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)
