Into the Fire

If you could change five things (or less) in CBA publishing, what would they (it) be? (Unabridged and unedited)

From a Senior Editor, Major CBA Publishing House (Anonymous):

1. I’d change the minds of CBA readers about what they want to read. They tend to read shallow, in my opinion.

2. I’d want to see memoir make a comeback in CBA.

3. More risks taken by authors and publishers.

4. A halt to the evolution of the e-book. It’s inevitable, I know, but I’m a book person. I like the actual physical book and I will mourn its demotion to second (or third) class citizen in publishing.  

5. I’d wish for less necessity for good authors to have the “platform” from which to promote their books.

From Author Harry Kraus, MD:

1) I wish it could be about the content of the pages and not whose name is on the spine of the book that would entice booksellers to try a new author and readers to pick up someone new. Judge new potential authors on basis of quality of writing, not on sales numbers.

2) I wish it weren't (so much of the time) about money.

3) I would make CBA houses independent of large secular publishers.

4) I would make all CBA publishing houses not-for-profit, with profit money funneled into ministry projects–with a few runaway bestsellers, we could change so much!

5) I would like to see more openness to stories of redemption that contain some of the raw, real pain of life without Christ. Too often, writers are forced to write what would not offend the most conservative readers, but we need to be appealing to mainstream, non-Christian readers without compromising our message or presenting sin as an attractive alternative.

From Author Kathi Macias:

I'd love to see a concerted, concentrated effort at magnifying the already existing ministry aspect of CBA and a little minimizing of the visible and glitzy marketing end of it. (I know marketing is necessary and I do it accordingly, but I don't want to forget why I do ANY of this!)

Second, I'd love to see a strong mentorship program arising out of the experienced ranks of CBA. Some of us (authors, editors, agents, publicists, publishers, etc.) have been in this industry for decades and have a lot to offer, but it gets a bit scattered when we try to do it on our own.

From Author (Anonymous):

Ultimately, I'm happy with the direction Christian fiction is going and I'd like to say that publicly. I think we are addressing the tough issues, coming out with stellar books more and more often. With that said, there are a few things I think we could improve upon.

1. Nothing that isn't stellar would be published under the genre of Christian fiction (even if it means I'm excluded.)

2. An "ass" or "shit" wouldn't be such a big deal when used in context. I mean what is and isn't considered a curse word is cultural, not biblical. For example … poop isn't a curse but shit is. Why is that? When I stub my toe, I tend to say "shit" not "oh doody!" Sometimes I think we have to write things that sound silly because of some of the restrictions. This isn't the biggest deal in the world and I'd certainly hate it if we went too far in the other direction, but a little more leniency there would be nice.

3. Sexuality between married people… Sometimes, certainly not all the time, we are restricted in showing sexual flirtations between married people. Sex is a normal, healthy, beautiful thing when in the context of marriage. I'm not saying we should be crossing into soft porn, or try to titillate the reader, but I see very few references to lovemaking in the Christian market. It would be nice to see a reference here or there that Christian couples have great sex too and sometimes the wife even enjoys herself.

4. Can we please admit that we drink? I know very few Christians who don't enjoy a beer, glass of wine or margarita now and then. Why is everyone in Christian novels always ordering a diet Coke? Give me a Guiness once in awhile. No, we should not be getting drunk but yes, Jesus turned water into wine–really good wine.

  5. Catholics are Christians too. I see very few Catholics in Christian fiction and even fewer actually living their faith with the same surrendered heart as evangelical characters.

From Author (Anonymous):

I’d cut back on the bonnets. I’d like more variety to pick from. Something other than just the Amish books and prairie romances. It’d be great if publishers could put something out there that’s new, different. I’m not talking Twilight or Harry Potter, but something “new” that will capture general readers. They did that with the Left Behind series. It’d be great if publishers opened themselves up to take more risks. I know, I know. It’s a financial risk they’re taking, but you won’t know if it will work if you don’t try. Why publish the same boring books, when you can publish something new, different?

Deeper issues. Issues that people face everyday shouldn’t be taboo. In other words, stories that are more biblically based. I’m not talking about writing details about sex, language, whatever. I’m just saying that if we got honest on the page, we might actually touch lives, reach hearts and souls. But having stories that give the impression that if readers simply obey God, their lives will be perfect, isn’t realistic. I realize we have different genres to meet, but I feel like we’re not meeting this need in very many books already out there. The books are all the same. I’m tired of the Christian characters being so perfect. I mean, how many can relate to that? Not even the most pious Christians can, and if they can, then they’re not honest with themselves.

I’d really like to see more books with unpredictable plots. I pick up so many books in the store, and after reading the book cover, I know what’s going to happen, and when I read them, I learn I was right. I’m also not crazy about books that use miracles to solve a conflict. That’s something else too few people today can relate to, and it’s an easy way out for the author, if you ask me.

From Author (Anonymous):

You know–I don't have any major thing to share. I'd change a lot about publishing in general . . .

The longer time goes by, I see doors open and close. I'm fortunate the doors in CBA continue to open for me to tell the stories I want to tell. So what if I can't put curse words on paper? So what if my books are shelved somewhere specific in the store? I can't do anything about that. :) 

I keep thinking of Stieg Larsson. The guy sold 40 million copies and his books are now being made into movies by David Fincher. That's my dream. Yet the guy passed away. Life's not fair. It really isn't. 

All I keep thinking is that I'm fortunate to get paid to do something I love.

Dialogue is good. But those CBA publishers aren't nameless–they have people that read those comments . . .

To be continued . . .