At the recent Christian Retail Show, the Associated Press discovered that the Amish and vampires are hot Christian fiction categories (From Amish Fiction to Vampire Lit).
Of the Amish craze, one literaray agent said, “If you want to sell it, put a bonnet on it.” Beverly Lewis is credited with starting the trend in 1997 with her book The Shunning, (Bethany House) and the many series she has published since. The second in her Seasons of Grace series is coming this fall:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$13.99 |
| Paperback: |
336 pages |
| Publisher: |
Bethany House – (2009-10) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
0764205722 / 9780764205729 |
|
Prolific author Wanda Brunstetter follows closely behind with several series for Barbour Books. Upcoming is a next title in her new Indiana Cousins series:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$10.97 |
| Paperback: |
304 pages |
| Publisher: |
Barbour Books – (2009-09-01) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
1602600619 / 9781602600614 |
|
In January, Mindy Starns Clark broke away from her Christian gothic mysteries, to publish the Amish-themed Shadows of Lancaster County (Harvest House).
This fall, Nelson introduces The Hearts of Middlefield series:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$14.99 |
| Paperback: |
320 pages |
| Publisher: |
Thomas Nelson – (2009-09-01) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
1595548122 / 9781595548122 |
|
They will also issue a collection of stories for Christmas:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$16.99 |
| Hardcover: |
400 pages |
| Publisher: |
Thomas Nelson – (2009-09-15) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
1595548211 / 9781595548214 |
|
And the second in the Daughters of the Promise series:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$14.99 |
| Paperback: |
352 pages |
| Publisher: |
Thomas Nelson – (2009-09-29) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
1595547207 / 9781595547200 |
|
On the edgier side, the paranormal is making its way into Christian fiction. The AP mentions Eric Wilson’s Jerusalem’s Undead trilogy (Nelson). The second in the series comes out next month:
 |
| Retail Price: |
$14.99 |
| Paperback: |
416 pages |
| Publisher: |
Thomas Nelson – (2009-08-11) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
1595544593 / 9781595544599 |
|
Coming up, Christian chick-lit author Tracey Bateman will take on vampires in Thirsty (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group).
 |
| Retail Price: |
$13.99 |
| Paperback: |
384 pages |
| Publisher: |
WaterBrook Press – (2009-10-06) |
| ISBN / EAN: |
030745715X / 9780307457158 |
|
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July 17th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Wow, I would never have put these words, “Amish” and “Vampire”, in the same sentence… I figured that Vampire and religion go together somehow, but Amish and Vampire… I see no connection.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I think I will stick to the Amish fiction. I am not that big on vampires. People like to read about the Amish because of their simple lifestyles and the forgiveness they extend.
July 19th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
which book combines the two?
August 5th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Wendy, I agree that people like the simplicity and forgiveness of the Amish fiction. For me, life is not simple. I do not want an easy escape. I want to deal with the gritty issues and still find Jesus’ forgiveness in the midst of the darkness. That is the Good News. It’s what you’ll find in the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy.
August 9th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I Love both if written well…for Amish I preferBeverly Lewis and Cindy Woodsmall, but haven’t read all the authors mentioned here. for Vampire, well, come on…Eric is Awesome!
Thirsty is about redemption and finding peace for the heroine. The vampire is a metaphor for addiction as well as a character. But I recognize there will be those who simply don’t choose to go there. I completely respect that choice, Wendy. I’m just glad you’re reading Christian fiction!! :)
September 4th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Wendy, I believe forgiveness extends to even those in the darkest places. That’s why I wrote a vampire trilogy. I admire the Amish simplicity, but we need to show that the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice works in the real world too.