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The article offers information on the executive director of the ECPA who initially had a negative perception of Christian fiction but eventually embraced it. Topics include the director's initial bias against faith fiction, their shift away from religious fiction in their career, and their eventual change of heart towards embracing Christian fiction.

This article discusses the evolution of Christian teen fiction, following a rise in the popularity of young adult literature. Topics include the establishment of Christian publisher David C. Cook's young adult fiction line, the evolution of the fantasy genre and its popularity among teen readers, and the adaptation of young adult literature to distribution through electronic book formats. INSET: ACQUISTIONS STRATEGIES FOR CHRISTIAN YA FICTION.

Reports on how the increasing practice of prayer in the late 1990s has inspired a surge in related books. Comments from Maxine Outlaw, author of `Pray Like Hell: How to Talk With God'; Other titles; Efforts to make prayer an active practice.

Reports on the expansion of religious fiction in the late 1990s. The success of evangelical Protestant Christian publishers such as Waterbrook Press; Comments from publishers.

Features four literary authors of religious fiction. Lisa Samson; Michael Morris; Dean Hughes; Ted Dekker.

Reports on the success of genre novels and literary titles with religious or spiritual themes at many evangelical Christian publishing houses. Factors which contributed to the rise in literary quality; Information on several religion-focused fiction; Indicators that fiction is maturing.

Discusses the decrease in sale of young adult fiction books. Publication of adult evangelical Christian fiction; Time spent by youngsters in evangelical Christian bookstores; `Death and Beyond's combination of fact and fiction to address teens' questions about death and the afterlife; Judy Baer's `Cedar River Daydreams'; Bill Myers' `The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle'.

The article looks at the increased popularity as of November 2012 for nonsexual, sweet romance novels among readers and publishers. Topics include how the genre has been associated with religious fiction in the past, the emotionally intense subjects the genre features such as bereavement, and the popularity of the theme of extended communities. The digital-only Bliss imprint of publisher Entangled and the Harlequin Heartwarming series from publisher Harlequin are mentioned.

This article profiles Annie Wald, author of the allegorical religious novel "Walk With Me" and wife of Jack Wald, the pastor of Rabat International Church in Morocco. Topics include Wald's inspiration for the novel coming from a desire to share lessons about matrimony with her adult daughters, an overview of the work's evolution to its final published form, and Wald's opinions on marriage and forgiveness.

The article focuses on marketing initiatives by publishers of inspirational fiction. Video trailers for top-selling authors have been used by Zondervan and are posted on video-sharing sites such, as YouTube, and author and publisher Web sites. Bethany House sends review copies via Kindle and buys advertising on Web sites but still launch print advertisements featuring several books, bookstore end caps and covers. Authors' Facebook and Twitter pages are also considered good marketing tools.

The article provides information on the market potential of Christian novels. According to Chip MacGregor, associate publisher at FaithWords, their objective in creating Warner Faith was to take faith books into the general market. Most publishing executives, while thrilled with their general market presence, are careful not to say anything negative about declines in Christian retailing.

Reports on the outcome of shelving faith fiction books by booksellers. Impact of shelving the books to customers; Subcategories of faith fiction; Increase in the book sales in some bookstores. INSET: Shelving Dilemmas.

Features several faith fiction books with suspenseful plots. "Worlds Collide," by Lee Strobel; "Double Take," by Joe Hilley; "Whisper Town," by Patricia Hickman. INSET: More Novels on the Edge.

Presents the views of several fiction editors on funny faith fiction books. Karen Ball; Andy McGuire; Joan Marlow Golan. INSET: C.

Profiles Christian novelist Karen Kingsbury. Professional background; Number of books written by Kingsbury; Plans of Kingsbury to promote the book "Sarah's Song."

Presents information on the faith fiction books written by Philip Gulley. Number of copies printed in the initial printing of the book "Front Porch Tales"; Information on the theology expressed in the book "If Grace Is True"; Information on the book "Hometown Tales."

Focuses on the sales of spiritual fiction in the U.S. as of September 2003. Best-sellers; Popular theme among the best-sellers; Titles to be released in 2004.

Offers a look at the market growth for religious fiction. Programs launched to reach young adults; Book titles dealing with religion and spirituality; Exhibitions on the religious, spiritual and inspirational section of the BookExpo America 2000.

Focuses on books that deal with spirituality. Includes `A God Who Looks Like Me,' by Patricia Lynn Reilly; `Knowing the Voice of God: Discover God's Unique Language for You,' by Diane Eble; `In the Womb of God,' by Celeste Schroeder; `Come to the Feast,' by Marchiene Vroon Rienstra; `The Rosh Hodesh Table: Foods at the New Moon,' by Judith Y. Solomon.

The article reports that the visibility of African-American authors who write Christian-themed stories has increased with the general popularity of the Christian and inspirational fiction genre. It is stated that irrespective of the fact whether the books are published by Christian houses or not, the Christian fiction label turns some readers away from storytellers. According to African American writer Sharon Ewell Foster, there weer cultural challenges when she wrote a historic novel.

The article describes the contribution of book agents to the success of Christian novelists in the U.S. soft market as of March 8, 2010. It observes the growing trend toward brands, niche marketing and romance set in a community of Amish vampires. The importance of an author's platform is explained by several agents like Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary and Dan Raines of Creative Trust Inc. Also noted is the compensation received by agents.

The article focuses on various forms of faith-based fiction in the U.S. No longer limited to prairie romances or nostalgic historical novels, evangelical Christian fiction has became popular and now mirrors general popular fiction in genre choices. Beyond that, the longer tradition of treating religious and spiritual themes in more literary fiction, and from the vantage points of other faiths, has gotten an infusion of energy from the culture's current fixation with religious matters.

The author reflects on the increase of graphic violence in Christian fiction. She states that violence is an increasingly accepted feature of American entertainment, Christian or otherwise. She discusses the potential consequences of depictions of extreme violence in Christian novels.

Questions the worth of various faith fiction book awards. Impact of the award received by the book on its sales; Views of consumers on the awards received by books; Benefits of the recognition received by a book on its author. INSET: Faith Fiction Awards.

Features several religious fiction books. "Living With Fred," by Brad Whittington; "The Silence of John," by D. S. Lliteras; "Lizzie's War," by Tim Farrington.

Introduces a series of articles that examine some of the challenges of publishing and selling faith fiction.

Profiles Christian novelist Jamie Langston Turner. Description of the main characters used by Turner in her stories; Personal background of Turner; Qualities of a good Christian fiction.

Profiles Christian novelist Tim Downs. Description of the protagonist in the novels of Downs; Personal background of Downs; Information on forensic entomology.

Provides information on several religion bestsellers in the United States for June 2000. `Left Behind,' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins; `The Indwelling,' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins; `The Power of a Praying Wife,' by Stormie Omartian.

Features several spiritual fiction books for the fall of 1999. `A Matter of Roses: A Faith Abbey Mystery,' by David Manuel; `Grace at Bender Springs,' by Vinita Hampton Wright; Christian romance in `Whispers From Yesterday,' by Robin Lee Hatcher; `The Quiet Little Woman: A Christmas Story,' by Louisa May Alcott.

Focuses on the growing trend of Americans moving away from commitment to a faith community to a more private spirituality. Findings of the Book Industry Study Group about religion publishing; Status of reader interest in spirituality of the world's religious traditions; Quality of religious fiction.