See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, and Part 8. Over the last year, many Christian authors have participated in virtual blog debates about what language should or should not be permissible in Christian novels published for the Christian marketplace. Some folks have appealed to common sense and logic, others to audience and publisher guidelines, some to realism and freedom of expression, others to what they “think” crude language/cussing is and isn’t. All well-meaning folks who are brothers and sisters in Christ, whom I truly love. But often discussions have been bathed in the soothing balm of relativism. You’re okay, I’m okay. What you think is okay for you is okay for you. What I think is okay for me is okay for me. As if no one could possibly stand up and say, “I know the answer.” Getting to the Core Very few of the debates I’ve seen…
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Are you afraid of what others think of you? If you say no, then you’ve never worn the author’s hat and been in the position of seeking endorsements for your next novel. I’ll be frank—this is probably my least favorite part of the whole novel-writing business (because yes, I’m a weenie when it comes to what others think). Sending one’s novel manuscript to several authors (some well known) and requesting an endorsement for promotional purposes is an intimidating process. “What is a novel endorsement?” someone may ask. Frankly, it’s simply something nice someone has said about your book. Publishers often use these blurbs inside the front cover or even on the back cover. Nope, I didn’t pay or bribe anyone for these, and I gave each author an easy exit if he or she decided, for whatever reason, not to endorse the book. No one bowed out of the process.…
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I have a confession to make. I’ve probably seen more movies based on classics than classics I’ve actually read. But now I’m hoping to change that. Recently, Audible.com featured a list of free classics for those who have downloaded the free Kindle counterparts. I capitalized on the opportunity and grabbed as many of the free classics as I could (unfortunately, not all of them on the list are still free, but some may still be). Why did I gravitate to this list of free audio classics? For one, I love freebies. (For those of you who know me on Facebook, you’ve probably seen my “Free Kindle Book” posts. I love getting freebies, and I love sharing them.) For two, the list features a number of classics I’ve certainly heard of (Uncle Tom’s Cabin, for example), but few of them I’ve actually read. (I did get through Vanity Fair in high school but…
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A while back, several fans responded to a query on my Facebook author page about what I should write about at my blog. One response was: What do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Narrowing down the list is very difficult, because I frankly love to read so much (from suspense fiction to history to devotional books to young adult). But in my estimation a few novels/authors stand above the rest. Keep in mind that I’m starting with childhood and that I had a very active imagination then (still do). The one novel that probably made the biggest impression on me when I was a kid was A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle, which I’ve read at least twice. Up to that point, it was simply the most enthralling novel I had ever read. While reading this novel, I officially fell in love with books, and the love has…
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