Do you remember the first Christian fiction title that you read? Did you enjoy it? How old were you?
I recall when I first started writing, I was in my twenties and Christian fiction barely existed. I remember hearing about a few Janette Oke titles, but, that was about it. I was actively pursuing publication and since I was unfamiliar with the barely existing Christian market, I didn’t target that genre.
However, I paid a freelance editor to read my work and she asked me if my novel was a Christian book. Funny, although I was not targeting the Christian market, I later realized that’s what I was writing. This freelance editor pointed out that I often referenced prayer, faith and church. She enjoyed my book and gave me some pointers as to how to make my story stronger.
I really didn’t get hooked on the Christian romance genre until the Heartsong Presents book club was created. I was thrilled when I first saw those little books and I eagerly joined the book club. I was introduced to so many wonderful authors through those love stories. It was nice and refreshing to read such chaste, faith-based tales. Harlequin even created their own romance line, Love Inspired. I recall being excited when that line started, too. Years ago, I remember eagerly meeting the Love Inspired and Heartsong Presents editors at conferences, asking them questions about the then-new Christian romance lines.
I thought it was great to see so many choices for faith-filled stories. There’s so many sub-genres within the Christian market – there’s something for everybody, which is a blessing. The market has certainly grown and changed over the last couple of decades. I was just reflecting on that as I glanced through my over-abundant bookshelves.
So, what was the first Christian fiction title that you read? Did you enjoy it? Were you hooked on the genre after that?
Cecelia Dowdy has been an avid reader since she learned to string letters together to form words. While pursuing a business degree in college one of her professors tried to convince her to get an English degree since he felt she was a great writer. Years later, after receiving her BS in Finance, she took her former teacher's advice, and started pursuing her literary career. She loves to read, write, and bake delicious desserts during her spare time. She also loves visiting new places and listening to old tunes with her husband. Currently she resides with her spouse and pre-teen son in Maryland.
For me it was in the 80’s probably around 86/87 and it was a Janette Oke book. I then read all her books she had out at the time (started with the Canadian West Series) Then found June Master Bacher, Jane Peart. We had a small bookshop here which had some fiction but then I would visit the bookshop in the city when I went there. I also found a bigger store Koorong and would buy books either from a catalogue or in the store when I went to another state. I remember going to Perth and I bought so many they sent the books by mail for me only to by mistake send me other books I didn’t order which they paid for the postage to return. It was one of the trips to one of the cities I found Gilbert Morris’s books. I also remember finding the Heartsong presents and at one stage there was a series I think called Promises. Promises (or something similar) they were same size as a Heartsong presents books.
As a teen I did read some Christian fiction The Peggy series by Dorothy Martin would have been around 14 when I started reading and re reading these books.
Great question, Cecelia. :) I believe my first was The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers, which really opened my eyes to how powerful Christian fiction could be. I later read books by Dee Henderson and Camy Tang and enjoyed the different sub-genres they wrote. I love how there are now so many more Christian fiction titles to choose from.
Hi Cecelia, hmm, this has taken me down memory lane!! I remember reading Janette Oke as an early teen, however it was Brock and Bodie Thoene who got me hooked- I remember reading the Zion series over and over again (and still re-read them to this day!) They got me hooked on historical fiction and Christian fiction. Linda Chaikin’s Silk series was another early re-read, and I remember reading Lori Wick early on. I feel blessed as my dad’s cousin was our school librarian, my mum was our church librarian and my godmother was a huge reader who shared her library with me:)
It’s funny, because my husband had a very negative view of Christian fiction when he met me- I have taken it as my personal challenge to introduce him (and now our boys) to awesome Christian books…and he now agrees with me that there are some fantastic ones out there (he will even buy them through audible to listen to- all by himself!!)
