The Invaluable Regina Doman writes

On Oct. 1, the Feast of St. Therese, Sophia Institute Press released their first women’s fiction, which I edited: Rachel’s Contrition by Catholic author Michelle Buckman. Since the book’s first pivotal moment occurs on pg. 5, when Rachel picks up a tattered holy card of St. Therese, it only seemed fitting that this was the book’s release date.

As some of you know, Catholic fiction is an emerging genre, one that I’ve been working on for years, and one that John Barger at Sophia has put his company behind. Michelle herself has been writing Catholic fiction for years — but by subterfuge. Since no secular or Christian publishing house would take her books with overt references to Catholicism, her characters were, as she put it, “Catholic in my head but nondenominational on paper.” She published five novels this way, one of them a finalist for the presitigious “Christy” award, but she hoped and prayed to be able to put her faith into fiction openly someday.

Well, God has his perfect timing, and when Michelle sent me her manuscript last year, I knew this was by far the best women’s fiction I’ve seen. It was gritty. It was real. It was nearly impossible to put down. The night I received her first three chapters, I went to bed wondering what would happen next to the characters and was on pins and needles till I could finish the story.

I have to act civil when I see him. That was part of the agreement. So, I plaster a fake smile on my face and bat my eyelashes at him.
“Hello, Sinclair. I hope you had a nice weekend.”
“Rachel.” He says it as if my name is an answer.

Thus I was introduced to Rachel Winters and her estranged husband Sinclair, whom she desperately loves but can’t seem to reconnect with, since tragedy ruined their family. And her saga begins. By the time I finished the book, I had cried and laughed and cried again — and I could not wait to see this book in print so that other Catholic women could have the experience I had. (Try it for yourself: you can read the first three chapters on www.RachelsContrition.com.)

Believe me, this is quality storytelling. I believe Rachel’s Contrition could go head-to-head with any of Ophrah’s Book Club Selections — and win.

But would other Catholic readers feel the same way?

Sophia started promoting the book through their eblasts this week, and Michelle noticed our Amazon rank was creeping up. This afternoon it was ranked at around 51,000. In one subcategory of Women’s Fiction, “Mothers and Children,” it suddenly clocked in at #1.

Just now I got an email from John Barger. I went and checked the stats. I’m enclosing the screen shot.

Rachel’s Contrition is #1 in Women’s Fiction on Amazon right now.

Let this soak in: Catholic Fiction is #1 in Women’s Fiction on Amazon right now.

And we’re just getting started.

So I’m asking you now: go to Amazon (here’s the link), take a look, and join me in saying a thank you to Our Lady of Victory. And if you feel so moved, buy the book.

And please spread the word to your friends who are looking for a edgy, realistic, tear-jerking read. Let them know that Catholic fiction for women is out there for the buying — and it’s started out by making a mark none of us could have expected.

Thank you, Our Lady. Thank you, St. Therese.

Pray for us!

Peace and good
Regina Doman
Fiction Editor,
Sophia Institute Press

www.rachelscontrition.com
www.michellebuckman.com
www.catholicteennovels.com
www.sophiainstitute.com
www.angelinthewaters.com

Keep up the good work, Regina. I had fun yakking with you in Philly!