[1] Awards are given in nine categories, including romance, suspense, visionary,[2] contemporary (stand-alone novels and series), and historical.
In 2017, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), an international non-profit trade organization, assumed ownership and administration of the award.
[3] Winners are chosen by industry insiders, including reviewers, editors, bookstore owners, and book buyers.
[5] Cox had previously won the 2021 Book of the Year award for her novel The Edge of Belonging.
[5] In 2018, Becky Wade had won Book of the Year and first place in the contemporary romance category for her novel True to You.