Still talking books and authors...

Okay, so on Monday I spent some time answering questions from people about which books I’ve been reading and what I like. On Tuesday I got this response from someone: “Well, there’s really only ONE BOOK – the Bible. It’s more than a book, so nothing compares to it. But books written by the muse of man that I have enjoyed would include…”

Um… where do I start? First, there isn’t only “one book.” There are a lot of books, many of great value – even to people of faith. Second, I’ve never heard of a book that wasn’t “written by the muse of man.” For crying out loud. Third, that is without a doubt the most pompous note I’ve received in years. 

Look, I appreciate that I have people of faith reading my blog. I'm a person of faith, and I represent a lot of Christian books. But I also live in the real world, not some hokey spiritual world where we need to always point out that we are religious. So give it a rest. Learn to write words that people want to read and you'll find more success. Geez...

Janet wrote to say, “Looking at all the religious fiction writers being published today, who do you 
think will be read and admired 25 years from now?”

First, this is a great question. It's also a bit of a slippery topic, since "popularity" and "longevity" don't always go hand in hand (in writing or in any other art). Tastes change and that pushes the culture away from one author and toward another. For example, Ernest Hemingway has long been considered one of America’s greatest writers. But as readers have moved away from his books, and as time has marched on, his reputation as a stylist has flagged considerably. And his buddy F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was reduced to writing B-movie scripts late in life because the reading public had soured on his work, now commands great respect from the literary community. So… you never know how time is going to treat writers.

Let me offer an example in religious publishing: I think Terri Blackstock is one of the best of the Christian thriller writers right now. However, with the contemporary feel of her books, I doubt people will be reading and studying her work in 25 years. That’s not to run her down – it’s simply to say they are contemporary stories, and those tend to fade quickly. (Remember just a few short years ago? We were all reading Tom Clancy.) As an agent, I don't want any of the authors I represent to think I'm running down their work if I don't select them as "writer of the century." But that's the hand I'm playing with this post today.

Second, in my view, your question begs a recency debate. Twenty-five years from now, I believe they'll still be reading and discussing Madeleine L'Engle and Walter Wangerin... but is it fair to name two of the old guard in CBA? I don’t know. So this is a stab in the dark. I think, 25 years from now, people will still be reading Sue Monk Kidd novels, and the “Hawk & the Dove” trilogy from Penelope Wilcock. I think the jury is still out regarding Francine Rivers, even though that may sound silly when you consider her success. And I can think of about five or six writers who could make this list if they continue to build on their talent, but they simply don't have a big enough body of work yet for us to make a clear judgment (names on that list would include Leif Enger and Haven Kimmel, who have immense talent and will need to match that with big ideas). I also think that there are numerous authors who have the talent and desire to do exceedingly well in this business, but to this point their books haven't quite matched up to their ability, so we need to be patient and see what happens over time. 

Third, this points to a question for writers: What are the qualities that make a story timeless? Doubtless that would include facing the great questions of life, and having likable characters face difficulties we all can relate to. But the problem with trying to create timeless fiction is that tastes change so much. Would LEFT BEHIND have been as popular today as it was in the 1990’s? No. Would HARRY POTTER have been as wildly successful in the 1950’s as it was fifty years later? I doubt it. So I think every writer writes for his or her own time, for their own generation, not for eternity.

On the nonfiction side, we can see something similar. People a quarter-century in the future will still be reading Frederick Buecher and John R.W. Stott, but they've become old-guard. I'd say the current names that will have a lasting impact are Alister McGrath and Brennan Manning (maybe John Piper, but I'm leery). I'm in the minority in thinking Brian McLaren is a flash in the pan, and I don't think names like John Eldredge and Max Lucado will have staying power beyond their lifetimes, being too tied to our current culture. Finally, I should note that I honestly think a couple of current authors I represent have the depth and talent to make a list like this, but they haven't yet had the success or the longevity needed to prove me correct yet.

Betting on authors 25 years in the future is a bit like betting horses -- much depends on things beyond skill. There is timing, topicality, significance, and God's sovereignty (for my super-spiritual friends) or, if you don't mind my saying so, good old fashioned dumb luck. But I think a few of these folks are likely candidates. Would love to know who you think we'll be reading in 25 years.

And by the way, author Jim Rubart (the writer of the new bestseller ROOMS) is doing a booksigning with Paul Young, author of THE SHACK, this Friday night in Seattle. It's at the University Village Barnes & Noble at 7. If you're in the area, stop in and say hello.

 

Comments

[Regina Merrick]

My daughter's best friend always has the "Sunday School" answers. When asked what is her favorite book, she always prefaces it by, "Well, besides the BIBLE..." LOL

In 25 years, I'll be 71. I don't read the same things I read when I was 21, so it's difficult to predict what I'll be interested in. We go through reading phases in life, as publishing goes through phases. I went through the non-fiction Lucado, Warren, child-rearing, etc. phase; the historical phase; and now I read more contemporary CBA - yes, I burned out on Morris and Oke, and I'm not a huge Amish fan (the books, not the people). It's interesting to note the rise of suspense in CBA over the last few years. What once would have been considered "edgy" is now more mainstream.

Maybe there will come a time, once again, where the lines between CBA and ABA will be blurred, as they were with the likes of Eugenia Price and have been with John Grisham. Will Ted Dekker stand the test of time and cross into both camps?

