Kelly Klepfer writes from the lovely state of Iowa. She tends to live in the even lovelier state of Denial. She is the mother of teens and young adults which may have something to do with the denial thing. Her husband loves to listen to her endless writing tales and he smiles and nods, a lot. She currently works on two novels and scads of articles and short fiction.
Eugene Peterson's profound words share the heart of the Christy Awards. "Authority and precedence for writing fiction comes from the Jesus who told stories. His stories, as good stories always do, penetrate our imaginations and take on a life of their own in us."
If you write Christian fiction, chances are you've heard of the Christy awards. Chances are also good that you'd like to receive that honor someday.
If you write Christian fiction, chances are you've heard of the Christy awards. Chances are also good that you'd like to receive that honor someday.
If you've already been awarded with a Christy, let me go on the record to a) congratulate you, and b) say "lucky!"But luck has little to do with it.
What's a Christy Award, you might ask? Good question. Let me introduce you.
Christian fiction is young. In 1967 Catherine Marshall's, "Christy" became a groundbreaking novel which opened doors in Christian fiction.
Fast forward a few decades and enter a dozen or so publishers who met in the spring of 1999. This group of quality Christian-worldview-fiction-lovers felt the name "Christy Award" would honor the beloved heroine, her creator, dubbed by the New York Times as " America's most inspirational author," and Christian novelists who excel in their craft.
This honor and award was designed to:
*"Nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview.
*Bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership.
*Provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status."
Each year, publishers are invited to submit novels from a Christian worldview, and copyrighted in the year preceding the awards. The genre categories for Christy Awards include: Contemporary, Fantasy, Futuristic, Historical, Romance, Allegory, Suspense and First Novel.
A panel of seven judges made up of librarians, reviewers, academicians, literary critics and other qualified readers evaluate each entry based on a ten point criteria. The novel is rated on characterization, plot, theme, setting/atmosphere, mechanics, point-of-view, writing quality, passion and understanding. In order to win a Christy, a novel must score above 80% which ensures that the Christy Award is given as an indicator of quality.
In a 2004 Faith*in*Fiction interview, Donna Kehoe, the administrator of the Christy Award, stated the number of annually released CBA novels as 200 – 250. Publication in Christian fiction is challenging enough. The award of a Christy is a tremendous distinction.
Several Christy Award winners have been interviewed by Novel Journey, and some talented authors have been awarded this honor more than once.
Click on the Christy Award Website below to see past winners and nominees.
Information courtesy of the official Christy Award website , Wikepedia, & Faith*in*Fiction.
This is such a great post. Thanks for the information! It's one of those things you hear about sometimes, but not often so you feel so far away from. It's nice to hear more about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly! I learned something new.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this, Kelly! Cute pic:)
ReplyDeleteGood article, Kelly! Love the state you live in ... Denial, I mean. :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot, too.
I think Confucious say "to learn, try to teach."
Or maybe it was Wally from the Dilbert cartoons.
No, wait, it was the pointy-haired boss. : )
Thanks for this. I usually look for the winners and try to read them all. I'm surprised I've herad the award does not seem to make a lot of difference in sales.
ReplyDeleteMarcia