Jan Fields is moderator of this interview/workshop, and Web Editor of the ICL Web Site. Green shows names or usernames of people and the questions they asked of our speaker.

Jan Fields: Welcome Kathleen. Everyone is very excited to have you with us for the next three days. Christian publishing is a topic that has always interested ICL students and I'm just delighted to have someone with your experience willing to answer lots and lots of questions.

Kathleen Muldoon: I'm anxious to share with fellow writers. I hope to conquer the technological aspect of this format. I think I'm one of the few Earth inhabitants without a Facebook account, so chatting, tweeting, twittering--all are new to me! I'm revved up and eager, though. Here we go...

Beth: Now, to my question. Can you define "Christian Writing"? What about fiction? What needs to be present in the writing for a piece to be considered Christian in nature?

Kathleen Muldoon: Christian writing can be fiction or nonfiction and just about any genre. The major difference between it and writing for the secular market is that the love of Christ should be the overriding theme in any Christian writing. In fiction, you should construct your plot such that your protagonist overcomes the story conflict by applying Christian morals, values, beliefs. Depending on the market, this can be overt or implied. For example, fiction in such magazines as Focus on the Family Clubhouse might not even mention Jesus, but in the course of the story the child goes to Sunday school or, perhaps, applies the "love your neighbor as yourself" principle (without naming it). Fiction in Bread for God's Children, however, tends to be more explicit in pointing out Christian values and beliefs--for example, perhaps a parent helps guide a child's decision making by reading and explaining a Scripture passage.

Beth: Thank you for your explanation! It makes perfect sense.

butterflii: Is the Christian Market hard to publish in? Also, what is the hot topic(s) nowadays?

Kathleen Muldoon: I don't think that the Christian market is any "harder," Summer, but I do think it takes more study by prospective writers before submitting their work. This is because in addition to following publishers' guidelines, there are such issues as "degree of religiosity"--how much "religion" does a publisher look for, faith statements (for example, the publisher of Partners and Story Mates, a Mennonite publisher, requires authors to sign a faith statement and submit it with manuscripts), and denominational issues. So, while writers should always study guidelines, books and magazines previously published by their targeted publisher, when writing for the Christian market this requires meticulous attention. I don't think their are any topics that are particularly hot at this time, since our belief in Jesus Christ is constant and should shine through all that we write. For fiction, contemporary issues that can be handled well (such as drug abuse in teen stories) are often sought.

mmmgood: I'm glad you mention writing toward issues such as teen drug abuse. It seems like once-upon-a-time, such topics would have been avoided ... almost as though that cannot possibly be a problem for Christian teens.

Kathleen Muldoon: Yes, edgy issues such as this, plus date rape, abortion, etc. are acceptable topics for SOME Christian teen publications. Just be certain that their guidelines specify their willingness to accept such topics.

chippy: What is the best way to make Christian writing interesting for kids, but ensure that you are putting the message across without being too "preachy"? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Kathleen Muldoon: I'm so glad you brought up the need for this skill! Too many beginning writers tend to "tack on a moral" at the end of their stories. In my opinion, the best place to embody this message is through your protagonist's actions/dialogue and, especially, in your conclusion, when you show readers how your main character has changed or what he or she has learned by the end of the story. You can do this in a light-hearted manner (if theme-appropriate). For example, let's say your protagonist Jesse is caught in a lie about his participation in a group project, and the result is that the whole group receives a low grade. After his apology being accepted, you might end something like,
"Thanks for manning up," Drew said. "I'm glad Mr. Brown is letting us have a do-over."
"Me too," Jesse replied. "And this time, I'll have my part done ahead of time." And that's the truth, he added to himself.

Kathleen Muldoon: My inclination is to say "yes," avoid foul language altogether--I do. Having said that, you might find Christian novels, particularly for young adults, that have some "language" issues. If I run across foul language in any book, I stop reading it. My sense (and my hope) is that Christian publishers would disallow such language, but I cannot make a blanket statement and state that they all do. If you had a particular publisher in mind, it would be wise to read some of its books and see how dialogue is handled.

Stacy: I'm not sure about books for children and young adults, but in some Christian fiction for adults I've seen references to a character using foul language but the words aren't there. For example: Leon cursed as he slammed the book on the counter. "How dare you go behind my back?" or A stream of cuss words flew from her mouth when she saw the flashing lights in her rear view mirror.

Sannejon: Can someone earn enough money by writing for Christian publishers/magazines? Do you write for secular markets as well? I want to make a decent "living" but I am not sure if I could do that writing exclusively for Christian markets...yet I don't want to author books that go against my values.

Kathleen Muldoon: (smiling) First, I'm not sure one can completely support oneself with monies from a freelance career writing for Christian publishers. There are so many variables that go into the equation, like timeliness of payments, time elapsed between acceptance and publication, rate of pay being traditionally lower in the Christian marketplace...the list goes on. I also write for the secular markets on a limited basis; I am a columnist for a secular magazine published by the United Spinal Association. I also write for several educational publishers (for example, I currently have a contract to write nonfictions passages for a new GED test being developed in Texas)--like you, though, I would never compromise my faith and values just to get a writing gig. Also, occasionally, I write stories that suit a secular magazine better than a Christian magazine--these are usually original folktales, and Spider has been a good market for me for those. But largely, I now only target the Christian market. I made a living with my writing by working as a staff writer for a faith-based newspaper, where I drew a regular salary. Now, my freelance income and book royalties supplement my Social Security retirement. So, my "Readers' Digest" answer is don't give up your day job just yet. If you have a spouse whose income can sustain you, then your freelance income would be a nice supplement. If that glorious day arrives when you have several novels on the market paying hefty bi-annual royalties, yes, you may at last be able to make it on your freelance writing income.

