Well, it’s good to know there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks for the encouraging comment.

Now back (again) to Mindbenders. Am having a week’s leave at home, with the idea of getting all the revisions done before sending it off to you…

Blessings,

– Steve.

Yes, Shadowmancer was self- published at first, but that shows you that the thing that stopped publishers taking it up in the first place was the fear that Christian themes were not comercially viable. When Taylor’s self-publishing enterprise showed them the contrary, then their so-called aversion to Christian themes suddenly went out the window! It’s sold millions, both here and abroad, and has been made into a Hollywood film – still to be released. I think it’s a major breakthrough for Christian fiction, showing there’s still an appetite for such things in apparently ‘post-Christian’ Britain. When I (finally) get aroun to the article – I’ve got a couple of script deadlines, including a short film that might actually be made (exciting!) I’ll tell you about my experience with my stage play with major Christian themes that has won a couple of secular awards. Theatre admittedly is different from publishing, but I think some lessons can be learnt.

Happy writing
Fiona

Ah, well, seeing this is YOUR forum and all, I allowed myself to get lured back in!

Sorry to hear you had a book rejected by the Americans because of sex & violence. I’ll be interested (eventually!) to read what you have to say about the secular market not being so averse to Christian themes. Mind you, I don’t think Shadowmancer is the best example — he had to self-publish first, didn’t he, before it was picked up by Faber & Faber?

Thanks for the Sanusi link. Have had a glance, but need to look at it more carefully.

Now back to revising Mindbenders for you!

– Steve.

I thought you weren’t going to be lured back into one of these internet fora? Ha! I must just point out to you and Andrew that I’ve never had adult Christian fiction published, so I’m not the absolute guru on this. I have tried to – I wrote a book about Judas Iscariot with Christian themes but a good dose of sex and violence. It was rejected by American publishers because of the sex and violence and I never tried sending it to a British publisher. I did however get a secular critique from Hilary Anderson that it fell between two camps. I still think it’s one of the best things I’ve written and will resurrect it again one day.

While I’m in danger here of saying everything before that hotly anticipated article (which I still need to find time to write!) I don’t believe the secular market is so adverse to spiritual themes, just overtly evangelical ones. I was extremely encouraged by the publication of Shadowmancer – albeit a children’s book. This book shows that, if carefully handled, spiritual themes are welcomed. You might want to read Abidemi Sanusi’s view on Christian themes in fiction http://www.christianwriter.co.uk/Publisher/Article.aspx?id=56278

Now, back to writing.
Fiona

Interesting to follow your exchange! After reading that article by Simon Morden with his scathing denunciation of the CBA, it looks like I can forget about finding a Christian publisher for my books! Though you might have a better chance, Andrew.

I can thoroughly identify with Morden’s whole approach to Christian writing, and (as you know, Andrew!) I certainly have sex and violence in my books — though only as the plot demands, not purely for their own sake. As Morden says, the situation often just compels it — that is just how THOSE characters would behave! Character autonomy rules, OK.

BUT, at the same time, I have an overtly Christian basis to my books, and some of the CBA’s ‘criteria’ that Morden lists do indeed apply to them — characters are converted, prayers are answered, etc.; though not too immediately or easily, I hope. BUT I also know that in NO way are my stories ‘message-driven’!! I certainly did not set out to get a particular message across. I set out to write a story with a Christian worldview and Christian characters, that _I_ would enjoy reading. The story flowed out of the initial plot setup and the characters — it was not predetermined, and many things happened ‘accidentally’ en route!

So where do I stand? Seems as though I fall neatly between the two stools! No good to the CBA because of the sex & violence; no good to secular publishers because of mixing overt Christianity with my fiction.

Probably the only solution will be self-publishing (if even remotely possible financially!). But I look forward with great interest, Fiona, (a) to your promised overview of the Christian publishing market; and (b), of course, to your critique of my first novel. (Oops! Haven’t reached that 500,000-word minimum yet! About halfway…)

More power to your pens (or kilowatts to your keyboards!),

- Steve.

Your premise doesn’t sound too Christian at all – the metaphor is quite acceptable for a non-Christian market. But it depends on your treatment of it, of course. As you say, it’s the book that’s in you so it has to come out. It’s also a very realistic attitude to see it as a an ‘apprenticeship’ – all good writers have a pile of unpublishe work in their drawer. And doesn’t Simon Morden say you need to write 500,000 words before you find your voice? That’s a lot of words.

I’m hoping to do an overview of the Christian publishing market soon – who publishes what – hope that will help you a little. In the meantime, enjoy the other articles on the site and invite some friends along for a chat!

All the best
Fiona