Readers' Corner - Inspirational Fiction | Athens Regional Library System

What is Inspirational Fiction?

Inspirational fiction includes both Christian fiction and stories with characters and themes that focus on faiths other than Christianity.

They are often "gentle reads" in that they usually don't contain strong language, excessive violence or sexuality, or profanity, but can cover a wide range from gentle reads to apocalyptic tales of cosmic good struggling with cosmic evil.

Values are a strong component of inspirational fiction, and stories are often upbeat and positive. Bodie & Brock Thoene, Jan Karon, and Gilbert & Lynn Morris are typical of the genre.

Recent expansion of titles available has led to subgenres: general or mainstream, biblical and allegorical, fantasy/science fiction, historical, mystery, suspense, romance, and westerns.

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Award Winners

Christy Awards
"The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall's novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read!" Categories include Comtemporary, Fantasy, Futuristic, Historical, Romance, Supense, and First Novel.

Gold Medallion
"Gold Medallion Book Awards, established in 1978, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Gold Medallion Book Awards are among the most prestigious in the industry."

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Films

ChristianCinema.com
"ChristianCinema.com brings Christian movie makers together to give exposure to their film projects." Locate hard to find titles such as Oke's Love Comes Softly Trilogy and LaHaye and Jenkins' Left Behind Collection.

Christy
Based on the Catherine Marshall series.

Narnia
Official site for the movie based on the C. S. Lewis novels.

Screen It!
Want to know just how appropriate a movie is for your child? Screen It! will tell you how much and which profanity was used; if the cast are role models; what weapons does a movie have, etc... A great resource for parents.

Thr3e.
Based on the novel by Ted Dekker.

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Georgia Authors

Julie Cannon
An interview with the author by Joyce Dixon from Southern Scribe.

Sue Monk Kidd
Sign up for the Sue Monk Kidd e-newsletter.

Eugenia Price
"Typically, she immersed herself in the national power struggles that set the backdrop for her immensely popular historical novels, particularly the Civil War period, while keenly following our current political frontlines."

Patricia Sprinkle
Information about upcoming events and seminars. Ms. Sprinkle would love to hear your opinions about her "work in progress."

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Athens Regional Library Systems' Staff Recommendations

General Fiction

Doctorow, E L - Sweet land stories
Kingsbury, Karen - Even now
Lewis, Beverly - The preacher's daughter
Palmer, Catherine - Prairie Rose
Wiesel, Elie - Celebrating Elie Wiesel : stories, essays, reflections

Fantasy/Science Fiction Authors

Dekker, Ted - Black
Jenkins, Jerry - Soon : the beginning of the end, a novel
LaHaye, Tim - Glorious appearing : the end of days
Matheson, Richard - What dreams may come
Seddon, Andrew - Red planet rising

Biblical & Allegorical Authors

Cannon, James - Apostle Paul : a novel of the man who brought Christianity to the Western world
Cunningham, Elizabeth - Daughter of the shining isles
Girzone, Joseph - Joshua in a troubled world
Holmes, Marjorie - Two from Galilee
Ricci, Nino - Testament

Historical Fiction Authors

Cavanaugh, Jack - Dear enemy
Hatcher, Robin Lee - Loving Libby
Hunt, Angela Elwell - Charles Towne
Karon, Jan - At home in Mitford
Kirkpatrick, Jane - A sweetness to the soul

Romance Authors

Chopra, Deepak - The Daughters of Joy
Henderson, Dee - True devotion
Kidd, Sue Monk - The mermaid chair
Lewis, Beverly - The preacher's daughter
Oke, Janette - Love comes softly

Mystery/Suspense Authors

Dekker, Ted - Red
Hoff, B. J. - Masquerade
Kok, Marilyn - Heaven's song
Morris, Alan - Tracks of deceit
Sprinkle, Patricia - Death of a Dunwoody matron

Western Authors

Marshall, Catherine - Christy
Morris, Gilbert & Lynn - The homeplace
Rivers, Francine - The scarlet thread
Thoene, Bodie & Brock - In my father's house
Wick, Lori - Every little thing about you

