Celebrating Christian Fiction Readers

By Sandra Orchard

Since Thursday is Readers Day, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to my favorite blog of reviews of Christian fiction—Best Reads-Kav  
 

Kav is a librarian with a passion for Christian fiction. Some weeks she’ll review as many as five books, which she then offers as free giveaways. 
 

Recently I had the fun of receiving one of these books, but felt kind of bad when I realized that it cost her almost as much to mail me the book as it would cost for me to buy it. Not only that, I learned that she often buys doubles or supplies a copy when she receives one free to review. So I asked her how/why she does it. 
 

Her response was so inspiring to me that I asked permission to share it. 
 

Her answer: “Quote away. I don't mind if everyone thinks I'm loopy over books and the industry....I am!!!!”    Any wonder why I love her?!
 

This is what she had to say: I'm so passionate about supporting the Christian fiction industry because I don't want my inspirational fiction to become extinct!!!!
 

I manage to read so much because I travel hours (and I do mean hours) to work and back and I am blessed to be able to read in a moving bus -- while standing up even. 
 

I've noticed more than one curious glance at the eye-catching covers, which are so different from the regular market. Who knew Christian fiction would be an introduction to faith discussions? I've had a few interesting chats, let me tell you. 
 

I can't really tell you why I feel so driven to continue giving books away. At first I was only going to offer up a free copy of the books I got from the publisher because I still wanted to support the author by purchasing his/her book. But I get so excited when I read a really, really, really good one that I can't help myself! LOL. 
 

I feel very strongly about supporting the Christian publishing industry. As a library tech I am well aware of how precarious the publishing industry can be and I want to do my part to make sure there will always be a venue for this kind of publishing. 

That means they have to sell and so I buy. 
 

I'm by no means rich or anything and I don't know how long I'll be able to keep it up, but it's almost like a calling to me right now. Supporting and sharing quality literature, which has ministered so much to me. 
 

Honestly, I can't tell you how changed my life is from reading Christian fiction. I really draw from the messages and the scriptures that I find in each book and it's made a tremendous difference to me. 
 

So God bless all you authors who write what I love to read and uplift me at the same time.
 
-Sandra again- 

Authors, don’t you just want to hug Kav to bits? Of course, I could be a tad biased since she called Deep Cover (LIS September 2011) “A great debut novel that will steal your breath away!” --Big Grin--

  And READERS, thank you for buying our books. Writing them is a labor of love that only your support makes possible.