Monday, August 22, 2011

Top Five Novelists


Seeking your opinion ...

Who are today's Top Five Novelists in all of fiction?

Who are the today's Top Five Novelists in Christian fiction?

I'm not looking for favorite authors, but best authors--those whose storytelling and writing ability exceeds the norm. Also, I'm not looking for classical greats, but for those authors who still publish novels on a regular basis.

Thank you! I look forward to hearing your opinion.

10 comments:

  1. Hey -- aren't you supposed to be taking a two-week sabbatical? What's with the impossibly difficult questions???????????????????? I'll have to think on this and get back to you. :-)

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  2. Oh, I know, Kav. But, I had this question on my mind and, with my blog schedule open, it was the perfect time to publish it.

    I have to do some thinking too before I publish my answers.

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  3. Geez! FIVE?! Nah. Can't condense it down to five. No way, Bren. (That would be in CBA.)

    Not that well versed anymore in ABA.

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  4. So, how many can you name, Nicole?

    I'm not well-versed in ABA either. I have favorites (Vince Flynn, Michael Connelly, & William Kent Krueger), but I couldn't fairly say how they compare to the rest of the market. I've read Jodi Picoult & Kristin Hannah and wasn't impressed.

    I'd love to hear from some of those who have been critical of Christian fiction, who say general market fiction is so much better. I'd love to know who they recommend.

    Hmmm, perhaps I'll go have to send out a personal request & see what kind of response I get.

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  5. Okay so far my only 'given' is Laura Frantz. She has three books out and has maintained a standard of excellence with each book. She tells a tale that I lose myself in every time and each book is different -- in fact her style is plain different even though she is a historical author and writes in the same time period.

    She is descriptive without miring the story down. And her plots are tight. Every scene has a purpose and leads to the climax. After I've finished the book I sit back and piece the scenes together and marvel at how perfectly they fit, right down to the very last word.

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  6. And as for my opinion on who are THE BEST in Christian fiction, these authors are excellent writers. Period.

    Steven James
    Athol Dickson
    Lisa Samson
    Tosca Lee
    Dale Cramer

    Honorable mention would go to (again in no particular order): Mary DeMuth, Susan Meissner (love her latest novels), Ann Tatlock, Linda Nichols, Charles Martin, Laura Frantz, Tim Downs, & Chris Fabry.

    Here's a handful of other authors who have only a few books out and have yet to prove themselves, but I like what I see so far:

    River Jordan, Jennifer Erin Valent, Rusty Whitener, Ginny Yttrup, Christa Parrish, & Gina Holmes.

    I've probably missed some excellent authors, and then there are the authors whom I love, but may have a little way to go as far as quality ... I think I'll stop there. :)

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  7. Kav - you know I love Laura Frantz too. I'm not a fan of historicals or historical romance, but her novels are atypical of that genre. She weaves a great story and tells it with beauty. That, to me, is excellent writing.

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  8. IF I were to do this, which I'm not, ;), I would have to list them according to genres. Then I could be fair. Maybe. What I will do is say that, including ALL that you listed, I would have nine of them on my list as well, but several of them I haven't read. And I would add Peretti and Liparulo and J. Mark Bertrand.

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  9. Good morning, Brenda. Hope you're enjoying your sabbatical and time with family.

    Thanks for your never-ending supply of encouragement. I've awarded you the Liebster Blog award. Check it out at Heart racing, God-gracing romance. Congrats!

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  10. Dora, I'm really enjoying my time with the family. They're God's greatest gifts to me & the time we're given to raise them is so short.

    Thank you, for the award (see: http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/). I'll have to think about five deserving bloggers to pass it on to.

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