Where are the modern Catholic fiction writers?

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I’ve written a time-travel fantasy novel, based on Irish history, with a dash of mythology thrown in. My characters are mostly Catholic (since it’s set in Medieval Ireland) and there are quite a few Christian themes in it.

I’ve been on a writers forum, and many of the writers there have warned me that Christian publishing houses absolutely refuse to publish fiction that include Catholic characters. Apparently, they prefer Christian historical fiction that is set after the Reformation. And fantasy is not too popular, either, after all the fuss about Harry Potter.

As I look through Christian bookstores (I live in the south, so there aren’t any strictly Catholic ones nearby) I never find novels written by Catholics. I’ve been frustrated because I love fantasy, and I’d be interested in reading fantasy written by Catholics. Does any exist?:confused: I’m talking about modern writers.

I’m wondering if there are Catholic writers who get their books published by Christian publishing houses, but don’t advertise their Catholic faith.
 
I have been wanting to read Catholic fiction myself, so I am glad that you are willing to write it! I have not found Catholic fiction books since my time attending Catholic elementary school, but perhaps I need to look harder. It is rather unfortunate that some Christian presses aren’t willing to publish Catholic literature, but since I know that there is some out there, I am sure you will be able to find a way.

Your book sounds very interesting, by the way 😉
 
Michael O’Brien (one of my favorite authors) has written a science-fiction novel set in the future. Ignatius Press publishes it, along with most of his other works of fiction.

This is Mr O’Brien’s website studiobrien.com/
 
Catholic Fiction writer here. Or at least an aspiring one who hasn’t published anything yet. I feel the same way, as I am hard-pressed to find Catholic literature that is both entertaining and wholesome while not sounding ridiculously preachy or overzealous.

My current work in progress is a sci-fi/fantasy story centered around a man who ends up in a prototype teleportation device - the brainchild of a multi-mafia scheme - and is rendered in a place called the Axial: essentially the contingency center for all of reality. Though this awry teleportation has actually killed him in earthly existence, due to clauses and loopholes in the structure of the system it is still possible for him to return to earth, culminating in a journey to exploit the system’s technicalities in order to safely re-enter his life on earth.

Though it is not a story that overtly invokes Catholicism aside from my own acknowledgement of it outside of the story itself, the contents are meant to be entirely compatible and in many ways exclusive to the Catholic faith whilst not being overbearing on readers, Catholic or non. Rather, it actually acts as a large source of the sci-fi fantasy intrigue. In this way I hope to not only give an entertaining and perhaps overly complicated tale, but to express my faith in the raw, and in the context of its proper application.
 
As a professional editor, this fear of being overzealous or preachy should not be the primary concern when writing any type of fiction. Telling a good story is. The problem is, most college-level “creative writing” courses that I know of do not teach you the basics of building a story:

Plot
Characterization
Mood
Pacing
Tone

Most beginning writers I talk to have never heard of some of those terms. Suggestion: Sit down and write a back cover summary of your story. I’m sure many of you have seen them on SF or Fantasy books. Get the basics down. You are in control. You decide how much or how little is said and done by your primary characters.

There was a time in the 1940s and 1950s when a good SF story by one of the better writers made me feel like I was pulled into the story, and there were no offensive words/scenes or “suggestive” dialogue. Those books can be read by anybody. I felt entertained, even inspired and they helped me to develop a good imagination. I felt good after reading them.

Now. People are so used to seeing “edgy” (profanity, nudity, casual sex, dysfunctional behavior) material in books that I ask myself: “What’s the point?” I saw this start in SF in the 1980s.

Peace,
Ed
 
Neildown said:
Catholic Fiction writer here. Or at least an aspiring one who hasn’t published anything yet. I feel the same way, as I am hard-pressed to find Catholic literature that is both entertaining and wholesome while not sounding ridiculously preachy or overzealous.
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Exactly! I suspect that in Christian fiction, publishing houses are terrified of offending anyone. I have a bad feeling that the LOTR and the Narnia series would probably never have been published if they had been written recently. The only Catholic literature I’ve read was in college, and then it was Medieval literature or Flannery O’Connor. LOL.

I did enjoy Anne Rice’s fantasy time travel novel, “Angel Time.” I guess she’s not really Catholic anymore, though.

On Catholic publishing web sites, I don’t see anything familiar. It makes me wonder how much marketing they do.
Neildown said:
My current work in progress is a sci-fi/fantasy story centered around a man who ends up in a prototype teleportation device - the brainchild of a multi-mafia scheme - and is rendered in a place called the Axial: essentially the contingency center for all of reality. Though this awry teleportation has actually killed him in earthly existence, due to clauses and loopholes in the structure of the system it is still possible for him to return to earth, culminating in a journey to exploit the system’s technicalities in order to safely re-enter his life on earth.
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That sounds really cool! I’m a big science fiction fan, as well.
 
edwest2 said:
As a professional editor, this fear of being overzealous or preachy should not be the primary concern when writing any type of fiction. Telling a good story is. The problem is, most college-level “creative writing” courses that I know of do not teach you the basics of building a story:

Plot
Characterization
Mood
Pacing
Tone

Most beginning writers I talk to have never heard of some of those terms. Suggestion: Sit down and write a back cover summary of your story. I’m sure many of you have seen them on SF or Fantasy books. Get the basics down. You are in control. You decide how much or how little is said and done by your primary characters.

