CWD Highlights - January to March 2019

Christian Writers Downunder is a diverse group of writers, editors, bloggers, illustrators. As a group we support each other through our facebook page and blog.

Today's blog will highlight some of the achievements of our members from January to March 2019

Awards

Raelene Purtill 

Congratulations Raelene Purtill for winning first prize in the Greenleaf Blossoms Writing Competition (first chapter of unpublished YA novel) with Thursday's Child. 

You can visit Raelene's page here.

Submissions

Jenny Glazebrook

Jenny Glazebrook is excited to announce that Elephant Press offered her a six book deal. 

"Very excited to have signed a new publishing agreement. Elephant House Press will be publishing the 6 books in my Bateman Family Series over the next few years with the first one to be released in December this year."

Jenny's new author page is here. 

New Releases:

Jenny Woolsey - Amy and Phoenix 

Jenny Woolsey was thrilled to launch her latest children's book, Amy and Phoenix

Title - Amy and Phoenix
Author: Jenny Woolsey
Publication date: 2018
Publisher: Pearls of Wisdom Press
Book launch date: 23 February 2019

Blurb:

Eleven-year-old Amy Pringle lives on a farm. She knows all the animals by name and can talk to them like Doctor Doolittle. Amy is looking forward to her favourite ewe, Edna, giving birth. When she sees her dad with his gun, she knows something is wrong.

Amy must think of a way to save Phoenix, the three-legged lamb's life.

After her sister Hannah, posts a video of Phoenix on YouTube and it goes viral, Amy thinks all her problems are solved. Little does she know what is about to happen.

Amy and Phoenix is a heart-warming fantasy story about a caring, strong-willed and determined girl. It explores the themes of disability, advocacy, friendship, farming and agriculture, animal welfare and cyber safety.

Link: http://jennywoolsey.com/Amy-and-Phoenix.php


Bio: Jenny Woolsey is a disabled author and speaker whose passion is for raising awareness and promoting acceptance of difference, diversity and disability.

David Rawlings

David Rawlings debut novel was released last month.

Title: The Baggage Handler

Publication Date: March 5 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Blurb:

When three people take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, their lives change forever. 

A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job.

A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her sister's house before her niece’s wedding.

And a young artist pursuing his father’s dream so he can keep his own alive.

When David, Gillian, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they can’t imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.
In this modern-day parable about the burdens that weigh us down, David Rawlings issues an inspiring invitation to lighten the load.

Other highlights:

• The Baggage Handler has also been signed in Germany and the Netherlands and those language versions will be coming out this year.
• David has also lodged his second novel with Thomas Nelson - The Camera Never Lies. This is due in December.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Baggage-Handler-David-Rawlings/dp/0785224939/

Bio: David Rawlings is a based in South Australia, with a 25-year corporate writing career behind him and stories that look deeper into life in front of him. 

Jeanette O'Hagan - Shadow Crystals

Jeanette O'Hagan  has released the fourth book in the Under the Mountain series.

Title: Shadow Crystals: a novella

Publication Date: March 2019

Publisher: By the Light Books
Blurb:

She will do anything to save her people.

Delvina, Zadeki and the delegation lead by Danel must seek answers from the haughty Vaane, but they find the Lonely Isles in turmoil. Will Delvina find the way to open the Gate in time to prevent her people from starving? Will she be reunited with her twin, Retza. And why are the Forest Folk so secretive? As tensions increase, Delvina must discern friend from foe and defeat the shadows in her own heart.

Join Delvina and her friends on their quest to save the Glittering Realm under the mountain.

Set in the world of Nardva, Shadow Crystals is the fourth novella and penultimate novella in the Under the Mountain series.

Link:  https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07NDQM8LV

Start the journey with Heart of the Mountain https://www.amazon.com.au/Heart-Mountain-short-novella-Under-ebook/dp/B01J74G9I6/

Bio: Jeanette spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs. She has published over forty stories and poems. Jeanette lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Events & Opportunities:

Omega Writers Book Fair

Last month, over 30 authors and a bunch of readers got together for the 2019 Omega Writers Book Fair.  Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children's, Young Adult, Adult, memoirs, biographies, mystery, romance, science fiction and fantasy, self-help books and picture books - it was all on display. Authors were mostly from Brisbane but also came from Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, northern NSW, even Victoria. Readers came from as far away as Emerald. There was certainly a buzz happening as people perused the tables. 

