Copyright . Traci DePree. All rights reserved.

Traci DePree provides an insiders perspective on the changing world of publishing.

 

Traci DePree is the author behind the best-selling “Lake Emily” series, published by WaterBrook Press, an imprint of Random House Publishing. Traci DePree is also the editor behind many of today's hottest authors in the genre, including Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Robin Lee Hatcher, Randy Alcorn, Jane Kirkpatrick, Robert Whitlow, Dianne Noble, Terri Blackstock, Lisa Bergren and others.

 

Join Traci in a discussion at her Christian Fiction blog where she discusses the world of writing and editing, the journey to become a published author, and the challenges of navigating the publishing industry.

 

If you're a reader, non-fiction author, novelist or writer of inspirational fiction--be it suspense, mystery, romance, women's  sci-fi, fantasy, historical, contemporary, or chick lit--the Christian Fiction blog is wired to reveal the secrets of the inspirational book world.  Whether you are a seasoned author or new devotee, this site offers a venue to readers a place to learn more about the world of authors, inspirational writing, publishing, as well as a place to connect with solid and reliable resources that slice through the vast array of choices available from the publishing industry in general with the focus of making the dream of presenting these works to the mainstream publishing world.

 

You will not find any internet hype that delves into the world of vanity publishing, internet solutions, or POD (print on demand). Instead, this site is dedicated toward meeting the needs of new and seasoned authors, editors, and industry professionals, encouraging those involved in writing to develop their skills, providing an opportunity for education in the CBA, ECPA, and ABA markets through meaningful dialogue at the Faith in Fiction discussion board, as well as offering a venue for readers to learn more about the craft, the authors, the editorial, marketing and publishing processes.

 

The state of the industry - by Traci DePree

While it is still true that Christian fiction may range in style from virtual Bible studies to grocery store romances, today's authors are facing a literary renaissance that is bringing the inspirational genres into parity with their secular counterparts.

 

For the most part, authors and writers are no longer hammering home fundamental biblical teachings in each chapter of their novels. These same novels are topping the New York Times bestseller lists. The quality of fiction in the Christian book market has come of age and caters to the more sophisticated readers of general fiction.

 

Librarians can now comfortably recommend inspirational stories and gentle reads as the ideal for a safe and enjoyable book club experience. Book clubs and reading groups are finding an exciting new generation of voices without the preachy and authoritarian overtones of yesterday. Instead these works center on themes inspired by real-life characters in real-life situations but with Christian ideals as the backdrop, which in America is simply the truth of most readers’ experience--faith is a crucial part of life.

 

Secular publishers are getting on board the Christian publishing bandwagon. No longer just the domain of the evangelical publisher, houses like Random House are putting out quality Christian novels as well as religious fiction by non-Christian authors. These inspirational fiction titles, which are not based on faith and the Bible, offer a platform that general booksellers of fiction can retail without fear of an evangelistic message. For the reader this new era of inspirational novels, religious fiction, and spirituality brings up the challenge of sorting through the secular and religious scripts to avoid religious agendas that are disguised as Christian.

 

Notable Quotes regarding the genre and publishing:

“It is too easy to become an agent. Just hang out a shingle and call yourself one. That is why there are so many crooks floating around in this business. What do I do? I work on content every day with authors developing new projects. I work on developing each author’s career in helping them make choices. I negotiate contracts.”

Steve Laube - http://www.stevelaube.com/interview.htm

 

“It seems that so many people like to diss Christian fiction lately. I don't mind so much when a secular reviewer or reader does it. How can they understand what makes a Christian novel a Christian novel if they don't believe in Christ? What I hate is when...a CBA author or publisher implies that they are the exception to the rule. Other writers/publishers are putting out sub-par books but mine/ours are better. It especially irritates me when what is implied/said is that CBA (Christian market) fiction can't/doesn't measure up to the ABA (general market)….But I read many CBA authors, and I can say without hesitation that the CBA market is offering readers lots of high quality fiction. Sure, not every CBA book is a classic, but I've read lots of garbage published by the ABA. (Hey, they are about ten times bigger in terms of the number of books published each year, so they've got about 10x more books to complain about. Right?) Anyway, IMHO, the ABA has nothing on the Christian market.“

Robin Lee Hatcher - http://robinlee.typepad.com/i_was_just_thinking_/2004/10/a_very_little_t.html

  

“I’m not sure that’s a confession I should be making here, but I am because, honestly, it should scare the crap out of us as writers (and publishers)….
Here we have a book that had phenomenal prepublication reviews, was following up a decently received first-novel, has a superb title, a stark, evocative cover, and a decent, if not overwhelming, marketing and publicity campaign... The Christian book buyer responds with stony silence. And because they do, the B&N, Borders, and Wal-Marts of the world pass by it.”

David Long Faith*in*fiction blog http://faithinfiction.blogspot.com/2005/01/bad-ground-call-to-action.html

 

Christian authors write of faith, secular issues and fidelity. For better or worse, the publishing industry has dubbed this literary niche with that most loaded of terms, "urban" Christian fiction. Nonetheless, this month, three metro Atlanta Christian fiction authors are on Essence magazine's top 10 best-sellers' list. Their work is nestled right in there among mainstream paperback fiction titles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no0xLI_34Dw

“HarperSanFrancisco is launching a line of Christian "inspirational fiction" for women. The new imprint -- developed in collaboration with Avon, a paperback line within HarperCollins -- is called Avon Inspire.”

“Christianity is the faith default of most Americans — more than 80 percent, according to a recent study by Baylor University. But for decades, the world of Christian fiction languished as a publishing backwater, populated with middling books written by marginal authors.” The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

 

There's a HUGE difference between Christian fiction put out by CBA and ECPA and Christian fiction put out by authors who write for the general Christian market.  christian fiction forum