Inspirational/Christian Fiction

The Lord Is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguie (The Psalm 23 series)
Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller
Gina, Gardendale
Beth, Homewood

As Young As We Feel by Melody Carlson (The Four Lindas series)
Beth, Homewood

In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer
April, Irondale

While We’re Far Apart by Lynn Austin
April, Irondale

Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
Beth, Homewood

Breach of Trust by DiAnne Mills (Call of Duty series)
Shannon, Hoover

Thirsty and Tandem by Tracey Victoria Bateman (billed as a sort of Christian vampire romance)
general discussion

The Devil’s Playground (DVD about Amish rumspringa)
general discussion

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
Anna is looking for another job in order to escape her lecherous boss. Joe is looking for a bride to secure his land and livelihood. Thrown together by the unscrupulous merchant, Asa Mercer, these two star-crossed romantics engage in a delightful battle of wills set in the 1860’s Seattle wilderness.
Holley, Emmet O’Neal

The Christmas Promise by Donna vanLierre
Mondretta, Leeds

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Mondretta, Leeds

Philip Gulley’s Harmony series
Mondretta, Leeds

Gilbert Morris’s many, many series, particularly the Lady Trent mysteries
general discussion

All I Have To Give by Melody Carlson
Leigh, North Birmingham

The Trouble with Tulip by Mindy Starnes Clark
Theresa, Hoover

Plaguemaker by Tim Downs (faith-based thriller)
A fiendish mastermind is attempting to ignite the Black Death anew in the U.S. by strategically releasing containers of bubonic plague-infested fleas around New York City. FBI counterterrorism agent Nathan Donovan must race to find out who’s behind the plot before it’s too late. The author also writes the Bug Man series starring forensic entomologist Nick Polchak.
Holley, Emmet O’Neal

If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg
Sally, Hoover

Authors to Remember

Linda Chaikin
Francine Rivers
Jan Karon
Vanessa Davis Griggs (local author)
Ted Dekker
Michele Andrea Bowen
Dynah Zale
Lutishia Lovely
Taylor Caldwell
Victoria Christopher Murray
ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Shared by:
Jon, Avondale
Mary Anne, BPL Southern History
Maya, West End

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, February 9^th at Emmet O’Neal Library at 9am to discuss Nonfiction of Choice!

RA meets this week

We'll meet at Emmet O'Neal Library on Wednesday, December 15th at 9am to discuss inspirational/christian fiction!

recent inspirational fiction webinar

In anticipation of our meeting next week, the lovely and talented April Wallace (Irondale) has shared the notes she took during a recent inspirational fiction webinar sponsored by Booklist! If you are new to the genre or just looking for a little....wait for it!....INSPIRATION for our meeting, have a look at the list below! If you'd like to view the webinar, here's the link: http://vimeo.com/14040381

Booklist Webcast – Selecting and Recommending Inspirational Fiction

Terms Defined

Inspirational Fiction encourages the reader to examine his or her own life in view of the characters’ struggles: it can be generally uplifting or morally prescriptive and may incorporate religious tenets.

Christian Fiction focuses on the characters’ relationship to God using a Christian worldview (the belief that Jesus Christ is God’s son and the Messiah).

Evangelical titles preach the Gospel with the intent to convert the character/reader; they usually offer at least one conversion during the course of the story and provide numerous Biblical passages.

Gentle Fiction offers clean language, chaste relationships, and minimal violence, generally occurring off-screen.

Examples

Amish/Bonnet – Wanda Brunsetter, Cindy Woodsmall, Ann Gabhart, Hillary Manton Lodge

Contemporary Mainstream – Karen Kingsbury, Terri Blackstock, William Young

Chick Lit – Judy Baer, Neta Jackson, Tracey Batemen, Laura Jensen Walker, Sandra Bickler

African –American –Michelle Andrea Bowen, Jacquelin Thomas, Victoria Christopher Murray, Vanessa Davis Griggs

Historical – Stephen Bly, Tamera Alexander, Sarah Sundin, Tracie Peterson, Lynn Austin, Julie Lessman

Speculative Fiction: Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy – Maurice Broaddus, Tracey Bateman, Mary Doria Russell, Stephen Lawhead

Crime: Cozies, Thrillers & Suspense – Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, James Scott Bell, Dr. Richard Mabry

Romance Series – PJ Sugar Series by Susan May Warren (similar to Janet Evanovich), Call of Duty Series by DiAnn Mills (similar to Dee Henderson), Mercy Hospital Series by former ER nurse Candace Calvert (similar to Karen Kingsbury)

See you next Wednesday!

meeting next week!

The meeting was rescheduled to avoid conflict with the JCPLA Holiday Luncheon so we will be meeting next Wednesday, December 15th @ 9am at Emmet O'Neal Library for the Christian/Inspirational fiction meeting. This is also our annual holiday potluck so please bring something to share if you plan on joining us!

I know we had originally planned a field trip to the new Vestavia Library, but that will be postponed so the hard-working folks over there get a chance to get their feet under them. I'm certain we all wish them the best as their new facility opens to the public next week!

Questions/comments? Let me know!

Happy reading!

Holley