Sorry, but that’s the reality. So we have to grapple with it.
Thus, if you want to be commercially successful, in this case, your fiction must appeal to a wider, broader audience. And step one is understanding that marketing it as Christian fiction of any sort is going to lose you the vast majority of sales that you could potentially make.
This is not specifically because people are biased against Christian fiction (though many are, and rightfully so because Christians on the whole have not been standard-bearers of excellent quality creativity in recent decades); rather it’s because when readers come to Amazon looking for a new book, they either specifically target Christian fiction or they don’t. And the breakdown between the two options is significant.
By way of example, at the time of this posting, the topmost Amazon rank of any Christian speculative fiction book was sitting at #2,744 (and it wasn’t even Ted Dekker’s latest release, either—he’s in the low 5,000s), while Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (general market dystopian) is sitting at #1 overall on the whole store, and Stephen King’s most recent book is #10 (though I can’t definitively tell whether it is speculative or not from the description).
Don’t get me wrong: #2,744 is a nice ranking, but as I mentioned above, I managed to hit #1518 with a sci-fi/horror novel aimed at the general market, and I’m a nobody in the grand scheme of things. I’m sharing this comparison because it’s indicative of the market: Christian fiction does not sell as well as general market fiction does. It just doesn’t. (And when it does, it’s a Left Behind-sized anomaly–and we can’t base our marketing efforts on the anomalies. We have to base them in what is proven to work if we truly want to succeed.)
So (full circle) you’ve got to choose what success means to you, and you have to balance that against whether or not you need to (and can) make a career out of this. Now before you lament the hard truths I’ve just espoused, it’s important to realize that…
3. Writing Christian fiction does not mean you need to CLASSIFY it as Christian fiction when you publish it.
In indie publishing, there’s a principle called “write to market.” Essentially, it means that you write a book aimed at an existing, hungry market with pinpoint precision and accuracy. You write the book using the conventions of that genre, the tropes, the feel, and the themes of other stories that are already succeeding in that genre.
Targeting big, hungry genres/markets is a blessing and a curse because they have lots of readers but also lots of competition. NONE of the Christian speculative fiction categories have large, hungry markets, and thus virtually no books published to those markets sell many copies. (Again, Dekker, Peretti, Jenkins, and other wildly successful Christian spec fic authors are anomalies. We can look at them for inspiration, but they’re exceptions to the rule.)
With that said, I’d like to direct you all to an author named Will Wight. He’s a friend of mine (though admittedly I don’t know him super well, so he’s not a close friend), he’s a Christian, and his most recent fantasy release hit #17 overall on the Amazon store at its peak.
That is ridiculously good.
He sold over 1,000 copies on launch day and, by my estimation, made a minimum of $3,500 just on that one day from royalties (factoring Amazon’s 70% royalty rate at a launch price of $4.99). He writes clean fantasy (from what I’ve read, anyway), and he aims at the general market.
He’s as Christian as you or me, but he’s not AIMING at Christian spec fic markets. If you look at his books, the categories they fall into are general market categories. (As an aside, Will is teaching a continuing course on indie publishing at this year’s Realm Makers Conference in St. Louis this summer, so if you can come, please do so. He’s just one of the ultra high-caliber faculty they’re bringing in this year. Check out www.realmmakers.net for more info.)
So just because you’re a Christian and you are writing for God’s glory doesn’t mean you have to target church people with your work. Yet the opposite doesn’t necessarily apply either–that you have to skimp on your beliefs or include questionable content (whatever that means) in order to placate general market readers.
For starters, it’s really as simple as just not calling your work “Christian fiction,” whether publicly or when classifying it in Amazon. But if you’re going to aim at the general market, you have to hit those conventions, tropes, themes, etc. that comparable books also hit, or you still won’t find the commercial success I described above.
4. Christian audiences already consume general market media all the time.
How many of you can truthfully say that you haven’t gone to see a Marvel movie in the last three years? Or any of the new Star Wars movies? Or anything else speculative (movies or TV)? How many of you have exclusively read Christian fiction and not indulged in general market stories?
I would guess the answer is virtually none of you. I certainly have watched/read plenty of media that is nonChristian, both “clean” and “unclean.” (I was just watching Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer last night, for example, and that’s quite clean compared to most of what we have nowadays–it’s even a bit campy by comparison at times. Yet at the time it came out, as a kid in the 90s, I wasn’t allowed to watch it because of its dark content).
