Traci DePree   Lake Emily Series   Libraries   Newsletter   Discussion Guides

 

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

 

“Most fiction publishers feel that Christian stores could double their fiction sales, sales which would be incremental,” said Dan Balow, director of business development for the “Left Behind” line, Tyndale.
By Natalie Nichols Gillespie

http://www.christianretailing.com/article.php?sid=202

“‘In my area of the Midwest, unfortunately, I'm finding that, with a few notable exceptions, fiction shelves in Christian bookstores seem to be shrinking in favor of gifts and music,’ said author Deborah Raney (Beneath a Southern Sky, WaterBrook). I find this especially disconcerting in light of the dramatic increase in the size of the Christian fiction section in Barnes & Noble stores.”

By Natalie Nichols Gillespie

http://www.christianretailing.com/article.php?sid=202

 

“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

 

"You can present truth through fiction. People love a good story, and if they can come away from it with a stronger sense of spirituality, the writer has done a good job." ~ Teresa Gayle

 

Today Christian novels may take the form of Bible study or even dime-store romance and Christian writers are facing a literary renaissance of religious themes, futuristic thrillers, and historical epics with heroes and issue a kin to mainstream novels. Christian authors are no longer just espousing biblical  teachings in their novels and have come of age and as a result are  topping the bestseller lists.

 

Didacticism isn't preventing these literary novels from effectiveness; craft is the sticking point, and the publishers serving the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) desperately need capable and experienced fiction editors to bring this genre to m maturity." ~ Susan Wise Bauer

 

"We're trying to create products that are good and artistic, but there's another thing going on that the secular writer doesn't have to deal with--the proclamation of the gospel." ~ Ken Petersen

 

"We all tend to cater to the most conservative element of the market because they're the ones we'll hear from." ~ Kevin Bowen There was a time when this was true but it is no longer true, as Inspirational fiction titles which are not based on the Christian faith or the gospel or bible now offer a fiction platform that general booksellers of fiction can retail without fear of an overt Christian message. For both reader and writer  this new era of Christian novels and religious fiction and spirituality brings a depth of characters and reading for the Christian community, secular community and religious community alike.

 

"Once the exclusive domain of headstrong prairie maidens and rogue gunslingers turned righteous hunks, inspirational romance has spun off a few sub genres that are catapulting up the bestseller lists and leaving their formulaic angst behind." ~ Angie Kiesling

 

"We're seeing more books that confront contemporary issues, where faith is tested by the challenges of the real world. The conflict between good and evil isn't new, but writers are handling it in a new way." ~David Troutman "Christian fiction is growing up. Its stepping out of the ghetto of biblical fiction and romances, and becoming more sophisticated. We're seeing more realism and themes that involve Christians dealing with actual current problems." ~ Jan Dennis