Reviews & Awards

 

Awards

The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus was awarded First Place in the Humor and Satire category for the 2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs). 

​

The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus won Honorable Mention in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Humor Category.

 

​

Reviews

​​​

“A fun, pithy sendup of one of the best-known origin stories.” – Kirkus Reviews

​

"Burkland packs immense humor and irony into his prose..."  BookLife Prize 2025

​

"Hands Down Hilarious...Burkland weaves a tongue-in-cheek retelling of the birth of Christ."  Audiobookreviewer.com

​

"Bill Burkland has written a sharp, shrewd, witty, and occasionally wacky alternate universe Bible -- though who's to say whether his version might be closer to the truth?

Greg Thompson, writer-producer, Bob's Burgers

​​​

“I swear to God, if Bible class had been as fun as Bill Burkland’s The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus, I would still be enrolled. Fun, funny, and wise, Misconceived Conception is the Gospel as written by Matthew, Mark, Abbott and Costello. To say I loved Burkland’s humor, wit, and cleverness within this book would serve as an understatement. In Burkland’s brilliant hands, cats talk and think, shepherds are high, wise men stoop low, and Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus are lovingly human characters. This book merits book club discussion and argument. Don’t forget the wineskins.”

Glenn R. Miller, author of Doorman Wanted

​

“Take one part of The Chosen and two parts of The Life of Brian and you end up with a whimsical look at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  Bill Burkland’s novel is a wild satirical look at the events narrated by the gospel written by  Luke.  From overbearing parents, to clueless wise men, to confused shepherds The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus is a funny and creative retelling of the birth story of Jesus.”

Rick Spees, author of Capitol Gains

​​

​

​

​

​