Catholic Fiction

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OGormanRB

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As a new author, I’ve searched for venues dedicated to contemporary Catholic fiction. I’ve been blessed that Peter Mongeau launched Tuscany Press (and plans to publish my novel DANGER, CORAZON this summer). Check out the winner of the 2012 Tuscany Prize, THE BOOK OF JOTHAM, the story of a mentally challenged young man who encounters a charismatic rabbi. It’s a moving account of the passion and resurrection from a unique point of view. I’d be interested to receive other recommendations of contemporary fiction in a variety of genres, but all faithful to the magisterium.
 
I suppose I should shamelessly plug my novel, First Unseen, now available via the publisher. It should be on Amazon and other mass-market channels beginning May 28, 2013.

My book is a sort of suspense, mystery with some “demonic” activity. I actually corresponded with Fr. Gary Thomas, the exorcist on whom the movie The Rite was based. His advice was very valuable and contributed to helping me with this book.

I encourage anyone who wants to see more books with pro-Catholic characters or themes to investigate books like these and other good Catholic books out there.
:o
 
All of Michael D O’Brien’s books are fantastic, I especially liked - Islands of The World .
 
I wrote a Catholic fiction book as well…Well, actually I’m not entirely finished (I thought I was until recently.) Please pray that all goes well as I want this book to get out into the world and really inspire people, or at least one person. If it manages to inspire at least one person (in the right direction of course) than it will have been well-worth writing (although I did enjoy writing it.:))
 
ChibiViolet said:
I wrote a Catholic fiction book as well…Well, actually I’m not entirely finished (I thought I was until recently.) Please pray that all goes well as I want this book to get out into the world and really inspire people, or at least one person. If it manages to inspire at least one person (in the right direction of course) than it will have been well-worth writing (although I did enjoy writing it.:))
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Tell me what your book is about. 🙂
 
I’m encouraged to see interest in this thread.
Marco Polo – I’ve ordered my FIRST UNSEEN
LatinGirl – Also ordered THE MISADVENTURES of CARDINAL FRATELLI
Reep – Downloaded THE LAST FISHERMAN
I’ll post a short review as I finish each.
Chibiviolet: keep writing never quit. Read, Study, Write and have faith.
Georget, thanks for recommendation. I’m going to look for an O’Brien book.

I know from of a number of years of searching that it is difficult to find an agent/publisher interested in fiction that is faithful to Catholic teaching. I have found so much support from other writers as I have started down this path, but I relish the opportunity to communicate with writers from a similar faith background.

God bless, Ron O’Gorman
 
OGormanRB said:
I’m encouraged to see interest in this thread.
Marco Polo – I’ve ordered my FIRST UNSEEN
LatinGirl – Also ordered THE MISADVENTURES of CARDINAL FRATELLI
Reep – Downloaded THE LAST FISHERMAN
I’ll post a short review as I finish each.
Chibiviolet: keep writing never quit. Read, Study, Write and have faith.
Georget, thanks for recommendation. I’m going to look for an O’Brien book.

I know from of a number of years of searching that it is difficult to find an agent/publisher interested in fiction that is faithful to Catholic teaching. I have found so much support from other writers as I have started down this path, but I relish the opportunity to communicate with writers from a similar faith background.

God bless, Ron O’Gorman
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Thanks so much. I appreciate anyone who buys Catholic fiction because it is an under-served market. It will help open doors for more, I hope!! :o

p.s. Let us know when your book is done!
 
OGormanRB said:
As a new author, I’ve searched for venues dedicated to contemporary Catholic fiction. I’ve been blessed that Peter Mongeau launched Tuscany Press (and plans to publish my novel DANGER, CORAZON this summer). Check out the winner of the 2012 Tuscany Prize, THE BOOK OF JOTHAM, the story of a mentally challenged young man who encounters a charismatic rabbi. It’s a moving account of the passion and resurrection from a unique point of view. I’d be interested to receive other recommendations of contemporary fiction in a variety of genres, but all faithful to the magisterium.
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I’m interested in what you mean by fiction being “faithful to the magisterium.” I realize you’re speaking specifically about the Catholic fiction market. However, I’ve always only seen two kinds of fiction: good and bad. 😃

This is not intended to start an argument, but I really don’t see fiction as a place where theology and behavior must be clean and perfect. I understood you have a specific audience and topic in mind, but it seems to me that good literature need not limit itself to certain audiences. Probably 95% of good Anglophone literature has been written by non-Catholics, or has religion-neutral or non-Catholic themes in it. I see literature more as a place where writers can explore all the problems and vagaries of the human condition. Because we are sinful, good literature is often going to portray sin in all its vulgar glory. It’s going to have sex in it :eek:, awful murders, vulgarities, deep passionately sinful behavior. Without even thinking about it, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Hawthorne come immediately to mind: all great writers, none concerned whatsoever about the Church’s teachings. They wrote about the human condition, and did it ridiculously well, and they did in ways that were uplifting to the human spirit. You would never say their work was notin agreement with the Magisterium.

