BUFFALO, N.Y.—Ave Maria Press  authors and staff  were among those honored Friday night by the Catholic Press Association during its annual conference.

Two first-time authors, Arleen Spenceley and Eve Tushnet, took first place in their respective book categories. Spenceley earned top honors in the teen and young adult category for Chastity Is for Lovers, while Tushnet won in the gender issues category for Gay and Catholic.

Angela Alaimo O’Donnell also won first place in the family life category for her book Mortal Blessings.

Lisa Hendey and Sarah Reinhard captured first place for best group or association blog for CatholicMom.com.

Marge Fenelon, author of Imitating Mary and the forthcoming Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, won a prestigous Egan Journalism Fellowship from Catholic Relief Services to allow her to report from the Phillippines, one of 101 countries where CRS works. More on the Egan Fellowship is available on the CRS website.

Other CPA winners included:

  • Brian Doyle; A Book of Uncommon Prayer; honorable mention for soft cover spirituality. Doyle also won third place in best essay originating from a general interest magazine for “Suffering Children,” which was published by America. He won a first-place award for best essay originating in a prayer and spirituality magazine for “Miriam” published by Give Us This Day.
  • Heather Glenn (manager) and Chris Tobin (designer); third place for best trade/seasonal catalog for the Ave Maria Press Fall 2014 Trade Catalog.
  • Elizabeth Scalia took second place for best regular spiritual life column for “Ora Pro Nobis” published by The Catholic Answer.

The complete list of 2015 book and journalism winners is available on the Catholic Press Association website.