A paradigm Shift in Good Literature: Congrats to The Christy Finalists
Have you seen the list of 2022 Christy Award Finalists yet? Have you read any of these yet? There are some talented authors here and some books I definitely need to add to my TBR pile!
BUT…
I have a confession to make. I used to think Christian fiction was not as good as mainstream fiction. It wasn’t as literary or as quality, or at least that was my perception as a person who had made a living studying and teaching literature. I believed that I wanted to write for—and could even reach more people if I wrote for—the mainstream publishing world and audiences.
Then about eight years ago, God altered the trajectory of my path, connected me with lovers of Christian fiction, and introduced me to new authors. I began a journey that forced me to reevaluate my opinions, not only of what makes good literature, but also of myself and what I wanted to write, why, and for whom. Two and a half years ago, I began looking into the faith-based writers’ organization, Hope*Writers, and I have now been a Hope*Writer for a year and a half. I decided that not only would I be a Christian who was a writer, but in fact, that I would be a writer of Christian fiction.
On the Christy Awards website, Tyndale House Associate Publisher Karen Watson offers a statement about being a Christian author that resonates deeply with me. She said, “I believe that fiction has the potential to be one of the greatest tools for beginning spiritual discussion in the marketplace. The path holds many challenges and opportunities, but I believe that we are working with some of the most talented writers in the industry. I’ve said for years that what we ask authors to do in writing fiction for this market is much more challenging than what general market fiction writing requires. In that, I take great encouragement.” And I do, too.
So many talented authors I now greatly admire are taking part in the Christy Awards conference and gala this November. I aspire to write in a way that brings “spiritual discussion in the marketplace,” and someday, maybe I’ll attend the Christy Award gala, too!
