hadn't heard of it before the INSPYs were announced, and the story concept didn't thrill me, BUT having read it, I will recommend the book to anyone.

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