Biggest book category may be ‘crowded’ but does much more than take up shelf space

One of the Christian publishing’s most wide-ranging and prolific categories, Christian Living is taking on a grittier edge, symbolized by select New Hope Publishers’ titles tied to a new anti-pornography campaign.

With the campaign launched last month by the Southern Baptist Convention, the “Join One Million Men in the War Against Pornography” series features a booklet, Bible study, DVD and softcover book, Our Hardcover Battle Plan for Wives (June). All are based on material by Jay Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla.

RAW AND REAL

Dennis is in good company exploring difficult topics such as suicide, emotional abuse and maintaining boldness in the face of evil. 

“I do see a trend in the market for authors to be transparent about their lives and having faith in a secular world,” said Dawn Woods, publisher of Christian Living and gift books for B&H Publishing Group.

Among B&H’s new titles is Melissa (June), former SBC President Frank Page’s account of his daughter’s 2009 death at her own hand. And in October, B&H releases Set Free by Stephen Owens, who dealt with decades of unforgiveness after his mother hired a hit man to bludgeon his father to death.

“This story is raw and real,” Woods said of Owens’ account. 

People are looking “to be inspired,” she added, “and the best way to do that is through life experiences.”

Larry Carpenter—president and CEO of Christian Book Services, parent of Carpenter’s Son Publishing—said Christian authors “are starting to go into areas that were previously ‘taboo.’ These include divorce, spousal abuse and others.”

In September, Carpenter’s Son releases A Journal Through Emotional Abuse by Caroline Abbott, a book the CEO says a mainstream Christian publisher wouldn’t have touched a decade ago. Already out is Paula Freeman’s A Place I Didn’t Belong (May), which looks at the sometimes-devastating experiences of adoptive parenting.

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