Sannejon: I enjoy writing about teen issues and romance as well. Are there secular markets that wouldn't expect my writing to have things like pre-marital sex or nudity when writing for YA like so many YA novels do?

Cat: I just wanted to see what kind of rules there are in Christian Romance in regards to the "Love Scene". I'm not a big "Love Scene" person. They tend to horrify me. However, I know there's a difference between most adult romance novels and the actual Christian Romance. Mostly I think it's the description, the in-depth description about what goes on in a romance. I'd like to see what you recommend in regards to actually writing the scene, and what to put in and what to leave out.

Kathleen Muldoon: Although I do not write in this genre, I have a friend, Judy, who does. According to her, the two main publishers of Christian romance, Harlequin (Steeple Hill imprint) and Heartsong, have very specific guidelines whether writing for teens or adults. First and foremost, no premarital sex is allowed or described. Judy suggests that you download the guidelines for either of these publishers, because she said they not only address your question but other things such as touching and nudity. Good questions--I learned something!

Katie: I am by no means an expert, but I will throw in as an avid Christian romance READER that even in adult books there is rarely more than soft kissing scenes. Even marital sex is only hinted at many times, and never described. This is for the adult books; I would imagine the YA books to be similar, or even more strict.

Ella: I've read that it can be easier to break into Christian markets than regular ones. But from some of the submission stats I've seen, I get the feeling that a lot of people have heard this same message and have flocked en masse to (at least some of) the Christian markets, making the competition quite stiff. What is your take?

Kathleen Muldoon: I think a lot of writers are "discovering" the Christian markets, hence making the competition stiffer by sheer numbers of submissions and, yes, more talented writers entering the pool. I would not go so far as to say that it's easier to break into Christian markets--these have very specific needs and look for quality just as do the secular markets. If you belong to a particular denomination, you might have an "edge" over mainstream Christian writers when submitting to that denomination's publications. The one other "edge" Christian writers might have is that, traditionally, the pay is lower or nonexisitent for some Christian publishers, and this might discourage some writers from submitting to this market.

Jan Fields: When I was first entering the field of writing for young people, there were a lot of Sunday School take-home papers and different Christian magazines for children that were very open to the kinds of fiction beginning writers like to write -- stories with heavy lessons designed to "fix" what the writer sees as wrong with young people. But the number of small Christian magazines has lessened wtih the economy and thus with greater competition, there are fewer markets for that kind of story. Thus making it seem as those Christian writing is harder to break into -- in reality, it is harder for folks writing that kind of story.

Jan Fields: With the number of magazines thinning down, the competition for each has increased. So I don't think anyone looking at the publishing market today would say Christian publishing is "easier" anymore. But for the Christian writer, I would think most would say it's "more satisfying" to write for a market specifically open to what you have to say.

Cat: Now, I'm much more of a fantasy writer rather than a Christian writer. I know there are authors who take fantasy and Christian beliefs and mix them together to create a different world with a very strong "Godly" setting. I'm thinking "Dragonspell" here, by Donita K. Paul. What I wanted to ask you is this: what are the main elements that are involved in writing Christian/Catholic Fantasy, and do you think the market is eager enough for this kind of book? Can you write Christian/Catholic Fantasy and not be rejected because the morality in it is so strict?

Londy: Also, what do you think of creating high fantasy--a whole new world, etc--and mixing it with 'all-out' Christianity? For example, the characters have a Book representing the Bible, things like that. What do you think of them actually calling the Bible; the Bible. And having exactly the same scriptures etc as we do? Or, on the other hand, should those references be more veiled? Have the Bible, and Jesus, and scriptures all go under a different name. I know these questions are all over the place. But I'm interested to hear opinions.

Kathleen Muldoon: Because of the popularity of fantasy in the secular market, it seems that Christian (we'll include Catholic Christians here) publishers are becoming more open to fantasy fiction, especially for middle and YA readers. Those that are, of course, generally list this in their guidelines. In her 2011 Christian Writers' Market Guide, Sally E. Stuart includes about 30 publishers that accept Christian fiction (not all juvenile, though, but some are). Tyndale House published Jerry Jenkins' Minions of Time in 2008--it's a terrific middle-grade, rough and tumble battle of dragons story. Other possibilities are JourneyForth Books and Medallion Press. As for how much and how strict the morality in your plot--that will depend on the publisher you target. Be sure to read several novels by that publisher to get a "feel" for this. In addition to a good story and a credble fantasy world, your Christian message should be evident (but not preachy, of course). Again, reading widely in this genre will be your best guide--especially reading recently published books.