Over thirty people attended the two different workshops - Healing Histories by Anne Hamilton & Writing Life Stories by Ruth Bonetti.  Readings by our authors was also enjoyed in the reading lounge. 

We are looking forward to another Book Fair in March 2020.

News from Toowoomba Omega Writers Chapter

The Toowoomba Chapter of Omega Writers was thrilled to host a workshop by up-and-coming author Jessica Kate on 30 March. 

Jess has landed a multi-book deal with Thomas Nelson in the US. Her debut novel Love and Other Mistakes will be released in July 2019, with her second book A Girl’s Guide to the Outback being released in January 2020. Both are in the romantic comedy genre. 

She shared tips about breaking into the US market, making the most of conferences, writing winning book proposals and maintaining a professional mindset. The nine attendees were really appreciative of her input and effervescent enthusiasm. For more information, please check out her author site: https://jessicakatewriting.com/

Rendered Realms at Supernova Gold Coast

Three CWD members, Jeanette O'Hagan, Lynne Stringer and Adele Jones will be at Supernova Gold Coast from Friday, 12-Sunday14th April.

Other News:

The 2019 CALEB awards are open. 

The 2019 CALEB Award is open for entries. There are three ways you can be involved:

• Entry opportunities
• Judging opportunities
• Sponsorship opportunities

Entries are for the Unpublished & Published prizes can be made here.  Closing date is 30 April, 2019. Check eligibility and enter here.

If you would be interested in applying as a Judge for the CALEB prize apply here.

More information is available either on the Omega Writers website, Christian Writers Downunder website or Australasian Christian Writers website. 

Poetica Christi

Entries to the 2019 Poetica Christi Press Poetry Competition are now open. The theme is Love’s Footprint.

From the Poetica Christie entry form:

This topic lends itself to poems about the multi-faceted nature of love and the many ways love forms and shapes us. Love’s footprint can be found in tenderness, delight, devotion, worship, friendship, affection, attachment, courtship, partnership, marriage, regret, forgiveness, reconciliation, God’s love for us. Love can be found in families; in parenthood, childhood, allegiance, involvement, the hurt of disappointment or the practice of discipline, unconditional love and the imprint of pets.

Details:
Competition is open to poets aged 16 or over, residing in Australia.
Closing date April 30th, 2018.

For more information click here.

Stories for Life

From Stories for Life: 

For the fourth consecutive year, Stories of Life is running a short story competition, seeking out true stories of faith and testimony. Our vision is two-fold: to equip Christians to tell their stories well and to share these stories widely.

To this end, we hold free writing workshops and publish all shortlisted entries in an anthology by Christmas. Some of these stories will also be broadcast on LifeFM in Adelaide. Throughout the year we love to celebrate the writing successes of contributors, past and present, by publishing links to their new books and articles.

We are not looking for devotionals or homilies. Rather, we want stories where something happens to someone (could be you or someone else – with their permission). Stories of faith could be so many things - happy, sad, warm, quirky, funny – the unifying theme will be a loving and faithful God at work among his people.

We hope you will consider sending in a story. The submission deadline is 31 July. We’d love to hear from you.

Toowoomba Retreat

The Toowoomba Writers Retreat is on again in from 7-9 June 2019.

The keynote speaker will be the fabulous Jo-Anne Berthelsen. She'll do two sessions relevant to fiction and non-fiction writers. There will be an Indie Publishing Panel; and lots of free time for writing, networking, brainstorming and soaking up the beautiful surrounds. So pop it in your calendars now. This is a great event, well worth attending.

Omega Writers Conference

This year the Omega Writers Conference with be from 11-13 October.

For more information read here.

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements in start of 2019

Meet Our Members: Raelene Purtill

Each Thursday in 2018 we will be interviewing one of the members of Christian Writers Downunder – to find out a little bit more about them and their writing/editing goals.

