FaithfulReader.com - CHRISTIAN CHICK LIT ROUNDTABLE

FaithfulReader.com interviewed eleven authors who write in the Christian Chick Lit genre --- Judy Baer, Tracey Bateman, Kristin Billerbeck, Lori Copeland, Penny Culliford, Sharon Dunn, Robin Jones Gunn, Neta Jackson, Annie Jones, Allie Pleiter, and Laura Jensen Walker. These talented writers discuss the essential elements of a Chick Lit novel, the differences between Christian Chick Lit and its secular counterpart, the scenes or characters they are especially proud to have written, and the impact that this genre (and its subgenres) can have on female readers.

Judy Baer

Judy Baer is the author of Steeple Hill Café's launch title THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES. Judy is well-known for her inspirational YA titles. Her bestselling "Cedar River Daydreams" series, published in the 1990s, has over 1.25 million copies in print. She has written more than 65 books for Harlequin, Bethany House, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, School Book Fairs, Ballantine/Ivy, Bantam, Silhouette and Guideposts Book Division. She's a two-time RITA finalist and has received the "Angel" award for Christian books. Her books have appeared on Christian YA market bestseller lists. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota with a major in English and education and a minor in religion. The mother of two and stepmother of three, she now has lots of family to enjoy.

THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES
Meet thirty-year old Whitney Blake. Deciding to be more proactive, Whitney starts a journal, announcing her goals: lose weight, pray more, obsess less. It must be working, for suddenly there's more than one man in Whitney's life. But are any of them marriage material?

Steeple Hill Cafe
Browse Judy Baer's books on Amazon.com.

Tracey Bateman

Tracey Bateman published her first CBA novel in 2000 and has been busy ever since --- selling over 300,000 books. She became a member of American Christian Romance Writers in the early months of its inception and currently serves as vice president. She and her husband, Rusty, have been married since 1989 and have three children.

LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE (Early 2006)
When single mom and writer Claire Everett is dragged away from her computer and into the light of day to heal after carpal tunnel surgery, she discovers real life is harder than fiction. Scrambling to get her footing, she invents a six-steps-to-a-better-life program, determined to renovate everything around her. But can she fix her family and herself --- including her relationships with some pretty important people in her life? Or will she realize that sometimes the only way to truly grow is to let go of her own plans and listen to God's?

Heartsong Presents
Browse Tracey Bateman's books on Amazon.com.

Kristin Billerbeck

Kristin Billerbeck is the author of the first Chick Lit novel in the CBA --- WHAT A GIRL WANTS. She cut her writing teeth on romance, earning the Romantic Times' coveted Top Pick Inspirational, garnering 4.5 stars. She's won the Romance Writers of America Reader's Choice Faith Hope and Love Award for short contemporary. Her novellas have been on the CBA bestseller list numerous times. SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL, the follow-up to WHAT A GIRL WANTS, was released in July 2004. The final novel in this series, WITH THIS RING, I'M CONFUSED, will release May 2005. Kristin lives in Silicon Valley with her husband --- an engineer --- and her four children.

SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL
She got it all together in WHAT A GIRL WANTS, but now Ashley Stockingdale is having trouble knowing where to put it! Having discovered rats in her luxury apartment, Ashley is living with her friend Kay, aka Martha Stewart But With Scruples. Soon Kay wants Ashley to buy out half the house so they can remodel it in style. With no hint of a proposal on the horizon from her commitment-phobic boyfriend, Ashley goes on an independent woman streak. She sinks her savings into the deal. As Seth squirms wondering if the investment into Kay's house indicates Ashley doesn't see a future with him, the nightmare of remodeling begins.

Meanwhile --- in lieu of a diamond? --- Seth gives Ashley a darling if ill-advised gift: a puppy! More than a trendy accessory, this puppy requires nearly constant attention and more food than a family of four. He's outgrowing his pink collars faster than you can say Diva Dog! The mayhem is escalating, but like everything else, Ashley knows she can handle it…or can she?

www.KristinBillerbeck.com
Thomas Nelson
Browse Kristin Billerbeck's books on Amazon.com.
Read a review of WHAT A GIRL WANTS

Lori Copeland

Bestselling author Lori Copeland has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Waldenbooks' Bestseller, Romantic Times Career Achievement, the Golden Quill, the Holt Medallion, the Booksellers' Best Award, and the Reviewers Choice Award for Best Inspirational Romance. In 2000, Ms. Copeland was inducted into the Writers' Hall of Fame. Her work includes the bestselling "Brides of the West" with Tyndale house and "Heavenly Daze" series for W Publishing that she co-authors with Christy Award winner Angela Hunt. She has published more than sixty books. She lives in Missouri with her husband, Lance, and three sons, daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

MOTHER OF PREVENTION (March 2005)
Moving to San Francisco offers Kate Madison a fresh start. It's just what Kate and her two daughters need after her firefighter husband's tragic death --- a move out of Oklahoma City's tornado zone and snakes and --- wait --- Earthquakes? San Francisco has earthquakes! Kate arrives to find not earthquakes but friends ready to help the newly widowed worrywart. Frankly, Kate could use some help with her mother-in-law, whose agenda seems to be less to support Kate than simply to take right over. Then Kate discovers a painful secret that a friend has been carrying and forgets her own troubles as she takes on her friend's. An ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure, but Kate learns that friendship, family and faith are worth much, much more.

LoriCopeland.com
Steeple Hill Cafe
Browse Lori Copeland's books on Amazon.com.
Read an excerpt of PATIENCE: Brides of the West #6.
Read an excerpt of CASE OF CROOKED LETTERS: A Morning Shade Mystery series #2.

Penny Culliford

Penny Culliford attends her local Anglican church, which bears no resemblance to Saint Norbert's. The author of THEODORA'S WEDDING and THEODORA'S DIARY, she likes chocolate, TV sitcoms and unexpected acts of kindness. She dislikes celery, stick insects and people who take themselves too seriously. She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and children.

THEODORA'S WEDDING: Faith, Love, and Chocolate
Welcome back to Theodora's world. Now a bit older but not much wiser, thirty-something Theodora Llewellyn begins her second year as a diarist. And as usual, the results are endearing, hilarious and delightfully human.

In her search for life, love and a plentiful supply of chocolate, Theodora discovers that the course of true love never runs smoothly, especially when a voice from the past precipitates a crisis. But fear not --- Theodora's humor and wit are up to the challenge. In the end, just one question remains unanswered: Exactly how much vitamin C is there in a chocolate orange?

Zondervan
Browse Penny Culliford's books on Amazon.com.

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