Tag: Avid Readers of Christian Fiction

How do you find books set in a specific location?

Bookish Question #383 | How do you find books set in a specific location?

I thought about this question for a while, because I don’t usually look for books based on where they are set (although an intriguing setting will often entice me to pick up a new book).

However, I know a lot of readers do location-based reading challenges, so the answer to this question is important for filling in the gaps!

When I review books, I do try to include the location in my review or in the tags so I can find the book again, and I know some other reviewers do this as well (I admit I got the idea from Narelle Atkins). That helps me locate books set in specific locations again in the future, and I hope it helps other readers.

If I did need to find a book set in a specific location, I can think of three places I’d look:

1. Amazon

I would search the location name on Amazon, in the hope that authors writing in different locations would include that in their subtitle or book description.

2. The Story Chats Podcast

The Story Chats @ Inspy Romance podcast has (sadly) closed down, but the old episodes are all available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. The team did a whole series of episodes on locations.

3. Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook

If all else fails (or if you want to save yourself a search), the Avids always come through with a veritable trove of suggestions, not matter how obscure your question. I am not responsible for how much your bank account will suffer should you ask.

What about you? How do you find Christian novels set in a specific location?

How do you find new-to-you authors?

Bookish Question #382 | How do you find new-to-you authors?

Back in the days before Kindle, by I found new authors by browsing in a physical bookstore – and the bookstore owner often recommended titles. Of course, that was back in the days where it was easier to find a Christian bookstore, and where the owner/operator knew the stock and the customers. I lived in a smallish city that had three Christian bookstores – now there is one.

This was why it was so difficult to be a successful author if you weren’t published by a traditional publisher who could get books into shops and libraries.

I now live in a bigger city that doesn’t have a single Christian bookstore, so even if I wasn’t a Kindle reader, I would have to become a mail-order shopper.

Now, in the era of Kindle and self-publishing, I mostly find new authors through promotions or recommendations from other authors.

My two most reliable sources are:

What about you? How do you find new-to-you authors?

Have you found any on my website? If so, let me know in the comments.