USA Today reports rise in Religious book sales

That's good news.

Yes, it is. It's interesting, too, in that the mass-market paperback represents (often) the type of book you might find in Wal-Mart--not heavy theology, but inspiration-for-the-common-man--sort of a bridge market, so to speak.

GOOD!

Pat~ said:

Yes, it is. It's interesting, too, in that the mass-market paperback represents (often) the type of book you might find in Wal-Mart--not heavy theology, but inspiration-for-the-common-man--sort of a bridge market, so to speak.

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ANd this is the market i want to write for!!
Yippeeeeeeee!

Kevvers

I wish I could believe it.

Here in Minneapolis - a major metropolitan area - we have one major Christian bookstore. Northwestern Bookstore. They've been closing locations all over due to lack of business. And they aren't a very decent bookstore at that.

We also have only one Christian radio station and it's not a good one.

I find the Christian market here incredibly and excruciatingly sad.

Mass market religious paperback books are projected to increase in sales by 24% from 2004 to 2009

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Just to put this in perspective, a 24% growth over 5 years is about 4.4% per year.

The US population growth is about 1% .. so it is a gowing a little over 3% pa over population.

Mac

Keep in mind that a "mass market paperback" is what was once commonly termed a pocketbook. They're probably seeing an increase in paperback originals, a lot of publishers have started lines recently.

Simple Living said:

I wish I could believe it.

Here in Minneapolis - a major metropolitan area - we have one major Christian bookstore. Northwestern Bookstore. They've been closing locations all over due to lack of business. And they aren't a very decent bookstore at that.

We also have only one Christian radio station and it's not a good one.

I find the Christian market here incredibly and excruciatingly sad.

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I'm really sorry, simple. I live in a fairly suburban area between two major cities and can find at least three Christian bookstores within a twenty minute drive. Also, our B&N and Borders both have large "Inspirational" sections, as do our WalMart and our largest Grocery store. I can get at least six good Christian Radio station signals during my morning drive, two of which are commercial-free. Some weeks, the radio is my church.

I know this state is considered conservative and Christian, for the most part. We're lucky, but my mom has it even better, in Missouri. She's got Christian book stores the size of our warehouse stores!

But with all this good fortune, how come I can't find any Christmas cards I like?

Here's what I want: A nativity scene, something from the old artists, the kind with halos and angels, an Italian-looking Mary and a fat, swaddled baby Jesus. You know, the old masters artsy kind of thing that drives my conservative family wild. They really hate halos, and I think they're just groovy!

And just think how much gold was used painting those halos! I totally agree with the difficulty of getting good Christmas cards. And what about good Christmas ecards? Some of those jingles came as a nasty surprise last year as they blasted out of my old computer's tin can speakers.

And I think Christian books are spreading a bit. I don't remember avowedly Christian novels in the public libraries (of Australia) as a kid, but they're definitely there now.