Francine Rivers

Last updated
Francine Rivers
Born1947 (age 76–77)
United States
Occupation Novelist
Education University of Nevada, Reno (BA)
Period1976–present
Genre Romance, Christian fiction
Website
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 , received its own film adaptation released in 2007 by Fox Faith. A film based on Redeeming Love was released on January 21, 2022 through Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Universal Pictures. [1] [2]

Contents

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 Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California. [3] [4] 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. [5]

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. [5]

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. [5] 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.

Rivers' 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." [6] In a letter on her webpage [7] 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. [5]

Her inspirational series, The Mark of the Lion, sold over half a million copies. [6] In 2007, her novel The Last Sin Eater was made into a feature film, directed by Michael Landon Jr. and distributed by Fox Faith. [8]

Rivers has been honored with many awards, including the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion. [8] 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. [9]

She executive produced and wrote the script for the upcoming film adaptation of her novel, Redeeming Love, which is set to debut in theaters in 2021. [2]

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 is set). They have three children: Trevor, Shannon, and Travis; and five grandchildren.

Film adaptations

The Last Sin Eater

In 2007, a film adaptation of The Last Sin Eater directed by Michael Landon Jr. was released by Fox Faith. [8]

Redeeming Love

A film adaptation based on Rivers' bestselling novel Redeeming Love was announced in early 2020, with D.J. Caruso directing and Pure Flix Entertainment and Lightworkers Media producing. [1] [2] The film was released in 2022. [10]

Bibliography

Christian–inspirational romance novels

Romance novels (B.C. bibliography)

Study books

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hosea</span> Biblical character

In the Hebrew Bible, Hosea, also known as Osee, son of Beeri, was an 8th-century BC prophet in Israel and the nominal primary author of the Book of Hosea. He is the first of the Twelve Minor Prophets, whose collective writings were aggregated and organized into a single book in the Jewish Tanakh by the Second Temple period but which are distinguished as individual books in Christianity. Hosea is often seen as a "prophet of doom", but underneath his message of destruction is a promise of restoration. The Talmud claims that he was the greatest prophet of his generation. The period of Hosea's ministry extended to some sixty years, and he was the only prophet of Israel of his time who left any written prophecy. Though its date is contested among scholars, the majority agree that the bulk of the book was probably composed around the times of Jeroboam II of Israel.

<i>The Last Temptation of Christ</i> (novel) 1955 historical novel by Nikos Kazantzakis

The Last Temptation of Christ or The Last Temptation is a historical novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in its original Greek in 1955 before being translated into English in 1960. The novel depicts the life of Jesus and his struggles with various forms of temptation, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance, and lust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nora Roberts</span> American romance writer (b. 1950)

Nora Roberts is an American author of over 225 romance novels. She also writes as J. D. Robb, Jill March, and Sarah Hardesty.

Christian novels are a genre of novels in the tradition of Christian literature, written as a work of fiction focusing on religious events and worldviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debbie Macomber</span> American writer

Debbie Macomber is an American author of romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Six of her novels have become made-for-TV movies and her Cedar Cove series of novels was adapted into a television series of the same name. Macomber was the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005 and has been awarded both a RITA Award and a lifetime achievement award by the Romance Writers of America.

Angela Elwell Hunt is a prolific Christian author, and her books include The Tale of Three Trees,The Debt,The Note, and The Nativity Story, among others. She also publishes novels under the name "Angela Hunt."

<i>The Last Sin Eater</i>

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.

<i>The Last Sin Eater</i> (film) 2007 American film

The Last Sin Eater is an American film 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.

Daniel John Caruso Jr. is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His work encompasses a variety of genres, including thriller, drama, horror, and action. He has also directed numerous episodes of television series such as The Shield, Over There, Smallville, and Dark Angel. The majority of his films fall into the thriller and action film genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RITA Award</span> Literary award for romance fiction

The RITA Award, presented by the Romance Writers of America (RWA) from 1990 to 2019, was the most prominent award for English-language romance fiction. It was named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada. After not being awarded in 2020, it was replaced by the Vivian Award, which was awarded once in 2021.

<i>Redeeming Love</i> 1991 novel by Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love is a historical romance novel by Francine Rivers set in the 1850s Gold Rush in California. The story is inspired by the Book of Hosea from the Bible, and its central theme is the redeeming love of God towards sinners.

Tamera Lynn Gattis Alexander is an American author of Christian fiction, who specializes in the inspirational romance genre. She is best known for her award-winning first series, the Fountain Creek Chronicles (2006–07).

<i>An Echo in the Darkness</i> 1994 novel by Francine Rivers

An Echo in the Darkness (1994) is the second novel in the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. It was awarded a RITA Award for best inspirational romance by the Romance Writers of America in 1995.

Believe Pictures is a production company founded by partners Brian Bird, and Michael Landon, Jr. They have created major films such as The Last Sin Eater, the Love Comes Softly film series and Saving Sarah Cain, which won a 2008 CAMIE Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gomer (wife of Hosea)</span> Beloved adulterous wife of prophet Hosea

Gomer was the wife of the prophet Hosea, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Hosea (1:3). English translations of Hosea 1:2 refer to her alternatively as a "promiscuous woman" (NIV), a "harlot" (NASB), and a "whore" (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.

DiAnn Mills is an American writer of Christian fiction.

Love Inspired is an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises that is focused on Christian Fiction.

<i>Redeeming Love</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film by D. J. Caruso

Redeeming Love is a 2022 American Christian Western romance film directed by D.J. Caruso, who co-wrote the screenplay with Francine Rivers. The film is based on Rivers' 1991 novel of the same name, which was based on the Biblical story of Hosea, and is set in the American Old West during the California Gold Rush. It stars Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis and Logan Marshall-Green.

<i>Bola Bola</i> (miniseries) Philippine teen romantic comedy television miniseries

Bola Bola is a Philippine teen romantic comedy television miniseries with a tagline "Cook, Feed, Love, Repeat" based on the best selling romance-novel of the same name by Anna Geronga, starring Francine Diaz, together with Akira Morishita of the Filipino boy group BGYO, KD Estrada and Ashton Salvador, directed by JP Habac, who has worked also with the romance films "I'm Drunk, I Love You", "Sakaling Maging Tayo", "Dito At Doon" and the hit BL series "Gaya sa Pelikula". The series premiered on iWantTFC on March 26, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Amanda N'Duka (April 29, 2020). "Logan Marshall-Green, Abigail Cowen, Nina Dobrev, Famke Janssen & More Star In 'Redeeming Love' Adaptation From 'Eagle Eye' Helmer D.J. Caruso". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Eline Millenaar (May 12, 2020). "Bestselling Francine Rivers novel 'Redeeming Love' is coming to big screen". Christian Post . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ Independent News website, Pleasanton Author Appearing At Towne Center Bookstore, article dated 2022-06-26
  4. ↑ "Former Resident A National Romance Novelist" (PDF). Pleasanton Pathways. December 8, 1986. Retrieved 27 June 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. 1 2 3 4 Darlington, C.J. (2007). "Francine Rivers Interview". TitleTrakk.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. 1 2 "Francine Rivers Answers the Faithful Fifteen". FaithfulReader.com. April 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  7. ↑ "Francine Rivers webpage". Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  8. 1 2 3 Gregier, Jeremiah (February 23, 2007). "Interview: The Last Sin Eater's Francine Rivers". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2018-05-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ↑ "RITA Award Past Winners". Romance Writers of America. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  10. ↑ The Cinemaholic website, Where Was Redeeming Love Filmed?, article by Prerna Singh dated 2022-01-20
  11. ↑ GoodReads website, Earth Psalms
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