My point is that Christians who love spec fic are consuming media that is not “Christian” media, and as we all have limited time and money, we have to pick and choose and prioritize what we consume. As such, our Christian fiction (which, as I mentioned above, can tend to be lackluster when compared to its general market counterparts) is competing with the general market, whether we want to believe that or not.
Read that again, folks–it may seem self-evident, but think about it on a deeper level. We are competing with the best of the best, and the best of the best is and has been in the general market now for decades. Our Christian fiction is a subgenre of a larger market at best.
The CBA likes to think it’s its own market, but now more than ever (with the CBA shrinking ever more into obscurity as time passes–trust me, its influence has dramatically shrunk over the last 20 years and exponentially more over the last 5-10–ask anyone who has been to ICRS (now called UNITE) over the last few years and they’ll confirm it) the general market is ruling the roost (and the bestseller charts).
So since we’re already competing with the general market, we need to actually COMPETE with them. And how do we do that? I mentioned above that writing to market is huge. If you truly want your work to reach more people, STOP TARGETING CHRISTIAN READERS. Aim for an established, general market audience, write a killer book, and learn how to market effectively.
By way of example, I recently revamped my whole approach to publishing. I won’t go into all the details now, but in summary, I went full-indie, I went full general market (yes, my book has “questionable” content in it, but so does real life), and the story has very, very minimal mentions of anything faith-based in it.
It’s sci-fi/horror, and the content fits that genre. It’s horrifying, violent, has profanity, has two LGBT minor characters, and is not something your preteen kids should read. It’s R-rated, and I have a disclaimer in the front of the book that says as much. There’s one Christian in the whole book, and he shows up to conduct a funeral halfway through the story, and then we never see him again.
As a result of changing my approach, my book catapulted to #1518 overall on launch day. I’ve never had that kind of success or exposure before, and it’s a direct result of implementing some of the things I’m espousing above. I still have so much to learn, but what I’ve already learned has helped tremendously. (My biggest conundrum now is figuring out how to get sales to be consistent after launch day. I’m working on it.)
In conclusion, we Christian spec fic authors are stuck in old ways of thinking. We’re trying to market to an audience that barely exists in the first place (in terms of what they’re buying), and that audience is getting great quality content from the general market already. Why would they mingle their faith with their entertainment? Do they really care if a story has Christian undertones or not? Do they really care if the story was written by a Christian or not?
Sure, some do. But the vast majority of readers do not. They’re content to consume good media and move on to the next thing. There are readers out there who read hundreds of books each year, and most of them don’t give two hoots about whether it’s Christian or not.
Christian speculative fiction authors have been pounding our heads against the same brick walls for the last 10+ years, trying to break down these supposed barriers with the sheer force of our will, with prayer, and with belief. While none of those are bad things, I daresay they are not enough, especially when some of us are learning that knocking down the barriers doesn’t work.
Some of us are climbing over the barriers, or going around them, or digging under them. And, ironically enough, we’re more likely to be chastised for our approaches by fellow Christians and Christian authors for doing so. I’ve had it happen to me several times, and I’ve seen it happen to many others as well. (Yes, that’s an older article, but it still happens. Trust me on this one.)
If we truly want any measure of commercial success (and thus, more access to more readers and more chances to influence souls for Christ) then maybe it’s time we stop repeating the same old approaches that don’t work. Maybe we ought to start watching what general market authors are doing, and maybe we ought to learn from them, mimic them, and use their tools to our advantage.
That’s why Realm Makers is shifting to include more general market content and teaching. The conference is trying to better reach and equip spec fic authors, Christian or otherwise, and they’ve realized that our audience (that is, Christian spec fic readers) is at best intermingled with the general market, and at worst it’s a small niche with too few readers.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. I’m happy to take questions and read your comments, especially if you wish to interact with me on Facebook, where I will post a link to this blog.
Certainly a thought provoking article. I’m planning to target a general audience (rather than one that’s specifically Christian), partially because my current WIP fits that vision. Here’s my question: What repercussions might there be for trying to cross over between audiences? You mentioned changing your approach… Did you write more overtly Christian books in the past?
Great post, Ben. Lots to think about. One sentence leaped out at me: Why would they mingle their faith with their entertainment?
The thing most people don’t think about, although if they did, it makes sense … is … there’s faith in every novel. Faith doesn’t include just Christianity. Every author mingles their faith in their writing. We all have a worldview that shapes what we write, watch, and do.
