On my Facebook author page I recently asked, “Why do you think only some Christian readers read Christian fiction?”
These are the top three answers I received….
1) They don’t know that such a thing as Christian fiction exists. Or their knowledge of it begins and ends with Redeeming Love, Karen Kingsbury, and Amish stories.
2) They perceive Christian fiction as low quality. Either they’ve simply landed on this misconception or they tried one Christian fiction book decades ago, didn’t like it, and reached this conclusion. Here are some of the criticisms non-readers of Christian fiction articulate…. The books are predictable, unrealistic, preachy, watered-down. The faith story line is awkwardly inserted. They’re fluffy, boring, saccharine sweet, and populated with characters so perfect that readers can’t relate to them.
3) Christian fiction isn’t easily discoverable. It might not be available at your local bookstore or library. If it is carried at a bookstore, it’s sometimes tucked away in a strange alcove, socially distanced from the rest of the fiction.
The responses to my Facebook question were fascinating. In many cases, they were also hard to hear because I love Christian fiction. I believe it has the ability to serve as a vehicle for the Holy Spirit, which means it can impact people’s lives in unique and powerful ways.
A few of the people who commented on my post asked, “What can we do about this? How can we help spread the word?” Those great questions inspired this post. Here are….
6 Ways to Encourage Christians to Try Christian Fiction
1) Tell your reading friends about your favorite books! Also consider loaning them books that match their reading tastes. If they love historical romance — hand them your favorite Christian historical romance. Do they love thrillers? We have thrillers! If you want to get fancy, you could even “check your books out” using this adorable personal library kit. There’s no substitute for good, old-fashioned word of mouth.
2) Talk about Christian fiction (and why you love it) and particular books you love (and why you love them) on your social media. It’s great to connect with other like-minded readers in, for example, a Facebook group dedicated to Christian readers. But how are the people from the other spheres of your life (work, school, volunteering, church, sports, extended family, etc) going to hear about your new favorite book unless you post about it in your feed?
3) Start a Christian fiction book club. Or seek out an existing one and personally invite several friends to join it with you. Your book club might be connected to a church, a bookstore, a library, a neighborhood, or a group of long-time girlfriends.
4) Start a library at your church. Or, if your church already has a library, find out from the librarian what you can do to support and promote the circulation of their Christian fiction.
5) Request that your local public library carry new Christian fiction releases. If your library accepts donations, donate the novels you’re finished with to them.
6) Give Christian fiction as a birthday or Christmas gift to someone you know will be blessed by it. Or gift it to strangers via your nearest little free library. Or become a book fairy!
Do you agree with the reasons why more Christians don’t read Christian fiction? Any additional suggestions on how to encourage them to try it?
Happy Friday, everyone! ~Becky
Becky Wade
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Becky I agree. I had a friend that thought Christian Fiction was a lot of preaching. For her birthday I bought her 2 Christian fiction books I knew she would enjoy. She read them and now she is hooked. She has been reading Christian fiction foe 3 or 4 years.
That’s encouraging to hear! In so many cases, I think readers need to “taste test” Christian fiction to realize that it IS for them.
Becky, your reasons people use for not reading Christian Fiction are accurate, and your suggestions for correcting the problem are excellent!
Thanks!! 🙂
Yes and yes to your questions. It took me a while to discover Christian fiction, and now I prefer it in all genres, especially if I am reading romance. I have grown away from some of the authors I used to read in that genre because of the explicit sex scenes that seem to dominate.
I used to belong to a book club that I actually started with a friend from the “cell” group (small group) ministry my husband and I hosted in our home. We originally had eight members, all church goers, but amazingly we read no Christian fiction -don’t know if we even knew about it then. About eight years later, I dropped out of the group because my teaching job took so much time, and I didn’t want to spend my reading time reading books I seldom enjoyed.
While I read all genres, my favorite are historical fiction and mystery. I love the fact that your Bradford Sisters series included a mystery. I gave that series to an online reading friend who lives in Washington state.
When people find out Christian fiction is inspiring and not preachy, they are surprised and pleased.
It’s so interesting to hear about your experience, Betty! I was like you in that I didn’t discover Christian fiction until later. When I was growing up, I didn’t know it existed. And it’s wonderful that Christian fiction includes so many genres now…. including your favorites. There really is something for everyone!
What a great post, Becky! I had never heard of book fairies. What a fun idea to bless a stranger’s life. I might have to try that one of these days. I work on a Christian campus that should be rife with opportunities to pass on books to college students. As an author, it feels a little self-serving to promote Christian fiction to the people around me, but leaving an anonymous gift for a stranger? That, I could do. 🙂
Hi Karen
The book fairies love when authors join the fun so don’t be afraid to leave some of your own books as well! Even more fun? When they’re signed. 🙂
Isn’t the Book Fairy idea a fun one? I LOVE thinking about people happening upon a gift book in the middle of their ordinary day. And how God can bring just the right book and person together in that way.
Great post, Becky! Connecting readers with authors and books they’ll love is one of my favorite things, and there is such a wide variety of genres and styles in Christian fiction. I love it when I hear someone has read and enjoyed something on my recommendation. A good reason to continue to promote, promote, promote! 🙂
Right! There’s an art to book pairing. It feels wonderful when you end up pairing a reader with a book they love.
Such a good post! Thank you, Becky! I’ve wondered about this too. I loved your ideas to help spread the word to friends who might not have a great impression of Christian fiction.
You’re welcome, Carrie! I’m glad you found my ideas helpful. 🙂
#5 I second that! Collections librarians will do their best to buy titles as budget allows.
Also, check with your local public library system regarding the current status of accepting book donations.
Yes! Libraries are one of the best sources of discoverability. I’ve found them to be very willing to purchase the titles their patrons request.
About ten years ago, I started a book club that only reads Christian fiction and invited my friends from church. They have been delighted to discover new authors and inspiring, refreshing stories they weren’t aware of before.
Ahhhh! I’m so happy to hear this. Thank you for starting a book club for Christian fiction!
Appreciate your encouragement here, Becky. It’s easy when we write or our social media focuses on Christian books most of the time to think this is ‘normal’ for most Christians. Some great ways to help others see the value and hope of our books.
I’m glad you found the post helpful!
Great suggestions! I donated a bunch of books to my Church library. And I lend books to friends and family. I also suggest purchases to the public library.
Don’t forget to email your favorite authors and comment on their blogs, newsletters and Facebook pages. Join their review teams.
Yes! Engaging with authors is a great way to strengthen Christian fiction. 🙂
I love the Book Fairy idea! I also love when I’m talking with a friend and I recommend a book and she pulls her Kindle out of her purse and buys it on the spot. I also love when I recommend books to co-workers for their significant other/spouse and then they tell me later that they bought it for them as a gift. Word of mouth really works!
Word of mouth is THE MOST EFFECTIVE way to grow and support Christian fiction. Thank you!
I usually give all of my Christian fiction books to my grandmother (she passes them around her little women’s group) but if I have a duplicate, I share them with friends. I tell them I don’t want the book back –they are encouraged to pass it on.
I received an extra copy of Jody Hedlund’s A Cowboy For Keeps, so I ordered some stickers from The Book Fairy website and will be leaving that book in a public place for a lucky reader to find. I think people will enjoy reading a book that is “gifted” by a book fairy!
I agree! It’s amazing to discover a book gifted by a book fairy!