Below are the Illumination Book Awards results for the 2023 Illumination Awards, listed by category, followed by the Enduring Light medals, which reward exemplary Christian-themed books published since the year 2000. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each category. Click on titles if you are interested in purchasing one of these award-winning books.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
1. Bible Study | 2. Christian Living | 3. Devotional | 4. Theology | 5. Ministry/Mission | 6. Catholic | 7. Family/Parenting | 8. Education | 9. Spirituality | 10. Illness/Death/Dying | 11. Self-Help | 12. Biography/Memoir- Inspiration | 13. Biography/Memoir- Personal Struggle | 14. Holiday | 15. Children’s Picture Book | 16. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction | 17. General Fiction | 18. Romance Fiction | 19. Mystery/Thriller | 20. Keepsake/Gift/Specialty Bible | 21. Poetry | 22. Digital Media (eBook, Audiobook)
ENDURING LIGHT CATEGORIES:
L1. Christian Thought | L2. Devotional | L3. Inspirational | L4. Christian Fiction | L5. Christian Children’s Book
GENERAL CATEGORIES
1. Bible Study
GOLD
The Creation Care Bible Challenge
by Marek P. Zabriskie
(Forward Movement)
Silver
New Testament Women in the Bible for Progressive Christians - Volume 1: Six Session Study Guide
by Donald Schmidt
(Wood Lake Publishing)
Bronze (tie)
Struggle with God and Overcome
by William Lam
(Wipf & Stock)
Bronze (tie)
The Way of the Shepherd
by Donna E. Lane, PhD
(Bear’s Place Publishing)
2. Christian Living
GOLD
Cannonball Moments
by Eric A. Clayton
(Loyola Press)
Silver (tie)
Alphabet of Faith
by Sara Jewell
(Wood Lake Publishing)
Silver (tie)
Love Is
by Kim Sorrelle
(Kregel Publications)
Bronze
Destination Hope
by Marilyn Nutter and April White
(Ambassador International)
3. Devotional
GOLD
Just Rest
by Melanie Redd
(End Game Press)
Silver (tie)
100 Devotions for Kids Dealing with Anxiety
by Justine Froelker
(ZonderKidz)
Silver (tie)
Face to the Rising Sun
by Mark Bozzuti-Jones
(Forward Movement)
Bronze
The Mother and Son Prayer Journal
by Christie Thomas
(Ulysses Press)
(End Game Press)
4. Theology
GOLD
Fight Like Jesus
by Jason Porterfield
(Herald Press)
(Orbis Books)
Silver
The Unjust Steward: Wealth, Poverty, and the Church Today
by Miguel Escobar
(Forward Movement)
Bronze (tie)
My Dear Far-Nearness
by Robert A. Jonas
(Orbis Books)
(Cascade Books)
Bronze (tie)
The Great Lie
by Pierce Taylor Hibbs
(Self-Published)
5. Ministry/Mission
GOLD
Discerning Welcome
by Ellen Clark Clemot
(Cascade Books)
Silver
The Calling
by Dr. Chris Chen and Dr. Gordon Chen
(Forefront Books)
Bronze
Because of You, I Lost Everything!
by Rev. Jim H. Darnell, Jr.
(Self-Published)
6. Catholic
GOLD
The Freedom of Missing Out
by Michael Rossmann, SJ
(Loyola Press)
Silver
The Freedom of Missing Out
by Michael Rossmann, SJ
(Loyola Press)
Bronze
Mass Confusion
by Susan R. Dolan
(Berry Tree Press)
7. Family/Parenting
GOLD
Fruit Full
by Christie Thomas
(Kregel Publications)
Silver
The Pursuit of Marriage Oneness
by Dr. H. Irving Wilson
(Xulon Press)
Bronze
Raising Kids for Tomorrow’s World
by Stan & Cheryl Schuermann
(Pen It! Publications)
8. Education
GOLD
The Very Best Story Ever Told
by Robin Currie; illustrated by David Kurtz Williams
(Beaming Books)
Silver
A Whole Bunch of Values
by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
(Loyola Press)
Bronze (tie)
Pentawhadda!
