{"id":274,"date":"2018-12-31T11:32:31","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T11:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=274"},"modified":"2018-12-31T11:32:31","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T11:32:31","slug":"2015-focus-on-christian-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=274","title":{"rendered":"2015 Focus on Christian Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GUEST EDITORIAL<\/h1>\n

The State of Christian literature<\/h1>\n

by Rachel McCrae<\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>In my role as the senior book buyer<\/span> for LifeWay Christian Stores, everyone thinks I\u2019m such a well-rounded reader. That I\u2019ve read all of this year\u2019s top new releases from all of the popular writers as well as all of the Christian classics. They expect that I\u2019ve read enough books to sniff out a bright new voice and that I\u2019ve devoured the popular \u201cit\u201d book of the moment.<\/p>\n

Can I admit something?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not the well-rounded reader that everyone thinks I am. I do read a lot of nonfiction throughout the year, but I am mainly a Christian fiction reader. I\u2019m personally just a fan of fiction, so it\u2019s easy for me to gravitate to it. And also, one of our most regular customers at LifeWay is the fiction reader. Our best shopper comes in many times a year and buys multiple titles at a time. That fact alone should have me reading novels often so I can make sure I\u2019m giving them some amazing books to choose from.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had people challenge me in both my personal circles as well as my professional ones that Christian fiction just seems like it is dying. Publishers aren\u2019t printing as many. Authors seem to be pushing the envelope on content, leaving the Christian reader feeling uncomfortable. eBooks are affecting sales of print books.<\/p>\n

I totally agree with all of that.<\/p>\n

Then I quickly tell these naysayers about all of the amazing things that are going on with Christian fiction.<\/p>\n

While publishing houses may be scaling back some on the number of novels they produce, they are getting more focused. This in turn is giving us some of the best new voices that our market has seen in years. They are investing in these novelists and helping to bring their talents to our shelves. Many of them are some of our favorite new writers today.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m excited about the novelists who are committed to writing for the Christian market. They see their books as a ministry and strive to give us entertaining and powerful stories that have faith threads woven throughout. I love the books in which the characters are facing difficult and messy situations that I can relate to and where I can see them working their faith out during the story. That\u2019s what I strive to do in my life \u2014 so it\u2019s cool when I can see that in a book, whether it\u2019s set in Regency England or a small Southern town in present day.<\/p>\n

And the nugget that I love sharing about Christian fiction? I personally believe it\u2019s one of the easiest witnessing tools we carry in our stores outside of the Bible.<\/span> If you have a friend you want to share your faith with but might not be comfortable in handing them a Bible or a book by John Piper,<\/span> consider a great novel. Your friend will not only enjoy an amazing story but will also see glimpses of the grace, mercy, joy, and love that we experience in a life lived with God.<\/p>\n

So while yes, things have changed in recent years for Christian fiction and will continue to, I\u2019m sure. But I\u2019m confident that it\u2019s best days are ahead. If you haven\u2019t picked up a Christian fiction title in awhile, now is a great time to pick one up. I think you\u2019ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing and storytelling you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n

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Rachel McRae<\/span> has been with LifeWay Christian Stores for seventeen years and is currently the senior book buyer for the chain. Stay in touch with her through <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/span> or through her blog, <\/span>Shelf Life.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/span>LONE STAR LISTENS interviews<\/span>
Lisa Wingate: On keeping the joy and magic in literary creation<\/span><\/h1>\n

>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Bethany House author Becky Wade on social media\u2014and her latest books<\/h1>\n

by Kay Ellington, Publisher<\/span><\/h1>\n

LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE: <\/span>At ACFW 2015, you\u2019ll be co-teaching a class at ACFW on social media \u2014 a technology that seems to have really changed publishing and literature. Were you an early adapter or did you have to gradually warm up to social media?<\/p>\n

BECKY WADE: <\/span>I had to gradually warm up to it! Social media didn\u2019t appeal to me at all at first. I didn\u2019t understand how to use it and so was intimidated by it. Also, many people mentioned to me how time consuming it could be. As an author, wife, and mom to three, I wasn\u2019t exactly eager to embark on something that would demand oodles of my time.<\/p>\n

Finally, reluctantly, I dipped my toes into Facebook in 2011. Yes, there was a learning curve. But through the input of friends and trial-and-error I figured it out and was surprised by how much fun it was.<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve slowly added one platform a year. I enjoy them all!<\/p>\n

What are some simple things that authors can do to make the most of social media?<\/span><\/p>\n