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The Christy Award: Excellence in Christian Fiction, an Annotated Volume 46 | Issue 1 Article 7 2003 The hrC isty Award: Excellence In Christian Fiction, An Annotated Bibliography Rachel Schwedt Liberty University The Christian Librarian is the official publication of the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). To learn more about ACL and its products and services please visit http://www.acl.org/ Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Schwedt, Rachel (2003) "The hrC isty Award: Excellence In Christian Fiction, An Annotated Bibliography," The Christian Librarian: Vol. 46 : Iss. 1 , Article 7. Available at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl/vol46/iss1/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Christian Librarian by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXCELLENCE IN CHRISTIAN FICTION, AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Rachel Schwedt he burgeoning interest in founders of the award have developed Christian fiction that has marked the following working definition: Curriculum Librarian Trecent years has brought with it "Christian fiction is a category a proliferation of new writers who are of stories written by novelists Liberty University trying to make their way into the whose Christian worldview is Lynchburg, Virginia mainstream market. Alongside this woven into the fabric of the plot growth has come a need to establish and character development. Al­ guidelines that would encourage a high though this definition might seem standard of quality in the field. The either simplistic on the one hand Christian publishing industry itself or overly broad on the other, this responded to this challenge in 1999 by grouping of novels is as compre­ establishing an award that would hensive and as varied in age, in­ identify novels and novelists of terest, and spiritual depth as its excellence. By acknowledging authors readership. C.S. Lewis resisted the worthy of note, they hoped to encour­ label "Christian" for his novels, age both creativity and quality in contending that he was simply cre­ writing, broaden readership of the ating a story. But whether overtly genre, and bring recognition and or subtly, Lewis' fiction came out exposure to authors who had not yet of his understanding of God and reached a large readership. of the universe He created, out of Supporters of this award are the knowledge that God cares dedicated to the genre. Their website deeply about His creation that has states their belief in the power of story. been damaged by sin, and He "In a postmodem age in which the joined the human race to build a power of story has an even more sig­ bridge back to himself. This bridge nificant place than in the past for es­ between God and humanity will in tablishing new ideas, influencing some way inform and characterize thought, and captivating people's every Christian novel. minds and emotions, Christian fiction Good fiction, whether or not has an increasingly important role to it is identified as Christian, will play in the church and to a new gen­ provide a memorable reading ex­ eration ofseekers. The Master Story­ perience that captures the imagi­ tellerofall time did most ofHis teach­ nation, inspires, challenges, and ing through fiction. A great story cap­ educates. Fiction published for the tivates, entertains, educates, inspires, Christian book market does not and challenges the reader- The include the gratuitous demonstra­ Christy Awards celebrate novels from tion of sin- whether language, a Christian worldview that achieve violence, sexual situations, or the these goals." more hidden sins of idolatry and self-worship. Credible characters WHAT IS CHRISTIANF1CTION? in a fallen world, of course, will To identify which novels may be sin. But the Christian novel's pre­ considered as Christian fiction, the sentation of the grit and grime of 24 The ChlJ.S€nJ1ibrarian, 46( 1) 200.3 human circumstance wilJ not be These include: Summarizing all of these is an overall done for its own sake or to titil­ • Allegory - Includes fiction written satisfaction with the story late, but to point the reader toward in the form of extended metaphor. Anyone wishing to be a judge may hope, toward God." • Contemporary/General - The contact the Christy Award at CA2000 Because the essence of Christianity setting for the novel is 1950 or after. DK@aolcom, TheChristyAwardLLC, is a relationship with God, a Christian • Futuristic - The setting for the 1571 Glastonbury Road, Ann Arbor, novelists' well-conceived story will in plot is at a future time. This includes Michigan 48103, (734) 663-7931. (Quotes some way, whether directly or indi­ apocalyptic works. used by permission from the Christy Award rectly, add insight to the reader's • North American Historical - The website.) understanding of life, of faith, of the primary setting is North America. The Creator's yearning over His creation. time period is pre-1950. AWARD WINNERS • International Historical- The primary Over the past three years, winners have CATHERINE MARSHALL setting is in countries other than the United included authors familiar to readers of The name chosen for the award States. The time period is pre-1950. Christian fiction as well as many new faces. honors Catherine Marshall, a notable • Romance - The focus is on Titles of winners are listed below. For a full and best-selling Christian writer. Her romantic drama. description of the works, visit the Christy novel Christy, which was brought to • Suspense - Events in the novel are Award web site at www. christyawards.com national attention by its serialization for strange, frightening or thrilling. television, has over 10 million copies in • Western-The story is set on the WINNERS FOR 2002 print. The videos of these programs American frontier in the late 19th and have become enduring classics, which early 20th century. CONTEMPORARY reach across age levels and interest • First novel - First novels are those A Garden to Keep groups. Her novels and inspirational written by an author who has not Jamie Langston Turner books together have more than 25 published commercially any book­ Bethany House million copies in print. H Christian length work. These titles may also be fiction is defined by the distinct entered in another category. The discovery of her husband's worldview woven into its very fabric, unfaithfulness forces Elizabeth Landis out then Catherine Marshall's stories stand JUDGING PROCESS of complacency into an examination of her as true examples of the genre. Each fall, candidates are submitted life that she compares to an untended for judging by participating publishing garden. Coinciding with personal discovery QUALIFICATIONS companies. Judging panels are made up is her growth from fledgling Christian to a To qualify as candidates for the of seven persons for each category. believer of greater understanding and award, works must be full-length novels They are chosen from professors, maturity. The rambling reminiscence of her published in English in the United librarians, editors and book retailers. past life could become tedious, but instead States. They may be in paperback or Evaluations are given on a scale of one is insightful and powerful. This is an honest hardcover format, but must be pub­ to ten, based on ten separate criteria. look at lives of human failure that are lished the year preceding the presenta­ Three books from each category are touched by God's grace. tion of the award. Most importantly, named finalists, with the book achiev­ "the content must by consistent with a ing the highest cumulative score being FUTURISTIC Christian worldview and the historic given the Christy Award for that Oxygen Christian tradition reflected in the category. Randall Ingermanson and John Olson Apostle's Creed." Of these criteria are several that Bethany House Further definitions and guidelines relate to all works of fiction such as for entry and eligibility can be found on effective characterization, clear The flight of Ares 10, the first manned the Christy Award web site at development of plot and setting, quality mission to Mars, is plagued with trouble www.christyawards.com or can be of writing, and adherence to the norms from the very beginning. As problems received by mailing a request to: The of a particular genre. Other standards mount, Valkerie Jansen, a Christian Christy Award, LLC, 1571 Glastonbury apply more specifically to Christian physician assigned to the crew at the last Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. fiction including a concern that a minute, begins to suspect sabotage. When coherent theme is presented without an explosion in deep space reduces the CATEGORIES extensive sermonizing. Characters and oxygen supply, drastic measures must be Beginning in 1999 with six group­ theme are rated by the extent to which taken to save the ship and the lives of the ings, by 2002 categories have been they reflect Christian values and the crew. Well-developed characters are expanded to nine distinct areas. depth to which they engage the reader. presented in a highly suspenseful mystery. T he Ch'ijS@Jybrarian, 46(1) 200S 25 INTERNATIONAL HISTORY SUSPENSE WINNERS FOR2001 While Mortals Sleep Drummer in the Dark ANNOTATIONS Jack Cavanaugh T. Davis Bunn Bethany House Waterbrook Press CONTEMPORARY/GENERAL Home to Harmony Caught in the maelstrom of World War When Congressman Graham Hutchings Philip Gulley II,
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