LCargile: my question is this; i wasnt raised christian, but have come to know and love Jesus in my adulthood. I would love to try writing a christian story or two, but im not really sure what the issues christian kids face, bc as i said, i wasnt one. Any tips would be super appreciated

Kathleen Muldoon: I think it's terrific that you became a Christian as an adult--often those who find Jesus as adults are more fervent in their beliefs and in their love for Christ than are "cradle Christians." The best way to learn about issues that Christian children face is to get to know Christian children. If your church has a youth program, perhaps you can volunteer. Try to work with the age group for which you plan to write. Alternatively, you might mentor a Christian child. In my opinion, it's important to interact with children in some way before trying to write for them. Pray for guidance, and the Lord will point you in the right direction and show you how you might not only make a difference in the lives of Christian children but also learn from them.

Jan Fields: Also Christian kids face the same conflicts as any other kid...it's how they deal with it that changes. Think back to conflict times from your own childhood -- now that you're a person of faith, how might that change what you would have done?

Cat: I've posted many poems here on the boards, and have been told that I ought to try to compile together a religious-type prayer book, or a book of religious poetry. However, I've been stymied as to how one goes about finding a publisher for that type of book. Do you have any suggestions on that, and whether the market is open to religious, Christian/Catholic poetry?

Kathleen Muldoon: I couldn't write a poem if my livelihood depended on it, Cat. That said, the best age group for such a book (in terms of finding a publisher) is for the preschool/primary readers--the "my first book of prayers" type thing, where often these are also poems. As I noted on another post, it is hard to sell poetry books. Christian children's magazines publish lots of poetry, and certainly that is one avenue for publication. Pauline Books & Media and Paulist Press, Catholic publishers, publish prayer books. Does anyone else know of possible markets? Again, when all else fails, you can take a trip to a Christian bookstore and browse the children's books. You might come across some Christian poetry books--see who publishes them. And of course, self-publishing, a growing industry, is always a possibility. I have never gone this route, but I include in Sowing Seeds... a section written by Church of Christ preacher John Evans, who has successfully self-published several books--and won awards for them. He shares some solid advice for anyone considering this venture.

Sharonda: My question for you is how do you sound religious through the paper? I am a religious person in reality. I stick to the bible more than I stick to anything that is in the textbook about evolution or anything like that. Not to start any arguments or anything, but for one magazine that I am interested in submitting to, they want to see a strong spirtual connection in the article. How would I go about doing that? Also, this magazine publishes true stories. So what they accept are Personal Experience pieces. With that in mind, how, through my article, would I show that I am a spirtual but without sounding preachy or going overboard?

Kathleen Muldoon: Good question, Sharonda. I'm wondering if the magazine you're thinking of is Guideposts, since traditionally they only publish personal experience articles. You will notice when reading it and other "inspirational" magazines that not all specifically mention God or Jesus, yet at some point the writer has prayed. Certainly including the prayer at the climax of your story is not preachy or overboard. I think that all people of faith include prayer as part of their daily lives, and to include that in your personal experience piece would flow naturally. I hope this answers your question. If not, follow up with another in the next two days and I'll try to do a better job!

Sharonda: The magazine I was thinking of was, Insight. They publish for Seventh Day Adventist teens and I happen to be one myself! The have nice little Personal Experience pieces in their magazines where a person (it can be a teenager, young adult or adult) tells you a story of a time in their life where God was revealing himself to them or they decided to put God in control of their life and etc. Just stories that show how we can put God in our lives and make Him number one. I wanted to know how I can show the level of spirituality the editors are looking for? The personal experience pieces in the magazine are very spiritual and I'd like to try to make my piece on that same level. Is that confusing? If so, I can reword it. Thank you!

Jan Fields: I thought I would also throw in my two cents (cause you know I love to pontificate), it sounds like you read the magazine. You've seen the pieces in it. The question is really do you have a specific incident in your life that you can share that is like those you've seen in the magazine. Many Christian people might be very spiritual but not have a "big spiritual revelation" moment to share -- a time when their faith suddenly changed or deepened or gained new insight. You can be a very steady kind of devout person and not have such a story.

Jan Fields: I know that I was a very devout teen and really...I didn't have any particularly compelling stories from the time. It was just a day-by-day walking out my faith. So, really, you have to look at your life. Do you have one of those pivotal moments? If so tell it, and AFTER you've written it, read back over INSIGHT examples and see if you feel your fits. It's after you've written it that you'll going to tweak it for style or to have more the sound of the pieces in the magazine. And if you don't have a big single MOMENT story -- don't feel bad. It just means that for that element of writing you don't have the kind of personal experience they tend to run, even though you have a very devout life.

Sharonda: I believe I do have a story. I've recently gotten baptised for the first time and believe me, I've got a story to tell about how I realized I didn't want to play church anymore and that I wanted to take this Christian walk seriously. Thank you for your advice as well! It's very informative! Something I will take into consideration.

Kathleen Muldoon: There are several terrific Seventh Day Adventist publications, and Insight is one of them. You obviously have copies of this publication to serve as models. The question you have to ask yourself is, "Does the personal experience I want to relate have the degree of spritual application this publication seeks? In order to find that out, you've got to relive the experience in your mind. How DID God reveal Himself to you or help you take control of your life during that experience? How did God's presence in that experience deepen or reinforce your faith? You can't really write this type article with a spritual emphasis until these issues are clear in your mind. Then comes the challenging part of putting that information into writing, while at the same time telling your story. Even when writing a personal experience, nonfiction piece, we writers need to use a storytelling voice so that rather than reading a dry newspaper account, readers feel as though they are sharing that experience with you. This is particularly true for teens, who like depth and emotion in the stories they read. If I were you, I would study and analyze several stories in Insight and note how and where the authors conveyed the spritirual message for their readers.