Today interview:

Raelene Purtill ( writes as R.A.Purtill)

Question 1: Tells us three things about who you are and where you come from.

I have been married to Steve for 25 years. We have three children in their twenties at home which is in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.

Question 2: Tell us about your writing (or editing/illustrating etc). What do you write and why?

I have written all my life and I’ve written everything – journals, poems, plays, shorts stories, blogs and I’m now dipping my toe into the longer form of the novel. I am drawn to speculative fiction and love the imagination on which these stories thrive. As a Christian, I am aware of something greater, more than just this world and I enjoy the ability for these stories to explore the human condition. But I also like real stories too about real people and while I don’t write them, they are the stories I like to read.

Question 3: Who has read your work? Who would you like to read it?

Nobody and everybody!

Seriously, my editors and mentors and the members of writing/critique groups. My short stories have been selected for anthologies, so I must be doing something right!

Question 4: Tell us something about your process. What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

I like to write longhand in pencil first. This gets it all out of my brain. I also make scrapbooks with images of places and people and things, and research. This is my reference tool. Then I type up what I’ve written – I use Scrivener. I do the following edits in the same document. I don’t keep various versions until I am well into late drafts, then I print them out and work on the hard copy. I share with my writing group before sending it to a professional editor.

My challenges are that in the real world, I care for our son and my creative time is limited. I overcome this by getting up early and making the most of the ‘edge of the day’ as someone has called it.

Question 5: What is your favourite Writing Craft Book and why?

Zen In the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury. He was my first author. He introduced me to sci-fi.

Question 6: If you were to give a shout-out to a CWD author, writer, editor or illustrator – who would they be?

I must acknowledge the input of our Omega chapter members who have nurtured and supported my writing and the lovely Christian editors who have given me advice and feedback. It’s a wonderful community and nice to know we are not only fellow creatives, but sisters in Christ too.

Question 7: What are your writing goals for 2018? How will you achieve them?

I achieved a long-time goal in 2018. I entered and was shortlisted in the CALEB prize for unpublished manuscript with my fantasy story ‘Asteros Rising.’

For 2019 I plan to continue writing my next book. An historical story based around the pearling industry of north Queensland at the time of Federation. Another ambitious project and through which I have had to deal with much Resistance – but at least the house is tidy!!

Question 8: How does your faith impact and shape your writing?

It keeps it clean. I am sure that I could easily slip into worldly thinking and writing if I did not have it. ‘Asteros Rising’ deals with a number of Christian themes: what it is to be human – there are android characters; healing and where the power to do that comes from; people of faith vs those with pagan views.

I pray and journal as part of my writing process.

----

Raelene enjoys all sorts of creative writing and she loves connecting with other writers at conferences, retreats and workshops.

She facilitates a local writing group and is a member of the Writers Anthology Group which produces an annual anthology.

She lives with her long-suffering husband and three millennial offspring in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.

Recent Local Author Meet and Greet

by Raelene Purtill

The Moreton Bay Regional Council was formed in 2008. Until then, it was known as Pine Rivers. The little gallery in our suburb is still called the Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

It was there on Saturday June 24 that the first Moreton Bay Local Author Meet and Greet was held.

Following my recent post (and confession) about being a conference junkie, networking meet ups like this are exactly what I enjoy.

The resident artist at the gallery that week was Marg Bennet. She presented a talk to our gathering on her display called ‘Morning Glory.’ This is the name given to a cloud formation seen in Northern and outback Queensland. Its presence attracts glider pilots who ride the associated winds. As well as Marg’s beautiful textiles, the audio-visual images taken by one such pilot, were the back drop to our writers meeting.

So, among the clouds, children’s author and blogger, Jenny Woolsey hosted the inaugural Author Meet and Greet.

Each writer presented themselves, talked about their work and then we mingled and networked over morning tea.

I have always found the writing community in Brisbane to be friendly and supportive. People genuinely care about each others creative journeys. The numbers present that morning reflected this.

Writers there ranged from aspiring to emerging, from traditionally published to indie or self- published.

