2010 Christy Award Winners

Christy Awards are given annually for books that achieve excellence in Christian fiction. The winners were announced last night in St. Louis, Missouri.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for advancing Christian fiction.

Contemporary Romance
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson (Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary Standalone
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

First Novel
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster)

Visionary
By Darkness  Hid by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Young Adult
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Enemies Among Us

by Bob Hamer

Fidelis Books
336 pages

Gritty and Fast-Paced Realism in Debut Action/Thriller

I love action/thriller novels. Vince Flynn and Michael Connelly are a few of the authors whose books I won't miss. But, while I love Flynn & Connelly, the problem is, they're not exactly suited for the church library shelves. While there are action/thrillers in Christian fiction, it's rare to find comparable works, books that will intrigue across the religious line. Steven James is probably the best at appealing cross-genre and Tim Downs takes a close second.

Enemies Among Us, by veteran undercover FBI Agent Bob Hamer, leaps that barrier, and the book's even endorsed by Vince Flynn. Enemies is the action-packed story of Matt Hogan, a "cowboy" undercover agent who is given the assignment of tracking a terrorist cell in Los Angeles. This adrenaline-laced novel is highly detailed and intricately woven together. Hamer takes the reader inside Matt Hogan's life and mind-set. We experience the job's lethal dangers, plus we see the difficult balance required to maintain a happy marriage.

Albeit, the novel wasn't perfect. Some of the dialogue was stodgy, and at times the description stalled the action, but all-in-all I was very pleased with the book and Bob Hamer has definitely been added to my list of must reads.

2010 Christy Award Finalists Announced

Each year, Christy Awards are given to writers whose novel has demonstrated excellence in Christian fiction. I look forward to reading this list every year, hoping to see my favorite books, and wondering which ones I've missed reading.

I'm pleased to see that the nominees include a number of books I reviewed over the past year, several of which are on my all-time favorite reads list. To revisit those reviews, just click on the title: Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson, The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry, Scared by Tom Davis. Two additional finalists, June Bug (a modern day retelling of Les Miserables) by Chris Fabry and Fireflies in December (poignantly portrays the horror of prejudice in the 1930's) by Jennifer Erin Valent are on my all-time favorite reads list. (see my Highly Recommend Reading list in the sidebar)

Of course, there are always a few additional titles I believe are worthy of a Christy: White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner is a story that peeks beyond the pristine fences of a normal family and finds that fences only mask the truth, and The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz.

So, if you love to read and are looking for the novel that goes deeper, that's willing to challenge you and provoke thinking, then check out the Christy Awards.

For a complete list of finalists, visit Inkspirational Messages.

A Symphony of Words

As a reader, one element I continuously look for in a book is lyrical prose, where the words flow together creating a beautiful melody. Admittedly, such works are difficult to find. Athol Dickson is one such author whose stories transcend plot and character. When you read them, you feel like you've heard a Bach masterpiece.

In the Novel Journey blog, (Forgotten Beauty - March 4, 2010) Athol Dickson talks about beauty in writing, how that is rarely mentioned when discussing craftsmanship. If you, too, desire more from a story, if you seek prose that plays like a symphony, I recommend reading his eloquently said post. http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/2010/03/forgotten-beauty.html.

The Pastor's Wife

by Jennifer AlLee

Published by Abingdon Press (2010)
288 pages

A Story of Marriage Restoration

Six years after walking out on her marriage to her pastor husband, Nick Shepherd, conditions of a will force Maura Sullivan to move back in with him.

For six months.

For six months she’d have to live with him in the parsonage, albeit separate bedrooms, and face the church and community who adore her husband. Maura and Nick agree to the conditions knowing full well the intention of the deceased was to reunite them. Maura knows that will not happen. Her secret insures it can’t happen.

Review:

This Valentine’s Day, it’s only fitting to provide a review of a romance. Now, The Pastor’s Wife isn’t what you’d term a normal romance, after all, the couple is still married. And there’s an odd rule in the romance novel world that says “romance” only occurs between a non-married couple.

I beg to differ.

That’s part of what makes this book an enjoyable read. As the reader, we witness a rekindling of a flame long thought burned out. We see two people assess their past behavior and get a glance into their spouse’s point-of-view. As in real-life marriages, both husband and wife make mistakes, and when true repentance happens, marriages long gone cold can be reignited & restored.

In her sophomore novel, Author Jennifer AlLee does a good job of showing the unique challenges facing pastors and their spouses. How does a pastor serve his congregation fully and not neglect his wife? How does the spouse live up to the church’s expectations, and does she sacrifice her own needs along the way? I also like that the author includes Nick's perspective. All too often, in Christian fiction, the husband's point-of-view is ignored leaving the story one-sided. Jennifer deftly avoids this trap making for a deeper, more satisfying read.

Introducing Jennifer AlLee

As a child, Jennifer AlLee lived above a mortuary and had to be very quiet when services were going on downstairs, which solidified her life-long love of books and writing. Jennifer now resides in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas with her husband and teenage son.

