Much Ado About ... Susannah

Christian fiction frequently comes under fire for its avoidance of (Dare I say it?) ... sex. Just Google the topic and you'll come up with pages of bloggers complaining that Christian authors are afraid to be real, and that readers don't want to go anywhere near the bedroom door even when it involves a married couple. Case in point, check out this recent blog post by Mike Duran and read through the discussion: Christian Fiction's "Non-Erogenous Zone".

Once upon a time, I'm certain peeking beyond the bedroom door was forbidden, but as a voracious reader of Christian fiction, in all genres, I find that's no longer true.

The book that precipated the discussion on Duran's blog, Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond, is a fair example. It's true, if you glance through the reviews on Amazon, you'll find a minority who are aghast at the sexual content of the book and claim teens shouldn't read it, nor should unmarried women. Wow. It obviously has some explicit passages, right?

Well, of course, I had to check it out for myself and purchased the book. (As an author, can you think of a better marketing tool than controversy?) I read through it in one day searching for what had these readers upset enough to encourage keeping the book away from teens and unwed women.

I failed to find anything.

Yes, the story told us that this newlywed couple had sex, quite frequently even. Richmond wrote about undoing buttons, and reading Song of Solomon, and the characters even talked about how they enjoyed sex, but explicit? Hardly. Keep it away from the kids or unmarried women? That's plain silly. Do these reviewers have any clue what their teens are required to read in high school? I read a few of the "racier" passages of Susannah to my unmarried 19 year old daughter, and she agreed that it's very mild.

Besides that, Spring for Susannah, which is written by a debut author, made July's Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's (ECPA) bestselling fiction list. Not an easy feat for any author, much less a debut author. On Amazon, of 106 customer reviews, 90 of them are 4 and 5 star. Hmm, it doesn't sound like the reading public is complaining. As a matter of fact, I think they're enjoying this book. They also enjoy other authors who like to bend the sexual boundaries: Julie Lessman, Deeanne Gist, and even Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury to name a few. Try Lisa Samson's The Passion of Mary-Margaret or Christa Parrish's Watch Over Me. No, we're not getting a bedroom play-by-play, not even close, but the authors don't shy away from it either.

The fact is, Christian writers are writing about sex, the public is buying the books and they're even enjoying them. Gasp!

So, my question is, why all the fuss? Yes, the majority of romances are sweet and very chaste, but to generalize and say Christian fiction is for prudes, misses the mark completely.

If you ask me, the controversy is much ado about nothing.

Questions for you: Do you think the controversy is warranted? What books/authors have you read in Christian fiction that push the boundaries?

2011 Christy Award Nominees Announced

For those of you who love to read exceptional fiction, the 2011 Christy Awards Nominees were announced this morning. This is one awards list I anticipate seeing as I do believe the Christy Award honors the best in Christian fiction.

It's always interesting to note which books I've already read (11 of them), which ones need to go on my gotta read list, which nominees I agree with (or disagree), and which books did they miss?

I'm thrilled to see A SEASON OF MIRACLES, one of my favorite books for 2010, on the list twice: once for Contemporary Standalone and once for First Novel. ALMOST HEAVEN by Chris Fabry and THE BISHOP by Steven James are two other titles I'm rooting for.

I'm disappointed that Lisa Samson's RESURRECTION IN MAY and River's Jordan's THE MIRACLE OF MERCY LAND failed to make the list. In historical romance, I would have loved to see Laura Frantz's COURTING MORROW LITTLE nominated. All exceptional novels.

The one category I wish they'd change or, rather, diversify, is Contemporary--and I say this for book awards across the board as most are guilty of the miscategorization (in my opinion). I'll never understand how Amish fits into Contemporary. That's like comparing apples to cucumbers. Right now there are enough Amish books and authors to create its very own category. If Amish had its own category, perhaps there would have been room for true contemporaries such as Resurrection in May and Mercy Land.

I'd love to know your thoughts. How many of the Christy Awards nominees have you read? What are your favorites? Which do you still want to read? Did they miss any of your favorite novels?

The Best of 2010 - Books That Sing

Drum roll please ...

