How to Write a Christian Novel Built to Last!

Every time I pick up my Bible, I am reminded that each word-each line-was written thousands of years ago, yet, here I am again, reading it and gaining insight and wisdom with each passage. It motivates me to challenge even the best authors to raise the bar and demand that your novel hold that same excellence that the God inspired word holds. After all, the Bible was penned by many authors, yet the inspiration of God is what allows it to last throughout centuries and still maintain relevance. Why can't we expect that our novels have the same meaning- if they are, in fact, touched by God? Why can't we write with such authority and wisdom that publishers in the future are still setting their presses to print what's written now and readers will still be talking about novels written today? It shouldn't be a pie-in-the-sky dream. It should be such a reality that anything written with less-than-staying power falls short. The standard should be novels written with relevance and wisdom and timely truths that reach into the future generations of our great, great, grandchildren.

Nothing but the inspiration of God can provoke such a novel, but there have been books written on the importance of spiritual content. Here are a few recommendations for embedding spiritual truths and strengthening Christian content:


Thinking about writing an inspirational novel, but don't know where to begin? Here's help! Your favorite authors offer tips on brainstorming, approaching tough topics, crafting a story, and marketing a book; and explain what makes fiction "Christian." Contributors include Jerry Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Randy Alcorn, Colleen Coble, Angela Hunt, and many others.

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 250
Vendor: Tyndale House
Publication Date: November 1, 2009
Dimensions: 9.00 X 6.00 (inches)
ISBN: 1414329946
ISBN-13: 9781414329949


Writing for the Christian-fiction market has its benefits. One generally doesn't need an agent to get one's manuscript considered. Though the quality of Christian fiction has improved greatly in the past decade or so, publishers are still willing to take a chance on a newcomer. And most Christian publishing houses are small, making the publishing process a warmer, more personal experience. But be forewarned. Christian, or evangelical, fiction isn't just about characters who "pray, preach and sing gospel songs," says Penelope J. Stokes. It's about "living, breathing spiritual beings who grapple with the hard questions of life and find ... hope in the reality of God's presence in the world." Stokes has edited (and written) Christian fiction for 15 years; her Complete Guide to Writing & Selling the Christian Novel is a fantastic resource for the writer of Christian fiction.

In addition to providing advice from which any fiction writer would benefit, Stokes does a fine job of defining Christian fiction. It is, she says, first and foremost fiction. It is not sermonizing. It is not about saving lost souls ("Rarely," she says, "does a religious novel find an audience among the unconverted"). It best not be full of religious jargon or Bible-quoting zealots. Still, it must have "a distinctly religious viewpoint, usually marked by the personal conversion of one or more characters." And just because, as a believer, you see your writing as a gift and a calling, don't think for a minute that your work is beyond revision. "Creation is not the end of the process," says Stokes. "It's the beginning. In the image of our Creator, we continue the work of ongoing re-creation. We revise, refine, reorganize and rewrite. And at the end of the day we, too, can rest and say, 'It is good.'" --Jane Steinberg

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (July 15, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0898798108
ISBN-13: 978-0898798104
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches


Here is the book to help you move from beginning writer to professional. This practical text on the fine art of writing is designed to encourage you to develop your God-given talent. Along with the theoretical aspects of writing, the reader is provided in-depth writing assignments to practice their craft. Perfect for classroom or individual study.

Eleven comprehensive chapters and ten appendices discuss nearly every element of the writing process.


Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: ACW Press; 2 Revised edition (December 1, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 189252516X
ISBN-13: 978-1892525161
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches


The best-selling author of the Left Behind series offers a personal handbook of inspiration, advice, anecdotes, and practical techniques for prospective writers, discussing the essential skills and abilities required to build a writing career, how to work with an editor, how to create a query or proposal, and more. 45,000 first printing.