A Chat with Jennifer:

Your book’s topic is unique. What inspired you to write it?

I served as a church secretary for many years which definitely gave me a unique perspective on the lives of a pastoral family. I worked at two different churches. One was a large denominational church, the other much smaller and non-denominational. But the lives of the pastors were quite similar. There’s always another meeting to go to, or one more person that needs counseling. People feel very possessive about their pastors. This usually manifests itself in positive ways, but sometimes it crosses a line. You have to watch out for that. And the pastoral family faces challenges no one really thinks about. They basically live in a glass house and are expected to be active members of every church activity, whether they’re interested in it or not.

When I was working on the original concept for this novel, I thought about the pastors’ wives I’ve known over the years. They’ve handled themselves with amazing grace under pressure. But what if another woman couldn’t? What if a young woman thinks she knows what she’s getting into, but the reality of losing who she is and becoming a “pastor’s wife” is more than she can handle? What if some other tragedy pushes her over the edge? Would she run? And what would happen if she had to return to the scene of her heartbreak years later? All those questions eventually became The Pastor’s Wife.

As a pre-published author, I’d like to know what advice you have for aspiring writers.

From a craft standpoint, there are two things you can do to become a better writer: read and write. Read books about the craft of writing and read other books in your genre. But don’t stop there. If you write sweet romances, stretch yourself and pick up a thriller. If you write historicals, try out a sci-fi or fantasy novel. Great writing is great writing, regardless of the subject matter. You can learn a lot by reading broadly.

For personal well-being, I would encourage every writer, no matter what stage you’re at, to have a support system. This includes belonging to a writer’s organization. I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, which has been a huge blessing to me. Through it, I’ve cultivated friendships with other writers, including my best friend who is also my critique buddy. It’s great if your family supports your writing, but trust me, you need to have people you can go to who “get” you.

Thank you, Jennifer, for stopping in today. It was a joy getting to know you.

For more information on Jennifer AlLee

Read the first three chapters of The Pastor's Wife here: http://issuu.com/abingdonpress/docs/pastors_wife

Contact Jennifer in cyberspace:
website - http://www.jenniferallee.com/
personal blog - http://jenniferallee.blogspot.com/
group blog - http://inkwellinspirations.blogspot.com/

Abingdon Press provided this book for review purposes only.

Ransomed Dreams

(Defenders of Hope Series #1)
by Amy Wallace

Published by Multnomah (2007)
336 pages

Heart Healing Romantic Suspense

Gracie Lang has it all: a strong faith, a devoted husband, and two precious children. Then, on a rare snowy night in Georgia, she watches in horror as a swerving black vehicle swipes the van carrying her family. As the van careens off the road and down an embankment, the black vehicle speeds away, leaving three dead in its wake.

Two years later, feeling abandoned by God, Gracie is tired of merely trudging through the days, numb, and is determined to find her family’s killer, to see him behind bars, to at last have justice for her family. She’ll finally have the healing she seeks.

But then, the handsome Crimes Against Children Unit, FBI special agent Steven Kessler appears in her first grade classroom to pick up his son, and for the first time in years, Gracie dares to think she might love again.

Steven Kessler is a man once in love with God, until his life caromed out of control: his wife left him for another man just weeks after giving birth to their son, abandoning both of them. Building onto the marriage failure are the haunting memories of all the children he fails to save.

Whisk into the story a man seeking murderous revenge, and another willing to do whatever it takes to hide his guilt and insure his freedom, and you’ve got one spicy plot.

Adding depth to the plot, author Amy Wallace, folds in an issue so many people grapple with today: believing they’re not good enough, they’re unlovable, they’re a failure. Through this story, Amy points out that’s not true. She asks, who are you listening to: the father of lies? Or the Voice of Truth?

She also stirs in the power of forgiveness. How not forgiving can hold us back, and keep us caged and bitter. But to forgive is freeing.

Amy Wallace excels at blending romance and suspense. (Think Dee Henderson ratcheted up a notch or three.) She writes captivating stories, layers them with multi-faceted characters, and creates a foundation of faith to carry them along. She takes you deep inside the messy, true-to-life characters’ heads and hearts so their struggles are tangible and believable. Her books are more than romance, more than suspense, but rather a journey showing heart growth and healing. An exploration of faith.

A Chat with Amy

Before I introduce you to Amy, I need to share a special God-incident. Two years ago the American Christian Fiction Writers held their conference in Bloomington, Minnesota. Being from the Minneapolis area, I was thrilled. I was also eager to get autographs from two specific authors whose books stood over and above others I'd recently read. Amy Wallace was one of those authors.

Since I lived near the conference hotel, I volunteered to chauffeur editors/agents/authors from the airport to the conference. To connect with my riders at the airport, I held out the ACFW sign and had several people stop and talk about the conference. One of the first people to approach me was Amy. What a thrill it was to meet her and best of all, gain a new friend. She is truly a beautiful person.

