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I've been asked this question more than once.Christian, Inspirational.what's the difference? Though many would consider it one and the same, I'll do my best to differentiate.

Christian fiction is written for a particular audience...the CBA market/readership. Christian fiction focuses on a relationship with God and God is the center of every romantic liaison. It adheres to the guidelines set forth by the CBA publishers and readers. In most instances, those guidelines are very conservative. The CBA wants chaste relationshipsthe emotional side of love without the physical. Some of the guidelines include the heroine never appearing in her nightgown outside of the bedroom, no profanity or even 'substitute' words such as shuck heck and darn. They want little or no reference to a particular denomination, divorce is a no-no, sensuality is very limited and unless it's something the characters struggle with must be done sparsely and very tactfully. Drinking, dancing, and other controversial subjects such as water and Spirit- baptism, women preachers, etc. are also frowned upon. Issues such as abuse and domestic violence are usually only 'hinted at' and if delved into to any degree, must be handled with tremendous care. Even secular houses like Warner and Harlequin who've capitalized on the demand for Christian fiction, adhere to CBA guidelines for their imprints.

Inspirational fiction is written more for those readers out there who are dissatisfied with the typical Christian fiction as well as those turned off by the normal secular romances. It is aimed for readers that like the idea of God/Christ in the books, but want more realistic characters, situations, etc. Though flavored with a bit more sensuality and gritty realism Inspirational fiction still adheres to biblical principles. It is a unique combination of the sensual and the spiritual. Almost anything goes in Inspirational fiction as long as it is done tastefully. If you're putting sex, profanity, or abuse in there simply for shock purposes, stick to secular fiction. Readers of Inspirational fiction want reality not morbidity!

A quick side note: secular fiction is the term associated with the 'no holes barred' guidelines.

Now that we've differentiated between Christian and Inspirational fiction, let's look at a few places to market it.

For Christian Fiction: Tyndale House, Barbour Publishing, Bethany House, River Oak, Steeple Hill (the Inspirational line of Harlequin), Multnomah and Warner Faith

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