Blessings:)
Hi Cecelia! I started reading Christian fiction in high school. Our small town had a Christian book store and I purchased Christy by Catherine Marshall (published 1967). Whenever I had extra funds from my job at the local bakery, I would purchase a book. From the school and public library I borrowed Grace Livingston Hill books. When I married in 1973 I donated my romances to the church library. As a young bride in the 1970s, we lived in Grand Rapids, MI the home of Zondervan Publishers and many Christian book stores. Then in the 1980s we lived in the Chicago area home of Tyndall Publishers. I also read the Zion series. Unfortunately money and time was limited so I only read about one new Christian a month. So much more available today. Best wishes!
I started reading Christian fiction over eight years ago. I was visiting the US after my daughter in law gave birth to premature twins, a boy and a girl. Heartbreakingly our little girl, Lucy only survived for thirteen days but her brother is doing really well, having his eighth birthday last November. The Lord led me to a Christian shop which also sold books and He used the book I bought there to help with the grief and healing. Since then I have been hooked and have sooo many on my kindle app. I love reading all different books – series, romance, mystery, danger, cowboy and pioneer ones etc. Thank you so much for writing!
I started reading Christian fiction in the early 70’s. I don’t remember the first book, but I read a lot of Grace Livingston Hill. I actually read more Christian non-fiction. Have a blessed day.
I can’t remember if the first Christian fiction book was one by Janette Oke or one by Grace Livingston Hill. I started reading both about the same time. So that was 30+ years ago. I have been hooked on Christian fiction since.
I’ve been reading Christian fiction since I was a child. Moody put out several mystery and adventure series back then, like Joy Spartan and Danny Orlis, The first romance I read was Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly. That would have been in early 1980.
This is so interesting! I love seeing these old titles and now I will have to re-visit some and try some for the first time! What is funny, I was a teenager in the late nineties and early 2000’s and I read a lot of the same titles first that others did decades before! Janette Oke, Lori Wick, Jane Peart and Robin Jones Gunn were some of my first authors. I think there was another western, wagon train type series too, but I can’t remember that author at the moment.
I am not sure I could say exactly what was the first CF book that I read, but it very well could have been Love Comes Softly. Besides Janette Oke, Gilbert Morris’s House of Winslow series were my favorite early reads as a teenager.
Oh, and of course, Christy! I plan to reread that soon since it was just republished!
I thought I was the only one who read Danny Orlis! So sad I sold those books at a garage sale years ago. :(
Grace L.H. was my first …I think! So long ago! I love Christian fiction and am an avid reader since retirement!
The first Christian book I read was one given to me by my pastor back in 1975: “Behold a Pale Horse” by Joe Musser. Still have that book! And that book is probably what piqued my interest in Christian fiction, which was sparse at that time. I read the Danny Orlis series (the Christian Hardy Boys) and I loved the John Benton books which were YA spotlighting heavy teen issues. I’m so disappointed I sold all those books years ago. :(
The first Christian romance I read was Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly. Like Wemble, the Zion series got me hooked on Christian fiction in general. Then Lori Wick’s books next for more Christian romance.
My first Christian fiction book was given to me by my Mama’s friend. The author was Grace Livingston Hill. I have been captivated by her stories ever since that day. I collect Grace Livingston Hill books.
My first venture into Christian fiction was reading Grace Livingston Hill.
I am an avid reader and was eclectic in different genres over the years.
In 2014 is when I really stated reading Christian fiction.
My favorite genre is Christian romantic suspense followed closely by Christian romance.
I enjoy your series for the yummy romanes.
I started reading Christian fiction way back in the “dark ages.” :-) When I was in elementary school, I remember the Sugar Creek Gang and the Jungle Doctor series.
I don’t remember the exact title but it was a Grace Livingston Hill book when I was in high school. A family friend gave me a stack of them that had been published many, many years before.
I discover Janette Oke books when I was a library aid in seventh grade. I was hooked! I’ve been reading romance ever since. I subscribed to a couple different book clubs as a young adult. Books are my greatest weakness.
I used to read Christian comics when I was a kid, but I don’t recall reading many Christian children’s books.
My aunt leant me a copy of Christy. It was 1969. Then we moved and I checked out a lot of Eugenia Price from the library. In the ‘80’s I got some Jeannette Oke and Michael Phillips and George MacDonald.
Now I can hardly keep up with new releases from my favorites and new authors!
