The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has named Alyson Punzi the 2026 Christian Book Award® winner in the New Author category for her debut title, He Always Hears: A Story of Loss and the Hope of Things Made New (Crossway).
The honor was announced Tuesday, April 28 during the ECPA Awards Celebration at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, held in conjunction with the ECPA Leadership Summit. The annual event recognizes excellence in Christian publishing and highlights emerging voices shaping the future of the industry.
Punzi’s award-winning book, illustrated by Tyler Charlton, offers a message of hope and restoration through the lens of personal loss, pointing readers to the faithfulness of God in seasons of grief. As a first-time author, her recognition places her among the most promising new voices in Christian publishing.
After the sudden and devastating loss of her husband, Frank, in 2022, Punzi, executive assistant to the vice president for advancement at Cedarville University, found herself navigating grief while also seeking a way to help her young daughter understand it. Frank’s death, caused by a rare and aggressive leukemia following a series of strokes, left Punzi grappling not only with her own sorrow but also with how to explain loss to a two-year-old.
Drawing from her personal experience and the biblical concept of lament—a way of bringing pain honestly before God while holding onto hope—Punzi began searching for resources to guide her daughter. When she found none that addressed lament specifically for children, she felt compelled to create one herself.
The result was her children’s book, He Always Hears, which uses a simple, relatable story about a young girl experiencing loss and introducing children to grief, hope and faith. Through the book, Punzi gives families a theological framework for understanding and expressing sorrow, teaching children that they can bring their hurt to God, who hears and cares for them. What began as a personal tool for her daughter quickly resonated with others, leading to support from friends, family and Crossway Publishing to bring the project to a wider audience.
Now, four years after her loss, Punzi views the book as both a resource for children and a guide for parents and caregivers walking alongside them through grief. She emphasizes that helping children process loss is not about having perfect answers but about consistently acknowledging pain while pointing them to hope in God’s promises. Through He Always Hears, Punzi hopes to open meaningful conversations about loss—both big and small—and remind families that they are not alone as they learn to navigate a broken world with faith and honesty.
The Christian Book Award® program is the oldest and one of the most prestigious recognitions in the religious publishing industry, honoring books that demonstrate excellence in content, creativity, and ministry impact.
Punzi earned a bachelor's degree in history and biblical studies from Cedarville University and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity through Cedarville Theological Seminary.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 6,384 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.