Often, strangers ask me what a literary agent does. Once I tell them, they’ll want to share with me that they are writing a children’s picture book. Or an aunt, cousin, or friend, is writing one. I think a lot of parents write read-aloud books because they are part of the bedtime ritual with their own children and perceive that the volume of books published means the market is vast. Unfortunately, it is not, as I discovered when I wrote three of my own, never-to-be-published children’s picture books. But I digress.
When I said that I present books to editors, an auto mechanic asked, “So you are teaching the editors how to read?”
Most people understand what I mean when I say I’ve written Bible trivia books, but conversations can get more lively when I tell them I’m the author of Christian romance novels. One recent reaction was laughter. And more laughter. I think he may have even pointed at me.
Another response: “Like, in the ads where you see ‘Meet Christian Singles’?”
To my surprise, a churchgoing relative asked, “What are those? Christians having a romance?”
I’m always amazed by how many Christians are not even aware of Christian books. That’s something we as publishing professionals need to change.
Your turn:
Would you like to share any interesting or unusual responses when you say you are in Christian publishing or a Christian writer?
How would you define Christian romance novels?
What do you think we can do to bring more potential readers to our book shelves?
When I went down to ACFW from Canada this year, the border guard asked me what I was going for. So I told him what ACFW was and that they have an annual conference.
He said, “Have you written anything I’d have heard about?” Which was a really interesting response to hearing about a Christian fiction guild.
Our small-town library (not the church library) has a ton of CBA fiction, because the town is fairly traditional and churchgoing and people have requested it. Bless their hearts, they shelve them on the main shelves alongside the general-market books rather than as “religious,” except for a separate section specifically dedicated to Christian romance.
At first I found that frustrating for locating my CBA faves or browsing for new ones, but I soon realized we can be found very easily in the crowd. Christian fiction covers, including the spine, consistently have more colour depth and more use of light. They stand out.
CathiLyn, I agree, CBA has top-notch cover art! I don’t think everyone realizes the unbelievable amount of thought and time the design team takes in creating the perfect cover. Not only must they consider visual appeal, but they must be accurate to the setting and time period.
If you are inclined, visit the publisher’s and/or author’s web sites and mention covers you especially like. Everyone involved will appreciate you for taking the time.
I recall teaching my children that when they go to dine at someones house and if they do not like the food, do not say the food is not good. Understand that their tastes might just run in another direction. What is distasteful to one might be another’s favorite. Found this to apply to most anything, even books.
Tamela, I’m to the point now where I have specific designers of whom I’m a secret fangirl. 🙂 Kirk DouPonce was the first one — he’s done my critique partner’s covers.
I love to praise a good cover…I see a lot of stuff floating around on Twitter and so forth, especially now that self-publishing is so fast and easy. It’s become really noteworthy (and a visual relief to my eye — not to be a snob, but it really matters to me as a reader) when I come across beautiful and communicative art. It says the contents inside have been cared for diligently.
When a really good friend of mine heard I was writing Christian fiction, she laughed and said that must be an oxymoron. She’s led Bible studies and didn’t really know about Christian fiction.
In case you’re wondering, it did hurt my feelings. I know I’ve got to develop thicker skin.
A book your friend might find enlightening is The “Rock that is Higher: Story as Truth” by Madeleine L’Engle.
Jackie, a lot of people don’t understand Christian fiction. I donated some of my novels to a church library once and the woman said, “Oh. These are fiction.”
“Ouch!” No matter how thick your skin is, you still feel pinpricks.
But that’s the only time I was almost sorry to make a donation to a church library. Most church librarians really appreciate donations.
Maybe I should clarify that I didn’t actually say, “Ouch!” But maybe I should have!
Tamela,thanks for sharing.
I can just imagine her face if you had said,”Ouch.” Ha!
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who gets wildly differing reactions when I share what I write. One woman laughed at me for not including sex in my stories, but that was the most jarring response I’ve received. Far more others have been enthusiastic. Or confused. So I’m always happy to share or recommend books to help spread the word about quality, wholesome Christian romance.
Great post and discussion.
Susanne, keep being a cheerleader!
I’m a Christian fiction author of presently 14 novels, #15 releasing December 24th entitled THE OTHER SIDE OF DARE. I’ve received much support in what I do. People seem to love how I begin each chapter with a scripture that coincides with what’s in that chapter. My novels reach an arena of people (age, sex, religion). I’m a black author who is honored to have a great following withing all races, celebrating the Good News as truth.