And she has graciously answered a couple questions to share with you:

What inspired you to write Ransomed Dreams & the other Defenders of Hope novels? Why did you chose the ultra-difficult topic of Crimes Against Children.

The inspiration for the Defenders of Hope novels came from my own wrestling match with God over a mom's greatest fears. I didn't set out to write about crimes against children, but the more I worked with my editor on Ransomed Dreams, the clearer it became that the FBI's Crimes Against Children Unit in DC was where my story belonged. And while each book tackles very difficult topics like abuse, racism, death, cancer, kidnapping, and cases with children, my focus is always on the healing from those situations and how God can redeem even the worst circumstances.

Can you give us a synopsis of your writing journey? I'd personally be very interested in knowing if "being published" lived up to your dreams.

I began my writing journey oddly enough. In searching for good stories to share with my daughters Christmas of 2001, I came across some grown-up novels. Devouring my first taste of fiction since college, I read seven books by the same author and then handed the books to my husband. When he'd finish reading, I'd tell him what changes I'd make. After the seventh, my husband handed the book back and told me to write my own. My response? “No way!”

But then I couldn’t forget a dream I had about an FBI agent with a wounded heart and a mom on a dangerous quest for answers. So I wrote the story after meeting with an awesome federal agent who was a huge help with story ideas and factual details. And even though I had a blast writing it, I had no clue what I was doing. So after typing THE END, I got involved in an awesome writer's group called the American Christian Fiction Writers. I spent a little over three years learning all I’d done wrong and fixing it. As I learned the heart and craft of writing, I kept working on a number of novels, short stories, and proposals. Then I received a recommendation for an agent who loved my first book and we signed a contract. Eighteen months later the publishing house I dreamed of working with offered me a three-book contract, and my first novel, Ransomed Dreams, hit the shelves a little over a year later in 2007.

Has being published lived up to my dreams? That's a loaded question. In the most important ways, yes. I've found a calling and career I love. I've met the most amazing people and part of my work time is spent reading fantastic fiction. My children have watched me pursue a dream and live it and been inspired to pursue their dreams. And I've been stretched and grown and stretched some more by God through each novel and every step of this journey.

But in other ways, no, being published didn't match my dreams. It's HARD work. And there are many, many opportunities for disappointment and discouragement. Just like there are on the other side of a contract. But writing is now part of who I am and who my family is. So I'll continue down this path until the Lord turns me elsewhere. And I'm learning to be thankful for every bright spot: a glowing fan letter, each writing day where the story carries me into another world and I see God at work, my critique partners who share a love of story and make me better with every critique, and the privilege of teaching others about writing fiction and inspiring them to dream big.

Thanks, Amy, for visiting Spire Reviews today. I can't wait to read more from you in the future.

To Find Out More:
Website: Dark Chocolate Suspense  http://amywallace.com/
Blog: Heart Chocolate  http://www.peek-a-booicu.blogspot.com/

The Frontiersman's Daughter

debut novel by Laura Frantz

published by Revell (2009)
416 pages

Feisty, independent Lael Click, the daughter of a heralded Kentucky frontiersman, comes of age during the American Revolution. We see her grow up on the frontier with a family who has many secrets including a father who spent two years in captivity with the Shawnee Indians. Her heart is torn as she’s denied betrothal to the young man she loves, then her heart’s conflicted over a forbidden attraction to one of the very Indians who held her father captive. In the end, Lael grows into a strong, independent woman who eventually learns what real love truly is.

Review:

I typically don’t read historical fiction. I much prefer literary works, complex suspense, or modern issue novels. So, when I picked up The Frontiersman’s Daughter, I was expecting a casual read, a nice story.

I was wrong.

Right off, Laura Frantz drew me into the story with symphonic prose. I love it when authors make their words sing. Her descriptive period and landscape settings add depth to the characters. Plus, she doesn’t shy away from Kentucky settler/Native American hostilities while offering insight to both sides.

One thing I generally haven’t cared for in historical fiction is when authors treat their female protagonist like they’re the incarnation of Gloria Steinem, when they deal with issues using current day sensibilities. Nothing will ruin a story for me faster than that. Laura Frantz avoids that trap. While Lael is a strong character, her thoughts and actions are believable for that time period.

This summer, Frantz will be releasing her next novel, Courting Morrow Little. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Introducing Laura Frantz:
Laura Frantz credits her grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in the late 18th-century and settled in Madison County where they still reside. Frantz is a member of the Kentucky Historical Society, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She currently lives in the misty woods of northwest Washington with her husband and two sons.

Her Books:
The Frontiersman's Daughter, Baker/Revell, 2009
Courting Morrow Little, Baker/Revell, 2010
The Colonel's Lady, Baker/Revell 2011

To Learn More:
Website: http://laurafrantz.net/
Blog: http://laurafrantz.blogspot.com/