Great question, Cecelia! I didn’t grow up in a Christian home, so I didn’t knowingly seek out Christian fiction till I discovered the Lord aged 16. I still unknowingly read of lot of Christian fiction, or at least, fiction by Christian authors that included faith elements, starting with the Narnia books aged 11.
After becoming a Christian, I’m pretty sure the first Christian romance I read would have been Christy, followed by the stash of Grace Livingstone Hill books I found in a second-hand bookshop. And now I may need to find new copies and rereda them!
Then after I started my nursing training and moved away from home to somewhere that had a Christian bookstore, I’d visit it at least weekly. I bought mostly non-fiction, as they only had a teensy tiny fiction section! For some reason the Jeanette Oke books didn’t appeal and I never read them, though I did read and enjoy Stephen Lawhead’s fantasy novels. I’m pretty sure contemporary Christian romance didn’t even exist back then!
And then I had too many backslidden years and didn’t look for Christian fiction at all. :(
The first CCR I read wasn’t till 2013, and only because God gave me a poke and told me it was time I came back to Him, and BTW, He wanted me writing for Him, too! So then I found the Heartsong Presents and Love Inspired books. Not easy to obtain the Heartsong in the UK, but I did manage to get a few before they closed the line, which I loved and still love!
Hi Margaret, Dad got one of the Jungle Doctor Books autographed by Paul White. It was an early edition.
I should say as a teen I also read the Narnia books.
I had no idea that there was such a thing as Christian fiction. I suppose the first Christian fiction book I read was In His Steps, but I just considered it fiction.
I used to read juvenile Christian fiction books that my mom got for me when I was a kid. When I was in my teens one of the books she got me was from the High Hurdles series by Lauraine Snelling. I read it and loved it and then started reading Lauraine’s Red River of the North adult Christian fiction series. I have been hooked on Christian fiction ever since.
Hi, Jenny!
I’d read Jane Peart’s historicals. I also recall she was one of the launch author for Love Inspired’s contemporary line. Her novel, The Risk of Loving, is #3 for the Love Inspired line. I also recall your seeing my contemporary romance, Milk Money, in Koorong years ago. I’d never heard of that store until you’d mentioned it! :-)
Thx for commenting!
Hi, Liwenho!
Yes, I’ve read several books by Francine Rivers! Great author! However, I’ve never read The Atonement Child. I need to place that one on my TBR list! Yes, I’m familiar with Dee Henderson and Camy Tang! Both wonderful authors!
Hi, Renate! Yes, the Christian market sure has changed! Actually, I never read Christy or the Grace Livingston Hill books but, I have heard of them – several times. I just never made a point to read them. I’ll need to try and read them sometime. I’ve heard so many great things about those books over the years!
Hi, Carolyn
Such a blessing to find a Christian book to help with your healing! So glad to hear your grandson will be celebrating his eighth birthday soon!
Hi, Lucy
From what I’ve heard and seen, Christian fiction was so rare back then, which is why you probably read more non-fiction. Grace Livingston Hill has been around a long time – from what I heard. I hope you have a blessed day, too!
Hi, Susan
I think Grace Livingston Hill and Janette Oke were one of the first pioneers of Christian fiction! I hope you have a blessed day!
Oh wow, Valerie! I never heard of the Danny Orlis and Joy Spartan series!
Oh yes, Robin Jones Gunn had some YA series that I’d read. I recall meeting her at a conference a couple of decades ago. I’d mentioned how much I enjoyed her work.
Hi, Wemble
I’ve found, over the years, that there are a number of Christians who frown upon Christian fiction. Some have even mentioned to me that fiction was the same as lying and lying is a sin. But, if it’s a story, and it’s fiction – what’s wrong with that? (rhetorical question).
I’ve also found that some are unfamiliar with the term and simply do not know what I’m talking about! It varies by person I guess. So glad your hubby now enjoys the genre!
Hi, Patty
Believe it or not, I’ve never read Gilbert’s series, but, do realize he’s a household name, so, I’ve heard about him over the years! I love myself some Janette Oke books!