Hebrews 10:25 encourages us to not give up meeting together and while this refers to gathering as Christians. I also think writers can be encouraged in the same way. Have you thought about organising one for your area?

This post follows from my own recent ‘Confessions of a Conference Junkie.’

Don’t forget to sign up for the Omega Writers’ Conference in October in Sydney to meet up with their lovely aspiring writers and authors.

From the feedback received, these meetings will continue.

The next Moreton Bay Meet and Greet will be in October.

Contact Jenny at her website jennywoolsey.com

If you would like ideas about hosting one in your suburb, please get in touch.

Images from Raelene Purtill c 2017

Raelene writes as R.A. Purtill.

Raelene enjoys all sorts of creative writing but short stories have been her most successful medium. Her current work in progress is a novel length fantasy/fairy tale with steam punk tendencies and Christian themes.

She facilitates a local writing group and is a member of the Writers Anthology Group, the editorial committee which oversees an annual anthology in the Moreton Bay shire. She loves connecting with other writers through workshops, retreats and seminars.

Her virtual world is a life in the northern suburbs of Brisbane with her very understanding and long-suffering husband and their three young adult children.



You can connect with her at:

Web: rapurtill.com
Facebook: R.A.Purtill – Writer

Omega Writers Book Fair (Brisbane)

Last Saturday, on the northside of Brisbane, over fifty enthusiastic people came together to celebrate books, writing, authors and stories at the first Omega Writers Book Fair. 

Rochelle Manners & Lynne Stringer

We had 16 stalls and over 18 writers and authors - including YA authors Lynne Stringer and Adele Jones; Fantasy authors Lisbeth Klein, Raelene Purtill and Jeanette O'Hagan; middle-grade author Jenny Woolsey; children's author Paul Clark; romance author Andrea Grigg; historical fiction from Frank Taylor, writers of biographies and memoirs such as David Bennett (also theology), Ruth Bonetti, Hazel Barker, Nina Wiesenekker; self-help (on hearing loss) by Pamela Heemskerk; inspirational stories by Graham Bee, Kaye Hollings and Gwen Akers; and devotions from Ray Akers. Rochelle Manners from Wombat Books/Rhiza Press was there with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction for all ages through Books in Stock; and also Nola Passmore from the Write Flourish (editing), poetry and short stories. There were a number of new releases -Lynne's Once Confronted, Adele's Activate, Hazel's Heaven Tempers the Wind, Ruth's Burn My Letters - as well as titles shortlisted in the 2016 Caleb Prize - for instance Too Pretty by Andrea Grigg.

Ruth Bonetti reads from new release Burn My Letters

We also had book teasers and readings - poetry, excerpts from novels, flash fiction and short stories - that brought laughter, tears and enthusiasm to the listeners.

The two workshops - The Power of Story by Paul Clark and The Writing Life by Raelene Purtill - inspired those who participated. 

And then there were the door prizes and the end of day prize draws - with a couple of fantastic book packs - as well as the show bags and a delicious lunch. (You can see more photos of the day here.)

First Prize - Fantastic Book Pack 

Altogether, it was a great day of fun, friendship and enjoyment of books and faith. Many went away with a pile of wonderful books and anticipation of hours of reading pleasure.

It was all made possible by the authors, publishers and editors who came and shared, our workshop presenters, Omega Writers (including President Simon Kennedy and Judy Rogers), and a group of volunteers and offsiders - as well as book lovers and readers who attended. Throughout the planning and on the day itself, we were grateful for God's provision and power, and for those who supported the day in prayer.

Omega President Simon Kennedy with Jeanette O'Hagan

While most of those present came from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, even Gympie - we were thrilled to have Lisbeth and Graham Klein, who are currently travelling around Australia. 

There were a number of people who would  have loved to be with us but were unable either due to distance or to prior commitments or other restraints.

We are thinking of doing it all again next year - and the Toowoomba-rites and inspired to run a Book Fair in Toowoomba.

