FaithWords launches new fiction series from Dr. James Dobson adding to his book-publishing legacy

Marriage and family are James Dobson’s bread and butter—always have been. He believes so strongly in fighting for family values that when he left the family empire he grew from scratch, he launched another similarly oriented ministry, Family Talk. This devotion—this calling—has also moved him to write, from peer-reviewed publications to trade books to, now, works of fiction. 

Yes, Dobson believes strongly in the power of story. As it turns out, the FaithWords series he is writing with co-author Kurt Bruner—Fatherless (January, see Book News in this issue), Childless (September) and Godless (May 2014)—develops around the themes of married life versus free love, the value of family and the nature of godless politics. 

“I was approached by my longtime friend, Joey Paul, about the idea of publishing fiction with Faith Words/Hachette,” Dobson said. “It was Joey who suggested I produce a film series in the late 1970s called ‘Focus on the Family’ (separate from the ministry). That series was seen by over 80 million people worldwide. Obviously, he has pretty good instincts for what might be helpful to Christian people.”

Dobson’s nonfiction works include The Strong-Willed Child, Bringing Up Boys and its counterpart for girls, and his books have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. However, readers haven’t seen Dobson write fiction before, but he has always believed in it, as can be seen from the support of his Focus on the Family organization for “Adventures in Odyssey,” a radio show for children that has grown into a significant brand for Christian retailers.

“This is my first novel, but not my first foray into fiction,” he told Christian Retailing. “I have always believed in the power of narratives to influence thought and shape the spiritual imagination. While with Focus on the Family, I challenged the team to create a radio drama series called ‘Adventures in Odyssey.’ My co-author, Kurt Bruner, led that team for several years and oversaw a wide range of story-driven productions such as the Radio Theatre adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia and Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. We couldn’t be more excited about the potential of this new trilogy to embody themes on which I have been writing, speaking and broadcasting for decades.”

His fiction series will only add to his publishing legacy.

“Dr. Dobson has been a powerful force in Christian publishing for decades and I’m sure he will make further contributions through his new fiction series with FaithWords,” said Mark Kuyper, president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. “It will be exciting to see him explore a new genre to deliver his message of hope and spiritual health for families.”

Dobson has seen his books released by many a publisher, most prominently Tyndale House Publishers. 

In 2005, Tyndale also released Family Man, an authorized biography by Dale Buss, who set out to write with “a “balanced perspective and the analysis of a journalist” and find Dobson’s place in history, he said in a Tyndale video. 

“He has a particular passion for families, for children and for the unborn, for people who are innocent, and that has driven much of what he has done over the years,” Buss said. 

While the hardcover is out of print, Tyndale is updating the e-book edition for release in March.

Harvest House Publishers also played a role early in Dobson’s writing career. 

“It can be said of Harvest House, to a large degree, that we were born out of the vision my father, Bob Hawkins Sr., founder of Harvest House, had for launching the writing careers of a number of significant communicators when he was with Tyndale House in the late 1960s,” said Bob Hawkins Jr. “Of course, men such as Dr. James Dobson and Tim LaHaye went on to become highly successful authors following the release of their first books, and so I personally feel a special connection to their legacies through my father’s work.  Upon my father’s death a few years ago, Dr. Dobson told me that my dad had suggested the title, Dare to Discipline, for his first book. That meant a lot to me, and still does, as I know this particular book has been used by God to impact millions of families across the globe!”

Hawkins said Harvest House was “grateful” to have the opportunity to reintroduce two out-of-print Dobson devotionals in one volume, Dr. Dobson’s Handbook on Family Advice, and a gift book by Shirley Dobson and daughter Danae, Welcome to our Table.  

“Though there are not any current plans to publish more books by the Dobsons, I can gratefully say it has been a wonderful privilege to tie together the Dobson family early days with their present family legacy, especially in view of our own family connection to theirs,” Hawkins added.

Dobson’s best-selling books brought readers to retail for more help with their marriages, raising children and simply learning how to live the Christian life. His expertise as a psychologist may be what drove moms and dads to need his advice, but his empathy as a father himself no doubt helped as he offered examples from his own life as Shirley and he raised two children. Daughter and best-selling author Danae has written 23 books in total, while brother Ryan also has written books, including one he is currently writing to accompany the final film of the “Building a Family Legacy” series, of which he was associate producer. 

“We are a noisy family of ‘talkers’ and writers,” said Dobson, who appreciates the “vital service” of Christian retailers.   “It is a blessing to partner with them in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“The Christian retail industry has given authors like me a platform for more than four decades,” he added. “My journey as a widely read writer started with the release of Dare to Discipline in 1970. The impact of that book exceeded my wildest expectations, thanks, in large part, to the support of Christian retailers.”

Dobson is also working on a nonfiction book that will release in conjunction with his new video series next fall.

“The original film series, ‘Focus on the Family,’ was addressed to a generation of young parents living in the 1980s,” he said. “I attempted to teach them biblical principles of marriage and parenthood. This new series, coming along 35 years later, is intended for their grandchildren, who are largely unfamiliar with the family advice that had such a significant influence on their grandparents. Stated another way, Focus was the first ‘bookend’ of my professional work. This new series, ‘Building a Family Legacy,’ is the second ‘bookend.’ It restates and extends the fundamentals of family life for a new generation of parents. I am very excited about it.”

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