Why Christian Fiction?

The topic of Christian fiction has been widely debated on the Web these past few years. I've followed discussions with readers asking "Why the Christian label?" and other discussions that insist "Christian" fiction is substandard to fiction in the general market. And then there's the lack of choice for those who do enjoy Christian fiction. Often the debates become very heated, so clearly it's a sensitive subject.

So, what are the answers? Why Christian fiction?

I'm just a stay-at-home mom with my lit major collecting dust so I won't pretend to have great wisdom, but I do have my simple opinions based on my own anecdotal evidence.

• Why the label? Shouldn't Christian authors write material that will appeal to everyone instead of just preaching to the choir? Look at C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. More recently, Leif Enger's Peace Like a River and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson have both won wide acclaim from all markets.

First of all, as a writer, I'd love to have the talent of a Lewis or a Tolkien, but let's face it, they are true literary masters. Leif Enger's sophomore effort, So Brave, Young, and Handsome completely lacked the magic of his first book. Was his first a fluke or does he genuinely have the skill?

As for preaching to the choir? Don't Christians need to hear stories of other Christians' struggles, and witness the power of God's redemption? Yes, I'm a member of the choir, but my choir is filled with broken lives, and we all need those lessons Christian fiction teaches.

I would love to have the gift to write something that appeals to the general market as well as Christian, but so far the stories I'm compelled to tell will likely be rejected by non-Christians. I applaud those who are able to reach the wider audience.

• True or False: Christian Fiction is substandard to general market fiction.

Sure, some of it is, but then there's a lot of fiction in the general market that's pretty awful too. And yes, I read from both markets. It's a stereotype that needs to be broken.

A few years back, after continually hearing Christians and fellow church goers berate Christian fiction, I knew I had to find a way to show how much the genre has grown. I began writing a book review for our church newsletter highlighting a book a month, showing not only the diversity in Christian fiction, but also the quality. People were genuinely surprised by what's out there. That monthly book review is what birthed Spire Reviews.

But why read more Christian fiction than general market? For me, while I love to read stories about messy lives, I don't need that mess photographed out to me.

I prefer to read books that avoid crude language. I recently read a Michael Connelly novel (love his Harry Bosch series) and he likes to use the "F" word periodically. At first when I see the word, I tend to flinch, but by the end of the novel it's amazing how it's stopped bothering me. I've become desensitized to it.

People often say that the Bible would be R-rated. Really? Yes, the Bible is replete with stories of genocide, seduction, and adultery. Talk about edgy. BUT, when you read about David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:2-5, the NIV version says,

"One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Messy, yes, but hardly R-rated. I believe passion can be shown in a book without giving me pages of explicit description. I love stories that show people getting down in the muck to help others, as God meets us where we are, but when the author flings his own muck, the story loses its power.

As an author, I realize the potency of words and how important it is that we choose precise words when we write. If you choose to use crude language, it needs to have a purpose in the story. If you choose to open that bedroom door, that scene needs to have relevance.

Just my humble opinion. You're very welcome to disagree.

• True or False: Christian Bookstores offer a lack of choice for readers.

To an extent, this is true. When I peruse my local Christian bookstore's shelves, I see lines of historical romance and Amish. Sprinkled here and there are some mystery/suspense, some contemporary, maybe a literary or two, and if you look hard enough you'll find a speculative. But please look. The choice is there and it's worth the effort.

If you want to laugh, read Michael Snyder. Love a good mystery? We've got Steven James (who's reached a crossover audience) and Tim Downs. How about legal fiction? James Scott Bell's always enjoyable and Randy Singer has become a very competent writer. Love poetic prose? Then read Charles Martin (another crossover), Athol Dickson, and Laura Frantz. Need to be challenged? No one does that better than Lisa Samson. Mary DeMuth is close behind. Enjoy sports' novels? Rusty Whitener, Richard Doster, and Graham Garrison tell beautiful stories. And of course, I can't forget Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, River Jordan, Jennifer Erin Valent, Chris Fabry, Dale Cramer ... Well, you get the idea.

So yes, the bookstore shelves are burdened with historical and romance, but that's what the current market demands and that high-selling market is what allows the less popular stories to be printed. I think the real question is:

How do authors reach that wide Christian audience who won't pick up a Christian novel because of the stereotype.

What about you? What do you read? Do you enjoy Christian fiction or do you avoid it? And why?

INSPY Winners Announced

Congratulations to the following winners of the INSPY Awards, the Blogger's Award for Excellence in Faith Driven Literature.

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes, General & Literary Fiction

Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans, Creative Nonfiction

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell, Historical Fiction

The Knight by Steven James, Thriller/Suspense/Crime Fiction

Green by Ted Dekker, Speculative Fiction

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman, Amish Fiction

Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren, Romance/Romantic Suspense

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr, Young Adult Fiction

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.

Rugged Reads

As I glance through the listing of all the books I've read this past year, I notice half of my favorites are written by men. Now considering that women comprise the majority of Christian fiction writers, I find that interesting.