Overall, it was a good start and well worth the effort of putting it together. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see Omega Writer Book Fairs across Australia - celebrating the writing of Christians downunder :)

Jeanette O'Hagan

Omega Writers Brisbane Book Fair

Image in header courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Almost two years ago the idea of a Christian Book Fair was mooted in a vigorous Facebook discussion - there was a lot of enthusiasm and ideas at the time. Earlier this year, Raelene Purtill and I were chatting. I'd loved the Rivercity Conference which Raelene had organised and I put it to her, why don't we get a Book Fair organised in September. She took up the challenge and, after a chat with Simon Kennedy, we enlisted the help of Omega Writers. Rochelle Manners will also present with Books in Stock as well as a number of authors (Indie or traditionally published).

Our vision is to connect readers with the range of great books available and the talented Christian authors, publishers, booksellers, editors, illustrators and others that make these books possible.

For now the Book Fair is in Brisbane, though we trust and pray that there will be others both in Brisbane and in other locations (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Auckland) in the future. We do appreciate the past efforts of Rochelle in staging previous book fairs, now over a decade ago. We are the beneficiaries of her vision and the vision of other pioneers at Omega Writers, Christians Writers Downunder, FaithWriters and Australasian Christian Writers.  

At the inaugural Omega Writers Brisbane Book Fair - there will be authors, table displays, books for sale, readings, and presentations. We are also pleased to have two fantastic workshops: The Power of Story by pastor, author and radio personality, Paul Clark and The Writing Life by our own Raelene Purtill.

Attendance at the fair is free (or gold coin donation) - but we would love you to sign up on the FB event page and keep up with the updates and tidbits of news.

You will need to pay and register on the Omega webpage, if you want to:

• Host a table display
• Do one or both of the workshops
• Wish to join in the catered lunch with a bunch of crazy - er - fabulous authors.

If you are an author and want your books represented but can't be there on the day, there is an opportunity to make your books available through Books in Stock (contact me to find out more). 

What can you do to help:

• Come to the event - with your family & friends
• Tell others (especially readers) about the Book Fair
• Share this post and/or the FB event - with friends, on your blog or among groups you think might be interested etc
• Give out flyers to friends, groups, churches, schools ...  (flyers available soon)
• Host a table display  
• Register for and attend one or both workshops
• Register for and enjoy the lunch
• Talk to the authors, have you books autographed, enter the competition
• Buy books
• Be a volunteer (we need volunteers for setup, on the day & takedown)
• Pray - even if you can't do anything else we'd love you to pray

While, obviously, not all of us can be there on the day due to distance or prior commitments - you could still supply your books through Books in Stock and/or support the event through prayer and by telling your fans, friends, family, and interested others about the Omega Writers Brisbane Book Fair.

When and Where

Saturday 3rd September 2016

The Hills Church

79 Queens Road,

Everton Hills Qld 

Brisbane

The venue is close to public transport and has plenty of parking (drive past the Op Shop up the top).

Stalls, Show bags, Prizes, Giveaways:

Come and meet a range of authors, booksellers and others related to the book industry. Discover new books for all ages and tastes: picture books, chapter books, young adult, romance, adventure, fantasy and science-fiction, biographies, memoirs, poetry and devotionals.

We will also be having readings and short presentations from different authors, books for sale, show bags, goodies, a competition and two great workshops. 

Admittance for attendees is free - though we would love you to sign up on the Facebook Event page (and share it with others).  You will need to book for workshops, to host a table display or for a catered lunch. Sign up is on the Omega Writers webpage.

Program: 

10.00 am Doors open. Peruse books, chat with authors, listen to readings from stage. 

11.00 am Workshop with Paul Clark (in separate room, until 12.15 pm). Auditorium remains open during workshop.
12.30 pm Auditorium closed for lunch
1.15 pm Doors re-open. Peruse books, chat with authors, listen to readings from stage.
1.45 pm Workshop with Raelene Purtill (in separate room, until 3.00 pm). Auditorium remains open during workshop.
3.15 pm Book fair closes

Workshops:

Morning Workshop: The Power of Story with Paul Clark

Paul Clark’s workshop: The Power of Story – Doing the impossible

Paul Clark loves to find new ways to tell the old, old stories of God’s love. His Car Park Parable series has over 30,000 books in print. His voice can be heard on radio across Australia with his At the Top spots. He has told stories, often using puppets, in schools across Qld, with the Mt Isa School of the Air, Stable on the Strand and Scarborough Lights. He is on the team that organises Qld’s largest Children Ministry Conference – Ignite.