And what you said about questionable things in books – and also in the world. YES. That’s true! I write fantasy. The kind I like to read. So, there’s not really anything edgy or horrifying in my stories. I like to smile when I read. I like to escape when I read. I’d rather not be left with dark images in my mind when I’m done. Because I know myself and how my mind works. And I’ve been through some pretty violent times in my life.
That said, it doesn’t mean others should not write dark, edgy things. I do include some dark things in my novel writing, but I try to handle it with less detail and more aftermath emotion. And it doesn’t mean I don’t read a big variety of books.
But I also write for children. And I’ve learned (like you) over the years that I don’t have to write Sunday school type books to reach kids for Christ. You’ve seen my Willoughby books. I have Christians families who love him and nonChristian families who love him! And he was turned down by CBA over and over again when I had an agent because there were fairies in the story. HUH?? Yeah, still scratching my head over that one.
So, I’m doing what you’re doing. Writing the stories that are in me and working to find my readers. I’m not planning to be a mega-bestseller, nor do I really want that. Too much pressure. I have more than enough stress in my life. 🙂
Thanks for a great post!
Excellent points, Ben. One of the things I appreciate the most is that your #1 point is “You have to write what God calls you to write, and you have to write it in a way you feel is honoring to him.” This is so important, for a Christian author. And respecting each other when we’re on different paths is important, too, and I feel that you do that very well in this article (and in life).
The second point is something I think would bring a lot of peace to
a lot of struggling authors, if they would wrestle with it until they honestly embraced what kind of success they’re really after. The mismatch between the kind of success an author desires and how the author approaches their writing makes for a lot of heartache.
If your writing is a ministry or if it is suited to a small, niche market, then line up your marketing efforts and your expectations to match — or you’ll experience unending frustration and disappointment. If your goal is commercial success, then take the necessary steps to make that possible. Commercial success is never guaranteed, but you can remove a LOT of obstacles if you’re honest with yourself about what you’re trying to do and what it will take to do it. You cannot write self-indulgent, niche stories and expect to appeal to a wider market. You cannot label it “Christian” (which might make you feel better about writing fiction) and expect it to be found and embraced by the general market. You cannot “write the stories that are inside you” without care for the market and expect to “make it big” — although every author certainly has the right to try. A very tiny percentage of huge successes occur that way, and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying. Just understand that it’s a one in a hundred million chance (or whatever the odds actually are). So much peace can come from understanding oneself, the reality of the publishing landscape, and accepting it while looking to God in faith for strength and wisdom during the journey.
Your insights to the community and the industry are well-informed and cover most of the top issues I’ve personally seen and experienced. I do hope this article helps more people to analyze their own goals, their choices, and to re-frame their approach to writing as Christians. So much is possible, and we need Christians of every flavor doing the work that God has put on their hearts in every corner of the markets.
Great article. I think there’s room to write Christian fiction and mainstream fiction. It’s kind of crazy how much pressure Christian artists find themselves in to produce ‘specifically Christian’ work. I’ve noticed this is mostly targeted towards Christian actors, musicians and writers, and when looked at in practicality, it’s ridiculous. Is someone going to judge a Christian painter if they don’t only paint pictures of Christian symbols/Bible characters? If a Christian carpenter builds houses and not only cross wall hangings? It’s hypocritical to me.
I’ve had a people in my life judge me when I’ve written short stories that weren’t necessarily ‘Christian,’ and I’ve had people complain that my books were lightly Christian.’ What does that even mean? I’ve read plenty of amazing books that spoke to my heart and changed my life that weren’t necessarily ‘Christian’ (Frog and Toad, anyone?) and I will also write them when I feel like it.
I think you’re right, but the truth is seriously depressing. Being stuck writing “using the conventions of that genre, the tropes, the feel, and the themes of other stories that are already succeeding” really dampens my creativity. Too bad originality is no longer in vogue.
With some readers it is still in vogue; it just doesn’t sell.
May the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, bless you and keep you!
Interesting article…
I do like the fact that you describe different definitions of “success”, meaning that commercial success is far different from pleasing God and what He has called us to do. I have recently been rejected by Enclave Publishing, which was disheartening to say the least, probably due to the reasons you mentioned in your article. I also am trying to publish a book series that features “questionable” content, and I may have to resort to self-publishing sooner or later, which will be grueling process (as if it hasn’t been already).
