WaterBrook Novel AN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT Receives The Christy Award

WaterBrook novel AN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT by Johanna Rojas Vann, edited by Jamie Lapeyrolerie, received The Christy Award for Best First Novel from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) at their awards ceremony in Chicago on November 14. The Christy Award exists to celebrate excellence in the art of Christian fiction and to honor the power of faith in story. 

Inspired by Rojas Vann’s mother’s immigration experience, AN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT, is the story of a Colombian American journalist as she tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she’d go—Colombia—a heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories. 

A multi-award-winning debut, Rojas Vann also received two awards at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards presented in October 2024: the Gold Award for Best First Book – Fiction and Silver Award for The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Fiction Book– English. In addition, Rojas Vann was a finalist for the Tennessee Book Awards. 

“I’m so proud of Johanna and this book,” says Editor Jamie Lapeyrolerie. “She worked so hard on this story and the hard work has paid off with all her accolades. It also does a beautiful job of honoring her mother’s story of leaving Colombia and coming to the US. It was so sweet that her mom was able to be there with Johanna celebrating this win in Chicago. A beautiful full circle moment that I’m honored and blessed to have played a role in.” 

Rojas Vann is a professional writer whose work can be found online and within numerous publications. She is a second-generation Colombian American, with dual citizenship, and lives with her husband and children in Nashville, Tennessee. 

WaterBrook is an imprint of the PRH Christian Publishing Group.