Francine Rivers
Encyclopedia
Francine Sandra Rivers 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.
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.
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. 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
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. In 2007, her novel The Last Sin Eater
was made into 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. 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.
(where the action in many of her contemporary novels is set). They have three children: Trevor, Shannon, and Travis; and five grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of fiction
Christian novel
A Christian novel is any novel that expounds and illustrates a Christian world view in its plot, its characters, or both, or which deals with Christian themes in a positive way.-The tradition of Christian fiction:...
with Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
themes, including inspirational romance novels. Prior to becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Rivers wrote historical romance
Historical romance
Historical romance is a subgenre of two literary genres, the romance novel and the historical novel.-Definition:Historical romance is set before World War II...
novels. She is best known for her inspirational novel Redeeming Love, while another novel, The Last Sin Eater has become a feature film.
Early years
Francine Rivers is the daughter of a police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
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 historicalHistorical romance
Historical romance is a subgenre of two literary genres, the romance novel and the historical novel.-Definition:Historical romance is set before World War II...
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
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, 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. 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
Francine Rivers refers to the books written before her conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
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. In 2007, her novel The Last Sin Eater
The Last Sin Eater
The Last Sin Eater is a 1998 Christian book by the American author Francine Rivers. It deals with the themes of sin, guilt and forgiveness, and tells about the atonement of Jesus Christ.- Plot summary:...
was made into a feature film
The Last Sin Eater (film)
The Last Sin Eater is an American movie released on February 9, 2007, directed by Michael Landon Jr. and distributed by Fox Faith. It is based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Francine Rivers. It was produced by Believe Pictures.-Plot:...
, directed by Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
and distributed by Fox Faith
Fox Faith
Fox Faith is a brand of film studio Twentieth Century Fox targeting evangelical Christians. Established under Fox's video division, Fox Faith acquires independent Christian-themed films for theatrical and video release...
.
Rivers has been honored with many awards, including the Christy Award
Christy Award
The Christy Awards are awarded each year to recognize novels of excellence written from a Christian worldview. Awards are given in several genres, including contemporary , historical, romance , suspense, and visionary...
, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion. Rivers is also a member of the Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America is a national non-profit genre writers association. It provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction and supports top authors such as Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught.-History:...
'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.
Personal life
Francine Rivers is married to Rick Rivers and they live together in northern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(where the action in many of her contemporary novels is set). They have three children: Trevor, Shannon, and Travis; and five grandchildren.
Christian–inspirational romance novels
- Redeeming LoveRedeeming LoveRedeeming Love, by Francine Rivers is a historical romance novel set in the 1850s Gold Rush in California. The story is inspired by the book of Hosea from the Bible. Its central theme is to portray the redeeming love of God towards sinners....
(1991)
- Mark of the Lion SeriesMark of the Lion SeriesThe Mark of the Lion series is authored by Francine Rivers and consists of three novels: A Voice in the Wind , An Echo in the Darkness , and As Sure as the Dawn.-A Voice in the Wind:...
: (1993–1995)- A Voice in the WindA Voice in the WindA Voice in the Wind is a novel by Francine Rivers, and the first book in the Mark of the Lion Series.It is the story of a young Christian-Jewish slave named Hadassah living under the Roman Empire. When Hadassah is captured by Roman soldiers, her entire family is killed. She serves as a slave to...
(1993) - An Echo in the DarknessAn Echo in the DarknessAn Echo in the Darkness is a novel by Francine Rivers.The book begins where A Voice in the Wind left off, in the arena where Hadassah is thrown to the lions because her mistress was jealous of her purity. A young physician, Alexander, must choose one of the mauled bodies in the arena, so that he...
(1994) - As Sure as the Dawn (1995)
- A Voice in the Wind
- The Scarlet ThreadThe Scarlet ThreadThe Scarlet Thread is a 1996 novel written by Francine Rivers.-Plot introduction:Sierra Clanton Madrid can't believe her husband Alex would take a new job and uproot the family to Los Angeles without consulting her. Armed with righteous anger, Sierra turns their home into a battleground, even after...
(1996) - The Atonement ChildThe Atonement ChildThe Atonement Child is a 1997 novel by the American author Francine Rivers. It deals with the themes of unwanted pregnancy and abortion.-Plot introduction:...
(1997) - The Last Sin EaterThe Last Sin EaterThe Last Sin Eater is a 1998 Christian book by the American author Francine Rivers. It deals with the themes of sin, guilt and forgiveness, and tells about the atonement of Jesus Christ.- Plot summary:...
(1998) - Leota's Garden (1999)
- The Shoe Box (1999)
- Lineage of Grace Series: (2000–2001)
- Unveiled (2000)
- Unashamed (2000)
- Unshaken (2001)
- Unspoken (2001)
- Unafraid (2001)
- And the Shofar Blew (2003)
- Sons of Encouragement Series: (2004–2007)
- The Priest (2004)
- The Warrior (2005)
- The PrinceThe Prince (novel)The Prince is American novel published in 2005 written by Francine Rivers. It is the third novel in the Sons of Encouragement series, and tells the tale of the biblical character of Jonathan, the son of Saul the King in the Old Testament....
(2005) - The Prophet (2006)
- The Scribe (2007)
- Bible Stories for Growing Kids (2007) (Written together with daughter Shannon Rivers Coibion)
- Marta's Legacy Series: (2010)
- Her Mother's Hope (March, 2010)
- Her Daughter's Dream (September, 2010)
Romance novels (B.C. bibliography)
- Kathleen (1979)
- Sycamore Hill (1981)
- Rebel In His Arms (1982)
- This Golden Valley (1983)
- Sarina (1983)
- Not So Wild a Dream (1985)
- Outlaw's Embrace (1986)
- A Fire in the Heart (1987)
- Second Chance at Love Series
- Hearts Divided (1983)
- Heart in Hiding (1984)
- Pagan Heart (1985)