Blog Blitz: The Christy Award Finalists 2023

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2023 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2023 Finalists & Winners!

YOU ARE INVITED

The Christy Award Gala 2023
Via webcast November 16, 2023 | 7 pm CT
Featuring Chris Fabry, Davis Bunn, Janette Oke, and a host of Christy-winning authors

Hosted by Christy Hall of Fame author Chris Fabry, the Christy Award Winners Gala will be held Thursday, November 16th at 7pm CT via free webcast to recognize the finalists and announce the winners of The Christy Award in nine categories, Book of the Year, and Amplify Award. The event will feature two literary greats, Christian fiction legacy authors Janette Oke and Davis Bunn. Award presenters will include Christy winning authors Amanda Cox, Toni Shiloh, Nicole Deese, Patricia Raybon, Jocelyn Green, Sarah Sundin, Terri Blackstock, Karen Witemeyer, Sharon Hinck, and Kara Swanson.

---

The Christy Award Finalists 2023

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg (Larkspur Press)
All That It Takes by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
To Believe in You by Emily Conrad (Hope Anchor LLC)
To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

FIRST NOVEL

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon by Linda MacKillop (Kregel Publications)
Porch Music by Kathy Maresca (TouchPoint Press Faith)

GENERAL FICTION

By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
When Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett (Kregel Publications)
Where the Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar (Tyndale House Publishers)
Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barratt (Kregel Publications

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

By Way of Deception by Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn (Harvest House Publishers)
Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Forged by Sara Davison (Mountain Brook Ink)
The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

SHORT FORM

Always a Lady (in A Return to Hawthorne House) by Kristi Ann Hunter (Oholiab Creations, LLC)
Hopes and Fears (in O Little Town) by Amanda Wen (Kregel Publications)
Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon (Sarah Monzon)

SPECULATIVE

Drawn in Ash by John W. Otte (John W. Otte)
Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Yesterday's Gone by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall (Tyndale House Publishers)

YOUNG ADULT

Blood Secrets by Morgan L. Busse (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
This Dreamer by Sara Watterson (Sara Watterson)
The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd (Scrivenings Press)
Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (Thomas Nelson)
The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

---

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 October 27, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2023. 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 HERE

---

REGISTER FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD 2023 EVENTS

The Art of Writing webinars on Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. CT $69
online October 19, October 26, November 2, November 9
This virtual conference for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators includes access and
recordings to four webinars organized by publishers.

The Christy Award winners webcast on November 16 at 7 p.m. CT. - free but registration is required.
Celebrate 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

---

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

April 2023 Reading Recap and May 2023 TBR

My April 2023 Reads: 

1. The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


3. Jonas by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review.


4. The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


5. Regency Therapy by Lisa H. Catmull - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


6. Write Better by Andrew T. Le Peau - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. Endless Grace by Dan Wilt and Ryan Smith. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


8. When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


9. The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review (on Goodreads).

---

Expected May 2023 Reads:

After reading seven fiction books in April, I admit I'm ready for some nonfiction and my list for May reflects that. I also hope to resume journaling more often. Although I love reading and really dove into it last month, I need journaling to keep me sane. 🙃

1. The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers. - A favorite that I'll be rereading this month with my local book club! Read my review from 2018.


2. June Bug by Chris Fabry. - I missed my local book club's selection for March, but I'm hoping I can squeeze it in this month.


3. Wonder Dogs by Maureen Maurer. -  My older daughter read this book months ago and now it's my turn.


4. Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Failed a Generation by Jon Ward. 

What will you read this month?

Book Review: The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd

About the Book:

For sixteen years, Laurelin Moore has been keeping a secret. She is a whisperer, and she knows that to reveal her gift now is a dangerous risk. Past whisperers have been exploited for their power. But Ausland’s queen is dead and acknowledging her magic is her only chance at becoming a Rook in the Pentax—a competition that will decide the kingdom’s next ruler. Laurelin isn’t in it for the crown, though. She’s after the wish that will be granted to the victor. A wish that would save her dying brother, Pippin. But there are dangerous undercurrents to the competition, and Laurelin finds herself at the center of it. She begins to search for answers and discovers a secret with the potential to shatter the entire kingdom.

---

My Thoughts:

Although novels of teens-competing-in-dangerous-challenges are somewhat common, I enjoyed reading The Whisperer’s Wish by Janilise Lloyd. The well-paced story included a personal quest and several plot twists made it hard to put the book down. Laurelin’s selflessness and determination made her likable and had me rooting for her before, during, and after the competition  I liked how the author showed Laurelin’s magical abilities and dropped clever hints to explain the fantasy world of Ausland. This skillful method of world building felt more entertaining and intriguing than paragraphs of info-dumping.

The Whisperer’s Wish by Janilise Lloyd is a clean YA Fantasy that I would be comfortable with my daughters reading once they are teens. I think it would be an excellent choice for a YA book club as there would be plenty of issues to talk about: sacrifice, letting go, the weight of responsibility, etc.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Author Interview: The Whisperer's Wish

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Whisperer's Wish
Author: Janilise Lloyd
Publisher: Expanse Books (Imprint of Scrivenings Press)
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

For sixteen years, Laurelin Moore has been keeping a secret. She is a whisperer, and she knows that to reveal her gift now is a dangerous risk. Past whisperers have been exploited for their power. But Ausland’s queen is dead and acknowledging her magic is her only chance at becoming a Rook in the Pentax—a competition that will decide the kingdom’s next ruler.

