The Christy Award Finalists 2026 + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2026 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2026 Finalists & Winners (announced on November 6th)! I can't wait to see who the winners are! This is going to be such an exciting night. I've never been to Nashville so I'm looking forward to exploring the city after the event! Learn more about the Gala, Beyond the Books, and the Art of Writing below and then enter the giveaway!

You are Invited

The Christy Award Gala Friday, November 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel Nashville, Tennessee Featuring Michelle Shocklee, Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.

This is our year to gather together in person to celebrate and honor the best Christian fiction of the year. The Christy Award Gala will be held the evening of Friday, November 6th and will feature a premiere cast of the industry’s authors to announce The Christy Award winners in nine categories, The Christy Book of the Year, and The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction.

This year’s gala features a keynote address from Michelle Shocklee, recipient of The Christy Book of the Year for her acclaimed novel All We Thought We Knew. Her story and perspective will set the tone for an evening rooted in faith, creativity, and impact. Continuing Christy tradition, recent honorees will present category awards, including Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.

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The Christy Award Finalists 2026

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE - tie

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen (Kregel Publications) Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

FIRST NOVEL

In the Light of the Sun by Angela Shupe (WaterBrook, an imprint of PRH Christian)The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz Tyndale House Publishers) Where Stillness Speaks by Chelsey Welwood (Chelsey Welwood))

GENERAL FICTION

South of Somewhere by T.I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers) The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group) When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL - tie

From the Valley We Rise by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson Fiction)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE - tie

Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White (Tyndale House Publishers) Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett (Kregel Publications)

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER - tie

Final Approach by Lynette Eason (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) Girl Lost by Kate Angelo (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) The Accused by Cara Putman (Kregel Publications)

SHORT FORM - tie

A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer (Tyndale House Publishers) One Nine by Sara Davison (Sara Davison) Planning for Nickie by Tasha Hackett (Tasha Hackett) To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher (RobinSong, Inc.)

SPECULATIVE - tie

Every Hour until Then by Gabrielle Meyer (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) Heir of Light by Niki Florica and Jill Williamson (Sunrise Publishing) Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media) Of Dawn and Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

YOUNG ADULT - tie

Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media) Sons of Day and Night by Mariposa Aristeo (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media) The Outsider by Katy Morgan (The Good Book Company) The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

 

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Register for The Christy Award 2026 Events

Join us in Music City for a vibrant, can’t-miss gathering of the Christian fiction community.

Beyond the Books Add-On: Meet the finalist authors at this special morning gathering of authors and readers.

The Art of Writing conference will bring together writers, storytellers, and publishing professionals for an afternoon of relevant topics and networking.

The Christy Award Winners Gala celebrates this year’s finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!

REGISTER

The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. For more information about ECPA, visit ECPA.org. For more information about the Christy Awards and Art of Writing conferences, visit ChristyAwards.com or email TheChristyAward@ecpa.org

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive their choice of The Art of Writing registration OR print copies of The Christy Award finalist titles for one category!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 25, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 2, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Magic City Murder by Bruce Hammack + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Magic City Murder by Bruce Hammack, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I love tours like this with JustRead because I enjoy being introduced to new-to-me authors! There are SIXTEEN books in this series and since I love mysteries, I have a lot of reading ahead! Check out the story excerpt below, and then go enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Magic City Murder 
Series: Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series #16 
Author: Bruce Hammack 
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing 
Release Date: August 6, 2026 
Genre: Mystery / Private Detective

A missing husband. A murdered journalist. A city where everyone has something to hide. 

Blind former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley and his partner Heather McBlythe take on what looks like a straightforward case: track down a missing husband so his estranged wife can finally file for divorce. 

The simple case turns deadly when the body of the woman the husband has been living with is found in a Miami canal. She wasn't just the missing man's companion — she was an investigative journalist silenced before her story could see the light of day. 

As Smiley and McBlythe dig deeper, they uncover a trail of political corruption and cartel money that someone powerful is determined to keep hidden. With a growing list of suspects, a city full of secrets, and a killer working in the shadows, Smiley must sort through the tangle of lies before whoever is cleaning up loose ends decides Smiley's next.  

Pick up your copy of Magic City Murder today and follow Smiley and McBlythe from Houston to Miami as they chase down a missing husband and a killer who's running out of places to hide. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie-style whodunits who love clever plots, professional detective work, and clean reads without the gore, violence, or explicit content.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | BruceHammack.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

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Excerpt

That’s as far as Heather got before Steve pushed away from the table. “Let’s go. I hope Manny won’t be with Kate when we arrive.”

“Should I call her?”

“That would give her a chance to tell us it’s not a convenient time.”

Heather recognized the tone in Steve’s voice. It reminded her of the woeful baying of a bloodhound who’d caught a fresh scent and was following it, no matter where it led.

Heather used her “cop-knock” on the door before Kate finally responded to let her and Steve in. Puffy eyes and a red nose marked the editor’s appearance.

Steve brushed by Kate and made for the recliner, speaking as he walked. “We need to talk to you, and I don’t really care if you had an unpleasant interview with Detective Ruiz.”

“How did you know he—”

Steve didn’t allow her to finish. “He didn’t clean his shoes after spending time at the crime scene. I smell the foul canal water with traces of Daniella’s body.”

Kate shivered and hugged herself as if she couldn’t let go.

Steve settled into the chair and asked, “How long did Manny stay?”

The answer came out in jerks and sputters. “I don’t know. An hour? Perhaps two? He all but accused me of …”

“A woman is dead, and interviewing suspects is what he’s paid to do. He asked tough questions because you’ve been withholding information. Go to the bathroom, wash your face, and come back ready to talk.” He paused, “By the way, we believe Peter is in Spain. When you come back, you can tell us what he’s doing there.”