There was a time in the 1940s and 1950s when a good SF story by one of the better writers made me feel like I was pulled into the story, and there were no offensive words/scenes or “suggestive” dialogue. Those books can be read by anybody. I felt entertained, even inspired and they helped me to develop a good imagination. I felt good after reading them.

Now. People are so used to seeing “edgy” (profanity, nudity, casual sex, dysfunctional behavior) material in books that I ask myself: “What’s the point?” I saw this start in SF in the 1980s.

Peace,
Ed
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Thank you for the notation, Edwest: although I actually have kept the story itself at the vanguard of my priorities I found it significant to note a deviation from what may otherwise be referred to as traditional Catholic literature. Admittedly my theme is greatly influenced by the works of C.S. Lewis and some of the concepts he often but only briefly explores. I do see what you’re saying though - it’s easy to run away from a good plot when the focus deviates over-zealously to outwardly significant priorities.
 
edwest2 said:
As a professional editor, this fear of being overzealous or preachy should not be the primary concern when writing any type of fiction. Telling a good story is. The problem is, most college-level “creative writing” courses that I know of do not teach you the basics of building a story:
Click to expand...
One of my degrees is actually in creative writing, and I have to agree with you! 🙂 But a lot depends on the teacher. I’ve had some great ones, and some that were more concerned with their egos than anything. LOL. There’s an awful lot of bad writing passing as “literary” fiction.

It must be very interesting for you to be an editor! I searched for some publishing internships after I graduated. I’m in an area of the south, though, that doesn’t have much going on.
 
Goldberry said:
Exactly! I suspect that in Christian fiction, publishing houses are terrified of offending anyone. I have a bad feeling that the LOTR and the Narnia series would probably never have been published if they had been written recently. The only Catholic literature I’ve read was in college, and then it was Medieval literature or Flannery O’Connor. LOL.
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Yeah, I’m intending to self-publish in order to avoid all the legalism. That said, I’m certainly not going to be making a lot of them at first, but assuming it attracts an audience, who knows. Yeah, Flannery O’Connor appeared more than once in my curriculum if I’m not mistaken. =P It wasn’t bad, but its not what I would pick up for leisure reading for the most part.
Goldberry said:
That sounds really cool! I’m a big science fiction fan, as well.
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Thanks - hopefully I will have a novel (set) that’s as good or better than the summary. 😃
 
I wrote a short mystery story series. Finished the first story draft, now I need to write the second one.
 
catholicfiction.net/ is a great website. Related to Tuscany Press, I’m not sure how. But they have reviews of books by Catholics.

I have to throw in a mention of my books too. Science fiction dystopian thrillers. See below. I try to tell a good story without being preachy, few of my characters are Catholics.
I think self-publishing is a good way to go. I’ve been traditionally published but found it a lot harder after I became a Christian. I had to cut down on the raunchy stuff. No big loss. Now since I leave out most of the sex and cussing, my books look like YA.
 
Goldberry said:
One of my degrees is actually in creative writing, and I have to agree with you! 🙂 But a lot depends on the teacher. I’ve had some great ones, and some that were more concerned with their egos than anything. LOL. There’s an awful lot of bad writing passing as “literary” fiction.

It must be very interesting for you to be an editor! I searched for some publishing internships after I graduated. I’m in an area of the south, though, that doesn’t have much going on.
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You’re right. A lot depends on the teacher. Some are helpful, others, not so much, or have such a free-form approach that they don’t teach good story structure. With the internet, you may have some opportunities out there. Always get any work agreement in writing.

Peace,
Ed
 
I really don’t think publishers are terrified of producing Catholic/Christian books. On the internet, you set up a facebook page. You set up a web site. You get a simple shopping cart. You get paid through PayPal. There are plenty of ways to go: a short run book, like two dozen copies, and print more on demand, an ebook, which is not necessarily a road to instant riches, and going with a publisher who has a reputation.

The problem is: if it’s considered a “religious/Christian” book then it ends up in religious bookstores. While not a bad thing, it misses a potentially larger audience. As I wrote earlier, in the past, unoffensive SF and Fantasy was written that could be read by anybody.

May I suggest:

amazon.com/Christian-Writers-Market-Guide-2014/dp/1414387350

It can be done. BUT, if you go with a publisher, get a contract. And have a lawyer look it over.

Peace,
Ed
 
Has anyone ever read any of Andrew Greeley’s mysteries? I’ve tried a couple but was never able to fall into them the way I like to do with fiction. Their main character is the assistant to an archbishop stationed in Chicago.
 
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