by Lynn Calvin Plater
(Westbow Press)
Bronze (tie)
Seven Clues
by Scott Hahn & Maura Roan McKeegan
(Loyola Press)
9. Spirituality
GOLD
Braving the Thin Places
by Julianne Stanz
(Loyola Press)
Silver
Seek and You Will Find
by Rhonda Mawhood Lee
(Forward Movement)
Bronze
Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide
by Adam Bucko
(Orbis Books)
10. Illness/Death/Dying
GOLD (tie)
After the Flowers Die
by Renee Leonard Kennedy
(End Game Press)
GOLD (tie)
Rise Up, Little Bluebirds
by Kristy Boike & Kathryn Inkson
(Wise Ink)
Silver
Praying Through Pain
by Barbara Lee
(Loyola Press)
Bronze
Over Rainbow Bridge
by Karen Nicksich; illustrated by Helen
(Self-Published)
11. Self-Help
GOLD
Beyond the Parentheses
by Susan Ford
(Author Academy Elite)
Silver
Aimless: A Journey to Constructive Masculinity
by John D'Agostini
(Wise Ink)
Bronze
Leadership with a Servant’s Heart
by Kevin Wayne Johnson
(Writing for the Lord Ministries)
12. Biography/Memoir- Inspiration
GOLD (tie)
Pedro Arrupe
by Brian Grogan, SJ
(Loyola Press)
GOLD (tie)
Beloved: Being Gay and Christian
by Donald Schmidt
(Wood Lake Publishing)
Silver
Dearest Sister Wendy…
by Sister Wendy Beckett and Robert Ellsberg
(Orbis Books)
Bronze
Return to Leipzig: Letters of War and Care
by Maria Ritter
(Partner Press)
13. Biography/Memoir- Personal Struggle
GOLD
Everybody Just Breathe
by Amanda V. Peterson
(Beaver’s Pond Press)
Silver
No Tears for Dad
by Pete Cruz
(Redemption Press)
Bronze
Every Road Goes Somewhere
by Wendy Widder
(Three Rubies Press)
14. Holiday
GOLD
Silent Night
illustrated by Elena Selivanova
(Loyola Press)
Silver
The Mouse in the Manger
by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer
(Fresh Wind Studios)
Bronze
Bunny Finds Easter
by Laura Sassi; illustrated by Ela Jarzabek
(ZonderKidz)
15. Children’s Picture Book
GOLD (tie)
The Youngest Disciple
by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer
(Fresh Wind Studios)
GOLD (tie)
Sorin Starts a School
by Paul Mitchell; illustrated by Katie Broussard
(Corde Press)
Silver
Fly High: Understanding Grief with God’s Help
by Michelle Medlock Adams and Janet K. Johnson; illustrated by Beth Snider
Bronze
Our God is Bigger Than That!
by Michelle Medlock Adams and Eva Marie Everson; illustrated by Anna Jones
(End Game Press)
16. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction
GOLD
The Merchant’s Curse
by Antony Barone Kolenc
(Loyola Press)
Silver
Inside the Ten-Foot Line
by Lori Z. Scott
(End Game Press)
Bronze
Aivan: The One Truth
by Kayla E. Green
(Ambassador International)
17. General Fiction
GOLD
The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell
by Kelly Flanagan
(Intervarsity Press)
Silver (tie)
Never a Mere Mortal
by Devon Dial
(Self-Published)
Silver (tie)
The Choices She Made
by Felicia Ferguson
(End Game Press)
Bronze
In the Shadow of Humanity
by N. John Williams
(Self-Published)
18. Romance Fiction
GOLD
Byway to Danger: Book 3 of Spies of the Civil War
by Sandra Merville Hart
(Wild Heart Books)
Silver (tie)
Her Secret Desire
by Laurie Larsen
(Random Moon Books)
Silver (tie)
Love Reunited
by Tara Taffera
(Winged Publications)
Bronze
Blue by You
by Larry B. Gildersleeve
(Book Locker)
19. Mystery/Thriller
GOLD
Once To Die
by T.S. Epperson
(Multivalent Press)
Silver (tie)
The Apocalypse Game
by DC Smith
(oaksmith ventures, inc.)