About the Author

Bruce Hammack, a native Texan, began his professional writing career in the tenth grade when the local Rotary Club sponsored a writing contest for students in civics class. To the amazement of students and teachers alike, he won the prize of a twenty-five-dollar savings bond.

After retiring from a career in criminal justice, Bruce picked up the proverbial pen again. He now draws on his extensive background with law enforcement (and criminals) to write contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries. 

An avid Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes fan, Bruce firmly believes the world can’t have enough whodunits. When not writing, he enjoys travel, classic whodunits and a quiver full of children and grandchildren. Having lived in eighteen cities around the US and the world, he now makes his home in the Texas Hill Country with his wife of thirty-plus years. 

Connect with Bruce by visiting brucehammack.com to follow him on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Magic City Murder, a Smiley And McBlythe bookmark, a Reading Log, and book lover stickers!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Wing and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Who else is ready for an O'Connor story?! If the O'Connor family hasn't stolen your heart, you are definitely missing out! Be sure to read the book excerpt below and then enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: A Whim and a Prayer 
Series: The Cousins O'Connor #4 
Author: Julie Lessman 
Publisher: Independent 
Release Date: September 8, 2026 
Genre: Historical Romance

She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart. 
He’s a best friend who protects her from the start. 
Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart. 

Discarded like so much trash on the steps of an orphanage at age two, seventeen-year-old Winifred Dennehy thinks God has it out for her. Abandoned by abusive parents and born cross-eyed to boot, she spent the first four years of her life battling bullies and verbal abuse. Deliverance came in the form of one Beckett Campbell, the ten-year-old orphan who became her best friend and guardian angel for life, along with an orphanage volunteer by the name of Mrs. D. When Mrs. Charity Dennehy adopts Winnie into her family, has her crossed eyes fixed, and secretly arranges for Beckett to be fostered and then adopted by elderly neighbors down the street, Winnie figures her luck has changed. But instead of attributing it to God like Beckett does, she’s inclined to believe it’s her own grit, charm, and spontaneity that has paved the way. 

From the moment twenty-four-year-old Beckett Campbell saw the tiny, cross-eyed orphan who reminded him of the sister he lost, he wanted to love and protect her forever. Best friends from the start despite over five years apart, Winnie’s naïve spontaneity for wild hairs and whims keeps Beck’s mature responsibility busy and happily so. Until the little girl he wanted to protect suddenly becomes the young woman he wants to love. When Winnie insists on protecting their friendship from the fear and risk of anything more, Beck has a decision to make. Friendship forever … or a life apart from the best friend he loves. Praying that Winnie will change her mind, Beck doesn’t hold out much hope for that day. But when an unexpected turn of events alters both of their lives, it puts “a whim and a prayer” on a collision course that just might make a way.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

More in This Series

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Book Excerpt

And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape those awful feelings, Winnie … not until I finally turned to the One who lifted them from my shoulders to His, nailing them to the cross once and for all.” 

Tears burned beneath Winnie’s lids. “But, Mama, I don’t know how to do that, or even where to begin …”

“I didn’t either, sweetheart, until your Uncle Brady showed me how. You see, we were good friends at that time, before he and Aunt Lizzie even dated, and trust me, the man doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to living for God.”

“So, what’d he say?” Winnie asked, her curiosity piqued despite her disdain for the subject.

“Well, prior to all of this, he’d taught me to pray and read the Bible, of course, but I hadn’t really taken it seriously, you know? I was just going through the motions”—Winnie jumped when her mother gave her a pinch—“kind of like you, young lady, when you go to church with Julia, Daddy, and me.” The tease in her voice faded considerably. “But after the assault, Brady called me on it. Said even though I prayed and read the Bible, I wasn’t fooling anybody, least of all God, because I had never really invited Him in.”

Winnie squinted up at her. “What on earth does that mean?”

Her mother’s smile was tender. “It meant that I had never really given my life to God, darling. Oh, I danced around it plenty, Brady said, but I had never really made a decision to live for God instead of myself. You know, no more doing things my way, out of selfish motivation? Brady flat-out told me that if I wanted God’s blessings in my life, I had to obey Him. ‘Deuteronomy 30 in the flesh,’ he called it, ‘choosing life instead of death,’ or in simple terms, choosing God’s way instead of the world’s.”

Another shudder rippled through Winnie. “Sounds pretty hard.”

“Oh, it is—if you try to do it on your own. But Brady said there was only one way any human being could ever hope to make an attempt at obeying God, and that was to make Him Lord of their life.”

Winnie tipped her head. “How?” 

Her mother gave a lift of her shoulders. “‘Invite him in,’ Brady said, ‘Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, to live in my heart and be the Savior of my soul.’ So I did, and you know what happened?”

The breath stilled in Winnie’s lungs. “What?” she whispered.

“I started doing things His way, not mine. I took it one step at a time, with God’s Word as a lamp unto my feet, looking to honor Him instead of myself in everything I said, thought, or did. It didn’t happen overnight for sure, but it did happen just like Brady said—I became ‘a new creature in Christ Jesus,’ who could finally say no to sin and yes to God.” Her mother paused to deliver a wide grin. “And you know what happened then?”

“What?” Winnie said, her voice a breathy whisper. 

“Brady told me I’d better duck my head and look out.”

Winnie blinked. “What? Why?”

“Because the blessings of God were going to overtake me, overloading me with the desires of my heart.”

About the Author

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 24 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2021, 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. 

In addition, Julie has written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets, and What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 28, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!