3 replies to this topic

[Dayspring]

Does anyone write what could be called Literary Christian, i.e. with a Christian worldview but with the emphasis on good writing - less formulaic than the norm, possibly a little edgy without being gratuitous? (Marilynne Robinson is a good example.) I've been looking into this genre quite a bit, and it looks like it's never really taken off, because it was traditionally a risky venture for Christian bookstores - edgier novels didn't sit well with more conservative readers. However, with the popularity of e-books I thought it might be easier for more complex Christian fiction to find an audience. Does anyone else write this genre?

[Sassalota]

My first novel could fit in that genre. I just frequently change the genre just to boost sales nd experiment. Any time I have it listed as Christian or inspirationalanything it seems to have WAY less sales. So, you are prolly right to think it wouldn't be a easy sell.

[JoQwerty]

It depends upon how narrowly you define Christian fiction. The novel, The Sermon on the Fall of Rome, by Ferrari is at its core a meditation on a sermon given by St. Augustine to the faithful after Rome was sacked. In 2012 it won the Prix Concourt, the highest literary award in France. It has since been translated into a number of different languages. I enjoyed it, though I am not sure you would find it in a Christian Bookstore.

 

 

[Zaarin]

I write literary fiction from a Christian world view, but I'm very hesitant about pitching it to the Christian market, so much of which is just "play it safe" Amish romances and "make you feel good about your faith" fare. And thrillers, for some reason...