It’s Iola here. Welcome to our Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat, where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
What’s one thing you’d like to see more of in Christian fiction? Why?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group. Or, if you’re feeling wordy (like me), write a blog post and link to it in the comments.
Let’s chat!
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Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat.
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Published by Iola Goulton @iolagoulton
Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat.
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This is a tough one I had to think then it hit. I would love to see some books with older heroines and hero’s. I know Kaye Darcus had a few with one of them being in her 30’s and never really had a boyfriend.
This is what I would like but even in their 40’s or 50’s where they have never been married and often never had serious boy friends. While some people may think this doesn’t happen it does. I am living proof! I also know of people who have married later in life often a widower or widow. But I also know of people who married later in life where both were previously single. I know a few here in town who married He was in his 40’s and she in her 30’s.
Also now days people are often getting married later due to the age you now leave school. It use to be you could leave at 15 and many did now most don’t leave till 18 or older then go to uni. I think books where the heroine in particular is older and single gives singles hope. It also shows its ok to not be married. Particularly in Christian circles if you are single people often treat you differently. You are often excluded (in smaller towns) and often people will ask why aren’t you married. Yes I have had people say this then they say your expectations are too high.
Kaye Dacus was one of the first authors I discovered when I started reviewing, and I loved her books so much I immediately went out and bought them all. I hear she’s still writing, but she hasn’t published anything in ages. That’s a shame.
I have seen Marion Ueckermann has a couple of romances out with more mature characters. I’d like to see more of them as well – I’d especially like to see more where the “older” couple aren’t younger than me!
it was the Chick Lit books which seem to be about to turn 30 and single and my life is ending that turned me totally of the genre. Camy Tang did it well but some made it so painful to read. I know when I was about to turn 30 and I was still single with not prospects I thought my life was about to end but after about 6 months I was over it. Reading books that make it seem like your life is going to end if you turn 30 single really got to me. I don’t mind characters in there 30’s but would really love to see them in there 40’s or higher. Barbor had a novella I think it was called Autumn and it was meant to be people in there autumn years and while it was good as they were all older I also was depressed cos over 40 was considered your autumn years and 60+ winter years (going on the bible saying about 7 score being a good age or what was promised or something) When I read the book I was mid 40’s and didn’t feel like I was in my autumn years.
Hi Jenny, The Chapel Cove contemporary romance series set in the Oregon Coast from Marion Ueckermann, Autumn Macarthur and Alexa Verde all have heroines who are 40. Marion has put book 4 in the series on pre-order this week. The romantic comedies that we see being published now eg. Kara Issac’s books May contain some chick lit elements but the female leads have a lot more depth than many of the books published in the Bridget Jones era.
I think this is already happening to some extent, but I’d like to see more real Christians dealing with messy issues that don’t have pat answers. I do believe that God is the answer to all of our problems, but too often a quick and easy solution is given and we don’t see the characters grappling with an issue. A quick prayer doesn’t fix everything.
It would also be good if not everyone was drop-dead gorgeous 🙂
I do see some authors giving us real Christians dealing with messy issues, but a lot of this seems to be from small presses or independent publishers.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder … but yeah. It would be nice to read about people who aren’t ex-models.
On the drop dead gorgeous I agree or the heroine watching her weight when shes already pencil thin, or super fit always going to the gym.
Again Kaye Darcus had real heroines in her books and I know there are others who are normal (whatever that is). There is enough problems with Social Media, magazines and tv saying what a person should look like that is causing so many body image issues for women and even men, that we don’t need books to add to the issue.
Jenny, to be realistic, a character who is super-fit will be prioritising exercise in their daily life ie. sports, running, cycling, gym, etc. because that is the only plausible way they can keep their fitness at that level. How much focus is put on their fitness regime will depend on the story.
its not the ones who are super fit and are doing sports, running cycling etc. or are active. Its the ones where its more a focus and they go on about their weight. Thankfully not all books do this but there are some that really go on about the weight.
Yes, I agree, I’m not interested in reading about a heroine who is unnecessarily obsessed with her weight or dieting.
Iola, I agree. The average reader will find real characters who are like them much more relatable.
Nola, I’d like to see these books dealing with messy life issues (they do exist, and many are indie published) getting more attention and being discovered by readers. When the characters aren’t drop dead gorgeous, I’d like to see them happy and content with being ‘normal’ rather than having a chip on their shoulder about their physical appearance.
Great question, Iola! I’d like to see the books that have a solid spiritual/faith thread in the story getting more attention in the marketplace. I’ll have more to say on this topic in an upcoming book chat later this month. 🙂
Mysteries/suspense that don’t involve murder or violent crime.
Stories like Robin Jones Gunn’s Sisterchicks series, where romance isn’t the focus.