The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insiders Guide to Christian Publishing [Paperback]

Ann E. Byle (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2006

Success stories and inspired interviews from inside the world of Christian publishing. More than 40 well-known authors, editors, agents, and other publishing professionals who help shape the books enjoyed by millions provide inspiration and up-close insights for readers as well as aspiring writers. Among those interviewed are Left Behind series co-author Jerry Jenkins (on handling success), bestselling authors Terri Blackstock (about writing fiction), and Karen Kingsbury (on connecting with readers).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ann Byle has compiled words of wisdom and advice from many of the top names in Christian publishing." --Sally E. Stuart, Christian Writers' Market Guide

"This book is like attending a top writers' conference and speaking with each member of the faculty." --Andy Scheer, Managing Editor, Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild

From the Publisher

An essential book for anyone who writes or who has ever thought of writing.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Faithwalk Publishing (February 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932902570
• ISBN-13: 978-1932902570
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wrong Title, Poor Cover Design but Excellent Content, June 2, 2006

By 

W. Terry Whalin "Publisher/ Editor / Writer" (Scottsdale, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insiders Guide to Christian Publishing (Paperback)

Some books have a radical disconnect in the way they come together--and this book is one of them.

Almost everyone inside and outside of publishing would like to know how to make a bestseller--and for those of us involved in Christian publishing--in particular a Christian bestseller. You will not learn how to make a bestseller in this book. The word doesn't appear in the index and barely appears in the entire book. It's not about The Making of a Christian Bestseller. It IS about the subtitle, "An Insider's Guide to Christian Publishing."

I was discussing this book with a well-known literary agent who has been involved in Christian publishing for many years. He pegged this book cover design as "the worst cover design on the planet." I agree. Whoever selected florescent orange with white type knew nothing about selling books. The back cover is not readable. Poor is a kind word for this type of effort.

Even with these caveats, I recommend this book. Ann Byle has compiled some of the more unusual (yet vastly experienced) voices of Christian publishing into a single volume. Any writer who wants to thrive in the business of Christian publishing will want to read and follow the sage wisdom from writers like Davis Bunn, Sally Stuart, Dennis Hensley, Jack Cavanaugh, Charlene Ann Baumbich, Angela Elwell Hunt, Terri Blackstock, James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Nancy Rue, Brandilyn Collins, Julie Ann Barnhill and Karen Kingsbury (to name a few of the top writers who each have chapters in this volume). Or writers will want to learn from seasoned professional editors like Judith Markham, Dave Lambert, Ami McConnell, Jeanette Thomason and Lyn Cryderman--who also have chapters in this volume.

My overall impression from reading The Making of a Christian Bestseller is valuable information in the wrong package with the wrong title. Don't let these flaws put you off from getting this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Advice the Title Doesn't Tell You About, February 9, 2007

By 

H. Laack - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insiders Guide to Christian Publishing (Paperback)

This is a smart purchase for anyone interested in Christian writing, but neither the title nor the subtitle captures what the book is really about. The author interviewed 40 authors, editors and others involved in various aspects of publishing summarizing input from each one in a separate chapter. From Responding to God's Call to Write to Learning from Genre Experts to Building Your Presence with Readers and the Media, the seven sections provide advice, helpful sidebars, and URLs for more information.

A quick read but, even more, a book that can be returned to again and again for reference and guidance.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for writers!, April 20, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insiders Guide to Christian Publishing (Paperback)

As a writer, I've read my share of how-to books in all aspects of the field. Most of them are about the same. Ann Byle's new collection of essays, The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insider's Guide to Christian Publishing, about the writing and publishing market, specifically the Christian market, is refreshingly different and informative for the seasoned veteran and the newbie alike.

Byle uses her interviewing skills to perfection by talking with the biggest names in the genre about different aspects of Christian writing, then taking that information and putting it easy-to-read, affirmative essays. Topics range from writing sex scenes and humor to researching details to editing to building relationships with editors and agents.

Byle gets advice from such heavyweights as Jerry Jenkins, Sally Stuart, Nancy Rue, and James Scott Bell. The 40 essays are broken into seven sections starting with "The Call to Write." The last section is devoted to "Conquer(ing) the Market: Building Your Presence with Readers and the Media." Each essay/chapter contains a sidebar "Bestseller Tip" with useful advice. For example, providing an afterlife for review copies; James Scott Bell's LOCK System; and tips to maximize a meeting with an acquisitions editor. Ironically, the book's last essay is "Finishing the Job: Publicizing Your Book."

I'm not exactly sure what quantifies a book to be labeled "Christian," but Byle talks to all writers about how to write good books without having to rely on sex and foul language. My favorite quote is from Chapter 3--The Christian as an Artist. Author Davis Bunn reminds writers that "if you read Hemingway, Dickens, or Faulkner, the evil characters they created speak cleanly yet are dark and live forever as timeless, powerful characters...It's certainly easier to write a bad character if he uses foul language, but bad language doesn't necessarily make him a stronger bad character."

Armchair Interviews says: Every writer should read Ann Byle's The Making of a Christian Bestseller: An Insider's Guide to Christian Publishing, whether Christian or not. She talks to writers not necessarily about Christian writing but about good, strong writing.