A friend of mine is considering a Quaker vampire story. The whole thread got kicked off because I was challenged to write a vampire story that requires a Christian perspective. Hoo!

If you haven't seen it already, Eric Wilson has a Christian vampire novel coming out in October with Thomas Nelson. Not sure on the romance part, but Christian Vampire novel as a genre is now official! readdB.com

How about Bruce Hennigan's new Christian vampire novel, "The 12th Demon: Vampyre Majick"? It even has the romance element: steelchronicles.com

John Olson has a Christian "vampire" novel called SHADE releasing in October, and it's a winner!

Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone! I'll keep an eye out. Looks like most of these are coming out around Halloween (very appropriate); once I've read them, perhaps I'll do a roundup.

First off, so very nice to be mentioned in a blog about Christian vampire fantasy. But I must emphasize that it's important to distinguish. There is the CBA Christian market, which Wilson and Olson, both listed above, belong to and the general Christian market, who I write for. Stephanie Meyer doesn't write for the CBA Christian market (but she is a Latter Day Saint) that I know of and certainly doesn't have a CBA publisher. Why is it important to make the distinction? Because CBA Christian ficton has become synonomous with Christian fiction and no two markets could be more different. CBA Christian fiction serves a core market of conservative evangelicals and doen't allow their affiliated authors (you have to pay big bucks to be affiliated) to write about anything having to do with the occult or halloween etc . . . As an example of this, John Olson's book, published by a CBA affiliated publisher, is being advertised at the first vampireless vampire book. (remember CBA authors can't write about things that stand to stir up their core market.) That kind of advertising might not be so successful in the general Christian market but it might do all right in the CBA Christian market. Eric Wilson is also with a CBA Christian publisher and hopes to get a little more down and dirty with his new novel--but of course, within the confides of the conventions set up by CBA and ECPA to protect their core audience. He writes for Thomas Nelson one of the biggest CBA affiliated publishers. And writes quite well, I might add. Oddly enough, I'm just a Christian author who happened to attract a LOT of CBA readers. I suppose because I wrote a story, that doesn't compromise their faith. Well that's grand! I'm happy to oblige. But I'm not CBA affiliated and don't intentionally write for that market. They're too conservative for my taste. But I'm sure that's just me. :) It would be nice if more people would be specific when talking about Christian fiction. It's incredibly important. You have Christian fiction written for the general Christian market, the market I write for :) and CBA Christian fiction written for the CBA Christian market which is geared toward conservative evangelicals. People find on searches for Christian fiction because I state my faith in many of my interviews and blogs. How interesting to see that I now show up on many links and what not associated with CBA and ECPA, two gatekeeper affiliations geared toward protecting their core market. BTW, because I don't write for that market and don't have an affiliated publisher, you won't find my work in Christian bookstores which are in fact CBA Christian bookstores as CBA Christian bookstores primarily only stock books published by CBA and ECPA affiliated authors. They do sometimes put books on their shelves written by non-affiliated authors but only after the promised sales are to big to ignore. If by chance you ever see my books in a Christian bookstore just know it will be because I'm doing really well selling everywhere else not specifically because I'm an author who is a Christian. :) Other than that, the official relesse date to the sequel of my Bram Stoker Short-listed Never Ceese will be announced September 1st! Be sure to watch www.foreverrichard.com to find out more. Also it's been said that my book pushes the boundries of Christian fiction. IT DOES NOT! It only pushes the boundries of CBA Christian fiction, a market I don't write for specifically. The general Christian market is quite used to seeing work like mine. Dracula is a fine example of a general Christian market book. It was written from a catholic worldview.

I find this sooo interesting. I'm a closet fan of Buffy and Angel (the TV shows) who finds the spiritual themes so meaningful in a Christian way (other themes in the show--um, not so much). I know the shows are not from a Christian POV (and anyone wading in for the first time--beware!), but I have seen themes dealt with that have affirmed my faith and encouraged me to see life as spiritual, when sometimes regular life in American just doesn't. I think this EXPLOSION of fantasy/sci-fi books, TV, comics touches on a hunger out there. In a PC world, Christians have had to walk on eggshells for so long. What better way to reach that spiritual hunger with a great message. Keep an open mind, people. You just never know what God will use to reach us!

Sue: Thanks for that tremendously helpful comment! That's a market I know next to nothing about, so it's great to get some information from an insider.

I have learned from experience that God can use a book, so long as it glorifies Him and doesn't twist the Scriptures, He can use it. However, the Christian publishing can be picky. Yet, Science fiction and fantasy are being written and published. I think the reason why they steer clear of Vampire, Werewolves, any Magical creature, except Dragons, is because the images of Werewolves and Vampires are often connected to the Occult. I think that a Vampire can be written that glorifies God, though it may be a long day in Winter before a quote, unquote Traditional Christian publisher will ever touch it. But it all boils down to one simple truth: if you please God, what does it matter that your book is not embraced by the Big Wig Christian groups. Release your book to audiences that will.

I think the next best thing was just done. There is a book on the internet titled THEY ALSO LIVED which are short Christian stories featuring gangsters, nurses, loan sharks, cops, hit men, Nazi generals, arsonists, prize fighters, alcoholics, adultersses, etc. This is the beginning of Christian pulp fiction.