AMPLIFY AWARD FAQ

What is the Christy Amplify Award?

The Christy Amplify Award for Christian Fiction is intended to elevate and recognize BIPOC* stories and their authors in the Christy Award program; and to raise awareness of the Christy Award opportunity among Christian fiction authors who identify as members of an ethnic minority and have used that experience in their storytelling.

Why is this award needed in Christian fiction?

This program was carefully developed by publishers, authors, and agents of color in our industry, in order to elevate a type of story that is not prevalent in the Christian fiction genre -- to encourage more diverse stories that can be more widely known -- so that our entire Christy award program can better reflect God's beautifully diverse kingdom.

Is this award “segregating” the talents of authors of color?

No, this is an ADDITIONAL award, not a separate one from The Christy Award. All nominees for the Amplify Award must first be submitted into a traditional fiction category of The Christy Award program. The applicant can then indicate if they’d like it to be ALSO considered for this separate award.

What is the criteria that must be met to be considered for this award?

To be eligible for The Christy Amplify Award for Christian Fiction, submissions must meet all criteria below:

• Book is formally submitted in one of nine fiction categories for The Christy Award® program in the current year.
• Book’s author is from a BIPOC ethnicity: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (including African American, African, Native American, Latino/a, Hispanic, Asian American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and the like.)
• Book topic or setting or character/s must borrow from the author’s own experience or perspective of their under-represented ethnicity.
• The recipient will have excelled in their Christy-submitted category, and in their literary expression, borrowing from their own experience or perspective, and using authentic and effective voice to deliver a story of an enduring nature.

How can a title be nominated for this award?

The option to nominate a title for the Christy Amplify Award for Christian Fiction is on The Christy Award submission form, along with a request for a brief summary explaining its relevance to the Amplify Award criteria. Additional book copies for the Amplify Award judging panel will be required. The judges will determine if an award will be presented in a given year.

Is there a fee?

Christy Award submissions can be considered for this stand alone award at no additional cost.

How often is the Amplify Award named?

The Christy Amplify Award for Christian Fiction can be presented in any year to a fiction book nomination that meets the submission criteria for a Christy Award entry; is nominated as an “Amplify Award” novel per the criteria and processes outlined above; and that judges have determined as worthy for award.

* BIPOC ethnicity: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (including African American, African, Native American, Latino/a, Hispanic, Asian American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and the like.)

Questions? Contact [email protected]