Welcome to the Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat, where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
Do you read diverse Christian fiction? How do you define diverse?
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.
Let’s chat!
When I first read this question, I thought hmm… this isn’t an easy question to answer!
I went to Google and learned that diversity often refers to differences in race and culture. I found a group blog – Diversity Between the Pages – that has the tag line “Your stop for diverse Christian and clean reads fiction”.
If I start with the assumption that the USA is the centre of the Christian fiction publishing world because it’s the largest market, then:
- Australian and New Zealand Christian fiction could potentially be defined as diverse for cultural reasons.
- International Christian fiction could potentially be defined as diverse because many of the books in that category include settings that are foreign to American readers.
What do you think? Do you read diverse Christian fiction? How do you define diverse?
And don’t forget: if you’d like to participate in our weekly Book Chat by posting the question and your answer on your blog, drop us an email via our Contact page and we’ll send you the list of questions for 2019.
When I read the question I saw it as diverse as in a wide range Christian fiction. For me it would be reading Historical, Contemporary, Cozy Mystery, light suspense, Sci Fi, and Fantasy. (I don’t read horror and not a huge fan of some women’s fiction or chick lit). When I say women’s fiction it depends as I love the sisterchick books and that sort of book. I have enjoyed books on different races and places.
I think diversity in Christian fiction means just that a variety of Christian Fiction covering all genres, locations and people etc.
Hi Jenny, yes, diversity in genre is a more recent phenomenon in the Christian fiction market. The Christian fiction book store shelves used to primarily consist of historical romances in American settings. That started to change in the 1980’s. Indie publishing has opened up opportunities for authors to publish and sell Christian fiction in all genres. 🙂
I’m used to reading (in US forums) about diversity as often referring to people of other cultures, like African Americans, who are less represented in Christian fiction as ‘white’ people are. I guess anything that is different to what you’re used to can be considered diverse 🙂
Hi Carolyn, yes, that was the diversity definition I found re. Christian fiction. Anything different to the ‘norm’ could be considered diverse. 🙂
Hi Carolyn Its interesting how we think of diverse. I don’t go to many American forums or many forums so don’t see the comments although I know there isn’t as many African American books (I have loved the ones I read) and even American Asian like Camy Tang wrote. I think there are more books with Latino’s in them than other books. Its also interesting I read a series of Childrens books aimed at around the Tween audience actually 6 main girls with an African American and American Asian child as 2 of the main characters. I think often Childrens books are more progressive.
Jenny, that’s true. There are big cultural differences between Australia and USA that influence our thinking on this issue.