Where do I belong?

If you can take a no-punches-pulled crit, try Steve Laube. Um, check first to see if he reps NF. I'm not sure if he offers reasons on queries--I met him as a writers' conference and he read my first chapter. He passed on my fic, and gave me a detailed crit on everything that wasn't working. Augh, yanno? But he was spot-on with 99% of it.

Terry Whalin, too--but he's big on form letters, so if he passes you might not know why.

First, don't make the mistake that many new writers do in thinking you are reinventing the wheel. Books like yours exist and they are published by a variety of publishers. That doesn't mean your take won't be of interest, in fact in publishing fresh takes on done subjects are pretty much what they are seeking.

Get yourself to a big box bookstore with a decent size religious section and do your research to see where your book would fit (if you don't have one in your town make a business trip to a place where they do have one - in my experience Barnes and Nobel has a better section like this than Borders, BooksaMillion tended to have a decent Christian section but not a wide variety - mostly the big name authors/bestsellers) - since its nonfic you will want to include some examples of books that are in the same order as yours (but don't call yourself the next <insert name of bestselling author here>) just say, as you have here, that this is where your books fits, in line with x,y and Z.

Then get the agent hunt on - see what kind of responses you get and if they aren't what you want, adapt. Even Christian publishing is a business, treat it like one (and agents are business people, so you might want to shelve the idea that your book will 'get them in trouble' that's just not a professional attitude. Agents will make their decisions based on your ability to write, the material and their own standards and contacts, they do not cower at the idea of someone getting them in trouble, they may, however, find your conclusion indefensible or unconvincing in their own minds and pass) and there are plenty of agent who rep both Christian and secular work.

The thing about writing is that the work is never done - keep pressing on!

annie jones

Woodsie said:

I have a couple questions concerning my manuscript. Feel free to ask any questions that would help you help me.

1) Where would it fit in the market?
a) non-fiction/"memoir/bible study" as an agent once described it
b) I start out by telling the reader about myself: my coming to Jesus story, so that when I tell them about my moral failure, they stand a better chance to understand how devastated I was. I go on to explain the avenues I chose to seek help: Christian friends/religion section of the bookstore, and how I found nothing but condemnation and doubts relating to the authenticity of my faith. I, then, chose to write a book to make a case for the very essence of the the gospel found in the Bible. I address how devastating other Christians can be to their fallen 'brothers' and how the very Jesus that they're trying to make a stand for is actually standing up for the sinner that they oppose.
c) conservative/traditional Christians will most likely be jarred/shocked to read such a direct message against 'religion' in practice vs. practicing what they claim to believe. So, the traditional market for Christian books (those who just want to see the world through rose-colored glasses if you can excuse my horrible use of the cliche') will see this as controversial.
d) it's not an anti-bible/anti-Jesus book, but overwhelmingly the opposite. I use too many Bible scriptures to count because I don't want to be held responsible for my wild notions about grace.
e) in short (after you've already read all of the above ) it doesn't fit the typical sugar sweet Christian market because it's raw and real. It doesn't fit in the non-Christian market because of its abundant use of Bible quotes and it's assumption that the reader has moderate knowledge of and belief in the Christian faith.

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I think you're incorrect in assuming that the Christian market is all "sugar sweet". Take Girl Meets God for example. The author was very open with her struggles, including the way she pretty much found it impossible to go without sex. In addition a lot of Christians don't live by religion anymore...The creation of the "super church" has led to relaxed attitudes about strict codes of religion, and centered the focus on the Bible's teachings instead. I think the population you're expecting to shock, won't be shocked. I grew up going to one of the "super churches" and I've moved on to another one closer to home. The only time I've seen the kind of intolerance you speak of is when I visit small, rigidly formal churches.
So in conclusion I don't think you'll have a very difficult time finding an agent willing to represent you.

I think you'll find that Alive Communications (Steve Laube's firm) states in their website that they only take submissions from published authors, those they've met at conferences, and those recommended by their clients. Left me out too.

I'm always confused when I here people saying they oppose "religion." What's religion? Practices and rituals that have been tested for centuries because they bring people closer to God?

Take the rule of St Benedict. Maybe praying the hours isn't your thing, but many, many Christians find it a helpful practice.

Is the Lord's Supper "religion?" After all, Jesus commanded the disciples to "Do this in rememberance of me." (I could go into a long treatise on the Paschal lamb, but won't.)

Is meditation "religion." Are prayers "religion?" Is walking a labyrinth "religion?"

I recently explained to my grandson how much happier our dog is because he's been trained and knows how to behave. His alternative is wandering the streets as a stray and eating out of garbage cans. We're a bit like the dog. We seek to elevate our spiritual side...mind, soul, heart...whatever, but our physical side keeps intruding. Combining the spiritual with the physical through motions, actions, responsive prayer, etc. allows us to put our whole selves into the worship of God.

In terms of traditions and rituals, the Jews had them aplenty. Did Jesus wear phylacteries when he prayed? I've seen paintings in Christian stores of him in a tallit...did he wear one when he prayed? Did he follow the ritual of feasts and fasts? Did he make the required pilgrimages to the Temple? Did he recite the Shema upon waking? Did he face in the direction of the Temple when he did? When he greeted the disciples after his resurrection, he used the standard form of greeting, "Shalom Aleichem" (Peace be unto you.) He didn't say "How's it goin' dudes?"

Early Christianity borrowed many of its rituals from Judaism and created new ones. Paul and John both refer to rituals in worship. There was never a time when Christians didn't have "religion." When I hear that phrase, I worry we're talking about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Disclaimer: IMHO.

Steve Laube closed his own agency and went to Alive?? When??

His listing on the ACFE conference website says he's still with the Steve Laube Agency.

Oops. My mistake. I had a brain fart and confused Steve Laube with Rick Christian.

maggieuc said:

I think you're incorrect in assuming that the Christian market is all "sugar sweet"....I think the population you're expecting to shock, won't be shocked.

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Furthermore, maybe I'm generalizing, but for those who gravitate to (or are led to) the sugary-sweet right-wing fundamentalist stuff, I don't think you'll get much of an audience. Many of these folks get their reading recommendations from their pastor or some other group at church, so if your book's too counter to their culture, it won't even be on their radar. When it comes to non-fiction, strongly religious folks tend not to read outside of their beliefs, so don't worry so much about changing/challenging these folks. Your book seems more suited to those who are frustrated with some of the contradictions to the Gospel we see in today's church, and I would imagine this audience may be growing.

I wish you the best with this worthy effort!

You might also want to give Chip MacGregor a query. I met him last year and he's quite the edgy type, in the best way of course. He likes things "out of the box" and he's repped both fic and nonfic.

My $0.02.

Randy Ingermanson just did an interview role-play on his blog with Chip. Here's the link.