[Sue Harrison]

Like Regina, I realize that my preferences have changed throughout my life. I now read a wider variety of novels and non-fiction than I did when I was younger, but I have found that throughout my life (youth through "late" middle age) I have always loved to reread my childhood favorites: Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, even Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. The all time "adult" favorites that I hope I'll be reading in 25 years: Great Expectations, Roots, Jane Eyre, The Stand, Cold Mountain, anything by Philip Yancy.

[brandt Dodson]

Timelessness is the key in determining the writers we'll be reading 25 years from now and that's as difficult to define as pornography (I know it when I see it). I think in most cases we see steady sales of The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and the Sea because they continue to be required reading in schools and universities. In no way am I maligning these works since I recently read both of them for pleasure. (I would also rank To Kill a Mockingbird).

Timelessness?
Wow. I certainly don't think that Tom Clancy, John Grisham or Dean Koontz will be read 25 years from now because they are TOO contemporary. All of these gentlemen are fine writers and all of them had their day in the sun (all three rank in the top 6 of income earning authors for 2009 if that matters to anyone), but their "newness" has long since passed. I DO think Stephen King will be read 25 years from now just as Mary Shelley and Bram Stroker are now - even if it is because schools require it - because King re-birthed a genre that many thought was dead. Consider, if you will, the current vampire craze as testament to this. Although King has derided Meyer's books, she credits him with her interest in the horror genre even if her take is different than his.

In short, I believe the writes who will be read 25 years from now will be the writers who most influenced the next generation of authors. In so doing, their "literary genes" will be passed on and credit will be given where credit is due.

Who are they? They are the authors who are perceived as:
1. Owning their genres
2. Long careers.
3. Original writers in the sense they "took a chance"
4. Influenced future writers in their genre.

In this vein I would include:
Clive Cussler, Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Robert Jordan, Edmund O'Brien, Robert Ludlum, James Michner, James Clavelle, and Louis Louis L'Amour.

[Ellen Gee]

I think if Christian writers learned to write stories from a Christian world view the way Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Hugo did, their work would be timeless. All truth belongs to God, no matter how it's said. I often wonder how many times the stories of these great men have laid a foundation of faith in the hearts of men. Les Miserables taught me more about grace than any "Christian" book I've ever read.

[Nan Jones]

It is my hope that in 25 years I will still be reading Chip MacGregor's Blog! I need you and appreciate your straight talk.

An author that will remain timeless in my heart is someone you may have never heard of, Margaret Jensen. She died a few years back at age 91, but she left a legacy of God's faithfulness. Her books consisted of true stories of her childhood, growing up as a pastor's child in the rural prairies of Canada. Her family totally depended on God for their sustenance. With each book I read, I felt as thought we were sitting at the kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee and conversation. She inspired me to tell my stories of faith. You, or some of your readers, might want to read my favorite book of hers, "First We Have Coffee". It will change your walk with God into something simple and beautiful.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Bless you! And remember, I expect to still be learning from you 25 years from now.

[Laura Droege]

I agree with Ellen. The issues in these authors' works are relevant and timeless, even when the setting is far removed from my daily existence. What's more, even people who don't embrace the ideas of Christianity still read and marvel at Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment and Les Miserables; these books have opened up conversations between myself and others about faith. As a writer, I would love to have even a fraction of that type of influence, even though I doubt that I have a fraction of their writing talent and brilliance.

Personally, Les Miserables has affected my life deeply; at one particularly low point, the character of Javert showed me how I was rejecting grace and forgiveness from God and essentially killing myself like he did.

As far as who will be read long term, I can't say in the CBA or ABA. But I can offer the thought that sometimes an author will initially have success, fall out of favor in their lifetime and for a while afterwards, and then be rediscovered. That's what happened with Melville. His first few books were runaway bestsellers, Moby-Dick and Pierre were off-the-wall and he was deemed a lunatic, and nobody paid any attention to him for decades. Then Billy Bud was discovered in a trunk in somebody's attic and wa-la! Now English majors everywhere have to read Moby-Dick. I wonder if that will happen with some of our current authors, too.

[chip responds]

Still reading my blog in 25 years?! I'd be 77. I doubt anyone will be interested in what I have to say, Nan. :o) But I appreciate the compliment.

[Sandi Rog]

Speaking of arrogance and tastes changing. I have to say, one of the most arrogant statements I've made that still causes me to cringe is when you (yes, you Chip) once told me to shop my story to Barbour. I said something about having read their books and not being terribly impressed. Well, I MUST take that back. So, I read ONE author who really wasn't impressive (not one of your clients, by the way), but since that statement, I have to admit some of my most favorite authors write for Barbour! So, yes, I've been on my high horse and choked on my foot when he bucked me off. :-)

[Judith Robl]

Interesting discussion! Regina, I'm already 71, and what I read now is not what I was reading at 46. My daughter (age 50) writes also. I can appreciate her writing, but it just isn't my preferred reading.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter is timeless. It is built around the concept that every action carries the seed of it's own reward or punishment.

Fidelity, infidelity, silence, duplicity, manipulation, public face and private torment are all embodied in it. If it is no longer required reading, it should be. Just my 2-cents worth.