CF Buzz: Christian Chick Lit & Comics Crank Up 2006

Mary Griffith makes history!

According to my reviewing cronies at Romantic Times Magazine (Jan. 2006 edition)...Marilyn FunFiction Griffith's Made of Honor is the first African-American chick lit title to their new Steeple Hill Cafe imprint. Blessings, Mary.

 

Harlequin's African American book monoply

The publisher plans to launch two fiction lines for African-American markets in 2006 thru 2007. Kimani Press, which will publish four books a month starting next July. Former BET's Arabesque,  New Spirit will continue what it has been doing with its same VP, Linda Gill, BET books publisher, but under a new Harlequin flagship and a new senior editor, Mavis Allen of Silhouette. Former BET books assistent editor, Demetria Lucas has been named associate editor at Harlequin as well.

 

Dafina expands inspirational 

Kensington's Dafina imprint will expand its spiritual and inspirational romance line through 2007. Publisher Weekly states: "Author Victor McGlothin, who has published several novels with St. Martin's Press, is shifting gears with his forthcoming Dafina title, scheduled for May 2006. Down on My Knees is the faith-based story of a single mother who takes a vow of celibacy."

   

Barbour's Serenity Manga

Graphic novels are getting sanctified for the christian tween and teen market. Barbour publisher's Serenity manga series, hopefully will delight.

 

 

African American Christian Comics & Laurence Fishbourne

  Urban Ministries, Inc., a Chicago-based publisher of Sunday school materials for African-American churches, is launching a new line of Christian comics called The Guardians, which will feature a Matrix movie franchise Morpheus-Lauren Fishbourne looking superhero named "Code." They also have a cute comic Sunday School line for kids called Kidz of the King.

 

 

 

Powered By Qumana

Kissmas Time: Part 1

Kissmas Time

by Dee Stewart

 

Part I

 

 

     "...This assignment isn't hard even for you..."

     Mr. Proctor tapped his Waterman pen to the rhythm of the Lou Rawl's musical version of "The Little Drummer Boy," which crooned on the small vintage radio that sat upon the windowsill behind his desk.

    My back straightened when my brain realized that the man had slighted me yet another insult in the short time we had been sitting in his office. 

    "Thank you, sir"   was the best snappy comeback my greenie-self could come up with."Um... So exactly what do you need me to do?"    

  Proctor reached for his glasses on his desk, and I took that chance to search for anything in his office that might give me a better edge with the man.

      For a workhorse-office-grouch the man was a Christmas collecting maven. Proctor's office looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting had exploded inside it. Burgundy settee, , green and gold accented and rugs. A toy train set running underneath his desk, miniature snow roofed homes intermingling with the radio, his end tables and his collectible magazines.Two four inch cone shaped ferns flanked the east and west corners. He claimed the room calmed his spirit after a long day of advertisement standoffs with sponsors he despised, compliance crackdowns with the newspaper's legal team, and his current headache--me, the new Religion & Society columnist, who happens to be his reluctant step-daughter.

     According to my fiance, James, my column was a dinosaur waiting for extinction . He's a CNN/SI staff reporter, so he knows his stuff. Sports coverage is the new hot ticket for women journalists he often preached.

 

Besides religous reporting was an oxymoron.Christians can't be objective.

 

    Unfortunately, I agreed.

    But as I observed the gold specks in Proctor's eyes sparkle in sync with Lou Rawls and his Waterman's cadence my spirit told me that my notion of Christian journalism would end before the song was over...And maybe my engagement, too.

 

Keep checking in for Part Two on Tuesday or subscribe to Christian Fiction's newsfeed in the sidebar.

Powered By Qumana