As I write this, the number one 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 best seller on paper is TO THE MOON AND BACK by the wonderful Karen Kingsbury.
Also in the Top 20 are THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, boxed by CS Lewis, FULL DISCLOSURE by Dee Henderson, THE WEDDING BOND by Lee Tobin McClain, THE FACE OF THE EARTH by Deborah Raney, THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE by Julie Klassen and THE HIDEAWAY 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, steeped in its customs and history. He graduated from Mountain View Bible College.
His first novel was ÉRASE UN VERANO. Published in 1981 by Bethany House, it was a Christian novel that mixed history, romance, and faith.
Janette’s second novel was WHEN CALLING THE HEART, the first in her Canadian West Series, and a best-seller. WHEN CALLS THE HEART told the story of teacher Elizabeth Marie Thatcher, who comes from the cult of the East and faces a more difficult place and culture than she bargained for. 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 faith-based Christian fiction. Recently, Janette returned to western Canada with WHERE COURAGE CALLS, WHERE CONFIDENCE LIES and WHERE HOPE PREVAILS.
Janette Oke received the 1992 ECPA President’s Award and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award for her “significant contribution to the Christian book industry.” He has 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 one of the best-selling Christian authors, with millions of sales.
Born in 1951, Peretti grew up in Seattle. After playing the banjo in a bluegrass group and studying English, screenwriting, and film at UCLA, he helped his father pastor an Assembly of God church and began a career as a writer.
Perretti published THE PRESENT DARKNESS in 1986. Considered the first of the new fictional Christian 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 attract 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, her titles include REDEMPTION, A TIME TO DANCE, REMEMBER, OCEANS APART, and SUNSET.
TO THE MOON AND BACK is her latest novel.
Called “the queen of Christian fiction” by TIME magazine, Karen said: “Fans say they are closer to God and to 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 titles published, Terri Blackstock’s book sales are in the millions. His fictional Christian novels include LAST LIGHT, DAWN’S LIGHT, DOWNFALL, and Christy’s winning INTERVENTION. Terri’s latest title for 2018 is IF I LIVE.
Terri’s advice for aspiring authors is, “Don’t get it right, get it written. I used to spend weeks writing and rewriting the first three chapters, until I heard this little advice.”
TED DEKKER. Ted was born in 1962 in the desert of Dutch 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 are talking about animism, heavy spiritualism, tremendous amounts of fear. My parents were killed and eaten. By cannibals. … “
Now living with his family in Austin, Texas, Ted has published more than 40 novels. Write Christian fiction in the Thriller / Suspense genre. With titles on the New York Times Best Seller lists, his novel THE BRIDE COLLECTOR was nominated for a Christy Award in 2011.
His 2018 publications 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 published every day!
