Welcome to the CFAT
Christian Fiction Advisory Test
Which author is #1 on the
Evangelical Christian Publishing
Association (ECPA) fiction
bestseller list this month?
1. Ted Dekker
2. William C Young
3. Melody Carlson
4. Randy Alcorn
Which fiction book won the
Contemporary- series Christy
Award in 2007?
1. Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn
2. Summer by Karen Kinsgbury
3. Brethren by Beverly Lewis
4. Kingdom Come by Tim LaHaye
Which of these publishers
does not publish Inspirational
Fiction?
1. WaterBrook
2. Baker Books
3. Harlequin
4. Dorchester
What was the first inspirational
fiction book to hit the US
bestseller lists in the last 20 yrs?
1. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti
2. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
3. Left Behind by Tim LaHaye
4. Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Which of these authors does
not write Inspirational Fiction?
1. Neta Jackson
2. Sherillyn Kenyon
3. Orson Scott Card
4. Lori Wick
(And now for the main part of our program …)
No Librarian Left Behind:
Readers’ Advisory
and the Inspirational Fiction
Patron
A Definition
Inspirational fiction or Christian fiction?
To avoid confusion between the words
"Inspirational" and "Christian," consider
Inspirational Fiction the broader term within
which Christian Fiction fits.
• Inspirational fiction books help readers with life's problems or
to help readers strengthen their faith. They usually illustrate the
role of faith in daily life.
• While many of these novels have an overtly Christian message,
others are merely well-told stories that lack profanity and
references to sex and violence.
Christian fiction is a subset of inspirational fiction
and is usually being published by evangelical
Protestant Christian publishers.
How is it different from mainstream
fiction?
1.
Little or no sex, violence or profanity
2. Implicit or explicit Christianity
3. Certain subjects may be taboo, and, if addressed, are shown
as examples of sinful behavior.
A Historical Perspective
Timeline 1950 - 1990
1950s
“Gentle Reads” from Grace Livingston Hill, Taylor
Caldwell, Agnes Turnbull, Catherine Marshall
1960s
Vietnam War era
1979
Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly
1980s
Rise of the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s
Association (ECPA) and the Christian Booksellers
Association (CBA)
1986
Frank Peretti: This Present Darkness
Brock and Bodie Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee)
historicals
Timeline 1990 - 2008
1994
Jan Karon: Mitford series
(first CF novel to hit bestseller lists)
1995
Tim LaHaye: Left Behind series
(sales of over 60 million by 2004)
Since 1990, five-fold increase in # of titles in print
Westminster Public Library catalog:
May 2005
Christian fiction
Fantasy fiction
3036
Science fiction
Mystery fiction
May 2008
1285
2044
1780
1900
7308
1671
7953
A Bit of Trivia
Tyndale House did not allow authors
to use the word "bed" in a novel that
contained a husband and wife as
characters.
Publishers and Publishing
Well-known Evangelical Christian
Publishing Houses
•
Zondervan
•
Waterbrook Multnomah (Random House)
•
Baker Books: Bethany House
•
Harvest House
•
Thomas Nelson
•
Tyndale House
Other Publishers of Christian Fiction
•
Broadman and Holman
•
Barbour
•
Warner Books (Faith Words)
•
Harlequin (Steeple Hill)
•
Oasis Audio
Getting published
Submission Guidelines
Barbour Books:
Although the main characters should be or become Christians,
they need not be saints. Through characters’ problems, a message
of the power of redemption should be apparent. The resolution
of problems should be consistent with standard Christian
teaching. Both historical and contemporary settings will be
considered, but the years between 1950 and present day are not
of current interest.
At least one biblical/ spiritual growth message should be
threaded throughout. This message can be presented from many
different characters, through symbols, and so on.
Submission Guidelines
Successful Bethany House fiction will generally
include the following characteristics:
1.
An intriguing, well-written story with well-developed
characters, a compelling plot and colorful description.
2. A coherent, identifiable theme and/or particular characters
who reflect biblical values or teachings.
3. Historical/geographical/social accuracy.
4. Relationships that portray the true meaning of lovecommitment and responsibility rather than only emotional
and physical attraction.
Submission Guidelines
Multnomah
We are looking for well-crafted fiction that uses the power
of story to change lives. Your novel should offer a fresh,
emotionally authentic story that stirs the imagination.
Faith and godly relationships should be woven into the
fabric of the tale.
Another bit of Trivia
"It's taken a long time for even the
Christian booksellers to accept that
fiction is valid." "Even the notion of
reading for pleasure is a new idea.
That's an iffy concept" among some in
the Christian community.”
Can you judge a book by its cover?
There was certainly a time when
you could…
Conestoga wagons
Bonnets
Young fresh-faced adults
Really bad artwork
Cheesy colors
Trade paperback format
Covers that peeled after 10 circs
2007
1998
2000
2008
Then
Now
The car accident that killed Abby
Patterson's husband and daughter has
left her with a limp and chronic pain.
Still, Abby strikes out, determined to
build a new life for herself away from
her overbearing parents. Her perfect
cottage home on the beach has one
tiny irritant: Marsh Winslow, her
landlord. But when Abby witnesses a
hit-and-run accident and events make
it clear that Abby is now a target, she
and Marsh join forces to uncover a
dangerous secret. Together they
discover that God is in the business of
putting broken lives back together so
that they are more beautiful than ever.