Hardcover: 250 pages
Publisher: Writers Digest Books (August 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582974179
ISBN-13: 978-1582974170
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches

It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards

I originally got this book from the library to use as a reading book for home school, but quickly realized the material spanned so many aspects of creation and to such an in depth degree, I had to own it. Needless to say, I bought it to use as a text and reference book.

If you are a Christian parent, one of the challenges you face is disputing the Theory of Evolution that winds its way into your child's education at one point or another. One of the great aspects of home schooling is that I can teach my child everything and every subject based on God and his plan for our life. The cycle of life works hand in hand with nature and its elements, and those are not independent from God. This balance is due to the order God created-not as a by product. If you don't home school, your child will learn the opposite, nature dominated the beginning of this world and although the beginning was chaotic, the life cycle came to rest in perfect order, unity and in one accord with all forms of life. There was no plan in the beginning. There was no purpose-we just got lucky that the dust settled in a superior manner.

I don't know about you but the thought that I am a superior form of a monkey is humorous and insulting at the same time. Evolutionism has failed to answer questions regarding our evolution from an ape-why do we have artistic abilities and can reason at a higher level than our predecessors? If The Theory of Evolution is the answer, why aren't we still evolving? Why did we stop when the human form took shape?

Perhaps you have questions, too. It Couldn't Just Happen is a great tool in answering questions you have or those your children will no doubt be asking. Covering such topics as:

*evolution and the Theory of Evolution are two separate things
*Why Darwinism is now being questioned even by evolutionists
*The one question evolutionists can never explain
*Why mutualism and symbiosis can't be explained by evolutionists
*Dinosaurs, the flood, asteroids and other cataclysms

I love this book not only because it is written from a Christian stand point, but because it is not working from a religious foundation. It's not from a Catholic, Presbyterian or Muslim belief system. It operates off of the fact that God existed before us, created our universe and everything in it, and through this order created a perfect dwelling place for every form of life. Using the Bible as a reputable resource is not a religious idea, either, as the Bible is a reliable, historically correct document based on scientific evidence.

Here's the Proof-It Couldn't Just Happen is a must read for every Christian parent and should be table conversation for every Christian family. The belief that we were created is not a theory but a time tested factual and historically accurate event. Here's the proof.

Pub. Date: April 1989
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: Hard/soft cover 191pp
ISBN-13: 9780849907159
ISBN: 0849907152
Age Range: 7 to 12

Alabastron-A Story of Mary Magdalene by Judith Goulding

Simon the Zealot disapproves of Mary Magdalene. He considers her too worldly---and she thinks he's an overbearing brute. The one thing they have in common is their passionate commitment as followers of Christ. When Mary collapses after Jesus' crucifixion, Simon seeks her out. Will their shared grief draw them together in love?

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bridge Logos Publishers (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0882709836
ISBN-13: 978-0882709833
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches

Request a Copy!

Starting today, you may notice a note stating Request a Copy at the end of new release announcements or reviews. This means I will be giving away the review copy of this book to the first to comment that they are interested or the first to send an email to me stating the same. I love to not only mention great books, but to pass them on and place them in the hands of potential readers.

Although this is something I will be starting today, please feel free to ask for previously mentioned books as I have a huge library containing books that have been reviewed.

Marys World is constantly looking for ways to provide great books to Christian readers. This is an on going effort to connect talented and inspiring authors with the reader! A big thank you in advance to the publishers that send review copies to me, that subsequently get passed on to you, the reader!

Fun Fall Tour!! Three Must-Read Fall Novels!

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

Tamara Leigh has been writing since 1994. Leigh’s first novel, Warrior Bride, was followed by six more best-selling, award-winning romances in the general market. Her inspirational Chick-Lit debut, Stealing Adda, was published in 2006 to great critical acclaim. Her twelve novels include Faking Grace; Splitting Harriet, an American Christian Fiction Writers "Book of the Year" winner and RITA Award finalist; and Perfecting Kate. She holds a master’s degree in speech and language pathology, is a stay at home mom, and lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and sons.