I love mystery/suspense/thriller type of books that have a million loose threads to weave together. It's nice to have a little romance thrown in, but in edge-of-the-seat reading, I don't want romance to be the major storyline. In my opinion, male writers are better at this than women.

I also enjoy a story with a sports background as games can be a telling metaphor for life. Again, I usually prefer the male voice when it comes to sports stories.

My husband and I even enjoy many of the same books, so it's with his help that I put this list together (in no particular order) for those searching for a gift for that special man in their life.

A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener - A team of little leaguers learn life lessons when they ask an autistic phenom to join their team. This is a must-read for everyone. Fathers. Sons. Even mothers and daughters. It's beautifully written. One moment you're laughing and the next you're crying. This may be my favorite read this year.

Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady - After attempting to save a man's life, a paramedic wishes to honor the dying man's wish and is thrown into a mystery that may just cost him his own life. This is Shawn Grady's (a real life firefighter and EMT) second novel and I was thrilled to see his writing growth from book one to book two. It's a fast-paced story with intriguing characters.

Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand - When an evangelist's daughter turns up missing, a burned out homicide detective follows his gut and searches for her where no one else can imagine and he won't back down no matter the cost. This is Bertrand's solo debut novel (he co-authored Beguiled with Deeanne Gist) and it's a phenomenal debut. If you like Micheal Connelly's Harry Bosch stories, be sure to give Back on Murder a try.

Blaze of Glory by Major Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky - A string of female suicide bombers sends a special ops team overseas to stop the bombings and to thwart possible heads-of-state assassinations. In this sequel to Certain Jeopardy, Struecker (of Black Hawk Down fame) and Gansky capture the reader with non-stop action.

The Bishop by Steven James - In book #4 of the Patrick Bowers series (see The Pawn review on this blog), James once again keeps readers guessing as an FBI Special Agent tracks the murderer of a congressman's daughter. If you love jolts of adrenaline, then you'll have to read this series by Steven James. James stories are always complex and he excels in misdirection. In my opinion, James is by far the best writer of thrillers in Christian fiction, if not all fiction.

Hero's Tribute by Graham Garrison - Dying from cancer, a hometown hero (for his high school football excellence and decorated military service) asks a reporter, whom he's never met, to deliver the eulogy at his funeral. As the reporter digs into the hero's life he discovers secrets that may greatly alter the town's opinion. In a time when we herald sports figures and Hollywood celebrities as heroes, Garrison, in his debut novel, helps us discover the true definition of Hero.

Danger Close by Lt. William G. Boykin and Tom Morrisey - A highly decorated Army special forces veteran is asked to go undercover in Afghanistan to stop a potential mass terrorism plot in the United States. But in order to save the country, he is asked to leave behind family and friends and all he knows. Forever. Readers of Vince Flynn should enjoy this peek into the world of secret ops that gives the reader a glimpse of the lives of unheralded men and women who sacrifice all for their country.

Enemies Among Us by Bob Hamer - A cowboy FBI undercover agent is given the assignment of tracking a terrorist cell in Los Angeles. This is an adrenaline laced, detailed, and intricate novel, written by a veteran FBI Agent. Hamer also shows the delicate balance between work and marriage. Hamer's solid debut novel should appeal to both Christian and general market fiction readers.

Blackout by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn - In this third book of the Riley Covington series, football star and special ops veteran Riley Covington races to detonate electromagnetic pulse bombs that could render the United States without power. They're too late to stop the first. Will they be on time for the second? Fans of football and military action will enjoy this novel.

Not Only For Teens

Teens may be the most difficult group of readers to find books for. As a parent, we want to encourage them to read, but when we see what's out there in the general market and in Christian fiction, it can be very discouraging.

I have three teens right now and they all complain about lack of choice, especially in Christian fiction. My daughter's a lot like me in that she doesn't want the "fairy tale" story. She wants gritty realism but doesn't care for the books available in the general market as they're too explicit. She loves Melody Carlson books and she enjoyed Bill Myers' Forbidden Doors series. My oldest son has discovered Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. I can't get my youngest son past his Star Trek and Star Wars books yet, but at least he's reading.

So, if you're looking for a good books for teens to read, you may have to search a bit. I went to the experts, my kids, and got a few suggestions.

Nightmare by Robin Parrish - This novel isn't aimed at teens but when a book begins in an amusement park funhouse, you'll immediately catch the teen's interest. To quote my sixteen year old son, "Nightmare is a psychological thrill ride with mystery and suspense hidden behind every page." I think that says it best.

Dark Star by Creston Mapes - Imagine the world of Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler and you've got the protagonist in Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol and Full Tilt. The music scene is a huge draw for teens which makes Mapes books instantly intriguing. My daughter had this to say about Dark Star: "It has to be one of my favorite books I've ever read. I'm really into music, so the fact that Everett Lester is a rock star is really interesting to me. This book shows what can happen when you're on drugs, when you mess with a psychic, and what you feel like living your life without God. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 13. It's amazing." And my daughter has passed this book around to all of her friends.

Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen - Sam Carrier has Tourette's Syndrome and all his life  he's been subjected to name calling and bullying. He'd give anything to just be still, then maybe the beautiful Naomi would finally notice him. If your teen is looking for a book that's more challenging, that encourages them to think deeper, whose prose has a poetic quality, then check out Jonathan Friesen. (Parents love his novels too.)

What books do your teens like to read? Or, what would they like to see  at your local Christian bookstore or in your church library? Parents want to know.

On a side note, if you're interested in hearing the true testimony of a rock star, check out this video of Alice Cooper.

Not Vegetarian Fare

I love books with meat, stories that dare to touch on taboo subjects in the Christian market or deal with those topics from a different angle. These novels aren't safe, feel good stories, but gritty, see-what-God-can-do-with-our-dirt type of story. Give me a book that shows God's redemption in broken, filthy lives, and you'll have me hooked.

The problem is finding those books in today's market, but I have read a few this  year that are worth the mention.

Exposed by Ashley Weis tackles a subject that has become a big problem in today's society: pornography. What would yo do if you discovered your spouse was hooked on pornography? Where is God when that happens? And being a Christian doesn't make someone immune to the lure. And what about the young women on the screen? Aren't they children of God too? Ashley Weis gently and poignantly addresses all aspects of pornography's snare in Exposed. No, it's not an easy read, but it's an important one.

Never Without Hope by Michelle Sutton. Christian fiction is replete with stories about women whose husbands commit adultery. Typically, those stories are one-sided and paint the husband as a no-good, cheating, dead-beat dad and the story is about a woman who rises above her victimhood. But, rarely is adultery shown as an issue caused by both spouses, and rarer yet does the story deal with the adulterous wife. In Never Without Hope, Michelle Sutton breaks all those stereotypes. The story is about a woman who commits adultery, but Sutton's careful to show both the wife's and the husband's side of the issue, and that's what gives this story teeth.

Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World by Tom Davis. Human trafficking is one of the most dire problems our society faces in today's world and it's growing rapidly. In Priceless, Tom Davis puts a face on those involved in trafficking: the girls enslaved in it and the warriors who fight to free those caught. It's obviously a difficult read and it's an eye-opener. But, Davis also shows God's glowing power of redemption among all the ugliness.

A Reader's Christmas List

So far this year I've completed 127 books. At that rate, I should read about 10 more by the end of the year. I've read thrillers, literary, historicals, biographies, even romance. (Sorry, no bonnet). So, if you're looking to give a good book this year, I have a few suggestions.

Each day this week I'll be offering Wish List Ideas in a few different categories. I'd love you to stop on by and offer your own suggestions.

To kick off the week, I'm giving Shameless Plugs to writer friends who are all very gifted. Ironically, three of the books are historical and one is romance. I don't typically read either genre, but my friends have gotten me to stretch my tastes and I thank them for that.

Making Waves - debut novel by Lorna Seilstad. A witty historical romance set in Lake Manawa, Iowa (by Council Bluffs.) It's a story about a spunky debutante who falls for a sailing instructor rather than the wealthy but boring suitor her parents chose for her. The story takes place at what used to be a water resort/amusement park for the wealthy. Lorna gave me a tour of current-day Lake Manawa. Nothing remains of the resort. I love that Lorna has brought this historical site back to life in this fun story.

White Roses and White Doves - debut series from Shannon Taylor-Vannatter. Like many readers, I have a pre-conceived notion about romance novels so I tend to avoid them. Give me gritty, thought-provoking works please. But Shannon dispelled those notions. Her characters are broken human beings living authentic lives. Her first series takes place in the city of Romance, Arkansas. Another great setting.

The Famous One by Nicole Petrino-Salter. Chronicles the life of a troubled young man propelled into super stardom, a man who earned everything, but still felt empty ... until he found the only thing, The One who could fill that hole. I love Nicole's raw characters and her genuine portrayal of people's lives. Like to read something emotionally honest? Then check out The Famous One.

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz. Morrow Little doesn't think she can ever forgive the Shawnee for tearing apart her family, but then she is drawn to one of their warriors. Is she betraying her family by falling for this man? Laura Frantz deftly avoided the sophomore slump in this novel. I loved her first book The Frontiersman's Daughter as it was more than a simple historical novel. It was a literary journey. In Courting Morrow Little, Laura takes the reader on another sweeping journey with her trademark symphonic prose. I can't wait to get her next book, The Colonel's Lady.

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen. After a scandal, a young woman is banished to a life of seclusion in a distant relative's gatehouse and puts a crimp in a military captain's perfectly formed plans. The story takes place following the Napoleonic wars. I'll admit I haven't read this yet as it doesn't come out until tomorrow, but like Laura Frantz, Julie has a musical way with words and she tells a unique story. Barring a blizzard, I'll be in line to get my autographed copy.