Thanks for hearing me out. I’m genuinely interested in what you as Catholic writers have to say. 👍
 
OGormanRB said:
I’m encouraged to see interest in this thread.
Marco Polo – I’ve ordered my FIRST UNSEEN
LatinGirl – Also ordered THE MISADVENTURES of CARDINAL FRATELLI
Reep – Downloaded THE LAST FISHERMAN
I’ll post a short review as I finish each.
Chibiviolet: keep writing never quit. Read, Study, Write and have faith.
Georget, thanks for recommendation. I’m going to look for an O’Brien book.

I know from of a number of years of searching that it is difficult to find an agent/publisher interested in fiction that is faithful to Catholic teaching. I have found so much support from other writers as I have started down this path, but I relish the opportunity to communicate with writers from a similar faith background.

God bless, Ron O’Gorman
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Well, thanks! Drop me a note and tell me how you liked The Last Fisherman
 
thunderboom said:
I’m interested in what you mean by fiction being “faithful to the magisterium.” I realize you’re speaking specifically about the Catholic fiction market. However, I’ve always only seen two kinds of fiction: good and bad. 😃

This is not intended to start an argument, but I really don’t see fiction as a place where theology and behavior must be clean and perfect. I understood you have a specific audience and topic in mind, but it seems to me that good literature need not limit itself to certain audiences. Probably 95% of good Anglophone literature has been written by non-Catholics, or has religion-neutral or non-Catholic themes in it. I see literature more as a place where writers can explore all the problems and vagaries of the human condition. Because we are sinful, good literature is often going to portray sin in all its vulgar glory. It’s going to have sex in it :eek:, awful murders, vulgarities, deep passionately sinful behavior. Without even thinking about it, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Hawthorne come immediately to mind: all great writers, none concerned whatsoever about the Church’s teachings. They wrote about the human condition, and did it ridiculously well, and they did in ways that were uplifting to the human spirit. You would never say their work was notin agreement with the Magisterium.

Thanks for hearing me out. I’m genuinely interested in what you as Catholic writers have to say. 👍
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Stories like Da Vinci Code or ones where women become Pope, I presume, are one which attempt to write as fact things that are false.
 
Thunderboom,
I was interested in your post #10…
This is not intended to start an argument, but I really don’t see fiction as a place where theology and behavior must be clean and perfect. I understood you have a specific audience and topic in mind, but it seems to me that good literature need not limit itself to certain audiences. Probably 95% of good Anglophone literature has been written by non-Catholics, or has religion-neutral or non-Catholic themes in it. I see literature more as a place where writers can explore all the problems and vagaries of the human condition. Because we are sinful, good literature is often going to portray sin in all its vulgar glory. It’s going to have sex in it , awful murders, vulgarities, deep passionately sinful behavior. Without even thinking about it, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Hawthorne come immediately to mind: all great writers, none concerned whatsoever about the Church’s teachings. They wrote about the human condition, and did it ridiculously well, and they did in ways that were uplifting to the human spirit. You would never say their work was notin agreement with the Magisterium.
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Thanks for hearing me out. I’m genuinely interested in what you as Catholic writers have to say.
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I agree that Catholic doctrine should not be promulgated in fiction ( if that’s what you said? ) and that Catholic writers should show Catholics in real world situations ( if that’s what you said? ) so as to give a good example and uplift the human spirits ( if that’s what you said? ) .

I have done all this with my own book. ( Yes, I wrote a book too. Didn’t everybody? 😃 )
I’m currently searching for a literary agent. If I don’t get a response by July I’ll go the KINDLE route to get the story out there in case I die suddenly and the book is lost.

The storyline is very complicated. I’ll list some points:
  1. Title: Empress Theresa
  2. Time: the present
  3. Setting: Framingham, Mass, Boston College, the South Atlantic, England, West Point, New York City, North Korea.
  4. Main character: Theresa Elizabeth Sullivan ( Hartley )
  5. Genre: young adult. Theresa is ten in chapter one, sixteen in chapter two, and 18 to 19 for the rest of the book.
  6. Theresa is Catholic. She has simple ambitions. She just wants to be a high school math teacher, but because of events not her doing, she becomes the most important person in the world. Who she is and what kind of person she is becomes critically important to everybody.
  7. The book contains no religious dogma, but Theresa clearly believes in God. When she thinks she’s going to die in a few minutes she says a mental prayer: “Father, forgive me for all my sins. Take me into your house forever.” Then she goes off to ‘certain death’.
  8. The closest the book gets to giving religious ideas is this statement given by her priest Father Donoughty when reporters ask him to comment on Theresa’s character:
Code: 
  “Let’s hear atheists explain a miracle like Theresa!  She is a very bright girl but she has a simple personality.  She knows there is evil in the world.  It doesn’t affect her.  She has simple needs.  She doesn’t seek what is not hers.  She accepts what God gives her.  She has borne a great burden for eight years with no complaints.  She is the sanest person I know.  We will see if a good girl with no unreasonable ambitions can do good in the world. Someone who wants to do God’s will has an unconquerable ally.  Theresa can’t be defeated.  I have hope she succeeds.  I have hope she is a benevolent power.  I hope.”
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Code: 
           (  Theresa narrates ............ )
Code: 
  How many people noticed Father Donoughty’s statement didn’t identify my religion?  I learned something from him.  **Don’t try too hard selling your agenda and you will sell your agenda. **  :eek:  If I wanted to lead the world I would do it by waiting for people to ask me to lead.
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Amen, Theresa! 👍

