Christian Fiction

The February Library Journal have an excellent article on the changes in and growth of Christian Fiction. I'd refer you to the print copy, except that the issue has been cannibalized for ordering and recycled. However, here are the links in the article pointing to a variety of resources about CF. The RA sources are of particular use:

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 CF on the Web

 The following online resources will help you see the light, with reviews, author interviews, awards listings, and news.

GENERAL SITES


American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/

Launched in 2000 as the American Christian Romance Writers, the group changed its name in 2004 to reflect better the diversity of its 2000-plus members who write in a variety of genres. It sponsors the Carol Award (see Awards, below) and administers Fiction Finder (www.fictionfinder.com), a site dedicated to connecting readers and CF titles; registration is required, but the site is free.


Christian Fiction Blog christianfiction.blogspot.com

CF author Dee Stewart (A Good Excuse To Be Bad) blogs about a wide variety of genres and authors. Recently, she’s covered Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee, listed her top 20 African American CF titles for 2011, and the 2011 INSPY Award (see below) winners.


Christian Fiction Online Magazine christianfictiononlinemagazine.com

Affiliated with the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (christianfictionblogalliance.com), this online publication offers author interviews and reviews and tips for aspiring CF writers.


FamilyFiction   http://www.familyfiction.com/

This comprehensive CF resource includes news, interviews, and information about current and forthcoming book, comics, and movie/DVD titles for adults and children, broken down by genre. Readers can sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter, or download the free bimonthly digital magazine, which covers Amish fiction, historical fiction, romance, contemporary, women’s fiction, and children’s books. Starting with the February/March 2012 issue, a spin-off, FamilyFiction Edge, will focus on the latest in Christian suspense, speculative fiction, and YA/teen fiction.


Overbooked.com: A Resource for Readers http://www.overbooked.com/

This site, started and run by librarian Ann Chambers Theis, covers all genres of fiction, including CF, with rosters of publishers, booksellers, authors, reading lists, and starred reviews. It won the 2008 Louis Shores-Greenwood Publishing Group Award for excellence in book reviewing and other media for librarians.
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LITERARY AWARDS

Carol Awards www.acfw.com/carol

Originally the Book of the Year Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers, the award was renamed in 2010 in honor of longtime editor Carol Johnson, who acquired Janette Oke for Bethany House in 1979. The award is given for the best CF published in the previous calendar year in a variety of genres.



Christy Awards http://www.christyawards.com/

Named after the title character in Catherine Marshall’s CF classic novel, the award was established in 1999 to recognize excellence in CF in a variety of genres.


ECPA Christian Book Awards ChristianBookAwards.com

Presented by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and given annually since 1978, this prize (formerly known as the Gold Medallion Book Award) honors the best of Christian publishing in seven categories, including fiction.



INSPY Awards inspys.com

Established in 2010, this “Bloggers Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature” judges books published for the CF and general markets as long as faith is a key component.

RUSA 2012 Book & Media Winners

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) celebrated the best in adult reading and reference at the Midwinter Book and Media Awards on January 22, 2012 in Dallas.


The Reading List for top genre fiction
The Notable Books list for oustanding fiction, non-fiction and poetry
The inaugural Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration
The Sophie Brody Medal for achievement in Jewish literature
The Dartmouth Medal for most outstanding reference work of the year
Outstanding Reference Sources, honoring the top reference publications

Clean Teen Reads

I posted this on the teen blog last week, and am duplicating it here because Becky had a reference question about the topic last night. These sites address mainstream middle grade and young adult novels that do not have what I call "content." That is, teen books people can read without being surprised by words, actions, and situations that they find inappropriate. The sites were originally compiled by librarians on the YALSA-BK listserv, and I selected the ones I thought were most helpful. Of course, it's not a guarantee that no one will get offended anyway, but at least it's a starting point!

Common Sense Media
This website compiles age ratings and reviews on books, movies, video games and more.

Homespun Light
This blog lists "clean reads" for everyone from babies through high school. Click on the links to the right to search specific genres or levels.

Lamplighter Award
This is an award program that engages middle school students to read and vote on "wholesome and uplifting mainstream books." See this year's list and download their lists from previous years.

Marshall District Library's Clean Reads List
An annotated list for teens of " books that don't offend."

Books that Don't Make You Blush
A list of "clean reads" assembled YALSA in 2006.