112 Christian Authors and Publishing Professionals Share Their Best Advice for Novelists

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I'm particularly excited this Cyber Monday because I have something pretty special to share. I've just released my first nonfiction ebook for writers! 112 Christian Authors and Publishing Professionals Share Their Best Advice for Novelists is available for your Kindle or Nook for only $2.99 (a deal all year long!)

If you're an aspiring novelist, or if you know one, this ebook could make a great Christmas present. (It's easy to gift an ebook, btw.) But even if you're a seasoned writer, there's information in the advice these professionals shared that'll encourage and inspire all year long. I know I got a ton out of reading them myself.

Imagine a coffee shop packed with award-winning Christian novelists, top editors, literary agents, and publicists. Each one is taking turns sitting down with you, giving you their best writing advice. Sort of like speed dating for writers.

Within these pages the most recognized names in Christian publishing share their personal answers to the question, “If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?”

In the ever-changing publishing world, you must stay on top of your game to succeed. This book will give you a leg up, with practical tips and advice you can use on your novel writing journey.

Includes advice from Karen Kingsbury, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Jerry B. Jenkins, Josh McDowell, Liz Curtis Higgs, Francine Rivers, James Scott Bell, Terri Blackstock, Randy Alcorn, Melody Carlson, and many more!

But bonus just for my blog readers! Here's an extra piece of advice for novelists from Michael Landon Jr. that didn't make it into the book:

Write about what you’re passionate. Not necessarily what you know, but what you’re passionate about. You can always learn what you don’t know. But you can’t create passion.

Evolution of Christian Fiction

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I read an interesting article at WorldMag.com about how Christian fiction has evolved in the past 20 years. Some people still have misconceptions about how much variety and depth today's Christian fiction truly has. I'm old enough to remember some of its humble beginnings. I've seen it grow up and mature from a time when pretty much all that was out there were prairie romances or Frank Peretti. The first adult Christian novel I ever read was Christy by Catherine Marshall, followed quickly by Frank Peretti's Darkness series. I've re-read all three of them multiple times.

We owe those trailblazers a big thank you for helping to push open the doors for today's market. Sure, we still have some growing to do. I'd love to see the YA market explode in the CBA like it has in the ABA. And as a lover of suspense novels, it would be neat to see more of them focusing on character development right alongside the thrills.

How about you? What would you like to see more of in the Christian fiction market, and what was the first CBA novel you ever read?

Digital Publishing According to ... Puppets?

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This hilarious video about the opposing views of digital publishing (created by some of my friends at Tyndale House) is funny because it's so true!

What's Your Idol?

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I attended a conference this past weekend and was blessed to hear Jerry B. Jenkins speak. He talked about being a feeling writer and how we should make every effort to keep our hearts tender and able to respond to feelings. Sometimes it's easy in this writing journey to lose sight of that.

Being published has been a goal of mine for over a decade. I've worked toward it every year, and I've learned a lot. But through it all somehow my focus got skewed. I allowed myself to be consumed with all kinds of writerly things---research, blogging, connecting. They're all great and important. But they aren't going to do me any good if my heart grows hard, if I lose focus of what inspired me to start.

Jerry B. Jenkins is one of the most humble writers you could ever meet. You can just hear it in his voice, and see it in his writing. (Pick up a copy of Writing for the Soul for a taste of what I mean.) He's a hugely successful writer, but his heart is in the right place. I want to be like him. I want reaching people with the Good News, with hope, with stories of forgiveness and love to be what motivates me more than anything. I don't want to be ruined by being published.

When I pray about my writing, lots of times I'll pray about God opening doors, favor, and publishing opportunities. But maybe I'm praying the wrong thing. Maybe I should start praying, "Lord, prepare my heart to be a published novelist."

Something else to ponder. I came away from the conference realizing I've probably made getting published an idol in my life. Not a huge one, but an idol nonetheless. I'd lost a bit of the passion I had when I first started. I want that back. Lord, help me to focus on You above all.

What's your life's idol? I'd encourage you to recognize it and surrender it to God. He needs to be #1 in our lives, and I hope I remember that.

Video on the history of Thomas Nelson Publishers

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I just found an interesting mini-documentary about the history of Thomas Nelson publishers. CEO & President Michael Hyatt narrates. Lots of tragedies had to be overcome to make it what it is today.

Christian mysteries -- a dead genre? (part 2)

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Publisher's Weekly has part 2 of their article, "Can 'Whodunits' Still Do It?", up for your reading pleasure. Click here.

This time Dave Long (acquisitions editor at Bethany House) weighs in along with Dave Lambert (Howard), Sue Brower (Zondervan), and Rebekah Nesbitt (Tyndale).

Cozy mysteries are discussed towards the end.

Christian mysteries -- a dead genre?

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A fascinating piece in Publisher's Weekly Religion Bookline about Christian mystery novels. It seems they haven't taken off in the Christian publishing world ... and yet are very successful in the secular.

The article, "Can 'Whodunits" Still Do It? Part 1" addresses some of these issues, talking to insiders in Christian publishing. Includes Sue Brower (Zondervan), Dave Lambert (Howard), and Dudley Delffs (Waterbrook). Randy Alcorn's new novel Deception is mentioned.

Says Sue Brower: ""I'm not sure why the traditional mystery doesn't work in CBA. If you think about how successful thrillers are, it just doesn't make sense."

Read the full piece here.