Francine Rivers

Infobox Writer


imagesize = 150px
name = Francine Rivers
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pseudonym =
birthdate = 1947
birthplace = United States
occupation = Novelist
nationality = American
period = 1976 - present
genre = Romance, Christian fiction
movement =
notableworks =
influences =
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website = http://www.francinerivers.com/

Francine Sandra Rivers (born 1947) is an American author of fiction with Christian themes, including inspirational romance novels. Prior to becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Rivers wrote historical romance novels. She is best known for her inspirational novel "Redeeming Love", while another novel, "The Last Sin Eater" has become a feature film.

Biography

Early years

Francine Rivers is the daughter of a police officer and a nurse. From the time she was a child, Rivers wanted to be a published author. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism. After her graduation she spent time as a newspaper reporter, writing obituaries and human interest stories.

Career

After her mother-in-law lent her several romance novels, Rivers decided that she would try to write in that genre. Her first manuscript was sold and became published in 1976. For the next several years she wrote historical romance novels.

In 1986, Rivers became a born-again Christian, and for three years she had difficulty finding plots for new novels. She spent her time instead studying the Bible, and decided to adapt her writing to focus on more Christian themes. Her first novel in the new vein, "Redeeming Love", was released in 1991. Rivers considers it to be her statement of faith.Cite web|last=Darlington|first=C.J.|title=Francine Rivers Interview|publisher=TitleTrakk.com|url=http://www.titletrakk.com/francine_rivers_interview.html|accessdate=2007-07-25|date=2007] "Redeeming Love" updates the Old Testament book of Hosea to the American West of the 1850s and tells the story of a prostitute named Angel, who is eventually reformed and converted to Christianity by the stoic patience and love of a frontier farmer named Michael Hosea. As is customary with fiction intended for a faith-based readership, the book propounds explicitly and moralistically ideas that a mainstream novelist would probably suggest implicitly.

Rivers's subsequent novels have all been in the inspirational fiction genre, as Rivers wants to "illustrate Christ and the Christian walk, to address difficult problems and write realistic stories." In a letter on her webpage [http://www.francinerivers.com/dear_reader.asp Francine Rivers webpage]

] Francine Rivers refers to the books written before her conversion to Christianity as her "B.C." (before Christ) bibliography. She has purchased the publication rights to her earlier romance novels so that she can prevent them from being released again, but some titles have been rereleased and others circulate in used bookstores.

Her inspirational series, The Mark of the Lion, sold over half a million copies.Cite web|title=Francine Rivers Answers the Faithful Fifteen|publisher=FaithfulReader.com|date=April 2004|accessdate=2007-07-25|url=http://www.faithfulreader.com/features/15_rivers_francine.asp] In 2007, her novel The Last Sin Eater was made in to a feature film , directed by Michael Landon Jr. and distributed by Fox Faith.

Rivers has been honored with many awards, including the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion.citation|last=Gregier|first=Jeremiah|title=Interview: The Last Sin Eater's Francine Rivers|newspaper=Christian Post|date=February 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-25|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070223/25911_Interview:_The_Last_Sin_Eater%92s_Francine_Rivers.htm] Rivers is also a member of the Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame. She has won four RWA RITA Awards, the highest award given in romantic fiction. Her first RITA was for Best Historical Romance in 1986 for "Not So Wild a Dream." Her subsequent ones, in 1995, 1996, and 1997, have been for Best Inspirational Romance.cite web|title=RITA Award Past Winners|publisher=Romance Writers of America|url=http://www.rwanational.org/cs/contests_and_awards/rita_awards/past_winners|date=2006|accessdate=2007-07-25]

Personal life

Francine Rivers is married to Rick Rivers and they live together in northern California (where the action in many of her contemporary novels are set). They have three children: Trevor, Shannon, and Travis; and four grandchildren.

Bibliography

Christian/Inspirational romance novels

*"Redeeming Love" (1991)
*"The Scarlet Thread" (1996)
*"The Atonement Child" (1997)
*"The Last Sin Eater" (1998)
*"Leota's Garden" (1999)
*"The Shoe Box" (1999)
*"And the Shofar Blew" (2003)

*Sons of Encouragement Series: (2004-2007)
**"The Priest" (2004)
**"The Warrior" (2005)
**"The Prince" (2005)
**"The Prophet" (2006)
**"The Scribe" (2007)

*Lineage of Grace Series: (2000-2001)
**"Unveiled" (2000)
**"Unashamed" (2000)
**"Unshaken" (2001)
**"Unspoken" (2001)
**"Unafraid" (2001)

*Mark of the Lion Series: (1993-1995)
**"A Voice in the Wind" (1993)
**"An Echo in the Darkness" (1994)
**"As Sure as the Dawn" (1995)

Romance novels (B.C. bibliography)

*"Kathleen" (1979)
*"Sycamore Hill" (1981)
*"Rebel In His Arms" (1982)
*"Not So Wild a Dream" (1985)
*"Outlaw's Embrace" (1986)
*"A Fire in the Heart" (1987)
*"This Golden Valley" (19??)
*"Serena" (19??)
*Second Chance at Love Series
**"Hearts Divided" (1983)
**"Heart in Hiding"(1984)
**"Pagen Heart" (1985)

References

External links

* [http://www.francinerivers.com Francine Rivers official homepage]