11am-12:14 - at The Hills Church, 79 Queens Road, Everton Park 3rd September
Registrations on the Omega Website

Afternoon Workshop: The Writing Life by Raelene Purtill

Raelene Purtill’s workshop: The Writing Life

What do the weather and housekeeping have to do with the writing?
What sort of writer are you? What does your perfect writing life look like? Raelene will help us reflect on our writing life. Using image prompts, we will consider issues of time management, boundaries and focus and how they affect our practice. We will discuss strategies to overcome these issues. We will explore our relationship to our writing and spend time sharing.

Bring writing instruments of your choice.

Raelene enjoys all sorts of creative writing and she loves connecting with other writers at conferences, retreats and workshops. Having been involved in a variety of writing groups, she now facilitates one in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. She is a member of the Writing Anthology group which produces an annual anthology. Her virtual world consists of a very understanding and long suffering husband and three techno-absorbed teenagers.

1:45 - 3:00 pm - at The Hills Church, 79 Queens Road, Everton Park 3rd September
Registrations on the Omega Website

Links to Follow:

If you would like to register for a workshop or lunch, go to http://www.omegawriters.org/events/omega-writers-brisbane-book-fair/.

If you would like to book a table to promote your book/s, follow this link: http://www.omegawriters.org/events/omega-writers-brisbane-book-fair-table-registration/.

If you are coming to look at books, chat to authors, engage in the workshops, promote your own books - join up to the Facebook Event, follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2029393053953063/

For more information, would like to pray for the event or would be interested in volunteering, please email Jeanette O'Hagan: jenny@ohagan.name

Jeanette is excited about her upcoming launch of Heart of the Mountain this Saturday (30th of this July, 2016)  and the upcoming Omega Writers Brisbane Book Fair.

Jeanette O’Hagan enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. She is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements. Her short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl. She

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master’s in writing. She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life and communicating God’s great love. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

You can find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or on Amazon or on her websites  JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes .

Shoes, Bare Feet and a Christian Book Fair

by Jeanette O'Hagan

You have probably heard the story about the two shoe salesmen sent to Africa in the early 1900's to scout the territory.

      One telegraphed back: "Situation hopeless. Stop. No one wears shoes."

      The other telegraphed: "Glorious business opportunity. Stop. They have no shoes."

Now, I’ve seen a couple of interpretations of this probably apocryphal story – most laud the second salesman for seeing opportunity. Some point out that modern marketing often exploits people by creating a yearning for false and even unhealthy 'needs' (the beauty industry, for instance), while one suggested that salesman A went back to Europe to a lucrative career while salesman B struggled to sell shoes to people who didn’t want them.

Whichever way we look at the story, sometimes I feel that being an Australian or New Zealand Christian author is a little be like trying to sell shoes to barefooted people. We often struggle to interest people in our books.

Why is it so hard?

Now, partly that’s because Australian is a small market. We have a smallish population 22 million compared to 320 million in the US. And, hard as this is understand, not everyone is a reader and, if they are, not everyone reads fiction. A successful book run in Australia is 500 copies.

Then too, the percentage of people who not just vaguely identify themselves as Christian, but are actively involved in their faith in some way, is a much smaller percentage of our already small population – maybe 7-30% (depending on how the measurements are done).

But the problem goes deeper than this – I know many avid Christian readers who aren’t interested in reading ‘Christian’ fiction. They prefer the big name secular titles (yes, mostly US and British authors). Some may have read Christian Fiction in the past and not liked it (it might have been too sanitised or maybe the quality of the writing was the issue or the themes didn’t interest them).  And those who do read Christian fiction tend to read the big US names – Jeanette Oke, Francine Rivers, Dee Hendersen etc. rather than say Mary Hawkins, Meredith Resce, Paula Vince, Carol Preston or Jo-Anne Berthelsen. In part, this is because the big-chain Christian bookstores have often promoted US (& UK) authors and when they stock Aussie Christian authors, those books don’t always sell.  Why – because readers are spoiled for choice and they often don’t want to waste their time on a bad book, so they stick to the authors they know and love or follow the recommendations of friends. So you need to be popular to become popular.

