(Kathryn Lively is the award-winning author of Catholic mystery novels Saints Preserve Us (Wings, 2003), Pray for Us Sinners (forthcoming from Wings, 2005) and Pithed (forthcoming from Mundania Press, 2004). She is also the author of a forthcoming children's book about Blessed Miguel Pro. Excerpts of her fiction are available here.)
“Michelle” is Catholic and an avid reader of romance fiction, has been for many years, and is constantly on the lookout for more titles. Finding such fiction reflecting the Catholic Faith, however, has proven a difficult task for her. “Most Christian romances are [Evangelical] and are often a disappointment to me as a romance fan because they’re so darn preachy,” she says of the books she has read.
Dawn Pell is not only a fan of romance fiction, but aspires to publish a novel of her own. Currently drafting a manuscript called Brother’s Keeper (billed as a ‘Catholic romance’), Pell is eager to “read only those [books] that reflect my values.”
“I also want to enjoy reading about legitimate love,” Pell adds, “without putting myself into the danger of falling into sin of thought.”
Indeed, there is very little risk of impure thoughts for readers with the growing number of Christian romance novels available. In October, 2002, Marla Lehner of the FOX News Channel reported of the growing trend of “romance without sex,” stories of chaste heroes and heroines (or, in the case of married characters, fidelity) unafraid and unashamed to exhibit their Christian faith in situations where it is challenged.
Christian romance novels are visibly available at Christian and secular bookstores alike. Author Jan Karon has enjoyed success with a series of books set in fictional Mitford, North Carolina, published by Random House, stories that have featured the romantic courtship of an Episcopalian priest, Father Tim, and a children’s book author who eventually becomes his wife.
Aspiring writers of Christian romance have the option of joining the American Christian Romance Writers organization or the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of the Romance Writers Association, which caters to Christian authors. Through such organizations, writers may network with one another, critique manuscripts, and gain valuable knowledge with regards to dealing with agents, editors, and publishers.
Given the wealth of Christian romance stories available for fans of this genre from publishers like Tyndale House and Bethany House, readers like Michelle and Dawn may wonder if manuscripts for Catholic-specific romances are lost in “slush piles.” These manuscripts are delivered to publishers and agents yet seldom considered, perhaps never to be read by the public.
Author Penelope Marzec nurtured similar worries when shopping Sea of Hope (Awe Struck, 2001). Set in the backdrop of a port town, Sea of Hope features a heroine whose priest uncle encourages her to make a conscious return to the Faith. This renewal of faith worked well in conjunction with the heroine’s renewal of trust as she falls in love.
Despite winning a contest for unpublished manuscripts and praise from various publishers, Marzec initially could not find her book a home.
“I found my attempts to be published by the print publishers to be very, very discouraging,” said Marzec of her experience. “After I sent out a manuscript, I often had to wait a year or more for its return. Becoming the client of a good New York agent only meant that I got my rejections faster.”
Marzec’s luck changed after devoting time to research smaller, independent publishers utilizing non-traditional methods of book publishing — namely electronic book and print-on-demand (POD) techniques. Electronic books, or e-books, are books made available in a variety of formats to be read on computer screens or on handheld devices such as the Palm Pilot or Pocket PC. Many publishers, as with their print books, will assign ISBN numbers to e-books so that they may be made available through bookstores and Internet outlets like Amazon.com and fictionwise.com.
Marzec’s novel, Sea of Hope, eventually found a home with Kathryn Awe’s Awe-Struck E-Books company and went on to win awards from various writing organizations. A second Catholic-flavored romance, Heaven’s Blue, is due from Marzec by the same publisher later this year, and the author could not be happier, given that such smaller publishers are more open to non-mainstream works, including Catholic romance.
“Trying to write my stories to suit the guidelines of many of the Christian publishing houses just hasn't worked for me, my Catholicism always creeps in someplace,” said Marzec. “It seems that in an effort to embrace most of the Christian denominations, Christian publishing houses do not allow for the mention of many of the Catholic traditions.”
Marzec is not the only author opting for the smaller, less mainstream publisher. Nancy Brandt recently published her first novel, Fabric of Faith with Wings ePress, Inc. The story concerns a recently widowed doctor, often absent from the home, finding difficulty in relating to his teenaged children. Through the reluctant intervention of a devout fabric shop owner, Brandt’s hero comes not only to stitch his family back together, but is also able to move forward with a new love and new appreciation for God.
A convert to the Faith, Brandt strives to write stories that reflect her beliefs. “I think the Catholic experience is so rich and full that it is a shame not to express it,” Brandt said. “Someone told me once that she thought it would be a wonderful ‘love scene’ to have a man and a woman pray a rosary together.”
In Rosina LaFlata’s novel, Sweet Temptation, the heroine engages in a weekly chess game with her parish priest. “Father can never beat her until she meets her man,” LaFlata says of her book, which is also available from Wings ePress, Inc. “He encourages her to continue seeing him so that he can win more games. The story has no explicit sex.”
Jeannine Van Eperen’s Hearts in ¾ Time, published by Port Town Publishing, features characters who attend and teach in Catholic schools. “Having attended Catholic schools myself, I guess I can't help but have my books reflect this in some manner,” said Van Eperen.
Though smaller publishers are open to specific genres like Catholic romance, visibility as compared to Christian romances by larger publishers is an issue. With smaller publishers the onus is largely on the author to market the work, yet word-of-mouth and success in romance novel competitions, as with Marzec’s awards, are helping to give authors of Catholic-flavored romance notice. Still, these authors are optimistic that their voices will be heard, and that more readers like Michelle and Dawn will find them.
“As a reader, I don't look for a lot of preaching in a Catholic romance,” says LaFlata. “I just look for the people to show high values and to teach by example.”
