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of chick lit and jesus freaks
One of the agenda items at the 2004 London Book Fair was Christian Publishing. It seems the European publishing industry still had to wake up to the financial and as yet, unexplored potential of the Christian publishing industry. The US publishers are not that reticent. In the US, ‘Christian’ books regularly top the New York Times bestseller list. Two enduring titles come to mind; Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and the Left Behind series. Incidentally, both books have been successfully marketed as brands in themselves. There are now Left Behind toys, DVDs, video and computer games. Similarly, one can also purchase Purpose Driven Life diaries and daily meditations. In the midst of all these, one might be tempted to think the church had forgotten its Christian roots and is now knee deep in the cut-throat world of commercial publishing. The truth could not be further. Christian publishers while promoting the gospel must also roll with the times and utilise the refreshing ways of promoting the Good News in today’s society. The image of the church as a dying but enduring institution is one that many church leaders seek to overturn as they seek to present the gospel in a relevant and dynamic way to the public. There is a market of video games, new media opportunities and merchandise built on Christian principles that is available and is flourishing very well. The world just hasn’t woken up to its opportunities as yet.
Traditionally, Christian fiction was viewed by the publishing world with Mary Poppins lenses; saccharine sweet, completely irrelevant and distinctly down market. But not anymore. The last twenty years has seen a revolution in the Christian publishing market. Undoubtedly this revolution started in the U.S with strong titles from Frank Peretti, Francine Rivers and Ted Dekker. These writers have proved to the outside world that it is possible to write a cracking novel that would appeal to both church-goers and non church-goers alike. The sales figures prove it. The UK Christian publishing industry has not been sitting on its laurels either. It is fighting back with equally strong titles that appeal to UK readers who want some good old fashioned British fiction with strong doses of realism and entertainment thrown in for good measure. Cue in Robert Harrison’s Oriel series which looks at some momentous events in biblical history through an angel’s eyes. And that’s not all. Penny Culliford’s Theodora series captures the life and times of a thirty something Christian woman with great hilarity. And then of course, there’s my book; Kemi’s Journal of Life, Love & Everything. A gritty look at a twenty something year old Londoner struggling to reconcile her faith with her lifestyle choices. The message is loud and clear to those who will listen; Christian fiction is here to stay and it is here to stay.
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