Rhonda Robinson Honored with 2020 Christian Market Book Award

The amount of time it takes to research and write a book is tremendous. It can often consume your life for several years.

That’s why it’s always nice to be appreciated for all the hard work and long hours put into creating a book that is not only poignant but one that people will enjoy and glean something from.

Rhonda Robinson, who is a regular contributor to this website, is one such author whose book, FreeFall: Holding Onto Faith When the Unthinkable Strikes (New Hope Publishers), was recognized for its merit when it took home second place for the 2020 Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year.

“FreeFall: Holding Onto Faith When the Unthinkable Strikes is a book that no one dreams of writing one day,” Robinson stated. “My hope and prayer is this award will help get it into the hands of those who need the kind of healing only the Great Physician can bring.”

Other 2020 Christian Market Book Award (its inaugural year) and Golden Scroll Award winners, presented by AWSA, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of over 600 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. During a Virtual Awards Ceremony in August the following winners were announced:

• Christian Market Book of the Year: Luann Mire’s (with Patti Richter) Signs of His Presence: Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering (Carpenter’s Son Publishing).
• Christian Market Novel of the Year: Anne Greene’s Shadow of the Dagger (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.). Co-second-place finishers were C. Kevin Thompson’s The Letters (Mantle Rock Publishing LLC) and Buck Storm and Bill Perkins’ The List (Compass Publishing). Third place was Jeanette Morris’ Her Shining Eyes: A Novel (Bold Vision Books).
• Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year: Lauren Crews’ Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31 (Ascender Books). Third place was Michelle Medlock Adams and Bethany Jett’s They Call Me Mom: 52 Encouraging Devotions for Every Moment (Kregel Academic & Professional).
• Christian Market Children’s Book of the Year: Michelle Medlock Adams’ I Love You Bigger Than the Sky (WorthyKids). Second place was Amy Houts’ God’s Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books). Third place was Michele Medlock Adams’ How Much Does God Love You (WorthyKids).
• Golden Scrolls Book of the Year: Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises (Revell of Baker Publishing Group).
• Nonfiction Book of the Year: Pam Farrel, Jean E. Jones, and Karla Dornacher’s Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament: A Creative Devotional Study Experience (Harvest House Publishers).
• Novel of the Year: DiAnn Mills’ Fatal Strike (Tyndale House Publishers).
• Co-Children’s Nonfiction Books of the Year: Michelle Medlock Adams’ How Much Does God Love You (WorthyKids) and Crystal Bowman’s Little Duckling’s Easter Prayers (Zonderkids). Second place was Michelle Medlock Adams’ Cuddle Up Prayers (WorthyKids). Third place was Michelle Lazurek’s The Best Gift of All (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.).
• Children’s Fiction Book of the Year: Donna Arlynn Frisinger’s Bink and Slinky’s Christmas Adventure (Progressive Rising Phoenix Press). Second place was Michelle Medlock Adam’s I Love You Bigger Than the Sky (WorthyKids). Third place was Michele McCarthy’s Daddy and Me (Redemption Press).
• Christian Education Book of the Year: Cynthia L. Simmons’ Pursuing Gold: A Historical & Critical Thinking Curriculum (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.). Second place was Pamela Christian’s Prepare for the Harvest! God’s Challenge to the Church Today (Protocol, Ltd.).
• Co-Bible Study Books of the Year: Pam Farrel, Jean E. Jones, and Karla Dornacher’s Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Devotional Study Experience (Harvest House Publishers) and Misty Phillip’s The Struggle Is Real: But So Is God (MistyPhillip.com). Second place was Jennifer Smith Lane’s Transformed: Eating and Body Image Renewal God’s Way (Jennifer Sue Lane). Third place was Janet H. McHenry’s Stronger Every Day (First Place for Health).
• Co-Memoirs of the Year: Ginny Dent Brant’s Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer (WestBow Press) and Luann Mire’s (with Patti Richter) Signs of His Presence: Experiencing God’s Comfort in Time of Suffering (Carpenter’s Son Publishing). Second place was Lisa W. Smith and Thanh D. Boyer’s The Ground Kisser (Kerysso Press). Third place was Paula Jauch’s Cross Addicted: Breaking Free from Family Trauma and Addiction (Redemption Press).
• Christan Living Book of the Year: Robin Luftig’s God’s Best During Your Worst: Living Under His Umbrella (Bold Vision Books). Second place was Tina Yeager’s Beautiful Warrior: Finding Victory Over the Lies Formed Against You (New Hope Publishers). Third place was Lucinda Secrest McDowell’s Soul Strong: 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life (New Hope Publishers).
• Devotion Book of the Year: Lucinda Secrest McDowell’s Life-Giving Choices: 60 Days to What Matters Most (New Hope Publishers). Second place was Leigh Ann Thomas’ Smack Dab in the Midlife Zone: Inspiration for Women in the Middle (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.). Third place was Karen Whiting’s 52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve (Rose Publishing).
• Inspirational Gift Book of the Year: Adria Wilkins’ The Joy Box Journal (Ellie Claire Gifts). Second place was Michelle Medlock Adams’ Encouraging Words for Mothers (Morning & Evening): Daily Devotions for a Mother’s Soul (Barbour Books). Third place was Cynthia Cavanaugh’s She Writes for Him: Stories of Resilient Faith (Romans8:28 Books: An Imprint of Redemption Press).
• Western Novel of the Year: Janet Chester Bly’s Beneath a Camperdown Elm (Bly Books).
• Historical Novel of the Year: Jocelyn Green’s Veiled in Smoke (Bethany House Publishers). Second place was Jocelyn Green’s Between Two Shores (Bethany House Publishers). Third place was Rebecca Price Janney’s Sweet, Sweet Spirit: One Woman’s Spiritual Journey to the Asbury College Revival (Elk Lake Publishing).
• Contemporary Novel of the Year: Kaley and Rhonda Rhea’s Off-Script & Over-Caffeinated: A Novel (Bold Vision Books). Second place was June Chapko’s Legacy Path (Legacy Treasures). Third place was Deborah Raney’s Chasing Dreams (Kregel Publications).
• Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year: Carrie Stuart Parks’ Fragments of Fear (Thomas Nelson). Second place was Catherine Finger’s Capsized by Death (Elk Lake Publishing). Third place was Lori Altebaumer’s A Firm Place to Stand (BookBaby).
• Arise Daily Writer of the Year: Sheri Schofield.

AWSA’s official magazine, Leading Hearts, won their seventh straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award. The Leading Hearts Columnist of the Year went to Saundra Dalton-Smith for her column, “Healthtracks.” Article of the year went to Lisa Burns for “Breakthrough the Movie: Exclusive Interview with Pastor Jason Noble.”

The 2020 AWSA Member of the Year Award went to Edie Melson. Edie, an award-winning author of Soul Care When You’re Weary, directs the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and serves in several leadership roles in AWSA. AWSA founder Linda Evans Shepherd said, “Edie works tirelessly and gives selflessly for the cause of Christ.”

The Jennifer Kennedy Dean Award went to Janet Holm McHenry. Janet, also a best-selling prayer author, was a close friend and prayer partner of Jennifer’s. Janet continues in Jennifer’s tradition to teach prayer principles to readers.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Stormie Omartian, in honor of her life of excellence in serving the Lord. Her books on prayer, including Power of a Praying Woman and Power of a Praying Wife, have sold over 40 million copies.

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Learn more at awsa.com.