Industry Awards
Christy Awards
2007 Christy Winners
Contemporary – Stand-Alone: Winter Birds by Jamie Langston
Turner (Bethany House Publishers)
Contemporary - Series: The Brethren by Beverly Lewis (Bethany
House Publishers)
Lits: Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn (Multnomah)
Historical: Madman by Tracy Groot (Moody Press)
Romance: The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist (Bethany
House
Publishers)
Suspense: Plague Maker by Tim Downs (Thomas Nelson)
First Novel: Where Mercy Flows by Karen Harter (Center Street)
ECPA Christian Book Awards
2008 ECPA Fiction Finalists
Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin
Deception by Randy Alcorn
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer
In Your Library
Labeling: do you or don’t you?
We do- but
we made our
own …
Inspirational
Inspirational covers multiple faiths
and politically correct conscience.
Besides, it’s only a FINDING AID.
Genre Display: Do you or don’t you?
Why?
Easier and “safer” to recommend
Patrons seeking this material are happy
Patrons who don’t want this material are happy
Display is easy to fill
Why not?
Is IF really a genre?
Is the display prejudicial vs. viewpoint neutral
Is the display condoning or supporting one faith above others?
Recommending: Do you or don’t you?
How can you if you haven’t read it? Simple, just say:
Other people who read this liked …
One of my patrons raved about this one ….
This got a good review …
This is very popular with our inspirational fiction patrons …
Why is this any different than a mystery reader recommending some
fantasy or science fiction? To me, it’s easier to recommend
Inspirational Fiction than General Fiction, because of the sub-genres,
series and strong author recognition.
All Christian fiction is not alike! (duh)
Biblical
Historical
Mysteries and Thrillers
Romance & Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Christian Life
Biblical Fiction
Austin, Lynn
Brouwer, Sigmund
Card, Orson Scott
Etzioni-Halevy, Eva
Halter, Marek
Hunt, Angela Elwell
Lahaye, Tim & Jerry Jenkins
Lemmons, Thom
Lliteras, D. S
Lund, Gerald
Morris, Gilbert
Myers, Bill
Rivers, Francine
Thoene, Brock and Bodie
Wangerin, Walter
Historical
Bly, Stephen
Bunn, T. Davis
Cavanaugh, Jack
Hoff, B. J
Hunt, Angela
Lacy, Al
Miller, Calvin
Morris, Gilbert
Musser, Elizabeth
Phillips, Michael
Thoene, Bodie and Brock
Historical Romance
Austin, Lynn
Blackwell, Lawana
Chaikin, Linda
Oke, Janette
Peart, Jane
Pella, Judith
Peterson, Traci
Rizzo, Kay
Snelling. Laurine
Wick, Lori (some)
Windsor, Linda
Mysteries and Thrillers
Alcorn, Randy
Arvin, Reed (legal)
Benrey, Ron and Janet
Blackstock, Terri
Collins, Brandilyn
Dekker, Ted
Gansky, Alton (medical)
Gutteridge, Rene
Hall, Linda
Henderson, Dee
Kraus, Harry Lee (medical)
McCourtney, Lorena
Parker, Gary
Roper, Gayle
Rushford, Patricia
Contemporary
Romance
Baer, Judy
Bergren, Lisa Tawn
Blackston, Ray
Carlson, Melody
Copeland, Lori
Elmer, Robert
Gunn, Robin Jones
Hatcher, Robin Lee
Higgs, Liz Curtis
Jackson, Neta
John, Sally
Jones, Annie
Kingsbury, Karen
Mitchell, Sara
Noble, Diane
Nordberg, Bette
Palmer, Catherine
Pattillo, Beth
Raney, Deborah
Roper, Gayle
Samson, Lisa
Smith, Debra White
Tatlock, Ann
Warren, Susan May
Christian Life
Karon, Jan
Turner, Jamie Langston
Kingsbury, Karen
Stokes, Penelope
Alexander, Hannah
Kinkade, Thomas
Jones, Annie
Pizzuti, Suzy
Baumbich, Charlene
Schaap, James C
Wright, Vinita Hampton
Rivers, Francine
Wubbels, Lance
LaHaye, Beverly
Gulley, Philip
MacDonald, Shari
Girzone, Joseph
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Apocalyptic
Beauseigneur, James
Bunn, T Davis
Burkett, Larry
LaHaye, Tim
Meier, Paul
Myers, Bill
Fantasy
Faller, F W
Hancock, Karen,
Lawhead, Stephen
Moser, Nancy
Science Fiction
Tyers, Kathy
Dekker, Ted
Spiritual warfare
Gansky, Alton
Peretti, Frank
Whitlow, Robert
Rapture (Christian
eschatology) -- Fiction.
Online Resources
www.christianbook.com
Christian Booksellers Association
http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/BSLs.htm
http://www.ecpa.org/bestseller/index.php
http://faithfulreader.com/
The End
Congratulations. Your library has received a
rating of “PROFICIENT” on the CFAT and will
not be turned into a gaming/internet cafe!
Jean Ward 303-404-5126
Westminster Public Library
jward@ci.westminster.co.us