Who Are Today’s Best Selling Writers of Christian Literature & Fiction?
Christian fiction continues to sell — really sell. And continues to grow in readership.
News headlines such as the recent “California Banning Christian Books” have just served to highlight the phenomenal increase of Christian and Spiritual Literature on local bookshelves and national online stores. And the influence that books of Faith are having on our shattered modern society.
In a deeply spiritual way, these inspirational books, like an old country Church at sunset, are a source of Light in a darkening world.
As I write this, the #1 Christian bestseller on Amazon is THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller, on Kindle. The top seller in paper is MERE CHRISTIANITY by C S Lewis.
In Christian Literature & Fiction, the top best seller in paper is TO THE MOON AND BACK: A Novel by the wonderful Karen Kingsbury.
Also in the Top 20 are THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, Boxed Set by C S Lewis, FULL DISCLOSURE by Dee Henderson, THE WEDDING BOND (A Christian Romance) by Lee Tobin McClain, THE FACE OF THE EARTH by Deborah Raney, THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE by Julie Klassen and THE HIDEAWAY by Lauren K Denton.
For those of us who enjoy — and need — a good story with genuine Christian heart, here are some of my favourites.
Still in print, the 20th Century saw some literary masterworks in the true Christian spirit. J R R Tolkiens’s Hobbits battled dark forces seemingly too powerful to overcome. C S Lewis gave us Aslan the Lion of Narnia. And G K Chesterton wrote about timid Father Brown with his confessor’s knowledge of human frailties and passions.
Other writers of Faith followed to entertain us into the new millennium.
JANETTE OKE. Janette Oke (née Steeves) was born on February 18th, 1935, in the Canadian western community of Champion, Alberta. She grew up on the vast Canadian prairies, steeped in its folkways and history (including the revered history of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police). She also grew up with the independent, conservative values of the time and place, becoming a committed Evangelical Christian. She graduated from the Mountain View Bible College in Canada.
Her first novel was ONCE UPON A SUMMER. Published in 1981 by Bethany House, it was a Christian novel that blended history, romance and faith.
Her second novel was WHEN CALLS THE HEART — the first in her Canadian West Series — and a bestseller. WHEN CALLS THE HEART told the story of teacher Elizabeth Marie Thatcher who arrives from the cultured East and faces a rougher place and culture than she had expected. Her faith is tested. But she meets her Mountie. The novel was a success, and has been adapted into a popular television series.
She’s gone on to sell millions of titles and is considered the originator of modern faith-based Christian fiction. Other titles include A BRIDE FOR DONNIGAN, A QUIET STRENGTH, ANOTHER HOMECOMING and BEYOND THE GATHERING STORM. Recently, Janette returned to the Canadian West with WHERE COURAGE CALLS, WHERE TRUST LIES and WHERE HOPE PREVAILS.
Many of her books are available in boxed sets.
Janette Oke has received the 1992 ECPA President’s Award and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award for her “significant contribution to the Christian book industry.” She has also won both the Gold Medallion Award and the Christy Award for fiction. Janette and her husband, Edward, still live in Alberta, Canada.
FRANK PERETTI. Called “America’s hottest Christian novelist” and “a sanctified Stephen King,” Frank Peritti is a top selling Christian author, with millions of sales.
Born in the Canadian western town of Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1951, Peretti grew up in Seattle, Washington. After a stint of playing banjo in a bluegrass group and studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA, he assisted his father in pastoring an Assembly of God church and began a writing career.
Following his first sale, a fantasy novel entitled THE DOOR IN THE DRAGON’S THROAT, Perretti published THE PRESENT DARKNESS in 1986. Considered the first of the new Christian fictional revival, THE PRESENT DARKNESS has been called his masterpiece and still sells and draws new fans to his published novels. His concept of “Spiritual Warfare” continues to engage readers.
Other literary works include PIERCING THE DARKNESS, PROPHET, THE OATH, HOUSE (coauthored with Ted Dekker) and Frank Peretti’s latest, a trilogy, The Harbingers Series: INVITATION, THE ASSAULT and PROBING.
KAREN KINGSBURY. Born in 1963, Karen Kingsbury lives with her husband, Donald, and six children in the Pacific Northwest state of Washington, close to the Canadian border.
With millions of sales, her series of Christian novels include her Firstborn Series, Redemption Series, Red Glove Series, 911 Series, Women of Faith Series,and her newest, the Sunrise Series. One of her first Faith-based books, DEADLY PRETENDER was made into a CBS Movie-of-the-Week re-titled, “Every Woman’s Dream” for broadcast.
TO THE MOON AND BACK is her latest in the Baxter Family sequence.
Called “the queen of Christian fiction” by TIME Magazine, Karen said, “Fans say that they are closer to God and each other after reading the stories the Lord has given me to write.”
Update: Karen’s newest novel is THE BAXTERS: A Sequel. Soon to be a TV Series. [1]
TERRI BLACKSTOCK. Terri was born in Belleville, Illinois, on Dec 7, 1951.
With over 30 titles published, Christy Award winner Terri Blackstock’s book sales are in the millions. Her Christian fiction novels include LAST LIGHT, Restoration Series #1, DAWN’S LIGHT, Restoration Series #4, the Christy-winning INTERVENTION, and DOWNFALL, Intervention Series #3. Terri’s latest title for 2018 is IF I LIVE.
Terri’s advice for aspiring authors is: “Don’t get it right, get it written. I used to spend weeks writing and rewriting the first three chapters, until I heard this bit of advice. Now I write the first draft without judgment, and rewrite extensively on the subsequent drafts. Just having the book on paper — even if it’s terrible — makes the rest of the job seem easier.”
TED DEKKER. Ted was born in 1962 in the wilderness of Netherlands New Guinea. His parents were Canadian and American missionaries. In an interview, he said, “I grew up in one of the darkest places in the world you can imagine, in the jungle, with cannibals – we’re talking about animism, heavy spiritualism, tremendous amounts of fear. Co-workers of my parents were killed and eaten. By cannibals… ”
Now living in Austin, Texas (with his wife and two of their daughters), Ted Dekker has published over 40 novels. He writes Christian fiction in the Thriller/Suspense genre. With titles on the New York Times Best Seller lists, his novel THE BRIDE COLLECTOR was nominated for a 2011 Christy Award.
Other novels by Ted Dekker include BONEMAN’S DAUGHTERS, ADAM, and, coauthored with Tosca Lee, FORBIDDEN, Books of Mortals Series, #1. His 2018 publications are THE 49TH MYSTIC, and, in October, RISE OF THE MYSTICS.
And here’s the good news for those of us who love Christian fiction: new works are being published every day! Don’t you Love it?
God Bless! – Brian Alan Burhoe
[1] To learn more of Karen Kingsbury’s latest works, go to Karen Kingsbury Home.
Update: Feb 1, 2023
Best Selling Christian Books – Top Must Read Christian Writers
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