Rebecca St. James is taking “time out” in the month of July; a sabbatical time she has carved from her busy schedule annually over the last three years of almost non-stop international music tours, speaking engagements, and the writing of best selling music and books.

Rebecca’s latest book, She Teen, was nominated in the Book of the Year category for Children/Youth, sharing the honour with more seasoned writers such as Jim George, and Max Lucado. Formerly the Gold Medallion Award, the nod from ECPA is Christian publishing’s highest honour.

“I’m very surprised and encouraged,” noted Rebecca in learning of the accolades bestowed on her as an author.  “In writing the book, it was my  hope that it would be well received  and become a practical tool for teen girls struggling with the pressures of the culture.  To be recognized by ECPA for this effort is both very humbling and re-affirming to a young author.”

“Re-affirming” was exactly the description as well for Rebecca’s appearance in June in Holland at the annual EO Youth Day which attracted a crowd of more than 32,000 concert-goers for her headlining performance at the Gelredome Stadium near Amsterdam. She became the first artist to be re-invited for a third performance at EO (previous performances were in 1998 and 2000) for a 2006 return that was televised live on national TV throughout Belgium and the Netherlands to an audience of more than 1 million viewers.

Tim Dik, Rebecca, BarlowGirl, and Wim Grandia, Speaker.

Noted Tim Dik, Music Director of EO, “Rebecca’s concert was extremely well received-she and EO are a perfect match! She is a lovely person and great artist. I am looking for every opportunity to work her her again in the near future.”

During this well-deserved month off will be a time to listen for the still small voice that will give her further direction on where the exciting journey of music and books may take her next.

On August 15th, Forefront Records will be releasing a compliation of Rebecca’s early recordings titled The Early Years. In October, Rebecca will be part of the three day long Franklin Graham Crusade in Winnipeg together with the Newsboys, Tree63, Casting Crowns and Michael W. Smith. Visit the YMZ Concert Listings for more details.