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| C. Kevin Thompson |
You’ve probably heard the news.
Abingdon fiction. Gone. They join a long litany of
publishers and imprints that have decided to get out of the Christian fiction
market in one way or another citing the bottom line as the main reason. No one
can blame them, really. It is a business. Businesses have to stay afloat.
Some of these publishers are relatively new to the game.
Only been publishing fiction for less than ten years. They had a good run. Won
lots of awards. Had good sales for such “fledgling start ups.”
The cry, however, from the news when it broke has been
mixed. These were some of the “headline reactions” I noted when reading the
various articles which arose from the ashes: 1) “Doomsday: Another Christian
publisher bites the dust and makes getting Christian fiction published more difficult.
Christian Fiction Authors are left scrambling for fewer contracts.” 2) “Don’t
Worry, Be Happy: Abingdon hadn’t acquired anything new in a year anyway. So,
everybody, just Chillax.” 3) “The Proof is in the Pudding: Too many Christian
novels cater to the same, declining audience of Amish/Christian Romance fiction
readers. That’s why sales are slipping.” 4) “Long Live the Indie Writer: The
only way to survive these troubling times in the world of publishing is to join
hands with Amazon and sing Kum ba yah.”
As I read and thought and prayed about my little boat in the
ocean we call “Writing,” I had two primary conclusions. First, has anyone ever
heard of a company called Apple? Does anyone remember Apple in 1996? The
company’s stock had dropped to a 10-year low and was then $18 a share. So, in
December of 1996, they spent $429 million and also gave 1.5 million shares of
their stock and purchased a company called NeXT. In the deal, they acquired a
guy by the name of Steve Jobs as a consultant. Out of the ashes, what you know
as The Apple Corporation today arose to become a leader in the world of
technology. They “reinvented” themselves and came out with a gadget called the
iPod. No doubt, plans were well underway for the iPhone, the iPad, and the other
spinoffs. The iPhone came out in 2007. Seems longer, doesn’t it. Just think
about how the world has changed in a mere eight years. Oh, and by the way,
Apple’s stock price as I write this blog is now $129.51.
Second, I’m a Christian. As one, I have two roads I can
travel. I can be a wishy-washy, tail-between-my-legs kind of believer, a la
Peter at the fire in Luke 22:54, willing to do whatever it takes to save my
writing behind in this world of publishing, or I can be the kind of believer
who stands tall for Christ, unwilling to compromise, run, or water down the
message. Now, with that in mind, I also live in a world whose growing sentiment
for anything even resembling God or Jesus is becoming more vile and
“anti-Christ-like” with each passing day. Couple this with the sale of major
Christian houses like Zondervan and Multnomah to secular publishing companies,
and the venues in which I can write, publish, and sell my writing, especially
if it has a “Standing Tall” kind of message, decrease exponentially.
When you look at the world in general, the message is
becoming clearer by the day. Christians are no longer wanted on planet Earth.
Our values, our morals, our God’s way of doing “business” are being vilified in
the courts of judges, justices, and public opinion.
However, you and I both know that God’s not done yet,
either. I haven’t heard any trumpets yet. My eyes and ears, looking to the
heavens and listening for the “Shout of the Lord,” are still waiting.
So, I watch and wait. For a possible Christian “Apple
Company” to rise up and become a viable leader in this crazy business. For the
next Christian novel and next Christian movie to shine a light in the darkness
of these last days. Hoping that, if God chooses to use me, one of those could
be mine.
God’s not done yet. And when He’s still in play, you know
exciting things will happen.
Something
ominous lurks under the waters.
Dr.
Evelyn Sims, a brilliant marine biologist, is being watched. Her husband's
mysterious death at sea—with the only survivor of the Greenback telling a
shocking, unbelievable tale—has thrown her personal life into chaos. Her
scientific views are being scrutinized. Her husband's office and their home are
investigated. Called in by the FBI to help solve the mystery, Evelyn is thrust
into her toughest research project ever...and forced into a maze of deception
and betrayal.
Micah
Gregson, the Coast Guard captain who rescued the Greenback, is determined to
find out why a special unit at the FBI—the one assigned to cryptozoological
cases—is involved.
Together
Evelyn and Micah will uncover a plot more deadly than anything the ocean could
ever produce. One that will either save Evelyn's life and redeem her career, or
destroy everything she—and myriad others—stand for.
C. KEVIN THOMPSON
is an ordained minister with a B.A. In Bible (Houghton College, Houghton, NY),
an M.A. in Christian Studies (Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS), and a
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (National-Louis University, Wheeling, IL). He
presently works as an assistant principal in a middle school. He also has
several years experience as an administrator at the high school level.
A former Language Arts teacher, Kevin decided to put his
money where his mouth was and write, fiction mostly. Now, years later, Kevin is
a member of the Christian Authors Network (CAN), American Christian Fictions
Writers (ACFW), and Word Weavers International. He is the Chapter President of
Word Weavers-Lake County (FL), and his published works include two
award-winning novels, The Serpent’s Grasp
(Winner of the 2013 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference Selah
Award for First Fiction) and 30 Days Hath
Revenge - A Blake Meyer Thriller: Book 1, as well as articles in The Wesleyan Advocate, The Preacher, Vista, The Des Moines Register
and The Ocala Star-Banner.
Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24, The Blacklist, Blue
Bloods, and Criminal Minds, loves
anything to do with Star Trek, and is
a Sherlock Holmes fanatic, too.
Website: www.ckevinthompson.com
Kevin’s Writer’s Blog: www.ckevinthompson.blogspot.com
Kevin’s Educational Blog: www.thehelpfuleducator.blogspot.com
Facebook: C. Kevin Thompson – Author Fan Page
Twitter: @CKevinThompson
Goodreads: C. Kevin Thompson