Silver (tie)
The Snare
by Charles Besondy
(Besondy Publishing LLC)
Bronze
Laser Trap
by Frank DiBianca
(Iron Stream Fiction)
20. Keepsake/Gift/Specialty Bible
GOLD
Forgive Everyone Everything
by Gregory Boyle
(Loyola Press)
Silver (tie)
Anxiety Elephants for Tween Girls
by Caris Snider
(End Game Press)
Silver (tie)
Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys
by Caris Snider
(End Game Press)
Bronze
Bedtime with Daddy
by Nancy I. Sanders; illustrated by Felia Hanakata
(End Game Kidz)
21. Poetry
GOLD
Begin with a Question
by Marjorie Maddox
(Iron Pen, an imprint of Paraclete Press)
Silver
Love in the Time of Covid
by Anna Cates
(Resource Publications)
Bronze
Along Unfamiliar Paths
by Austin L. Scott
(Resource Publications)
22. Digital Media (eBook, Audiobook)
GOLD
The Jesuit: Finding God in All Things edited
by Desmond Francis Xavier Kon (Zhicheng-Mingdé) & Eric Francis Tinsay Valles
(Squircle Line Press)
Silver (tie)
Do You Know the One?
by Michelle Bentley; illustrated by Louise Hargreaves; narrated by John Bentley; produced by Asha Imno and Noah Bentley
(WestBow Press)
Silver (TIE)
Angelic Wars: The End of the Beginning
by Rick E. Norris
(Luminaire Press)
Bronze
Cherishable: An Illuminating Guide for Caregivers and Patients
by Julie J. Wylie
(Pond Reads Press)
ENDURING LIGHT CATEGORIES
Most book awards focus on recent releases, but the Enduring Light medals honor outstanding Christian-themed books published since 2000. Entry fees and judging requirements match regular categories, and both older and current titles are eligible.
L1. Christian Thought
GOLD
Radical Grace
by Laurel Appel
(Appel Creations Publishing)
Silver
You’re Invited to the Table
by Lisa Wilt
(Rx for the Soulful Heart Press)
Bronze
Unearned Grief
by Kevin Gerard Ellison, Sr.
(Executive Business Writing)
L2. Devotional
GOLD
Dinosaur Devotions
by Michelle Medlock Adams; illustrated by Denise Turu
(Tommy Nelson)
Silver
Springtime for Your Spirit
by Michelle Medlock Adams & Andy Clapp
(Good Books)
Bronze
In the Eye of the Storm
by Andy Clapp
(End Game Press)
L3. Inspirational
GOLD
The Homeboy Way
by Thomas Vozzo
(Loyola Press)
Silver
Bridge of Miracles
by Heidi Tucker
(Redstone Media)
Bronze
Spilt Milk: Devotions for Imperfect People
by Jan Hemby
(Blue Ink Press)
L4. Christian Fiction
GOLD (tie)
Peyton's Promise
by Susan G Mathis
(Iron Stream Fiction)
GOLD (tie)
Praesidium
by McKinley Aspen
(Muse Literary)
Silver
The Chase
by Mario Busacca and Hoyt A. Byrum
(koehlerbooks)
Bronze
Children of Slate
by Thom Brucie
(EnRoute Books and Media)
L5. Christian Children’s Book
GOLD
The Jesus Storybook Bible
by Sally Lloyd-Jones; illustrated by Jago
(ZonderKidz)
Silver (tie)
Who God Wants Me to Be
by Crystal Bowman and Michelle S. Lazurek; illustrated by Sandra Eide
(Waterbrook)
Silver (tie)
Bethlehem Barn
by Debra Westgate-Silva; illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski
(Stillwater River Publications)
Bronze
My Dear Little One
by Al Carraway; illustrated by Anastasiia Hryvtsova
(Cedar Fort)