Sharonda: Thank you Ms. Kathleen! Very good advice you and Jan have shared with me! I'll be sure to take everything listed here into consideration! I never really did think about the questions you raised. I'll keep them in mind.

mmmgood: Ms. Muldoon, do you think there is a publisher of Christian literature that would be interested in publishing a book of faith-based poetry co-authored by a Christian and a Muslim? Or would Christians shy away from publishing a book that contains Muslim faith-based works? Once the book is pulled together, would the next step be to query?

Kathleen Muldoon: I must admit that I am unfamiliar with Muslim markets. As for Christian markets, I imagine that would depend on the publisher, and on whether the Muslim works in any way are anti-Christian or espouse beliefs contrary to the Christian faith. In general, it is difficult for any new writer to publish a book of poetry, which is why many good poets self-publish their poetry anthologies. If you went this route, then this would not be an issue, because you and your co-author would "be in charge." Sally E. Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide does have a list of Christian publishers that accept poetry books. You might want to start there and see if there is a prospective traditional publisher for your book. Whether or not to query first depends on the publisher's directions for submissions.

Jan Fields: I would also look at some of the secular publishers who are beginning to venture into works that include elements of faith. They're going to be more open, I think, to a book that looks at poetry reflecting both faiths.

Cat: What are the main points, would you say, that makes a regular Hero different from a Christian Hero? Would you say it's their morals, their upbringing, their faith? All three? What exactly defines the Christian Hero?

Kathleen Muldoon: In my opinion, it is all three, with faith foremost. A protagonist in a secular novel can be motivated by many things--love, greed, money, power--while a Christian hero should be motivated by love for and belief in Christ. You can write a book with a hero who is at first motivated by one of the above secular issues but by the end of the book had found Christ and thus has become Christ-centered.

mmmgood: Do you know how to break into writing Christian-oriented greeting card messages?

Kathleen Muldoon: I have never pursued writing Christian greeting card messages, but I'm sure there is a market for this. Sally E. Stuart has a listing of greeting card markets in her 2011 Christian Writer's Market Guide. Also, if you receive a Christian greeting card that you like, check out the back of the card and see who produced it. Then go online and see if you can find out how to write for that company.

mmmgood: Ms. Muldoon, I don't have a handle on how to go about writing quality fiction for very young readers that holds fast to God's truth. Do you have books/authors that you would recommend as good examples?

Kathleen Muldoon: Hi, Marie Elena, I'm glad you want to write for these very young Christians! Most Christian material for these little ones is fiction, even if biblically based. When you say "very young," I assume you mean preschool, yes? A big need for this age group is board books, such as Who Is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate. For the slightly older young reader (4-6), my all time favorite is Virginia Kroll's Let There Be Llamas. I have some reading lists by age group in my book, Sowing Seeds... I also suggest that you visit a Christian bookstore and look through some of their fiction. The manager can tell you which books sell well. Good luck in your writing! I'm delighted that you want to hold fast to God's truth.

Jan Fields: Are many houses publishing picture books with Christian themes these days? I had heard that some places were cutting down on their book lines for young people, but I have no idea whether this is happening a lot or only one spot.

Kathleen Muldoon: Yes! picture books and board books (which really are picture books for very young readers) are still sought in the Christian market. In my book Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market, I have some reading lists of these, plus a section with tips on writing these books. You're correct that the picture book market in general has been depressed of late (these are expensive to produce, and the economy is bad right now), but that shouldn't keep you from starting the next best-selling picture book text. Just be sure to study A LOT of them you write yours. Publishers are still seeking good picture book texts for Christian children (I say text because you don't have to supply the artwork!). There has been a downturn in general of the picture book market, but this should not deter you from beginning the next bestselling picture book.

mmmgood: This sounds like a perfect fit for me. Do you know where I can find a list of these publishers?

Kathleen Muldoon: There are several writers' market books out there; if you're a current ICL student, you can refer to your textbook Book Markets for Children's Writers, look in the back under "picture books," and cross-reference those with "Religious Publishers" and you'll have a starting place. Sally E. Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide, an annual publication, has a category of children's publishers from which you can extract a list of those that publish picture books. One of my favorite methods, though, is to visit a Christian bookstore, find some picture books that I really like, write down the name of the company that published them, and then go online and get the guidelines for submission. ZonderKidz, Concordia, Tommy Nelson, and Pauline Books & Media are a few to get you started.

chippy: Is there anything we need to know in order to write for publishers doing Sunday School materials? Does the work have to only target a specific publisher or is it ok to make it multidenominational? The Church I attend has its own publishing house, and their materials are used in other churches as well, would these publishers want only material suited to their publishing needs or do you have any suggestions on the way to go about submitting to them?