All that being said, here are some Bible verses that we all need to keep in mind (and I do not mean to be presumptuous or disparaging by any means by mentioning these). I mention these Bible verses to encourage all of us to follow God wherever He leads us (I also have to remind myself of these things). I would encourage everyone to go read and study these verses. I realize that it is only human for us to crave financial success and material gain (I’m just as guilty of it as anyone else). But before you think of sacrificing your integrity as a Christian for wealth (which both health and wealth can vanish ever so quickly), please let these verses soak into your very souls, and may God speak to our hearts.
Matthew 6:24
Matthew 4:1-11
Matthew 7:15-20
Matthew 5:11-14
Matthew 13:1-23
Matthew 23:12
Mark 8:36
I am not entirely sure what you mean by mixing “faith with entertainment”. Do you mean faith in God? Or faith in idols? Aren’t there some in the world who are entertained by what is good while many others are entertained only by darkness? I have found that writing about the dark things in this world is not fun, even though God calls some of us to do so in order to expose and confront that darkness and reach out to those trapped by darkness. I don’t know about you, but I was no more entertained by writing my novel series (which portrays the darkness of this fallen world much like your sci-fi book probably does) than C. S. Lewis was entertained by writing THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. But you would probably describe Lewis as an “anomaly” in the industry due to his success, which is accurate. Also, people are eventually going to discern what your true religious beliefs are sooner or later anyway (See Matthew 7:15-20), so why not be upfront about it from the get-go? Most importantly, the Lord decides who of us is successful and who is not, regardless.
All this being said, I do appreciate the sober and insightful views of your article and assures me that I’m not the only Christian writer struggling with these things. I will be praying for you.
Peace be with you!
Hi Shawn,
Forgive my late reply. I’ve been writing like a madman, and it has paid off. Just finished book 2 of my new fantasy series.
Anywho, you raise some interesting points and asked some direct questions, so I’ll try to answer/address those. For reference, another of my blog posts on this topic (more recent than this one, especially) may prove more thoughtful and worth reading. You can check it out here: http://benwolf.com/christian-authors-and-the-good-enough-fallacy/
Alright. You asked, “I am not entirely sure what you mean by mixing “faith with entertainment”. Do you mean faith in God? Or faith in idols? Aren’t there some in the world who are entertained by what is good while many others are entertained only by darkness?”
I mean faith in God, and yes, some people are entertained by good and some are entertained by darkness. I would also say that some are entertained by both, and as you alluded earlier in your comment, sometimes it is necessary to include both in stories so as to provide a necessary contrast between the two.
“I have found that writing about the dark things in this world is not fun, even though God calls some of us to do so in order to expose and confront that darkness and reach out to those trapped by darkness.”
Honestly, writing about the dark things of the world is MORE fun for me than writing about the good things. That’s part of what writing in the horror genre (and to lesser degrees, fantasy, sci-fi, and other genres as well) entails. We have to wade through some crazy stuff before we get to a resolution or the “message.” Call me a weirdo, but I love it. I get a kick out of imagining terrible scenarios and putting my characters into them. I think it makes for engaging fiction, and as long as it’s genre-appropriate, I won’t be hindered from including it.
“I don’t know about you, but I was no more entertained by writing my novel series (which portrays the darkness of this fallen world much like your sci-fi book probably does) than C. S. Lewis was entertained by writing THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. But you would probably describe Lewis as an “anomaly” in the industry due to his success, which is accurate.”
1. Yes, C.S. Lewis was an anomaly.
2. Did he SAY he didn’t enjoy writing The Screwtape Letters? If he wrote that or said that somewhere, then fine. If not, then perhaps you’re making an assumption that may be unsubstantiated. Maybe he didn’t mind writing it or even enjoyed it.
3. As I said above, I really do enjoy writing dark things. It has a certain appeal to me. But I’m also secure enough in my faith that I can write about fictional darkness and not fall into actual darkness myself. I would encourage all Christian authors to use discernment, engage with scripture regularly, and seek wise counsel if necessary.
“Also, people are eventually going to discern what your true religious beliefs are sooner or later anyway (See Matthew 7:15-20), so why not be upfront about it from the get-go? Most importantly, the Lord decides who of us is successful and who is not, regardless.”
This is a fascinating comment, actually. My question for you is this: would a plumber walk up to someone and say, “I’m a Christian. Need any work done on your pipes?” Would a painter introduce himself by saying, “I’m a Christian. All my work depicts Christian themes.”? Would a bicyclist say, “I’m a Christian. I bike for Jesus.”?
