As I write this, the #1 Christian bestseller on Amazon is THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE by Timothy Keller, on Kindle. The best seller on paper is MERE CHRISTIANITY by CS Lewis.
In Christian Literature & Fiction, the biggest print bestseller is TO THE MOON AND BACK by the wonderful Karen Kingsbury.
Also in the Top 20 are THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, box set by CS 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 HIDEOUT by Lauren K Denton.
For those of you who enjoy, and are looking for, a good story with a genuine Christian heart, here are some of my favorite authors on today’s top Christian book lists.
JANETTE OKE. Janette Oke was born in 1935 in Champion, Alberta. She grew up in the vast Canadian prairies, immersed in its customs and history. She graduated from Mountain View Bible College.
His first novel was ONCE UPON A SUMMER. Published in 1981 by Bethany House, it was a Christian novel that blended history, romance, and faith.
Janette’s second novel was WHEN THE HEART CALLS, the first in her Canadian West series, and a bestseller. WHEN THE HEART CALLS told the story of teacher Elizabeth Marie Thatcher who comes from the educated East and faces a harsher place and culture than she expected. The novel was a success and has been adapted into a popular television series.
She has sold millions of titles and is considered the creator of modern Christian faith-based fiction. Janette recently returned to Western Canada with WHERE COURAGE CALLS, WHERE TRUST LIES and WHERE HOPE PREVAILS.
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 also won 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 most popular Christian novelist” and “a sanctified Stephen King,” Frank Peritti is a best-selling Christian author, with millions of sales.
Born in 1951, Peretti grew up in Seattle. After playing banjo in a bluegrass band and studying English, screenwriting and film at UCLA, he helped his father pastor an Assembly of God church and began a writing career.
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 attracts new fans to his published novels. His concept of “Spiritual Warfare” continues to captivate readers.
Frank Peretti’s latest titles are in his Harbingers series: INVITATION, THE ASSUALT and PROBING.
KAREN KINGSBURY. Born in 1963, Karen Kingsbury lives with her husband, Donald, and six children in Washington state.
With millions of sales, his titles include REDEMPTION, A TIME TO DANCE, REMEMBER, OCEANS APART and SUNSET.
TO THE MOON AND BACK is his latest novel.
Called “the queen of Christian fiction” by TIME magazine, Karen said, “Fans say they are closer to God and each other after reading the stories the Lord has given me to write.”
TERRI BLACKSTOCK. Terri was born in Belleville, Illinois, in 1951.
With over 30 published titles, Terri Blackstock’s book sales are in the millions. Her Christian fiction novels include LAST LIGHT, DAWN’S LIGHT, DOWNFALL and Christy’s award-winning INTERVENTION. Terri’s latest title for 2018 is IF I LIVE.
Terri’s advice to aspiring authors is, “Don’t do it right, write it. I used to spend weeks writing and rewriting the first three chapters, until I heard this little piece of advice.”
TED DEKKER. Ted was born in 1962 in the desert of Holland 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 devoured by cannibals…”
Now living with his family in Austin, Texas, Ted has published more than 40 novels. He writes Christian fiction in the Thriller/Suspense genre. With titles on the New York Times bestseller lists, his novel THE BRIDE COLLECTOR was nominated for a 2011 Christy Award.
His 2018 releases are THE 49TH MYSTIC and 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!