Kathleen Muldoon: Not all companies that publish Sunday School materials post there needs in market directories (some do; Sally Stuart lists some of these in her Christian Writers' Market Guide under "Christian Education/Library" sources). As you noted, many denominations have their own publishing houses, and you should be able to get contact information from the take home materials. Note that many Sunday School packages are written for the teacher, and the writer is expected to develop or conform to a curriculum (I did not research such markets for Sowing Seeds, since they are better addressed in a book on writing for the adult Christian market). Nonethless, there are some markets (such as those of the Mennonite take home papers, Story Mates and Partners) that are written for children and accept stories, puzzles, and games. If you would like to write materials for your church publishing house, I would definitely contact them. You might send a letter stating your interest and attach a writing sample (which you would pattern in format after a previous paper you have from your church). I have landed some good writing contracts this way. For example, I love writing devotions, and the devotionals my church uses for children is Living Faith Kids! I could find no writers' guidelines, so I wrote to the parent company and expressed my interest in writing for them. I received back a letter form the editor, who actually gave me three Scriptures on which to base my samples, I am now beginning my third year writing for this publication--I receive an assignment quarterly from them. Sometimes we have to make our own opportunities!

Ev: I've always written and designed our family's annual Christmas cards and always with a spiritual message to them. I'm guessing that a compilation of the best of those, either as a craft book or as an inspirational book, would be a hard sell. Would that be your prediction also?

Kathleen Muldoon: I think you're correct that a collection of the messages might be a hard sell. But I think it's fascinating that you write and design cards as well as writing the messages. It might make a good "how-to" craft/activity book that Sunday school teachers in particular would welcome--perhaps for middle school children? You could include a step-by-step on designing cards and suggestions on types of messages the kids could include, perhaps even explaining how they might locate Scripture passages for various occasions.

GrannyRobin: How about the Left Behind series? There is a ton of great Christian fiction, I think.

Kathleen Muldoon: The Left Behind series is certainly popular with children (and adults)--but did you know that they are controversial in some denominations? We have a very popular megachurch in San Antonio, and their pastor has spoken out against them because of some "non-Scriptural" views. This is just his opinion, but one that has been put forth by many fundamentalist preachers.

Beth: In popular literature, there tend to be trends in topics or themes. What about Christian fiction? Are there trends in topics or themes? Along that line, what resources could you recommend for writers who want to learn more about the market and any possible trends?

Kathleen Muldoon: Hi, Beth. When I first read your question, my mind went to magazines that are "themed"--that is, publishers who issue a theme list for upcoming magazines, and potential contributors need to write fiction or nonfiction that pertains to that theme (Pockets is one example). But after my morning coffee and rereading your question, I see you mean trends in topics or themes in the marketplace. That's a tough question. In the Christian marketplace, with our overriding theme being Jesus Christ, God-centered, our theme is therefore the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Having said that, trends in topics exist in that our world is ever-changing, and publishers who have venues for contemporary fiction or nonfiction would certainly expect writers' work to reflect those changes. For example, children are exposed to a slew of social networking dangers that did not exist in my generation. With the popularity in the secular market of such books as the Twilight series, I see more Christian markets opening to fantasy, keeping our Christian theme prominent, of course. Beyond keeping up on market changes, I don't know of any particular resource on this other than the annual Writers Guide put out by the Institute of Children's Literature (available from their Writers Book Store), which contains information on that year's trends (but on the market as a whole, not just Christian). Does anyone else have further input on this?

butterflii: After talking about Sally E. Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide, I got to thinking about the difference between 2010 and 2011. I have 2010's. Is there a such a big difference that I should invest into 2011?

Kathleen Muldoon: In my opinion, it really is important to keep the most up-to-date market material, and Ms. Stuart puts a great deal of time and research into every directory. Of course, as with the phone book, there are changes that occur on a daily basis. But it is a good starting place, with follow-up by users to go online and check for full guidelines and any changes. Also, Ms. Stuart has an excellent ongoing update in the Christian Communicator, a monthly publication of the Christian Writers' Institute (www.ACWriters.com). By the way, if you make enough freelance income that you must report it on your income tax, you can deduct the cost of the market directories. I don't know whether or not Barnes & Noble carries Ms. Stuart's book (I have an automatic delivery each year), but if they do, you can always peruse it "for free" at B&N. Since you have the 2010 directory, you can also use it as a starting place to choose some possible markets and then go online and see if that publisher is still accepting manuscripts or has changed its guidelines (or is still in existence!). The things you would miss by not having the new directory are new markets, competitions, and agents.

mmmgood: Ms. Muldoon, would you kindly give us your view of the difference (if any) between "Christian" and "Spiritual," conceptually speaking?

Kathleen Muldoon: In my opinion, one does not necessarily need to be Christian to be "spiritual," which in modern usage has been applied to anyone who tends to operate more on a more abstract than concrete plane. In my neighborhood, we have a woman who has hung a sign in her yard calling herself a "spiritual advisor." Pictured below that title are a crystal ball and tarrot cards, which are not condoned by Christians. Christian is a noun that describes persons who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Savior and Redeemer; as an adjective, it should describe persons, places, and things that espouse Christianity.

Londy: What is some excellent Christian literature that is worth studying and emulating? What authors can you recommend? Are there particular, well-written Christian short stories that have stuck with you that you could tell us a little bit about? And the same for Christian novels.