Sure, they might (though the first one is probably pretty unlikely). So my counter-question is, why does our faith need to be so central and at the forefront of our writing if it doesn’t have to be for a plumber, an electrician, a salesman, a bicyclist, etc.? My blog post that I mentioned above discusses this all in more detail. Writing books–especially fiction–requires proper targeting.
Put it in terms of a salesman: if you’re trying to sell a refrigerator to eskimos, how likely are they to need or want such a thing? (It’s an older cliche, but it checks out.) Refrigerators would arguably sell better in hotter climates because there is a greater need/more interest for such a thing. Likewise, we need to properly target our readerships with our fiction and give them what they expect. If you write for the Christian market, don’t include objectionable content. It won’t fly. if you write for the secular market, generally speaking, don’t include Christian content. It won’t be well-received.
As for the Lord deciding who is successful and who is not, I would again refer you to my blog post above. So much more of this conversation is addressed there instead.
Thanks again for commenting, Shawn.
I experience a lot of what you talk about here as a writer whose focus is bringing the Good News to a very dark Speculative Fiction world, mainly via Horror and Dark Fantasy. I have to tell myself, and tell God, nearly every day that I am doing this for God’s glory, and that this is all that I should be concerned about. My books don’t sell. I wish they did. Marketing is not a talent I was given. But, I am doing God’s will with what I write, and at the end of the day, that is what should matter.
Scath, thanks for commenting.
I’m in the same boat as you with horror and dark fantasy, so I get it. My new sword and sorcery fantasy novel just came out earlier this month, and it sold okay. I’m hoping the launch of book 2 helps get a few more sets of eyes on it.
You mentioned a couple of things that are concerning to me, though. I’m not going to go so far as to say you’re wrong–ultimately, that’s something you must decide between yourself and God. But allow me to challenge you with some alternative thinking to reassess your approach.
Specifically, I recommend that you read my more recent blog post, Christian Authors and the “Good Enough” Fallacy. I’m sure you’ll find that not everything I wrote applies perfectly to your situation, but perhaps some of it will redirect you, if redirecting is needed.
Thanks again for commenting. I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors. God Bless.
Ben, I read your article on the alleged fallacy, and I couldn’t agree more, except that in my case–and maybe other writers–marketing is impossible, because marketing takes money, and I, for one, just don’t have it. I also don’t have a vehicle (car) to attend conventions, book signings, readings, or any other venue where I might market my books. I’m also challenged when I go online, but most marketing tools cost money even there. Agents won’t touch my work, and I don’t have the money to pay a publicist to get my books on best-seller lists. So, I do leave it up to God, because I can’t do anything else. As it stands, my work is widely accepted in secular circles; and that, for me, has to be enough–for now anyway.
Wow, I just don’t see this like you do, as much as I enjoyed your post. Conventionally speaking (from a marketing perspective), I can’t imagine why anyone would consciously attempt to launch a “general market” product without a general market sized marketing budget. If, for example, I wanted to compete with McD’s, I wouldn’t try to build several thousand restaurants all at once – just too hard, no? I’d try to start small with one store selling one product, like Five Guys. Then, I’d grow (like Five Guys did). Can’t imagine why this would be any different with books. So, if you serve Christians really, really well, it’ll grow. Remember at least 60% of Americans are Christians, so you should be able to grow pretty large w/o dropping the faith to be a sort of Christian-lite general fiction book. I think you’re more likely to break into mass market by serving this one market really, really well.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for commenting. You raise some curious thoughts, so I’ll address those.
1. “Conventionally speaking (from a marketing perspective), I can’t imagine why anyone would consciously attempt to launch a “general market” product without a general market sized marketing budget.”
Sad to say, there’s a lot about this statement this is inherently flawed and defeatist. By your logic, no one should ever try anything new unless they can afford to go as big as already-established brands.
The problem with that line of thinking is that it IS possible to take big brands (and big publishers) head-on, mostly because it’s the market that determines whether or not something or someone is successful, not the competition. I’m attending a conference this November that has over 100 independent authors in attendance who are making five to seven figures per year from their writing revenues (and they’re all general market).
Furthermore, I’m now ten years into my publishing journey. I have won awards for my writing, been nominated a few times, too, and nearly landed three publishing contracts with large houses (Waterbrook Multnomah (Random House) and B&H Fiction (Lifeway)), only to be rebuffed literally at the finish line all three times. So there’s little question that I can write well. The question is, how many REAL opportunities are out there for Christian speculative authors to succeed? The data shows that there isn’t much. Check out the reports on the Christian market from K-Lytics.com sometime.
