Abingdon Fiction Launch Exceeds Expectations

Good news for Christian fiction. Abingdon's new line is getting off to a great start. Here's the scoop from Abingdon:
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Abingdon Press is pleased to announce that interest and sales for the first seven fall titles of the new Christian fiction line has exceeded initial expectations. Abingdon Press launched their new Christian fiction line this summer at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, Book Expo America in New York, and American Library Association convention in Chicago.

“Our company is energized by the great buzz created around Abingdon’s new fiction line,” Mark Yeh, Director of Abingdon Sales explains. “I am pleased that so many book clubs, retailers, libraries, and distributors are interested in our books. They have been very excited about the breadth and diversity in our first seven novels.”

Due to the high level of interest and sales commitments, the first four novels have already gone into a second printing and first print runs of the other three titles have been increased. In addition, all seven novels have received accolades. Gone to Green, book one in the Green Series from debut fiction novelist Judy Christie, was selected as a Crossings Book Club selection and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Veteran author Kay Marshall Strom’s Call of Zulina, book one in the Grace in Africa series, received a starred review in Library Journal. The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, from debut novelist Joyce Magnin, received a Seal of Approval and Bonus Selection from Pulpwood Queens, one of the largest “meeting and discussing” book clubs in the world. Linda S. Clare’s The Fence My Father Built will be a Buyer’s Choice in LifeWay Christian Stores fall fiction catalog. Ariel Allison’s eye of the god is the first book selection for the new fiction book club of Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ. Myra Johnson’s One Imperfect Christmas has been selected as a featured title at Cokesbury Christian bookstores. Rita Gerlach’s Surrender the Wind has received several rave reviews from veteran authors such as Julie Lessman, Golden Keyes Parsons, and Sharlene MacLauren.

As industry veteran Barbara Scott, Senior Acquisitions editor explains, “The Abingdon line expands in the spring with 10 new titles and a total of 20 new novels for the year. We will be adding new genres and storylines, all to inspire a deeper sense of faith in God’s love and grace.”

As the line expands, Abingdon will focus on interaction with readers and retailers by providing social networks for engagement with the authors and their novels. Retailers and readers can access video book trailers, study guides, author features, discussions, and other features through Facebook and Abingdonpress.com.
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I'm so pleased to see how well this line is launching. Quite a few of the original acquisitions were a result of the Forensics and Faith blog post about the new line a year ago. Later this month and in September I will be featuring more information about each of these new launch novels.

I asked Barbara Scott about new submissions. Her answer: "It will be next spring before I start acquiring again, but at ACFW, I’ll be looking for the crème de la crème to put on my pile to look at later. My lists are full through Spring 2011. Contracts are in process."