It helps when we’re accessible to readers, so social media has been a great assist in my being able to do that on a greater level. It’s a blessing knowing that WHAT we’re doing in being writers–promoting the message of Christ, those who are agents who can bring writers & editors together, are doing our part to increase the “talents” God has given us as gifts to the world. My goal is foremost to honor God in all that I do in the name of Jesus the Christ.
Vanessa, Amen! Hope our readers will check out your books!
Well, I’ve not been very outspoken about my career choice, but I have gotten a share of varied responses.
My aunts have asked why wasn’t I published yet, or when my books will be out.
I’ve had some people get excited, one friend of mine has introduced me to a middle schooler who is writing and wanted help with her stuff. The mom said they’d exchange for babysitting and I’m thinking, writing time!
Sometimes there’s that awkward pause and then, oh cool, what do you write? Then it’s my turn to pause awkwardly because I know some of these people don’t like fantasy, but most of have been cool with C.S. Lewis so I quickly make the connection for them.
The most memorable response I received: the guy’s eyes widened and he said, oh, well, stay away from the dark stuff. Or something like that. My face was burning so loud in my ears I couldn’t hear properly. 🙂
I do wish I could just write regular historical romance but the lure of adventures in far away places is hard to resist. That’s not to say I don’t have some romance within the story. 🙂
Jennette, you’re wise to keep a strong romantic thread in your stories. There are plenty of readers who love adventure. Keep at it!
The oddest response I’ve had was the guy on the plane who asked if what I wrote would be “safe” for his wife. I showed him my latest Love Inspired Suspense. He said, “Oh, that would be too rough. Anything else?” I gave him a devotional book I’d written. I didn’t dare mention Ted Dekker.
Ramona, LOL! I knew someone who couldn’t bear to watch Alfred Hitchcock reruns on TV, so I get what he meant. So glad you had a devotional book to share. 🙂
An unpublished author will be told right from the beginning, as it would be irksome if you changed over at some stage in your writing career, for whom are you going to work: the Christian or the non-Christian market? As I understand it, and perhaps I’m exaggerating a little, but in order to sell,the Christian market romance should lean towards the pious and reverent, while the non-Christian one towards sex and violence. What about those of us, who, as writers are neither sexy nor violent but also not reverent or pious. Is there not a niche for “normal” romance?
Eva, there are publishers who have sweet secular lines. I recommend that you query agents with your proposal and let them give you guidance on where your work fits.
Thank you Tamela, that indeed, I must do.
At first I used to get a lot of negative reactions to the fact that I wanted to write. After people politely ask what type of book (historical romantic suspense)I got comments such as, “That sounds really hard–do you think you want to try that?” Or: “Doesn’t that take a lot of research?” And they’d “kind of” go along with the suspense idea to humor me. But romance?–not so much.
If they read at all …
Many of the women I know (even in my church)were just not readers. They’ve been raised on T.V., and will sit down at the end of a busy day and have a story spoon-fed. (I’m guilty!) I’ve asked if they remember anything they read from their high school days, and they’ll mention a couple of titles they had to read as assignments. So much for the classics. They’re usually memorable if they’ve seen it as a movie.
However, the Lord has made inroads with a group I work for…parents of home-schoolers. At first I brought in YA books and non-fiction–they passed muster. Now a lot of folks are curious about the fiction–and yes–romances! so, slowly but surely….:)
Pat, what a great story! I love how God works through us!
When I tell people that my WIP is a Christian Gothic Romance I’m not sure if they are more baffled by the Christian or Gothic part of my explanation.
My story takes place in the 1830’s in Key West with the shipwreck salvage industry as a backdrop. There are family secrets buried amidst a decrepit house, unknown relatives bent on murder, and a setting that plays the part of a character. Horror and the supernatural are close companions. But the overarching theme is that of the Lord’s rescue of us. He is a God that never abandons or forsakes us. As my main character allows the Lord to infiltrate and remove her fears, she draws nearer to him. All this while falling in love.
Jenni, Christian Gothic is a great category!
You’ve all talked about Christian Romance, but how about Christian Psychological Thriller? My first novel, ‘False Victim’ is written ‘novel-style’, but it’s a true account of what happened to my family when we moved to Woodbridge Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. It was creepy enough that I sold the movie rights to Lifetime and it was a featured segment on Investigation Discovery. I’ve done over 137 signings/speaking engagements across the country.