But in that time, I’ve observed that Christians who publish speculative fiction for the Christian Market on the whole do not succeed as massively as Christians who write for the general market. Are there exceptions? Yes, of course, but for every exception, I can point you to ten (or twenty) other Christian authors with dwindling sales and minimal traction on their work.
Furthermore, you don’t need a massive budget to launch a book well. My friend Will Wight, who is a top indie fantasy author (and a Christian), does not advertise his book launches outside of posting about them on FB. Sure, he buys covers and has a team of people who work with him on some design stuff, but he doesn’t pay to advertise anywhere. He just posts, and his books sell, because he found a rabid general market audience and gave them what they wanted. His books are not Christian in any way, by the way, though they’re not “worldly” by any means, either.
These days, great book covers can be purchased for as little as $25 (I know this because the covers for my prequel series of fantasy novellas cost me less than $25 apiece), and spectacular ones can cost $500-1000 (which I know because I have several of those as well). Advertising is usually pay-per-click, and you can set daily budgets so you don’t go bankrupt. Authors can do newsletter swaps with other authors for free. Many paid promos are only $35-45 to have your work shared with tens of thousands of potential buyers. It doesn’t HAVE to be expensive to market effectively.
So, respectfully, I reject your premise for this section entirely based on the last ten years of being active in the Christian Publishing world and what I’ve studied and observed about the indie world right now as well. (And based on actual data I’ve seen from K-lytics.com about the market for Christian speculative fiction.)
2. If, for example, I wanted to compete with McD’s, I wouldn’t try to build several thousand restaurants all at once – just too hard, no? I’d try to start small with one store selling one product, like Five Guys. Then, I’d grow (like Five Guys did). Can’t imagine why this would be any different with books.
Your argument here is actually pretty sound… except that it actually doesn’t work for “crossing over” into the general market very well at all. The audiences who read Christian fiction primarily don’t read Christian SPECULATIVE fiction, and general market readers don’t read Christian spec fic either.
The latest data (again, from k-lytics.com) shows that the top-selling genres in Christian fiction are romance, western, mystery & suspense, inspirational, and women’s fiction. Spec fic didn’t even make the top fifteen genres. Furthermore, between 2017 and 2018, Christian sci-fi and fantasy has been on a steady decline in overall sales rank of the genre by 47%. It is dwindling HARD. So according to the actual data, your presumption that you “can’t imagine why this would be any different with books” is inherently flawed because you’re comparing burgers and fries (something that basically everyone wants) to a tiny, niche market of Christian spec fic (which hardly anyone wants, at least according to the data).
3. So, if you serve Christians really, really well, it’ll grow.
Yes, and water is wet. If you serve ANYONE really well, you’ll grow. My argument is that the ceiling for Christian speculative fiction is far lower than Christians are willing to admit. By contrast, the ceiling (and opportunities) for general market spec fic are basically limitless, as sci-fi and fantasy is the third overall largest category on all of Amazon (after Romance and Mystery/Suspense/Thriller). So if God is truly calling someone to write spec fic, why wouldn’t they try to reach the largest possible audience?
“4. Remember at least 60% of Americans are Christians, so you should be able to grow pretty large w/o dropping the faith to be a sort of Christian-lite general fiction book. I think you’re more likely to break into mass market by serving this one market really, really well.”
In general, the principle of serving one market really, really well is sound. Where I take issue with this is that I defy you to give me an example of an author of Christian speculative fiction who is now solely general market based on the success they’ve had with the Christian market within the last ten years. The short answer is, there are none. Trust me on this one–I know everyone who even comes close. Tosca Lee and Robert Lipraulo come close. Ted Dekker dabbles in the general market. Davis Bunn/Thomas Locke are making some moves.
By contrast, my friend Will Wight is writing general market fantasy and hit #5 overall on Amazon (out of millions of books) with his last launch. I imagine he’ll hit #3 or higher with his next launch (which I edited, by the way). To my knowledge, no author of Christian speculative fiction has even come close to that since either Frank Peretti or Jerry B. Jenkins (Left Behind) more than a decade ago.
So, again, give me a name, and then we can talk.
In closing, if my response sounds scathing, I apologize. I’m passionate about this subject, and there’s a lot of misinformation and really terrible advice going around on this topic, so I want to rectify it if I can. Thanks again for commenting.
60% of Americans are Christians? You mean they _call_ themselves Christians. I’d hazard a guess that less than 1% of that 60% actually love God with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.