Faithful Fiction Readers (Mountainview Books) discussion

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What would you like to see more of in Christian fiction?

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message 1: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
There are great options in inspirational fiction these days, and we've come a long way to the limited options of twenty years ago. But there's always room for improvement too.

What would you love to see more in Christian fiction? For example, is there a time period that just isn't covered as much as you like? Or perhaps a type of character?

Let's chat!

I personally would love to see more suspense novels that don't necessarily HAVE to have a romantic thread to make them work. Nothing against romantic suspense mind you!


message 2: by Gophergirl58 (last edited Aug 04, 2015 08:59AM) (new)

Gophergirl58 (gophergirl) More like Don Brown's books: military and/or naval suspense with real world possibilities. I grew up on Grace Livingston Hill, borrowed books from my aunt, so I've, per se, been there and done that on the romantic CF and so want MORE than romantic Christian novels! Time periods? Not sure. Definitely not the 1800s nor early 1900s, so from WWII on for me unless there are more realistic Christian fiction novels like Randy Ingermanson's "Transgressions" series that starts in the current time period but goes back to Jesus' time or shortly thereafter.


message 3: by Laura (new)

Laura A. Grace (lauraagrace) Great question C.J.! Since I'm currently writing YA Inspirational Science Fiction (ISF), I would love for there to be more ISF.


message 4: by Carol (new)

Carol | 50 comments I am the biggest fan of Grace Livingston Hill, even though I know the style is outdated for most people. I love the simplicity, the corniness even, the unashamed spiritual message. One of my goals is to eventually have all her books!


message 5: by Gophergirl58 (new)

Gophergirl58 (gophergirl) Carol wrote: "I am the biggest fan of Grace Livingston Hill, even though I know the style is outdated for most people. I love the simplicity, the corniness even, the unashamed spiritual message. One of my goals ..."

You are correct, Carol, about GLH's books having such an unashamed spiritual message even though the time period is outdated. And your comments made me rethink what I said. I have often thought of reading her books again, but I just have not as of yet. My tiring of romantic Christian novels spans more the current ones as they mostly - mostly, I reiterate - seem cookie cutter in nature. I crave the deep spiritual messages in the fiction I read, however, whether it is simple or more profound in nature.


message 6: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Bogner | 29 comments Laura wrote: "Great question C.J.! Since I'm currently writing YA Inspirational Science Fiction (ISF), I would love for there to be more ISF."

Yes, I too would love to see more science fiction in the Christian industry. I loved books like Firebird and Jupiter Winds and would love to see more books like that.


message 7: by Carol (new)

Carol | 50 comments When is the sequel to Jupiter Winds by C.J. Darlington going to be available?


message 8: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
Carol... no date set yet. Probably next year!


message 9: by Ann (new)

Ann Mock | 8 comments Carol wrote: "I am the biggest fan of Grace Livingston Hill, even though I know the style is outdated for most people. I love the simplicity, the corniness even, the unashamed spiritual message. One of my goals ..."

I love her books too! I wish some of the modern writers wrote like that!


message 10: by Laura (new)

Laura A. Grace (lauraagrace) I bought Firebird earlier this year at Lifeway, Ashley, and can't wait to dig into it! Heard it's such a good series.

Can't wait for the sequel C.J.!


message 11: by Martha (new)

Martha | 4 comments Carol wrote: "I am the biggest fan of Grace Livingston Hill, even though I know the style is outdated for most people. I love the simplicity, the corniness even, the unashamed spiritual message. One of my goals ..."

I like GLH when I want to pretend all is perfect in the world.
There are many modern Christian authors that write very similar. Amber Stockton is one.

Otherwise, as far as the question, I really would love to see more real life romances. I have especially enjoyed some of the books that have married couples in them and dealing with their struggles they face and showing what real romance is like.

I also would like to see some more with high paced medical/EMT/Firefighters, mental health issues, caregiving, family issues, eating disorders..


message 12: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
Martha... have you read Shawn Grady? His novels feature a firefighter/EMS. Through the Fire is Book 1. Through the Fire by Shawn Grady


message 13: by Martha (new)

Martha | 4 comments C.J. wrote: "Martha... have you read Shawn Grady? His novels feature a firefighter/EMS. Through the Fire is Book 1. Through the Fire by Shawn Grady"

I think I own it, but have not read it yet. I need to move it up on my read list.


message 14: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
Gophergirl58... have you read Mel Odom's books? They sound like just what you'd like.

Deployed (Called to Serve, #1) by Mel Odom Renegade (Called to Serve, #2) by Mel Odom


message 15: by Lindsey (new)

Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) (booksforchristiangirls) | 1 comments More books like Jupiter Winds! :D


message 16: by T. (new)

T. Darlington | 15 comments Mod
I agree. :)


message 17: by Sierra (new)

Sierra Faith (bookaddict_98) | 26 comments I would love less Romance.. I don't hate romance or anything but I can't seem to pick up a book without romance and sometimes it gets a little tiring.


message 18: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
Sierra... I'm with you. Nothing at all wrong with romance in fiction, but it's nice to find Christian fiction that doesn't always have to have a romance subplot. Hard to find sometimes!


message 19: by Sierra (new)

Sierra Faith (bookaddict_98) | 26 comments C.J. wrote: "Sierra... I'm with you. Nothing at all wrong with romance in fiction, but it's nice to find Christian fiction that doesn't always have to have a romance subplot. Hard to find sometimes!"

That's why I love your contemporaries, CJ! I love the sister-sister love!


message 20: by C.J. (new)

C.J. Darlington (cjdarlington) | 121 comments Mod
Aw, thanks, Sierra. I'm finishing up a new contemporary very soon... and guess what? It's about sisters again! :) No romance either.


message 21: by Sierra (new)

Sierra Faith (bookaddict_98) | 26 comments C.J. wrote: "Aw, thanks, Sierra. I'm finishing up a new contemporary very soon... and guess what? It's about sisters again! :) No romance either."

YESS!!! I am soo excited :D I believe I've read all your contemporaries except for Ties that Bind because no library in Indiana has it!


message 22: by Agnieszka (last edited Aug 25, 2015 01:20PM) (new)

Agnieszka (agnieszka7) Martha wrote: "C.J. wrote: "Martha... have you read Shawn Grady? His novels feature a firefighter/EMS. Through the Fire is Book 1. Through the Fire by Shawn Grady"

I think I own it, but have not read it yet..."


I loved this one, it was somekind different from the usual 'Christian mainstream' and quite realistic.

I read yesterday a really short short-story I think some of you might enjoy when I read the comments here. It is called The Accidental Hero by Joshua Graham and it's something between thriller and drama.

As for your question I just miss contemporary stories with the feel of real-life counseling while you are reading. Books where you learn by example how the characters dealt with their everyday life and all the trouble they find along the way. Where you see the real life without all the sugar coat but still in a positive way.

I hope it makes sense. It's really difficult to describe especially in a foreing language. The only examples I know of are Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series (not the entire Baxter series - only the first five books and small parts of the Over the Line books) and The Four Seasons of Marriage series by Gary Chapman and Catherine Palmer - though I wasn't able to connect with this one really.


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