ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Awards Name Four Kregel Titles as Finalists

Kregel Publications is excited to announce that four of their titles from this past year have been selected as finalists in the 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards. The purpose of the awards program is to discover distinctive books across a variety of genres.

According to the ForeWord Web site, “More than 1,400 books were entered in 61 categories. These were narrowed to 668 finalists from 376 publishers. These books represent some of the best work coming from today's independent press community.” The winning titles are chosen based on editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, author credentials relative to the book, and the value the book adds to its genre. Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, as well as Editor's Choice Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction will be announced at a special program at BookExpo America at the Javits Center in New York City on May 29, 2009.

The finalists from Kregel Publications include:

An Irishwoman’s Tale: A Novel (Fiction-General)
by Patti Lacy (978-0-8254-2987-3)
Mary Freeman's life has taken her a long way from a family that didn't want her, and a long way from her Irish home, to the Midwest United States. Now married with two teenage daughters, Mary's loneliness and torment are as acute as ever. It takes a crisis in her daughter's life—and the encouragement of Sally, a plucky Southern transplant—to propel Mary back to the rocky cliffs of her home in County Clare, Ireland.


The Black Cloister: A Novel (Fiction-Religious)
by Melanie Dobson (978-0-8254-2443-4)
On Elise Friedman's eighth birthday, she lost her mother and any connection to her mysterious past. Raised by her loving stepfather, Elise has spent years trying to learn the truth about her mother, Catrina, and her birth family in Germany, but still knows very little. Now a young woman in college, Elise is traveling to her homeland of Germany to uncover her family's past, but what she finds is much more harrowing than she ever suspected.


I’m Not Crazy, But I Might Be a Carrier: Infectious Inspiration from Comedian Charles Marshall (Humor)
by Charles Marshall (978-0-8254-3419-8)
Charles Marshall is a comic expert on daily living, because life is crazy and so is he. More than a decade of experience in comedy has given Marshall a quick wit and sharp edge, and his love of God and people has cultured a warm heart. He's already shared his outrageous insights with thousands through his syndicated column Laughing Matters, as well as entertaining audiences at hundreds of stand-up performances across the nation. Now his versatile and vibrant humor has been collected in this new book. Each of these hilarious sketches gracefully segues into an encouraging and pertinent Christian message, reassuring readers that life may be a zany ride, but God is at the controls.


Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower's Guide for the Journey (Religion)
by Jonathan Morrow (978-0-8254-3354-2)
In this engaging guide, Jonathan Morrow encourages students to consider and engage the issues they will face in the dorm, on campus, and in the college classroom. Topics vary from dating and friends, classes and homework, to avoiding the temptation to just “check out” spiritually while in school. A great gift idea for the soon-to-be graduate.