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Featured Genre: Inspirational Fiction What is Inspirational Fiction? Award Winners Films Based on Inspirational Novels Georgia Authors Library Staff Recommendations
What is Inspirational Fiction? Inspirational fiction includes both Christian fiction and stories with characters and themes that focus on faiths other than Christianity. They are often "gentle reads" in that they usually don't contain strong language, excessive violence or sexuality, or profanity, but can cover a wide range from gentle reads to apocalyptic tales of cosmic good struggling with cosmic evil. Values are a strong component of inspirational fiction, and stories are often upbeat and positive. Bodie & Brock Thoene, Jan Karon, and Gilbert & Lynn Morris are typical of the genre. Recent expansion of titles available has led to subgenres: general or mainstream, biblical and allegorical, fantasy/science fiction, historical, mystery, suspense, romance, and westerns. return to top Award Winners Christy Awards "The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall's novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read!" Categories include Comtemporary, Fantasy, Futuristic, Historical, Romance, Supense, and First Novel. Gold Medallion "Gold Medallion Book Awards, established in 1978, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Gold Medallion Book Awards are among the most prestigious in the industry." return to top Films ChristianCinema.com "ChristianCinema.com brings Christian movie makers together to give exposure to their film projects." Locate hard to find titles such as Oke's Love Comes Softly Trilogy and LaHaye and Jenkins' Left Behind Collection. Christy Based on the Catherine Marshall series. Narnia Official site for the movie based on the C. S. Lewis novels. Screen It! Want to know just how appropriate a movie is for your child? Screen It! will tell you how much and which profanity was used; if the cast are role models; what weapons does a movie have, etc... A great resource for parents. Thr3e. Based on the novel by Ted Dekker. return to top Georgia Authors Julie Cannon An interview with the author by Joyce Dixon from Southern Scribe. Sue Monk Kidd Sign up for the Sue Monk Kidd e-newsletter. Eugenia Price "Typically, she immersed herself in the national power struggles that set the backdrop for her immensely popular historical novels, particularly the Civil War period, while keenly following our current political frontlines." Patricia Sprinkle Information about upcoming events and seminars. Ms. Sprinkle would love to hear your opinions about her "work in progress." return to top Athens Regional Library Systems' Staff Recommendations General Fiction Doctorow, E L - Sweet land stories Kingsbury, Karen - Even now Lewis, Beverly - The preacher's daughter Palmer, Catherine - Prairie Rose Wiesel, Elie - Celebrating Elie Wiesel : stories, essays, reflections Fantasy/Science Fiction Authors Dekker, Ted - Black Jenkins, Jerry - Soon : the beginning of the end, a novel LaHaye, Tim - Glorious appearing : the end of days Matheson, Richard - What dreams may come Seddon, Andrew - Red planet rising Biblical & Allegorical Authors Cannon, James - Apostle Paul : a novel of the man who brought Christianity to the Western world Cunningham, Elizabeth - Daughter of the shining isles Girzone, Joseph - Joshua in a troubled world Holmes, Marjorie - Two from Galilee Ricci, Nino - Testament Historical Fiction Authors Cavanaugh, Jack - Dear enemy Hatcher, Robin Lee - Loving Libby Hunt, Angela Elwell - Charles Towne Karon, Jan - At home in Mitford Kirkpatrick, Jane - A sweetness to the soul Romance Authors Chopra, Deepak - The Daughters of Joy Henderson, Dee - True devotion Kidd, Sue Monk - The mermaid chair Lewis, Beverly - The preacher's daughter Oke, Janette - Love comes softly Mystery/Suspense Authors Dekker, Ted - Red Hoff, B. J. - Masquerade Kok, Marilyn - Heaven's song Morris, Alan - Tracks of deceit Sprinkle, Patricia - Death of a Dunwoody matron Western Authors Marshall, Catherine - Christy Morris, Gilbert & Lynn - The homeplace Rivers, Francine - The scarlet thread Thoene, Bodie & Brock - In my father's house Wick, Lori - Every little thing about you return to top

Past Features

Inspirational Fiction

What is Inspirational Fiction?

Award Winners

Films

Georgia Authors

Athens Regional Library Systems' Staff Recommendations