Kathleen Muldoon: Great questions, Londy. My faith influenced my writing even before I mainly focused on writing for Christian children. I was so taken with the need for children's literature that imbued moral values in a society that shuns them. Such convictions were instilled in me from an early age. The only Christian short stories I've read for children are in magazines such as the Focus on the Family group, and in collections such as those put out by Pauline Books and Media (Now You're Cooking is one example). Some of my favorite authors and certainly worth emulating include Virginia Kroll, the various authors of the Box Car children mysteries (Albert Whitman & Company), and Joyce Carol Thomas. A good Christian fantasy author to emulate is Jerry B. Jenkins, whose The Minions of Time is a consistent favorite of the middle grade readers. My advice is tht you begin formulating your own list of favoriets as you read widely in the genre and for the age group that most attracts you. Good luck!

Ella: A lot of markets are interested in nonfiction. I know several of these markets do not require an overt religious tone. But a lot of history or cultural pieces are going to discuss non-Christian times or places. Is it a waste of time to send stories like this to a Christian market, even if there's a good universal message behind them? Does it depend on the market?

Kathleen Muldoon: You're right in thinking that it depends on the market, Ella. Certainly it is not a waste of time to send historical or multicultural pieces to a Christian market--only, of course, if the the guidelines specify these as an interest. Knowing your market is particularly important here. For example, perhaps a Christian magazine states it accepts historical nonfiction--do they mean mainstream or Bible history? Only reading some back copies of that magazine will give you the answer. Even in nonfiction articles, your topic should be wholesome and, even if obliquely, show the glory of God--just as you sense God's presence on a starry night. Most guidelines will list taboos, if appropriate. A good example of publishers who are specific with these is the Mennonite publications.

grannyrobin: I wrote a short story about a Christian senior couple; the wife finds a charge on her bank card to a dating site online. This is a FUNNY story about trust in the marriage and identity theft. I know this sounds "lame", but I can't figure out where to submit it.

Kathleen Muldoon: It doesn't sound lame, it sounds adorable--and humor is so welcome. I'm assuming this is fiction. Two markets that immediately came to my mind are Mature Living (Baptist) and Mature Years (Methodist), both of which accept fiction (I've been published in Mature Living). Liguorian, a Catholic magazine, also uses fiction. I subscribe to this magazine, and about a third of it involves seniors. While all three of these magazines have denominational ties, I've found their fiction to be pretty "mainstream" Christian.

Jan Fields: I know that I've seen changes in the religious/Christian market since I started writing for publication in the early 80s -- but I was never deeply into this area. What kinds of changes have you seen in ...say...the last ten years?

Kathleen Muldoon: Wow, that's a great question, Jan. I'll try answering that in three parts. First, as to publishing format--to keep up with technology and trends, I see more electronic magazines now and on the horizon (one is My Light, an online Catholic children's magazine), as well as more Christian children's books being offered for electronic book readers. Second, in keeping with hard economic times, the market is quite fluid (as in the secular market), with publishers going under and/or merging with bigger houses. Consequently, some of the "giants" (such as Tommy Nelson and Zonderkidz) are now offering "co-venture" contracts to writers, which means, essentially, that the writer has to kick in some of the publishing costs. This might account for many writers opting for self-publishing, in which at least they'll have complete control over marketing and profits. Finally, I see some Christian publishers becoming more liberal in the topics they allow, particularly in the young adult market and somewhat in the middle grade publications. I'd love to hear your perceptions, especially on anything I missed.

Jan Fields: Well, I've seen the market grow tighter but that's mostly because many of the places I was published don't exist anymore (and I'm sure I didn't kill them!) I loved SHINING STAR and was heart broken when they folded as I used the magazine at church and sold to them. And VIRTUE is gone and IGNITE YOUR FAITH. I think as the economy has hit ALL magazines, it's hit faith magazines just that little bit harder because of limited distribution to begin with. And I'll skip pontificating about my feelings on the "co-venture" thing. But I do think low overhead publishing like ebooks could be a great way to add new outlets.

Kathleen Muldoon: Yes, these were terrific magazines. I also miss My Friend. A lot of magazines that have gone under in both the Christian and the secular markets were for teens--the Christian teen market has really shrunk, especiall since Brio, Brio and Beyond, and Breakaway went under. A couple months ago, I sold a quiz to Face Up, a Christian teen magazine in Dublin, Ireland--it was one Brio had held for publication, but that never happened before they folded.

Jan Fields: And though I think some Christian book publishers have been hard hit, I'm also seeing more and more books from secular publishers where faith plays a part in the narrative. So the big publishers are less inclined to turn aside a strong, well-written novel where the main character is a person of faith.

Patsy: Speaking of vanity publishing. Would you have any suggestions as to whom to use. Especially here in Canada. They are few and far between.

Kathleen Muldoon: I'm not really familiar with the self-publishing market, Patsy. I hope you'll try the traditional market first, simply because it's lot's more fun getting paid than having to pay to get your work published. On the other side of that, though, if you can't find a traditional publisher and you are a good self-promoter and marketer (I am pathetic in both those areas), then you might explore some of the Print on Demand publishers (some offer "packages" starting a $500). Amazon.com will carry the books from some POD publishers, and Writer's Digest magazine offers an annual Self-Published Book Awards competition. The POD publishers some of my colleagues have used include Outskirts Press and AuthorHouse. I don't think being in Canada would prohibit you from using any of the US publishers, since it is my understanding that everything is done electronically. I'm not endorsing either of these publishers since I've had no personal experience with either. I think if you do decide to go this route, you should do meticulous, comparison research and, if possible, ask for references from the company you decide you might try (ask for the names of some authors they've published and for a way to contact them). Alternatively, you can go onto Amazon.com and look at one or two of the books that publisher has listed.

