A debate is simmering as the publishing industry morphs within the internet. Christian fiction has a problem with labeling, marketing and identifying readership. The basic issues are well outlined at She Reads and Books, Movies and Chinese Food. Many of the writer blogs I follow undoubtedly have an opinion post as well.
Raymond Khoury's The Last Templar is a good example of the division within the Christian market. This novel would fall into the #2 camp of Christian fiction being peppered with salty language, gritty circumstances and unclear lines of right and wrong.
The Last Templar was marketed towards readers of The DiVinci Code. Dan Brown, whether you like his books or not, has helped the Christian fiction market by pulling in readers who may not be interested in 'religious books' but who don't mind a religious theme running within the story.(We won't discuss, here, how the literary factors get lost in a pointless debate of topic concerning whether any of the fiction is based in fact.)
It would be great if what Christian fiction existed was better marketed, more readily available and easily identified in the bookstores and libraries.
I'd like to think that within the budding world of internet publishing books will fall along the same lines as music. Wherein we now can buy single songs for 99 cents and build our own albums, with on-line books we will get better pre-view information, quick and easy search options and better identification of authors and their literary styles.
Interesting. I look forward to your review.
ReplyDeleteHi Sally! I came over to visit after you stopped by my blog. This is interesting, I look forward to your review of his book. :) I think I will stay awhile and get to know you a bit too!
ReplyDeleteI know in some bookstores I've seen, they do put up a sign saying Christian fiction etc but I'd like to see some of the books also mingled with the general market so that someone who doesn't read Christian works might pick one up and become interested.
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