It's time for the Pièce de résistance ...

... for those novels that leap above others in not only plot and character, but in conveying a deeper message using prose that has a distinct rhythm and melody. I love authors who use symbolism, both obvious and covert. I love flowing narrative descriptions that paint scenes so vivid you can imagine you're living inside the setting.

If you love to read beauty in fiction, then you'll love these stories. When I grow up, these are the kind of books I want to write.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson - a spirited college graduate takes a mission trip to Rwanda where she learns to serve others ... until she witnesses the genocide of the people she grew to love. She returns back to Kentucky, her innocence gone, but a sweet elderly farmer takes her under his wings and tries to resurrect her faith. Lisa Samson is well known in Christian circles for providing a unique vision of life and faith and she always makes the reader think beyond their own little world. If you want to be challenged, pick up a Lisa Samson novel.

A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener - A little league team asks an autistic phenom to join their team and so begins their season of miracles. I fell in love with this book from the first line and that love never relinquished. Rusty Whitener realistically captures the essence of a group of preteens. One minute I was laughing, and the next I wanted to cry. If you want to read a book that speaks to the heart, read A Season of Miracles.

The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan - A strange book mysteriously appears in a newspaper office, a book that gifts the reader with insights into townspeople's lives, past, present, and future. Reading this book was like reading a work of art. River Jordan has a poetic way with words as she weaves a plot line that digs into our hearts and teaches each of us a little something of ourselves.

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz - Morrow Little's life is torn apart when a Shawnee raid kills her mother and baby sister, and her brother is presumably kidnapped by the Shawnee. Years later, as a young woman of marrying age, Morrow's father wishes her to marry a young man from the nearby settlement, but Morrow only has eyes for the Shawnee warrior. Is she betraying her family by falling for him? Laura Frantz's stories are more like journeys that whisk the reader along a meandering path. I love that her stories are unpredictable and non-formulaic. She's an artist with the pen, composing symphonic prose that carries the story along, while painting scenes in vivid color.

2010 Christy Award Winners

Christy Awards are given annually for books that achieve excellence in Christian fiction. The winners were announced last night in St. Louis, Missouri.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for advancing Christian fiction.

Contemporary Romance
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson (Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary Standalone
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

First Novel
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster)

Visionary
By Darkness  Hid by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Young Adult
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

2010 Christy Award Finalists Announced

Each year, Christy Awards are given to writers whose novel has demonstrated excellence in Christian fiction. I look forward to reading this list every year, hoping to see my favorite books, and wondering which ones I've missed reading.

I'm pleased to see that the nominees include a number of books I reviewed over the past year, several of which are on my all-time favorite reads list. To revisit those reviews, just click on the title: Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson, The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry, Scared by Tom Davis. Two additional finalists, June Bug (a modern day retelling of Les Miserables) by Chris Fabry and Fireflies in December (poignantly portrays the horror of prejudice in the 1930's) by Jennifer Erin Valent are on my all-time favorite reads list. (see my Highly Recommend Reading list in the sidebar)

Of course, there are always a few additional titles I believe are worthy of a Christy: White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner is a story that peeks beyond the pristine fences of a normal family and finds that fences only mask the truth, and The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz.

So, if you love to read and are looking for the novel that goes deeper, that's willing to challenge you and provoke thinking, then check out the Christy Awards.

For a complete list of finalists, visit Inkspirational Messages.

The Passion of Mary-Margaret

by Lisa Samson

Published by Thomas Nelson (2009)
320 pages

A Story of How God Pursues and Loves the Unlovely

All her life Mary-Margaret has desired only one thing: to serve the God she loves and dedicate her life to Him as a religious sister. But when Jesus tells her to do the unthinkable and marry the town’s promiscuous prodigal, can she serve God with her obedience and risk her own life in the process?

Lisa Samson has painted a story that shows how God pursues and loves the unlovely by coloring out-of-the-lines with dark and dirty hues, mingling the darkness with light and splendor, crafting a final picture of exquisite beauty. Her characters are fresh, quirky and multi-faceted, and her flowing, vivid prose enhances this masterpiece.

This is Lisa Samson’s best work yet.