2025 ACFW Christian Fiction and Industry Awards

American Christian Fiction Writers is pleased to announce the 2025 award winners.  The awards were presented Saturday, September 6^th at the annual ACFW Gala, which was held in Springfield, MO during ACFW’s annual conference. American Christian Fiction Writers is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction and helping writers expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.

The winners are as follows:

Lifetime Achievement Award – Robin Jones Gunn

Mentor of the Year – Misty Beller

Agent of the Year – Rachel Kent (Books & Such Literary Agency)

Editor of the Year – Michelle Levigne (Michelle Levigne Editing and Mt. Zion Press)

Volunteer of the Year – Pat Takamiya

Martha Rogers Member Service Award – Paula Peckham

2025 Genesis Awards

Contemporary – Elizabeth Daghfal for Calls in the Dark

Historical – Hannah Benson for Beyond the Red Curtain

Historical Romance – Donna Yarborough for Grace Like Rain

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller – Renda Knapp for What She Knows

Novella – Tiffany Burgess for The Lilith Assignment: A Sifting

Romance – Ruth Schmeckpeper for Restoration

Romantic Suspense – Breana Johnson for Golden Bluff Ghost Town

Short Novel – Tracy Del Campo for The Road to Hope

Speculative – Elise Haroldson for Treeple

Young Adult – Sharon Jeong Ide for Pear Blossom Academy

2025 Carol Awards

Contemporary
When the Wildflowers Bloom Again by Donna Jo Stone
Independent Author
Editor – Anne Victory

Historical
Where Trees Touch the Sky by Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications
Editor – Janyre Tromp

Historical Romance
The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder
Barbour Publishing
Editor – Becky Fish

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Fatal Domain by Steven James
Tyndale House
Editors – Sarah Rische and Karen Watson

Novella
Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
Editors – Kelsey Bowen and Jessica English

Romance 
The Heart of Sugarcreek by Serena B. Miller
Independent Author
Editor – Brenda Kallner

Romantic Suspense
Double Take by Lynette Eason
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
Editors – Barb Barnes and Andrea Doering

Short Novel
Waiting for Gilbert by Tasha Hackett
Independent Author
Editors – Crystal Nielson and Megan Schaulis

Speculative
Drawn by Light by John W. Otte
Independent Author
Editor – Megan Gerig

Young Adult
Mortal Queens by Victoria McCombs
Enclave Publishing (Oasis Family Media)
Editor – Sara Ella and Lisa Laube

Debut Author
Protector by Megan Schaulis
White Crown Publishing
Editors – Janelle Leonard and Marisa Stokley