And, to be frank, many of my avid reading friends don’t know about Aussie Christian authors except for the fact that I’ve mentioned them (at which point their eyes begin to roll).

So what do we do?

We can be Salesman (or Saleswoman) A

• We can give up on the Australian market and address our works to the overseas market, such as the UK or USA. But often, these readers may not interested in reading about Australian location or Australian protagonists (this is not always the case of course). And the Christian market in USA has it problems.
• We can aim for the general market in Australia or overseas – though again the gatekeepers in this market may be wary of books with obvious Christian content or may expect certain problematic content (like gratuitous explicit sex scene in some romance titles).
• We can decide that it doesn’t really matter if anyone buys our books, because it's more important that we are obedient to God in writing them.
• We can sell our books to our fellow authors, friends and family; who will enjoy reading them.

 All these can be valid and realistic responses. I’m not critiquing them (in fact, I think there are good arguments for writing 'crossover' fiction or aiming for the general market  – but what I do ask myself is, are there other opportunities we are not seeing? What would Salesman (or woman) B do?

What would Salesman B do?

In other words, how can we give Aussie & NZ Christians greater choice – so that they are aware that there are many good Aussie Christian authors and books available? Which they might enjoy if they knew about them?

I’m thankful for our pioneers – our ‘veteran’ authors who have been writing and publishing for decades, for the writing groups like Omega Writers, Christian Writers Downunder, Faithwriters and Australasian Christian Writers. For Christian publishers who often struggle to stay afloat and have a passion to have books of quality and influence published.  For efforts to get Aussie Christian writers in bookstores or to reach new readers (through Book Fairs, Light the Dark, Books in Stock etc).

One thing I’m sure of is that this is something we can do together – as we promote to our friends and fans not only our own writing, but work of our fellow Australasian authors that we read and enjoy – or think they would enjoy.

By encouraging, promoting and helping each other we ensure that our books are not lonely little pin points of light struggling against the wind of indifference – but a bonfire that is visible for kilometres around.

Here some ideas:

• Taking time to read, enjoy and review Aussie & NZ Christian books
• Give Aussie & NZ Christian books (that you enjoy) as gifts at Christmas or birthdays or as giveaways
• Participating in readers groups like book clubs, Goodreads, reading challenges etc,
• Being active on Goodreads and/or Booklikes – review books, add them to lists, recommend them to friends
• Author talks at schools, libraries, bookclubs – maybe even churches and youth groups?
• Have a book party
• Have a book fair
• Joint ventures like anthologies, boxed sets etc where fans of one author may discover another author to love reading
• Joint book launches

Perhaps you have some other wonderful ideas or stories – I’d love to hear them.

Christian Book Fair

There is one thing that Raelene Purtill and I are planning to do (under the umbrella of Omega Writers). In early September, we will be running a Christian Book Fair in Brisbane – with stalls from authors, booksellers and publishers. Others like editors, illustrators, cartoonists etc. are also welcome. The Fair will be run in conjunction with workshops run by Omega Writers. 

However, our primary focus will be on books and readers – as we aim to reach a wider audience for all our books. We (the organisers) will be promoting the event as wildly and as targeted as we can. However, I think this will be a success if we all own it. The best promotion is word of mouth.  And of course, we appreciate your prayers – for unless the Lord build the house we labour in vain.

The story about the salesmen reminds me of some other scouts - twelve to be exact; ten of whom looked at the giants in the land; two who saw the promise and had faith in God.

More information on the Book Fair coming soon. (And if you live too far away to come to the Book Fair this time round  – maybe this is something you could think of for your own local area :) )

Image source: Jeanette O'Hagan

See also What is Christian Fiction?  and Saints, Seekers and Sleepers or Cecily's Paterson's What is Christian Fiction?

 Jeanette O’Hagan enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. She is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements. Her short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life and communicating God’s great love. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

You can find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or on Amazon or on her websites  JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes .