American Book Fest announced the winners and finalists of THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA), one of the world’s largest international book award programs for mainstream, indie, and self-published titles. We are pleased to share that Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio by Susan De Bartoli has won the award in the Religion General category. Congratulations to Susan and Ave editor, Heidi Hess Saxton!
Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce the 2024 Excellence in Publishing Awards winners for the Association of Catholic Publishers. Julia Sadusky won second place in the general interest category for Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex. Fr. John Burns took second place in the spirituality category for Return: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation and Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, earned third place in the same category for Prepare Your Heart: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation. You can view all of the winners on the ACP website.
Erin Pierce has been named publicist and strategic partnerships manager. "Erin has been such a valuable member of the Ave team for the past seven years. We couldn't be more excited about her transition into this new role. Her genuine care for our authors and her infectious enthusiasm for promoting our publications make her a perfect fit," said Karey Circosta, our publisher and CEO. Pierce came to Ave in 2017 and quickly advanced from sales to marketing in 2018. Recognized as a gifted team player, she has consistently demonstrated her willingness to step in and assist colleagues whenever needed. Her contributions have been pivotal in spearheading and expanding numerous initiatives, notably Ave Explores, the professional development webinar series for ministry leaders, and the parish book program, all while fostering growth within the ministry resources category. Before joining Ave Maria Press, Pierce served as a dedicated high school theology teacher at Marian High School in Mishawaka, IN, for a remarkable twenty-four years. Her profound love for imparting the faith to her students, coupled with her role as student council advisor, exemplified her commitment to nurturing the spiritual, emotional, social, and intellectual development of God’s children. Pierce's academic background includes a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from Florida State University and a master of arts degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame. With her extensive experience and profound dedication, Ave Maria Press is confident in Pierce's ability to drive forward our mission in this new role.
Five Ave Maria Press authors are finalists in three categories as part of the 2024 Excellence in Publishing Awards for the Association of Catholic Publishers. The finalists are: Julia Sadusky for Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex (General Interest Category) Paul George for Holy Grit (Inspirational Category) Emily Jaminet for Holy Habits from the Sacred Heart (Inspirational Category) Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, for Prepare Your Heart: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation (Spirituality Category) Fr. John Burns for Return: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation (Spirituality Category) First, second, and third-place winners will be announced in June. A “Resource of the Year” will be named from among the first place finishers of the 17 categories.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, FemCatholic honored twenty-five fierce Catholic women leading the way in sharing the faith and shaping the culture, both within the Catholic Church and beyond. “We feel incredibly proud to have the privilege of working with and publishing so many of the game-changing women included on this list,” said Karey Circosta, CEO and Publisher of Ave Maria Press. “We are excited to see what the rest of 2024 has in store, as many of these authors have forthcoming books releasing this year.” The ten diverse and dynamic Ave Maria Press authors and contributors, included in FemCatholic’s list of Women to Watch in 2024 are: • Regina Boyd, author of Leaving Loneliness Behind; • Erica Tighe Campbell, author of Living the Seasons; • Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, author of a forthcoming Spring 2025 Lenten Journal; • Brya Hanan, author of Befriending Your Inner Child; • Abigail Jorgensen, author of A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss; • Rachael Killackey, author of Love in Recovery; • Clare McCallan, author of Courage to Create; • Katie Prejean McGrady, host of the Ave Explores podcast and author of Room 24, Follow, and other seasonal devotionals; • Julia Sadusky, author of Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex and Talking with Your Teen about Sex; and • Chenele Shaw, host of the podcast Ave Spotlight; To find the complete list of FemCatholic’s Women to Watch in 2024, please visit femcatholic.com.
Five Ave authors were honored for excellence in publishing by the Association of Catholic Publishers. Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, took second place in the spirituality category for Love Him Ever More. Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt won third place in the same category for Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s. Christine Valters Paintner earned a third-place award in the inspirational category for her book Birthing the Holy. Leonard J. DeLorenzo won third place in theology for Our Faithful Departed. You can view all of the winners on the ACP website. All four books also earned awards from the Catholic Media Association.
Ave Maria Press designers and authors earned thirteen awards from the Catholic Media Association on Friday, June 9, 2023, at the annual Catholic Media Conference in Baltimore. Timothy P. O’Malley won first place in the future church category for his book Becoming Eucharistic People. Judges said, “Apropos to the concern the Church has with respect to an understanding of the Eucharist, O’Malley offers a deep appreciation of what the Eucharist means personally and communally and how it truly is the 'source and summit' for the Christian life in the world.” Gregory Smith earned first runner-up for videographer/video producer of the year for his work on the seasonal multimedia projects Behold and Restore. Restore also earned a third-place for best multimedia package—seasonal issue. Contributors included: Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, author; Valerie Delgado, illustrator; Gregory Smith, video production; Brianna Dombo, designer; Kate Coates, campaign graphics; Katie Prejean McGrady, Ave Explores: Lent; and Erin Pierce, parish resources and project manager. Behold earned an honorable mention in the same category. Josiah Henley was the illustrator on the multimedia team. Behold and Restore also earned honorable mentions in the healing and self-help category. Other winners include: Fr. Christopher S. Collins, SJ, Habits of Freedom, second place in the classical spirituality; Vinita Hampton Wright, Set the World on Fire, honorable mention, classical spirituality; Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, Love Him Ever More, honorable mention, classical spirituality; Christine Valters Paintner, Birthing the Holy, third place, contemporary spirituality; Kevin Schmiesing, A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History, third place, pilgrimages/Catholic travel; Leonard J. DeLorenzo, Our Faithful Departed, third place, grief and bereavement; Brianna Dombo, designer, Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible, honorable mention for design and production; and Shannon Wimp Schmidt and Marcia Lane-McGee, Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, honorable mention, inclusion in the Church. The complete list of winners is available on the Catholic Media Association website.
Eight Ave Maria Press authors are finalists in eight categories as part of the 2023 Excellence in Publishing Awards from the Association of Catholic Publishers. The finalists are: • Our Lady of Hot Messes, Leticia Ochoa Adams, biography • One Church, Charles Camosy, general interest • Birthing the Holy, Christine Valters Paintner, inspirational • The Way of Beatitude, Fr. Casey Cole, OFM, inspirational • Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt, spirituality • Love Him Ever More, Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, spirituality • Habits of Freedom, Fr. Christopher S. Collins, SJ, spirituality • Our Faithful Departed, Leonard J. DeLorenzo, theology First-, second-, and third-place winners in each category will be announced in June. A resource of the year will be selected from among the first-place winners in sixteen categories. Read more about all of the finalists on the ACP website.