One of my favorite movies is The Robe, starring Richard Burton. The final scene in Caligula’s throne room was great.
I have the book. My mother bought it sixty years ago. It was written by a Methodist Minister. It’s full of Protestant style preaching and scenes related to it. The movie wisely dropped all this and concentrated on the politics. ( The movie also greatly enhanced the scene in Caligula’s throneroom. The book version was flat. The movie also added the capture of the slave Demetrius and his rescue from Caligula’s palace. So what did the book have? Don’t ask! )
 
empther said:
Marco Polo,

Nightmarish claims about Tate Publishing… 😦

consumeraffairs.com/misc/tate_publishing.html
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My experience with them has not thus far been bad. Some of those claims are strange - they didn’t edit the person’s book? They edited mine. So what if I also went through it? I think people think a publisher is going to magically do it all for them because they paid money upfront. Plus, if their book sells 1000 copies, they get the upfront payment back. But I didn’t see any of those complainants mention that. They also get a TV or radio or web ad with the book, which is probably alone close to the cost of the retainer. They also do all the mass distribution work with national outlets and said advertisement. I think the complainants exaggerate or didn’t think it through beforehand. The Tate contract is pretty explicit before you ever sign.
 
thunderboom,
My experience with them has not thus far been bad.
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Er…:confused: ok.

Do you have control of the ebooks or does Tate have their hands on that too?

Looks to me like they have control.
Unless otherwise noted, all eBooks are in the PDF format which is compatible with most eBook readers including Sony Reader, Nook, Kindle 2, iPad, and iPhone 4.
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Do KINDLE and Nook customers buy $10.99 ebooks in PDF format? I doubt it.

Seems like most of the Amazon KINDLE books are priced in the five to six dollar range.
 
thunderboom said:
I’m interested in what you mean by fiction being “faithful to the magisterium.” I realize you’re speaking specifically about the Catholic fiction market. However, I’ve always only seen two kinds of fiction: good and bad. 😃

This is not intended to start an argument, but I really don’t see fiction as a place where theology and behavior must be clean and perfect. I understood you have a specific audience and topic in mind, but it seems to me that good literature need not limit itself to certain audiences. Probably 95% of good Anglophone literature has been written by non-Catholics, or has religion-neutral or non-Catholic themes in it. I see literature more as a place where writers can explore all the problems and vagaries of the human condition. Because we are sinful, good literature is often going to portray sin in all its vulgar glory. It’s going to have sex in it :eek:, awful murders, vulgarities, deep passionately sinful behavior. Without even thinking about it, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Hawthorne come immediately to mind: all great writers, none concerned whatsoever about the Church’s teachings. They wrote about the human condition, and did it ridiculously well, and they did in ways that were uplifting to the human spirit. You would never say their work was notin agreement with the Magisterium.

Thanks for hearing me out. I’m genuinely interested in what you as Catholic writers have to say. 👍
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Thunderboom, thanks. No insult taken. I’d like to refer you to an excellent post by Peter Mongeau at Tuscany Press (tuscanypress.com/255/) that discusses a quote from Flannery O’Connor:The universe of the Catholic fiction writer is one that is founded on the theological truths of the Faith, the Redemption, and the Judgment. These doctrines that the modern secular world does not believe in.
I totally agree with you that fiction is good or bad. And if I want my novel to impact others, it has to be well-written. But at the same time, if my work doesn’t provoke some introspection on the part of the reader, then for me, it has no purpose. And if my novel would lead the reader to a false belief, I would feel I’d committed a great sin. Thus, although my characters may murder, commit adultery, etc, I hope that the reader is clear that these are sins, and salvation comes from recognition of sin and repentence.
I’m in the process of editing now, but the publisher says should be finished soon; i’d like your opinon if you’d like to read some of the first pages.
God bless, Ron
 
empther said:
Do KINDLE and Nook customers buy $10.99 ebooks in PDF format? I doubt it.
Click to expand...
No one will buy ebooks in pdf format because pdf docs will not flow properly. Ebooks need to be in either Kindle or epub formats, preferably both.
 
REAP wrote:
Originally Posted by empther
Do KINDLE and Nook customers buy $10.99 ebooks in PDF format? I doubt it.
Click to expand...
No one will buy ebooks in pdf format because pdf docs will not flow properly. Ebooks need to be in either Kindle or epub formats, preferably both.
Click to expand...

That’s what I suspected. 😦 I’m not happy to see this. 😊

If you ignore the company that has had great success in capturing the market, in this case Amazon’s KINDLE and Barnes & Noble Nook, and try to go out on your own like Tate Publishing,
you’re out there on thin ice.

KINDLE is free! :bigyikes: Why not use it?
 
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