Jan Fields: Okay, I've been outside this field for a while but several of the things I've sold haven't been for kids -- but for people who work with kids in the ministry. SHINING STAR, for instance, used to be a teacher's magazine filled with crafts and activities to do with kids. And when I revised the Middler Curriculum for CharismaLife, that was for ministry workers -- though I was coming up with activities and games and such for kids. And even the puppet play I sold to...oh, One Way, I think the little newsletter is called -- it's for ministery workers. Have you don't much in that area? Stuff directed at the workers for the kids? Are there still opportunities for that sort of thing?

Kathleen Muldoon: Oh, yes, there definitely are opportunties to develop materials for Christian educators, youth ministers, and so forth. I have not written for this market, only for those targeted at children. However, I know from teaching children's church myself that there is a need for curriculum, new ideas for classroom acitivites (written for the adult who will be teaching those activities to children), vacation Bible school programs--I consider that a whole other ministry. Sally Stuart has these markets listed in her Christian Writer's Market Guide (which does not just list children's markets but all markets that accept submissions of Christian manuscripts/proposals). In my opinion, those wishing to write for this market should begin with their own denominational (if applicable) publisher(s) of the materials used at their churches. Those who teach there, of course, will be familiar with what works with the children they teach and may have many ideas for what they'd like to see or try. I think it's good, if you have that latitutde, to try something outside the curricula and, if it's well received, write it up and send it in. Parents who also write can analyze the papers their children bring home and see if there is a market there for them. Some Sunday school papers ask for submissions written for the child (these are the type I write); others are for the adult educators. The publishers' guidelines should spell this out.

Kathleen Muldoon: I was looking through the previous posts, and one issue that is important but hasn't been fully addressed is the need to know today's children. Kids don't dial the phone--in fact, most text. They don't play "kick the can" or other games we may have played as children. For the most part, editors expect realistic portrayal of today's children and the world in which they live. Today's teen most likely would not greet another teen, "How do you do?" but might rather say, "Yo, dude." Dialogue in fiction should reflect today (not, of course, the foul language, at least not in Christian fiction). The only way you can know how kids talk, think, and act, is to be around them and interact with them. If you don't have children (I don't), interact with neighborhood kids and children at your church. Have a child read your manuscript before sending it off (pick a child of the same sex and age of your protagonist, if possible). Ask the child questions about what they're read. Has your Christian theme come through for him or her? An exception to the above, of course, would be historical fiction and for faith-based publishers that have specific restrictions in their guidelines, such as the Mennonite/Anabaptist publications (another reason to know your markets).

Schrisoe: I was wondering how to go about marketing a nonfiction book series story for ages 7-10.The concept is unique and I was wondering if it should be mentioned in the cover letter. Also, is it okay to have only a few written while subbing. There will be quite a few in the series. And one last thing, where would you suggest subbing a series to?

Kathleen Muldoon: That sounds like a terrific undertaking and a worthy project, and 7-10 year olds is a great age group for engaging in a series. I've only written one series, and that was for five books on the orphan train riders that I developed for Perfect Learning (an educational publisher). For that one, I had one written and outlines for the other four, which I submitted as a package. But each publisher is different. If a publishers wants queries only, then you should in your query letter give an overview of the series as you envision it (I assume seven books, right?), and let the editor know you have one (or more) written, and when you anticipate having the series complete. As in the general publishing marketplace, each publisher asks for different ways to submit material, and so what you send initially will be depending on submission guidelines. If a publisher states "complete manuscripts," I would send only one book and indicate in the cover letter that it is the first of a series. I once heard an editor at a writers' conference indicate that it is hard to market a series, but he was speaking of those based on a series character. This is because sometimes publishers don't want to commit to an entire series until they see how the first book sells. From the description of your project, however, it seems that it would have be a series. One problem is that many publishers don't indicate whether or not they accept series; this is where perusing their catalogs comes in handy. I don't offhand have a publisher suggestion; I do like JourneyForth kids' Bible stories, but whether or not they would entertain a series, I don't know.

Katie: Kathleen, are kids Bible story books often written in house? I'm talking about the big books, with many Bible stories in them. The kind used for bedtime devotionals, or by Sunday School teachers. I have one that I have been working on for quite a while, and it's ALMOST finished! I wondered if I had a chance at marketing this.

Kathleen Muldoon: Congratulations on such a great project! To my knowledge, these are not often written in house, and certainly there are opportunities for freelance writers for collections of Bible story books. If you've fictionalized your Bible stories (i.e., added characters...), be sure the publisher you target accepts fictionalized Bible stories. It would be helpful for you to study publishers' online catalogs (or get print catalogs) so you have an idea of exactly what each publisher puts out. In your cover or query letter, it's important to point out how your book differs from other books of Bible stories for the age group you've targeted. Good luck!

Kathleen Muldoon: One more thing! (maybe not my last --When writing for Christian children, it's important to bear in mind that we grow our Christianity as we mature; I'm still growing my faith. If you're writing for preschool children, bear in mind that they have some basic concepts of God. However, they won't have a clue about such concepts as "salvation." I go into more detail in Sowing Seeds about where children are in their faith walks. If you're in doubt as to whether a Christian concept is age appropriate for something you're writing, be sure to check with a Christian educator or youth minister.