Order Leaving Carolina Here

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books (September 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601421664
ISBN-13: 978-1601421661
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
Request A Copy


Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.

Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

Order Limelight Here

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400070821
ISBN-13: 978-1400070824
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
Request a Copy


Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.

To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

Order What Matters Most Here

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books (September 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601421192
ISBN-13: 978-1601421197
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
Request a Copy

Note: All three books were provided by Multnomah/Waterbrook for review purposes.

Touched By God by Evelyn Geisler

I happened to pick up Touched by God on a day when I was under the weather, overwhelmed, and stressed. Ever been there? The sub title to the book reads “A devotional for mental illness”. I was curious how Geisler would categorize and explain mental illness, but in fact, it’s not that kind of self help manual. She understands-much to the relief of the reader-what mental illness is. There are no complicated explanations or typical psycho-babble present as you read through the prayers and/or devotions.

Separated into sections for Diagnosis, Treatment, Challenges, Helps, Successes, and prayers for family and friends, Geisler leads the reader through the journey of discovering something isn’t quite right, through the complex process of determining the right course of treatment, and to the finish line of feeling normal again. As a pharmacist and certified diabetes educator, Geisler received hands on training as she and her parents have previously suffered major depression. She brings this knowledge to Touched by God with an assuring tone that allows the reader to admit there is a problem and then realize that it is ok because God is still in control.

What is mental illness? At the core of each person experiencing mental illness is the instability that they have lost control-and that can be down right scary. Whether suffering from depression, post-partum psychosis, or bi-polar illness, the feeling of being out of control can lend a bigger challenge than the illness itself. Yet, on a day when I was not suffering from a mental illness but still feeling a lack of control over my situations, I found a peace and reassurance that no matter what, God is still in control. That fact alone could bring comfort to a loved one who is afflicted. Along with medication, a network of support and Geisler’s devotional, you can be confident you or your loved one will be armed to handle the crisis in the best way possible.

We all suffer from the ill effects of life in one way or another. Do not let the sub-title fool you. Jobless? Battling a health crisis? Mental illness? Depressed? Family situations? Although Touched by God is geared toward those going through a mental illness, Geisler's devotions bring hope and faith for anyone experiencing a low in their own life. Complete with a section for setting monthly goals and diet and budget troubleshooting, this is one devotional that packs surprising results in a short book.

It’s easy to feel isolated, abandoned and alone when fighting a mental or emotional illness. What a refreshing experience to be reminded that our feelings are wrong, and that …because of (Gods) great compassion, (he) did not abandon (us) in the desert. (Nehemiah 9:19)

Paperback: 108 pages
Publisher: Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing (July 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414114338
ISBN-13: 978-1414114330
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
Request a Copy

NOTE-Touched by God was provided by WinePress/Pleasent Word Publishing for review purposes.

I Know Why The Angels Dance by Bryan Davis

When atheist psychology professor Phil Grayson loses his only child to disease, he's furious at John Hanson's attempt to console him based on his daughter's deathbed conversion to Christ. While Phil seems blind to the truth, John struggles to grasp the concept of "weeping with those who weep." Can another remarkable child bring them together?

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: AMG Publishers (August 10, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0899578403
ISBN-13: 978-0899578408
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches

Wisdom Hunter and Shadow Government

Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.

And it is about to cost him everything.

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death

Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe. Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Purchase Wisdom Hunter here

Format: Trade Paperback, 336 pages
On Sale: September 20, 2003
ISBN: 978-1-59052-259-2 (1-59052-259-1)
Request a Copy


Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.
Purchase Shadow Government Here

Format: Trade Paperback, 240 pages
On Sale: October 6, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7442-6 (1-4000-7442-8)
Request a Copy

Note: Both Wisdom Hunter and Shadow Government were provided by Multnomah/Waterbrook for review purposes.