Hi, Jackie! Not surprised that GLH was one of your first CF titles!
Wow, Brenda
Never heard of Behold A Pale Horse. I’m certainly not surprised that Christian fiction was sparse back then!
Hi, Melanie! I really enjoyed Love Comes Softly, too!
Hi, I’m not surprised that your first CF book was Grace Livingston Hill! Have a great day!
Hi, Sally
I’m surprised that GLH was one of the first CF books that you read!
Hi, Kimberly
Christian comics? Really? Care to share examples? Only thing that I can think of that’s along those lines are The Adventures in Odyssey?
Thanks for the compliment, Linda! I appreciate it!
Hi, Paula! Not surprised to hear that it’s hard to keep up. Christian fiction has EXPLODED since then!
I don’t really remember what was the first Christian fiction book I read, but it might have been Christy or one of Grace Livingston Hill’s books.
Hi, Autumn
Not surprised to hear that it was hard to obtain the Heartsongs in UK! So glad you found your way back to CF!
HI, Merrillee! Interesting…
Oh, Jessica
I believe the first book I read by Lauraine was a Heartsong Presents title. I believe her career started with HP.
Hi, Becky
Not surprised that it was one of those two authors.
The Chronicles of Narnia when I was in 6th grade. It was a trifecta of education: there was a TV special on, and I remember our minister incorporating it into a sermon around the same time I read it.
Oh goodness I can’t possibly remember the first Christian title I’d read! I think I had discovered some Amish fiction in my local library…probably Beverly Lewis Abram’s Daughter’s series or perhaps Lauriane Snelling’s Red River of the North series…that first introduced me to the Christian fiction world. From there, I wanted to find more, especially in the romantic department. I had read the regular Harlequin romance books, but I just couldn’t stomach the content anymore once I got serious about my walk with the Lord years and years ago. I have no idea how I stumbled upon Love Inspired and Heartsong Presents books but I’m SO glad I did! That changed my world 180 degrees, well at least my reading world anyway. I have since discovered many (thousands?) Christian authors who write in all types of genres and subjects.
So I have to thank both Beverly Lewis and Lauraine Snelling for instilling my love of Christian fiction :-) Not to mention the other early Amish authors I found through them; Janette Oke, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall.
I use to read the comics too. They were Archie ones but a Christian version. Our dentist had them at his office and I use to buy them myself.
I started reading Christian fiction in college when I discovered Robin Jones Gunn’s Glenbrooke series. I also started reading Love Inspired books around the same time (except I think they might have been called something slightly different back then).
I didn’t really get into CF until after I was a mom. Karen Witemeyer is the first author I really got into. SO much so, I wrote a whole blog post on it!
I think the first author I read was Grace Livingston Hill when I was younger. I love the fact that there are so many authors to choose from now and all types of stories! I really enjoy inspirational romantic suspense!
Oh…I have a brain freeze here…I don’t remember the first one, but I know that I’ve started with Karen Kingsbury books!
How interesting. I didn’t know that.
God used the “Left Behind Series” to bring me back to fold. They were the first Christain fictions I read, and I devoured them; I couldn’t read them fast enough.
My story is a long story of salvation as a child then later slopping in the pig pen of life, enjoying all the things I thought were making me happy; a journey through a debilitating illness and finding The Left Behind Series series in a Doubleday Romance Book Club Magazine.
Now, these books are not romance, I believe they were put there expressly for me by my Lord. He spoke to me that day, not in an audible voice, but I got the message: this is the last time I am asking, come back where you belong or you will die. I did, and my life has been so different as I journey through life: happiness, peace, grace, and a community of fellow Christians who encourage. Yes, I am still human with the faults, failures, and flaws non-Christians possess, the difference is I am a Christian who is forgiven.
I started a book review blog reviewing everything and then that small still voice again spoke to me impressing upon me that I needed to stop reviewing erotica, explicit, graphic, and sexually descriptive books because not everyone could do as I did and skip over those parts.
I transitioned to a clean, sweet, inspirational blog in August 2016 and have never looked back.