I know someone who considers himself “settled” in a new living situation once his books are out of their boxes and lined up on view. There may still be repairs to make, rooms to decorate and pictures to hang but once his “friends” are in sight he feels at home.
That’s how booklovers are. There’s simply a special kind of connection between the reader and the writer. We may appreciate someone’s music or moviemaking, but we don’t typically have the same sense of affinity with them as we do with someone whose written words we enjoy. They become “family” in a unique way.
And that’s probably even more true for readers who share a faith reference with the authors they enjoy—whose belief in God fuels and shapes the stories, the advice, the insights, the inspiration, the motivation and the understanding they present in their books.
That connection is what we will be celebrating in Christian Book Reader, which is why I am so pleased that you have picked up a copy of our premiere issue. Welcome!
As you know, Christian books are becoming more and more widely available than ever before. With so much on offer in our multimedia world, there’s a growing hunger for education and entertainment that has a clear spiritual dimension to it.
It’s exciting to see Christian writers and authors meeting that need. There’s compelling fiction from the pioneer frontiers to the prophetic future, expert counsel on important topics like marriage and parenting, and inspirational teaching on matters of personal faith.
In fact, there’s probably not an issue or subject matter you’re concerned about or interested in that is not being addressed in books that, while varying widely in style, all draw ultimately from the same deep well of Christian faith.
But, as the T-shirt says, “so many books and so little time!” That’s where we come in. Christian Book Reader is intended to help you make the most of your reading budget—both time and money—by keeping you abreast of some of the best that is available.
We will bring you special previews that give you a peek inside the pages of significant forthcoming titles. We’ll also be exploring some of the big Christian publishing trends from fiction to current affairs.
Most importantly, we will be fostering that sense of family. We’ll talk to writers to find out what makes them tick and give you a glimpse of the everyday person behind the words. We’ll invite them to share what motivates them and how they work, to further enrich your appreciation of their words.
I hope you enjoy this first issue and will look forward to our bimonthly appearance, like another family get-together where you find some familiar faces and also get to know some new “relatives” with whom you share a special heritage. Drop me a line, and let me know what you think.
Dave Condiff
Associate Publisher
Dave.Condiff@strang.com
