tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post8550075622133630361..comments2023-08-13T04:25:27.199-06:00Comments on Spoiled for the Ordinary: Boundaries in Christian FictionJasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18363518142334125056noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-53440929763676997492010-07-24T20:28:53.533-06:002010-07-24T20:28:53.533-06:00Jason, this is far easier with certain authors and...Jason, this is far easier with certain authors and certain genres. There are some ABA publishers who welcome a faith element and others who don't. Francine Rivers and Robin Lee Hatcher left ABA because of their "graphic" demands. Sometimes we forget some of their publishing houses have stringent requirements too. <br /><br />Exposure and marketing remain a conundrum for CBA in my opinion.Nicolehttp://hopeofglory.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-59753048219017789792010-07-23T17:22:46.877-06:002010-07-23T17:22:46.877-06:00Nicole - I understand that part about placement of...Nicole - I understand that part about placement of CBA books, that it isn't always up to the publisher. I'm wondering if certain authors shouldn't publish in ABA vs. CBA to be in the bigger pond, making more impact. Dekker's the only one who really does this currently. <br /><br />David - Thanks for the comment. I agree that we need a high level of literary quality in Christian fiction. It used to be the highest (Tolkien, Lewis, Dostoevsky). Note that I was trying to distinguish between CBA fiction as a sub-genre. I would say other novels that are Christian, such as Gilead, aren't in the CBA realm. I guess I'm wondering if some CBA authors shouldn't make the jump into the bigger pond.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18363518142334125056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-78298141088271678052010-07-20T18:55:03.654-06:002010-07-20T18:55:03.654-06:00What is written by a Christian author is Christian...What is written by a Christian author is Christian fiction. If the author is not, the book is not Christian. We should be caring more about whether the book in question is of literary value. Then we can decide if we can take something of value from it or must reject it. Read widely and critically! Please visit my blog. Thanks :)David A. Bedfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17547787738605175886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-40581216679436327752010-07-19T20:49:56.370-06:002010-07-19T20:49:56.370-06:00Edward,
I sympathize with your frustration. I'...Edward,<br /><br />I sympathize with your frustration. I've seen numerous friends get publishing contracts...except for the spec fic writers, who have a harder time of it. You're right that the market is changing and we're still seeing how it will play out.<br /><br />I would point you to my friend Becky Miller's blog "A Christian Worldview of Fiction" (on my sidebar) as she is like the guru of Christian spec fic. She has a good series of posts on how spec topics are so popular in regular culture, why not CBA.<br /><br />Also, check out Jeff Gerke and Marcher Lord Press. He specializes in Christian spec fiction!<br /><br />Thanks for coming and visiting! I'll check out your site when I have time.<br /><br />JasonJasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18363518142334125056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-74530153787746948662010-07-19T20:46:28.877-06:002010-07-19T20:46:28.877-06:00Jason, the placement of CBA novels by authors such...Jason, the placement of CBA novels by authors such as you mentioned plus a few others like Robert Liparulo, Steven James, maybe Tom Morrisey, is through no fault of CBA houses. I know Karen Ball and other professionals who've been on panels with ABA pros in the industry suggesting CBA novels be intermingled with ABA novels at least in such genres as thrillers for example.<br /><br />Compared to Steven James' Patrick Bowers series, Back on Murder is tame, and I think Mark handles Christianity very well in his peripheral characters. Steven James chooses to use references to his protagonist's deceased wife's faith but his protagonist staunchly refuses to believe. I think Nightmare is pure speculative fiction, as you said paranormal suspense, but for me the premise doesn't work biblically, so it didn't even cause a "What if?" in my world. However, I have no complaint that a CBA house decided to publish it.<br /><br />Many of these books could be sold side by side with ABA books, but your point of whether or not they'll receive as much or equal attention there is a bit unpredictable. I think the thriller authors stand the best chance.Nicolehttp://hopeofglory.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26401815.post-30320902823257448222010-07-19T18:30:39.085-06:002010-07-19T18:30:39.085-06:00Jason, great site... I'm a Christian speculat...Jason, great site... I'm a Christian speculative writer and I've just about given up on the CBA market. I've worked with several CBA publishers to get my books in print. All have given my work glowing reviews, but all say pretty much the same thing: they can't take on any more speculative authors. <br /><br />And no wonder, they're fighting for their lives. I saw the other day that Multnomah was laying off people. They're having a hard time grappling with the new distribution model being built by Kindle and iPad on top of the tight credit markets. Tight cash flow means they can't take on risk and that doesn't leave much room for authors who like to color outside the lines a little.<br /><br />For myself I've opted to self-publish and see what I an make of it. Maybe the technological revolution that's hammering traditional publishers will make opportunities for authors like me and the ones you mentioned.<br /><br />Keep up the great site,<br />Edward D. Casey<br />www.EdwardDCasey.comEdward D. Caseyhttp://www.edwarddcasey.comnoreply@blogger.com