Thursday, July 30, 2015

New & Novel: Christian Fiction

Nielsen BookScan, which tracks print book unit sales, reported that "religion fiction had one of the steepest unit declines last year, with sales down 15% at outlets that report to BookScan". Libraries, however, are not seeing the same downturn - an article in Library Journal asserts, "If my public library is any indication, the books are still as popular, if not more popular than ever. I receive weekly requests for 'uplifting' and 'inspirational' fiction that will make people 'feel good.'"

Indeed, Christian fiction, for one, is appealing to increasing audiences with more and more "crossovers" with mainstream appeal - you can find religious epic fantasy, romance, science fiction (particularly apocalyptic), mysteries, novels dealing with contemporary issues, self-published novels, historical fiction set in the era of Downton Abbey - that try not to dilute the values of Christian literature but "are expressing their faith and the interpretation of it through their writing in fresh new ways". Sometimes this means publishers will provide books with an overtly religious message "alongside books that are clean, fun, and inspiring but not overtly religious". You are also more likely to see authors marketed to millenials, especially, on Facebook and Twitter and books about Friends-style groups.

Here's a list of some new and novel Christian fiction from the library catalog, from a variety of genres. Why not try one out and see what you think?