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!