A pair of local authors were honored recently with a 2025 Christian Book Award. The awards, handed out annually by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, honor the previous year’s top books in a dozen categories.
Gayle Boss, who lives in Grand Rapids, won in the Children category for All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings, Children’s Edition, published by Paraclete Press. She takes young readers through Advent alongside 24 woodland animals such as Black Bear, Fox and Painted Turtle.
“The award helps the book find more kids and helps nurture their awe and reverence for our animal kin,” said Boss. “If we establish that awe and reverence early, perhaps it can last a lifetime.”
Kate Motaung, who lives in West Michigan, won in the Gift & Devotion category for Letters to Grief: Finding Healing and Comfort in Your Loss, published by Christian Art Gifts. She wrote the first letter after losing her mom to cancer when she was 59. Motaung received overwhelming response after posting the letter on her blog, continuing to write other letters until she had a small collection.
“One of my hopes is that this book will help others realize they’re not alone. By ending each letter with a reminder that this life is not all there is, I pray others will find hope in anticipation of the life to come for those who trust in Jesus Christ,” said Motaung. “I’m thankful this award will provide more opportunity for people to potentially find comfort and hope in the midst of their grief.”
Grand Rapids-based Kregel Academic, an imprint of Kregel Publications, won in the Bible Reference Works category for 40 Questions about Pentecostalism by Jonathan Black. Zondervan, based in Grand Rapids and part of Harper Collins Christian Publishing, won in the Biography & Memoir category for Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French.
