The Christy Award is an annual literary award that honors outstanding Christian fiction. Established in 1999, it recognizes authors who create compelling stories that reflect Christian values and themes. The award is named after Catherine Marshall's novel "Christy," which tells the story of a young woman who becomes a teacher in the Appalachian Mountains. The award categories include various genres such as historical, contemporary, and speculative fiction. Winners are selected by a panel of judges, and the awards are presented at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference, celebrating the contributions of Christian authors to the literary world.