As we head into the new year, it’s a great time to reflect on the biggest Christian fiction news of the previous year. Here are the stores that had us all buzzing in 2016.
Top Christian Fiction News of 2016
KAREN KINGSBURY’S BAXTER FAMILY HEADED TO TV (February)
In February, we found out that Roma Downey and LightWorkers Media were developing a television series Karen Kingsbury’s popular series of novels about the Baxter Family.
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER SCORES TOP SPOT ON TWO BESTSELLERS LISTS (March)
Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish novel The Restoration (Shiloh Run Press) hit the #1 spot on two different best-seller lists: the Publishers Weekly Religion Bestseller List and also the top berth on the March Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s List.
TWO CHRISTIAN FILMS TOP BOX OFFICE (April)
Another sign of the popularity of faith-based films in theaters, two Christian films appeared in the Top Five at the box office in April. A third Christian movie—released a few weeks earlier—was still hanging out at #23.
PRISCILLA SHIRER LAUNCHES EPIC FANTASY SERIES FOR TWEENS (May)
Wanting to create a new way to explain biblical concepts to her young sons, renowned Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer wrote the epic fantasy series The Prince Warriors (B&H Kids). The series is a tool to encourage young readers to arm themselves with the armor of God.
Bestselling author Priscilla Shirer pens epic trilogy for boys
ALLEGORICAL VIDEO GAME FOR TWEENS RELEASED (July)
Digital games are captivating today’s youth—but a new online video game titled The Aetherlight reaches out to young peope with an allegorical experience that teaches them the epic story of the Bible.
CLASSIC “BEN-HUR” RETOLD IN NEW FILM—AND NEW NOVEL (August)
This summer saw the release of a new theatrical version of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, a fictional story set during the historical events of the New Testament. To coincide with the release, author Carol Wallace—a descendant of the author of the original novel—wrote a new retelling for a new generation of readers.
BEN-HUR: A Tale of the Christ–Modernized Epic Novel Releasing in July
BETH MOORE MAKES HER FICTION DEBUT (September)
Although bestselling Bible teacher Beth Moore has written many nonfiction bestsellers, she made her debut as a novelist this past fall with The Undoing of Saint Silvanus (Tyndale House).
Popular Bible teacher Beth Moore to release debut novel Sept. 20
BIBLEMAN RETURNS! (October)
Following a hiatus, popular children’s series Bibleman returned with a whole new look. B&H Kids and P23 Entertainment Inc. brought back the hero as a new cartoon series, Bibleman: The Animated Adventures.
HALLMARK ADAPTS CHRISTIAN ROMANCES FOR CHRISTMAS (November)
This past Christmas season, Hallmark premiered new TV movies adapted from Christian authors: Robin Jones Gunn’s Finding Father Christmas and Denise Hunter’s A December Bride.
“GOD’S NOT DEAD 3” FILM IS IN THE WORKS (December)
Following the success of the first two God’s Not Dead films, producer David A.R. White told an interviewer that the studio is in the early planning stages of a third film.
IN MEMORIAM
This past year, two Christian authors passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.
LEFT BEHIND CO-CREATOR TIM LAHAYE PASSES AWAY (July)
This past July, evangelical leader Tim LaHaye died. He was 90. A prolific author and Christian leader, many knew him best as the co-writer of the blockbuster “Left Behind” series.
REMEMBERING SANDRA D. BRICKER (November)
In November, Sandra D. Bricker passed away. She was 58. Over the course of more than two dozen books, Sandie carved out a niche as an author of laugh-out-loud Christian fiction that combined humor and spirituality with life lessons.