Happy Wednesday! Since Monday, I’ve been spotlighting The Christy Award 2019 finalist books in each category – let’s continue on with visionary! Some of the authors were gracious enough to answer a couple of questions for me so I’ve included their answers below as well.
The Christy Award® Gala 2019 is coming up TONIGHT (Nov 6th) at Lipscomb University in Nashville, following The Art of Writing Conference. The Christy Award Dinner Gala will celebrate the art of Christian fiction, announce the 2019 winners of The Christy Award, and feature bestselling authors Patti Callahan, James Rubart and Becky Wade. In addition, they’ll honor the legacy of bestselling author and pioneer of inspirational fiction, Janette Oke, in the 40th anniversary year of Love Comes Softly.
If you can’t attend this year, watch the live stream HERE
And the (four!) finalists for Visionary are….
MARK OF THE RAVEN
SERIES: The Ravenwood Saga #1
GENRE: Visionary / Fantasy
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2018
PAGES: 352
Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person’s dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.
As she discovers her family’s dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family’s legacy–a legacy that supports her people–or seeking the true reason behind her family’s gift.
Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.
One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?
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Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the steampunk series The Soul Chronicles. Mark of the Raven won the 2019 Carol Award and the 2019 INSPY Award. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel. She and her family live in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Visit her at her website.
SHIVERING WORLD
GENRE: Visionary / Science Fiction
PUBLISHER: Enclave
RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2018
PAGES: 464
A planet on the edge of life.
A woman on the edge of hope.Microbiologist Graysha Brady-Phillips accepts a hazardous position assisting in terraforming the planet Goddard, partly to get out of debt and partly in desperate hope. There’s a chance that the colonists are conducting illegal genetic research, which could provide a cure for the genetic disorder slowly killing her.
But genetic engineering is banned by the powerful Eugenics Board, and Graysha is the daughter of the board’s high commissioner. When the colonists discover her connection, she is ostracized—the possible penalties for conducting their radical research include death. Graysha tries to pursue her profession and befriend the colonists, but soon she is dodging attempts on her life.
When her new world is pushed to the brink, Graysha must decide what she will cling to.
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Kathy Tyers is the author of the Firebird series – Firebird, Fusion Fire, Crown of Fire, Wind and Shadow, and Daystar – of the stand-alone science fiction novels Shivering World, Crystal Witness, and One Mind’s Eye – and the Star Wars universe novels Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point.
It’s character-driven science fiction with a deep heart and an inquiring spirit, stories that are accessible and thought-provoking. Visit her at her website.
why do you write Christian Fiction?
how have christy by catherine marshall & love comes softly by janette oke impacted you and/or your writing?
THE STORY PEDDLER
SERIES: The Weaver Trilogy #1
GENRE: Visionary / Fantasy
PUBLISHER: Enclave
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2018
PAGES: 336
Selling stories is a deadly business
Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.
During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.
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Lindsay A. Franklin is a Carol Award–winning author, freelance editor, and homeschooling mom of three. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives in her native San Diego with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their precious geeklings, three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats), and a stuffed marsupial named Wombatman. You can find Lindsay on Instagram @LinzyAFranklin.
why do you write Christian Fiction?
Fiction has always been a place of refuge for me. No matter what was happening in my life, I could always climb into a book and get lost in story—lost in the best possible way. I like to say art reveals truth (a few of my characters say this, too…), so when I tell stories, my worldview naturally slips in, whether I set out to write Christian fiction or not. Sometimes the messages are subtler than others, but the truth always rises to the surface, and I love that.
THE WOUNDED SHADOW
SERIES: The Darkwater Saga #3
GENRE: Visionary / Fantasy
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: April 3, 2018
PAGES: 496
The kings and queens of the northern continent lay siege to the Darkwater Forest, desperate to contain its evil. But rumors of gold and aurium have lured deserters and the desperate into its shadow, creating a growing army held in its sway. Desperate after the death and dissolution of their greatest ally, Willet and the Vigil seek the truth of what lies at the heart of the evil they face. They delve the mind of an old enemy and find an answer far worse than they could have imagined.
Danger stalks the cities of the north, striking at the rulers of the kingdoms. As Willet and the rest of the Vigil seek to find answers, the group is scattered with an ever-growing darkness around them. Will they discover a path to keep their land safe, or will an ancient evil reclaim the world it once called its own?
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Patrick W. Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of cold war tensions. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee.
Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last eight years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. While Patrick enjoys reading about himself, he thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird. Visit him at his website.
The Christy Award/ECPA is offering one of my readers ALL the finalist books in one category of your choice. (US only) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? Which of these The Christy Award visionary finalists are on your TBR list? Which have you already read?
Two books I’ve read and two that sound amazing! I can’t wait to see who wins!!!
The Story Peddler is on my TBR list.
I won a copy of The Story Peddler. The Mark of the Raven and The Wounded Shadow I’d love to read.
I don’t usually read this genre, but I’ve heard great things about these books!
I have read Mark of the raven. The others are on my TBR list.
I don’t usually read this genre…
This genre is way out of my comfort zone… but the covers sure are cool!
I haven’r read this genre but they sound like interesting books.
I haven’t read any of these, and what a diverse group…such vast scenarios & creative worlds. Thanks for sharing!
I would like to read The Mark of the Raven and The Story Peddler
I usually don’t read this genre but these books do look good
I have The Story Peddler in my TBR pile. The others look interesting.
This isn’t a genre I really read anymore but I did love years ago Ted Dekker’s Circle series which were Visionaries. I’m hoping The Story Peddler to win as that looks amazing and love the design of the cover.
I have not read any of these books. However, I have seen good reviews for Morgan L. Busse’s Mark of the Raven.
I don’t think this is my genre, but I might be willing to try.
I loved, loved both Mark of the Raven and The Wounded Shadow – I don’t know how I would pick between them if I were in charge of handing out awards. Poor judges!
yes!!!
This is just not my genre, but I have bought some of Patrick Carr’s book for my son who loves this. I might have to try one of these for myself
I interviewed Patrick Carr once in person and I was so impressed with his heart!
Not a big fan of sci-fi/fantasy. However, a couple of these books sound pretty good from so I have added them to my goodreads want to read list.
Fascinating covers
I’d like to read Shivering World — it sounds really good.
I want to make more time to read this category