Jan Fields: Something I see in a lot of beginning writer stories is a child who is VERY devout (thinks about what Jesus would do, prays, knows scripture, remembers words of Sunday School teacher or pastor) but who does something very wrong with very little motivation (steals a skateboard because he'd like to have one and the other boy always gets nice things, steals something from a nice neighbor lady...actually mostly it's stealing.) I find this incongruous. I was a very devout child and would never have considered stealling from friends and neighbors. My "badness" was more in the line of a single lie to avoid getting into trouble or maybe letting my temper run out of control and yelling something unkind at another child or having trouble letting go of an offense. How do you feel about it? How convincing is it when a devout child doesn't something fiercely wrong?

Kathleen Muldoon: That really is unrealistic, and young readers would recognize that and tune out. Even children see through a scenario such as the one you pose above and would most likely (at a child level) see that "devout" child as being a hypocrite. Good point, Jan. We have to keep our characters in character, whether writing for the Christian or secular market.

Stacy: One tool that might be helpful in finding whether a concept is appropriate for a certain age group is LifeWay's Levels of Biblical Learning. It's geared toward Sunday School, but I think it might be helpful for general info as well. http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_CM_-_Levels_of_Biblical_Learning.pdf

Kathleen Muldoon: Thanks for the link, Stacy. I've bookmarked it!

mmmgood: Do you find that Christian magazine publishers have their own doctrinal ideas that they wish to stick to? Is there a way to know what those are, without reading many issues of all sorts of different magazines?

Kathleen Muldoon: Yes, many Christian magazine publishers have very definite doctrinal creeds to which writers must adhere. The publishers' guidelines should spell these out for you. A starting place is Sally E. Stuart's Christian Writers' Market, which has a denominational listing of magazine publishers. Nonetheless, once you have narrowed down your market choices, you should read copies of those magazines. While researching my Sowing Seeds...book, I had the privilege of interviewing several Christian children's magazine editors, and they stressed the advisability of prosopective readers doing this in order to get a "flavor" of their magazines' styles and content.

Kathleen Muldoon: I want to finish the workshop with a note of appreciation. When the editor at E & E first approached me about writing a book on writing for Christian children, I wondered how much interest there might be. After Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market came out late last fall, I was overwhelmed with emails and notes from writers around the country. The one that most gratified me was from a woman who received my book for Christmas. She had been praying about how she might use her writing talent in serving the Lord, and she said that Sowing Seeds gave her the answer she'd been seeking. And now, with all your insightful questions and helpful comments, I'm even more delighted that so many writers are willing to share their faith through their writing. What a terrific ministry! The fact that we can help shape the faith journeys of our readers is mind-boggling--and humbling. It is my prayer that each of you who participated in this workshop will continue your efforts to contribute to the wonderful world of Christian children's literature. In this time of turmoil, immorality, and God-lessness, you are a beacon of hope. Thank you!

Jan Fields: Can you tell us more about SOWING SEEDS. I haven't had a chance to get the book. What is the scope of what you cover?

Kathleen Muldoon: Thanks for asking, Jan. Sowing Seeds...is an overview of the field of writing for the Christian children's market. In consultation with my editor, we decided the assumption would be made that readers already have writing basics. I wrote the book from my heart, based on my experience with writing for this niche market and doing it also as a ministry. I was also privileged to interview several editors and writers in the field, and their input is included. Following an introduction, the book starts with chapters on the two "commandments" of writing for this market--know thy audience, know thy markets; the third chapter deals with getting started (writing space, reference tools, and so forth). The fourth chapter is an overview of the Christian children's magazine market, followed by one chapter each for fiction and nonfiction for this market. Chapter 7 is an overview of the Christian children's book market, followed by one chapter each for fiction and nonfiction in the book market. These middle chapters are subdivided by age group and the many types of writing in each (for example, in the chapter on writing nonfiction for the Christian children's magazine market, there are subheadings for such things as writing devotions, developing puzzles and activities, writing columns...Chapters 10 and 11 deal with submission issues and what publishers' responses might mean. The last chapter further develops the idea of writing for Christian children as a ministry and contains suggestions on how we might "give back" through our writing. There are three appendices--one on recommended reference material, one on existing professional Christian writers' and juvenile writers' organizations and groups for Christian writers, and the third recommended children's books by age group. Phew, I think that probably gives you more information than you ever wanted to know! The book is available from Amazon.com.

Jan Fields: That's fantastic. Sounds like a real "go to" book for the field. Now, of course, I must get it. My bookcases groan in anticipation of another writing book.

anita: Kathleen, I wanted to be the first to say thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. It's funny, all of the questions I wanted to ask were asked by the other writers attending this workshop. I've learned so much, and I'm more confident about one of my manuscripts now. (It's Christian-based!)

Jan Fields: Yes, you did a fantastic job and this transcript is going to be so helpful and full of information.

Kathleen Muldoon: Thank you all for your kind words. Isn't it fun chatting writing with friends? I hope to see many of your books and stories on the market soon. You can email me via my website (www.writtenwordministry.com) with such good news! Many thanks to each of you who participated. I've learned a lot from y'all (as we say in Texas). May God bless all your writing efforts and ministries. You'll never know until you reach heaven how many young lives you've touched by sowing faith seeds through your writing.