The Future of Hope-Filled Fiction, Part I

Big house mergers such as Penguin and Random House.

"Realignment" of Christian fiction houses (i.e. B&H).

E-book only originals.

These are just a few of the factors changing the face of Christian fiction in the past year.

Blogs such as Books and Such (the agency who represents Krista and Karen) and Chip MacGregor's blog (he represents Amy), as well as the magazines Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal (and their websites) are great places to go to find our more about what's going on.

Library Journal devoted space in its recent November 1st issue to the changing face of Christian fiction and I was thrilled to be asked to contribute an article on 2014 trends in Christian fiction.

I interviewed associate publishers, acquisitions editors, public relations directors, and a few authors to learn more about what we can expect for the upcoming year.

As a writer, I was encouraged and excited about what's upcoming. We're always hearing about what a challenging time it is to be an unpublished author, but we are writing in a time when Christian fiction is changing and morphing into something new and different.

Yet still it is retaining that HOPE-FILLED quality that makes it distinctive.

Here are some upcoming releases I'm excited about because I think they represent some new directions in Christian fiction:

1) The Fight by Luke Wordley:

Wordley is a self-published author whose book will be rereleased by Tyndale. In a female-saturated genre, it is refreshing to see more books geared toward a male audience. It deals with the theme of anger in men. The Wish by Jake Smith  is also a novel men as well as women might enjoy with its baseball theme and an issue-oriented theme (bone marrow transplant).

Significance: It is encouraging, although it is still rare, to see more self-published authors being discovered. Also, it is fantastic to see more books being geared toward the male readership, who are more likely than the average population to read ebooks.

2) Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenberg:

Rosenberg's latest is a significant departure from recent hits. A New York Times bestselling author, his themes are as fresh as today's headlines and noted for eerily accurate prophetic detail. This is also a great example of how a "genre jump" can fit well into an author's brand. His books are about unpacking world events heading toward the end days. Rosenberg's books have featured the nation of Israel and the prophetic significance of the Jewish people. So with a Holocaust novel he has jumped from contemporary to historical, yet written a book that fits perfectly into his unique brand.

Significance: Not only is this is new novel from a well-known name, but it demonstrates making a genre shift while still maintaining a unique brand.

3) The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine:

E-readers have allowed a more mainstream audience to pick up Christian fiction. With the vast number of free books available through Amazon, B&N, and Christian Book Distributors many new readers are discovering the Christian fiction genre. The morals and values are very appealing to these readers who desire a less heavy-handed (as they view it) approach to theology. Perrine's series, compared to Jan Karon's Mitford series, have humor, take place in a charming small town and feature a sweet church-centered romance.

Significance: More cross-over novels are releasing and are easier to find in this electronic heavy market. These books can be "shelved" in various places to cater to those who might never find their way to a traditional bookstore. Can your book be marketed into this market?

4) The Hatmaker's Heart by Carla Stewart:

Downton Fever has been hitting the U.S. shores with a vengaence. A number of novels releasing in 2014 will have 1920s settings. I've pegged Carla's in particular because: a) serious big time cover love, 2) focus on costumes has always been a part of the Christian market but the new focus on elegant eras such as the 1920s and the Regency era bring out the beauty of wonderful clothes. I'm noticing costumes on book covers seem to becoming more and more lavish and I love it!

Signficance: Downton Abbey has given the always-popular costume drama an extra surge and there is a particular draw towards eras with fabulous clothing.

5) A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell:

Amish and the circus? This is not your mother's Amish, the variety has increased in recent years. Readers typically pick up these novels looking for tales of simpler times and peaceful settings. Sowell's novel also takes place in the community of Pinecraft, where some electricity is used. Readers don't expect an Amish story to take place on the beach.

Significance: Amish fiction seems to be here to stay but it is undergoing its own evolution. Cross-genres such as mystery are becoming more popular. Some Amish books now contain significant departures from what we expect and even show characters leaving the Amish. The Amish angle just isn't unique enough, readers need to find ways to add twists to the typical Amish story.

6) Never to Live by Just B. Jordan:

The first significant fact about this book is that its author is only 17 years old. Its a psychological mind-bending fantasy. Jordan represents a growing market among teenagers in particular. Large numbers of young adults attend seminars such as One Year Adventure Novel (hosted by Jeff Gerke) to learn to grow in their craft. Because a vast majority of these writers are pursuing the speculative genre, fantasy may play a stronger role as these teenagers become adult published authors.

Significance: Everyone loves the fairy-tale stories of self-published authors who become discovered or young talents, Jordan fits the bill. Speculative fiction is also very popular not only among young adults who read but also those who write and as such we need to pay attention to this genre.



Do you have any books you are anxious to read that are releasing in 2014? What makes these books unique? I'll return in a few weeks with more thoughts on trends based on my research.







Julia Reffner loves to write when she can find an empty spot and five minutes of silence. She writes and reviews for Library Journal, a trade publication with over 60,000 subscribers. She is a wife, homeschool mama to two littles and lover of all things book-related.

Trendsetters I

"To be or not to be, that is the question..." 

My writer's dichotomy: to write what the market dictates or to write the awe inspiring, compelling story electrified with personal passion and risk the market.

Some of my manuscripts have been safely tucked on my computer waiting for the market to realize the need. :)

On the other hand, my current WIP might complement both worlds if I added a tweak or two. Wouldn't it be nice to write the next blockbusting trendsetter of to-be-published books?

Easier said than done, I know. 


How can I transform my WIP to a trendsetter?


Here are some starters:

A trendsetting book does not need to be a new idea:


Someone once said, "There's no such thing as a new story." (I'd credit the person, if I knew who he or she was.)  


The 2000 blockbuster movie, Cast Away, marooned Tom Hank's character on an island for several years. So captivated by the Fed Ex agent's plight, I didn't notice this was the same story as Robinson Crusoe until someone pointed it out to me.  Was this story a mere remake? Hardly. Cast Away sparked freshness, appeal, and power.  It yanked viewers from their seats and plunged them deep into a gripping story.

Take a moment to think about your current WIP plot.  What story is it similar to: Cinderella, (rags to riches) Sleeping Beauty, (dashing prince saves the damsel) etc.?  What special barriers have you used in your plot to yank your readers from their sofas and plunged them deep into your gripping story?

A trendsetting book feels, breathes, and responds:


I'm not referring only to romance novels. Stephen King's books own these qualities as well.

Authors like King, Clancy, Asimov, Shakespeare, Blackstone, Rivers, Alcorn, and a host of others have crafted stories that pry doors open and propel readers into parallel worlds. On the other side of each door lays a golden invitation meticulously centered on a silver platter, inviting--enticing--daring readers to turn the page.

These trendsetting authors teased readers with simple temptations: come--turn the page and walk into my frightening room where fears are tested; close your eyes as you enter the murder room or prison, wash up on the shores of the uninhabited island, climb the Himalayas, plunge into the ocean, creep into the dark alley, swoosh into your true loves arms, or rest in the romantic cabin aboard a cruise ship.

Then on the last page, the last paragraph, the last line, the last word--readers will force themselves to breathe again--and wish for more. 


Only a trendsetter could do this.


This has turned into a greater topic than I thought. Part II will be posted in two weeks. 

Until then, what are your thoughts?

What story made you whip through its pages, desperately fighting sleep to finish another chapter, or possibly the last page? 

How can your novel make future writers say, "I'd wish I thought of that?"


How have you added spices to your novel to cause readers to savor the words, characters, plot, or setting and think about them the next day?