Laurelin isn’t in it for the crown, though. She’s after the wish that will be granted to the victor. A wish that would save her dying brother, Pippin. But there are dangerous undercurrents to the competition, and Laurelin finds herself at the center of it. She begins to search for answers and discovers a secret with the potential to shatter the entire kingdom.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

---

Excerpt

Pippin’s green eyes fluttered. I grabbed his hand expectantly. We shared a lot of characteristics, but hair color was not one of them. His was like a flame; the burst of wild red curls demanded attention. Mine, on the other hand, was vanilla ice cream—pale, flat, and forgettable. I studied the freckles dotting his cheeks. His were darker and more abundant than mine. Most teenage girls couldn’t stand their little brothers, but the feeling that Pippin could slip away in an instant somehow erased any of his flaws. He was perfect.

“Hey, Laura.” Pippin’s voice quivered, his eyes open now. “You a Rook yet?”

I laughed. “Not yet, but I gave it my best shot a couple hours ago.”

Pippin smiled weakly. “You’ll make it. The duke won’t be able to pass up a whisperer, even if she’s not nobility.”

I prayed to the Matrons that he was right. I ruffled his hair. “It’s nothing for you to worry about either way. You just work on getting better.”

“I’m not getting better, Laura. We both know that.”

I hated the way he said that with such finality. I rearranged the green quilt that lay over his shrunken body. “Hang in there a little longer—just until I get my wish from the Matrons. Their magic is so much stronger than a pygsmy’s. It can heal you. Promise me you’ll hang on.”

---

About the Author

Janilise Lloyd is a former junior high school teacher who lives in Northern Utah with her husband and toddler. She balances a love for running with a love for all things dessert. Her family likes to be on the go, so you will often catch them at the zoo, the park, or skipping rocks by the river. Janilise is the coordinator for the ScrivKids writing community for student writers and is a member of the Storymakers Guild. You can find her on Instagram or Facebook @janiliselloyd or on her website, janiliselloyd.com.

Connect with Janilise by visiting janiliselloyd.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Author Interview

Q: What was the inspiration behind The Whisperer’s Wish?

Janilise: The Whisperer’s Wish is a book full of magic, a competition for a crown, and a bunch of other things that aren’t real or possible in this world. But in the end, writing the story was a way for me to process some of my own emotions and experiences.

At the heart of the story, Laurelin is desperate to save her brother’s life. Pippin is dying of cancer, and though Laurelin’s magic gives her access to pygsmy elixir, which can heal many injuries and illnesses, it cannot cure a condition that is biological. This is the root of Laurelin’s motivation. Even though she can’t fix Pippin’s situation, she still feels responsible to find a solution.

Readers will notice the book is dedicated to my two brothers. My younger brother passed away when I was very young, and my older brother had a scare when I was seventeen. Both of these experiences shaped my outlook on many things in life, and readers will see some of that reflected in Laurelin and Pippin’s relationship and the things Laurelin learns throughout the book. That’s not to say Laurelin and Pippin are the same as me and my brothers. They’re not. But there are aspects of their relationship that were shaped by my own experiences. That’s the wonderful thing about writing. Even in the most unexpected ways, I’ve found it very therapeutic.

 

Q: How long did it take you to write this story?

Janilise: The bulk of the writing was done in about a four month period. After that, there was a lot of back-and-forth between beta readers, critique partners, and editors that took another several months or so. In total, from putting the first word on the page to turning in the final version to my publisher, this book took almost exactly one year.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from this book?

Janilise: I can’t seem to nail a favorite quote, but this is one of my favorite excerpts:

Tonight, I’d cross a line that could not be redrawn, and it was all for Pippin. His freckled face and green eyes filled my mind, though it was the younger version, before cancer sucked him dry. I kissed my four fingers and pressed them to his door. “Love you, little brother,” I whispered.

Exiting the house felt like stepping out of my own body. The carefully crafted shell of Laurelin Moore, a typical Linguan girl, crumpled behind me. I knew that the next time I came home, I’d be someone else. Life would never be quiet again.

Lingua buzzed with news of another pygsmy whisperer—the first in ninety years—and everyone was trying to catch a glimpse of who it might be. By morning, the rumors would be confirmed. The entire province would know the whisperer was me.


Q: What do you hope readers take away from The Whisperer’s Wish?

Janilise I hope readers find courage to face really difficult things in life. There are few experiences more challenging than grappling with the potential loss of a loved one, like Laurelin does throughout the book. I want readers to feel hope for the future—no matter the outcome of similar situations they may face.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know?

Janilise: I went to school to become a health and history teacher, and I was very young when I first stepped into the classroom. In fact, just two months before, I was a teenager myself. I also have a litter box trained rabbit with his own bedroom, I’m a very picky eater, and I met my husband in high school.


Q: What are you reading now?

Janilise: I’m currently reading Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.


Q: How many bookcases are in your home?

Janilise: Not as many as you might expect. I have three book shelves, and two of them hardly even count because they’re so small. I don’t keep a lot of books, and I also read lots of ebooks.


Q: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Janilise: I love to be outdoors. I’m a summer-loving girl who likes to hike, camp, kayak, and run. Most of all, I love hanging out with my husband and kiddo, with baby number two joining us soon!

 

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of the paperback (ebook if outside US), and character art print.

 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 14, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 21, 2023. 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 for print copy & art print. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

---

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