We present to you our latest podcast episode featuring novelists Eric Wilson and Robin Parrish. Calvin Moore and Jake Chism were along for the ride as we discussed reader expectations within and without the Christian market. We probably ended up with more questions than answers, but nevertheless it made for an intriguing conversation. A special thanks goes out to Eric Wilson and Robin Parrish for their time and their candid discussion. We invite you to weigh in with your comments below or you can send us an email. Enjoy!
(This podcast can also be downloaded from our iTunes page).
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1 Response
Great discussion. Very much enjoyed it. The varying points of view were insightful. Couple of thoughts. I believe it was C.E. who mentioned balancing things that are noble and pure with edgier sometimes more violent fiction. The fundamental problem is we all have different tolerance levels when it comes to what is too violent or too sexual or what exactly is swearing. As readers, I don’t think we can expect an author or publisher to have the exact same ‘limits’ we personally have (which I believe vary by individual). I’ve read several reviews of books I’ve thought were fantastic and well within acceptable violence be hammered as gratuitous blood baths. Same is true with language or sexual content. So I think it’s up to us as readers to take a bit more responsiblity for what we pick up more than expecting the author to attempt to write something to please everyone. A noble goal, but not realistically achieved. It’s also important not to look for offense and to realize that not every book written has to appeal to me personally. I feel sure Karen Kingsbury is a wonderful author. I will never purchase one of her books because her style does not appeal to me and that’s OK. Doesn’t mean her books are not worthy of publication, just not something that interests me. I think it was Eric talking about the Christian market wanting boxes. That’s an accurate statement. There’s room in the market for serial killers and Amish romance. So I find it frustrating that we have wonderful authors struggle for contracts just because they can’t be branded to something that’s a sure seller. Anyway, I could continue for awhile, but will stop there. Great discussion and definitely room for more in the future.
Posted on September 15th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
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