Even though it is a thriller it has a STRONG Christian message.
If you’re not into thrillers but you like Fannie Flagg-esque stories then you’ll ‘The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe’ series. I haven’t been able to travel and promote it as much but it’s very humorous. I’m working on the second one now.
Kathie, love the Hillbilly Debutante Cafe title! Makes me smile.
I am familiar with Woodbridge so I’ll have to see if I can learn more about your story. Thanks for sharing!
It hasn’t happened to me in a couple of years, but at first, people used to tell me all about an uncle or friend or enemy who self-published a book and how terrible it was, as though mine must also be self-published and couldn’t possibly be good. I also got asked how much it cost me to get published.
When I say I write romance, I usually get a vague: Oh. or How nice. Here in the South, I can just hear, “Bless your heart.”
I confess that a little of this has been my fault. I never used to say I write romance. Now I am proud to say that’s what I write. Besides it being more than 1/3 of the market in genre fiction, it’s just plain good, fun, and uplifting reading, what I choose to read and therefore what I choose to write.
Laurie Alice — So weird that people would jump on the “self-published” speech for no good reason. Apparently that was the only part of the industry they had any knowledge of.
You have every right to be proud of your work. I’m proud of you!
I’m just amazed at all of you that write ‘romance’! I’ve married for 31 years and even my husband says I’m the least romantic person in the universe. That and children’s books are the two genre’s I’d never try. It’s just too intimidating.
I’ve heard the responses that you receive when folks find out you’re a writer. How many of you have blogs? If you don’t have one then you need to. I had a blog two years before my first book was published. I still find for the most part that people ‘discover’ me through my blog.
Thanks for the great conversation. You all are great!
Kathie, I write romance and both my hubby and I laugh–I’m a very UNROMANTIC lady. You know the joke: The wife asks why her husband never says I love you and his answer is “I told you when we got married, I’ll let you know if it changes.” I’m totally the groom!
I view it as therapy. Maybe writing it will rub off on me, eh?
So if you want to…it can be done!
Kathie, that’s excellent advice!
I had one friend who was super supportive when I said I was writing and champions me ever step of the way, even now. I have another, that I didn’t tell anything about my writing until I was going away on weekends to conferences and placing in some contests, so I sort of revealed my alter ego, so to speak to all our friends and family.
This friend reads a lot of women’s fiction and mystery, but whenever I had mentioned romance novels during book discussions, she would kind of scrunch her nose and say she never got anything out of them because they were too shallow for her. Hence, the delay in announcing my ambitions to her.
But the funniest comment I’ve ever heard about my writing came from my older brother. He wanted to read a story I’d written. He liked it and the only way he could think to express that was to tell me it read just like one of those real books you can buy in the bookstore.
I’ve learned that writing, and especially the romance genre, whether it be inspirational or mainstream, is an entity unto itself. Most people (including voracious readers) have no idea about the process of writing a story much less what goes into seeking representation or actually getting published. But it is the most wonderful thing to do and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
So, have faith and take heart all you fabulous storytellers, our day will come.
Karen, I hope our readers take your encouragement to heart. 🙂
I am also very surprised when I get that blank stare when I say I write Christian fiction. And not just from non-Christians. You are right about there being a large percentage of churched people who don’t even know there is such a genre. Don’t know if I quite get that. But we will fill those bookshelves back up won’t we!?
Jan, yes we will!
An interesting response I have had when I have mentioned being an aspiring writer: “Will you change? When you get famous?” and questions of that ilk. With sinking heart, since I haven’t even got an agent yet, I have had to reassure these dear ones, that, no, I will not change, and explain that even if I get published, I will be a long way from being famous.
There must be an image out there in people’s minds that authors of fiction, even Christian fiction, are to be made into something of an idol in our society.
Susan, it’s amazing how many people think published authors are instant millionaires with standing invitations to appear on all the talk shows. What super questions, though. They are saying they are confident you will be a famous author, but they love you just the way you are!
I do get some odd reactions. first people want to know what it means. Then after I tell them what I write, I usually I get asked for book titles and where can they buy them. Locally, I point them to the store in my town. Quite a few ask me to write their idea for them. I took a tour recently where the guide asked what I do. Then he asked me to write the story of one of the historical figures on the tour. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I don’t write documentaries. He didn’t understand the difference in historical fiction and the true life story.
Angie, I’m sure you handled his queries with your usual aplomb!