Way Off Topic: Ad Scandal?

For Your Irritainment

Jasan at farkyblog has made an interesting discovery. The Trojan Condom ad's theme song sounds very similar to Shaun Groves, "After the Music Fades." Check out his blog, listen to both songs and hear for yourself.

Dee

WHAT I WISHED I LEARNED FROM HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH LIT

I attended a magnetic high school. The parental units wanted me to be exposed to, get to know and appreciate people of different cultures as well as have a rigorous and challenging education with diverse subject matters and opportunities that would prepare me for college.

One of my “could have” been favorite courses was English Lit. The reason I say, "could have" been is because most of the required readings at that time bored me to tears. I didn’t have as much appreciation for works by Emily Bronte' as I did for Bach in my music appreciation course. If only I could have read my Sweet Valley High paperback novels, things would have been a lot more exciting!

Then in college the same required course found me,only this time it was college English lit! Who knew I would have to read the same works again and write critical essays and term papers. In retrospect, I wish I would have expanded my horizons more in high school English Lit. Not just because it would have benefited me in college, but because I can see now how it benefits a person in the long run when we stretch ourselves, our interests and our imaginations--even though we think we may not like it.

As a Christian book promoter I really enjoy placing multicultural books and diverse writings. I think it brings an unforgettable experience to readers when they stretch themselves and read novels (and books) outside of that which they are accustomed to. Whether the reasons a reader may select a novel is based on bestsellers lists, brand, author, price point, story, theme and subject matter or frankly, because of the race or ethnicity of the author leads me to my next point.

On GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com the July GOOD GIRL Pick was Redeeming Love by beloved author Francine Rivers. Redeeming Love may be considered a classic to some because it’s not a new release, and while the genre of the novel is historical, the message transcended everything including the age, race, gender and background of the author as well as the genre. Reader’s who normally would have disregarded Rivers work because it didn’t fit into their favorite genre or it wasn’t marketed to their “market” so to speak, would have missed out on an amazing and life changing story. E-mails continue to pour in from women of various cultures and ethnicities thanking us for turning them on to Redeeming Love and that they have now purchased other works by Francine Rivers.

My point is this. There are times when I feel like tsk-ing when I do not see more representation of gifted multicultural authors on Christian bestsellers list or in Christian publications or secular publications for that matter. I know for a fact Christian fiction has a diverse readership. Why then is it not reflected across the board? Why should readers have to miss out on the rich diversity and amazing life changing stories that are present in Christian publishing because books are rarely cross marketed or promoted in more places where readers of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and interests can find them?

As is evident with the favorable responses to Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, clearly, the readers who wouldn’t have otherwise found this title or considered this title because it wasn’t marketed to them, just might disagree with the way books they really desire, need and want to find out about are marketed. In book marketing, by the focus being only on a narrow market, instead of a narrow and general market, are Christian readers and book buyers and non Christian readers and book buyers not benefiting from that which they want to benefit from: Discovering good stories by gifted authors with messages that impact lives? After all, a good story knows no boundaries.

On the Christian book promotion trail,
© Marina Woods

Stereotyping Black Christian Fiction

Is Black Christian Fiction a fried chicken eating good time?

Uganda poet and novelist, Doreen Baingana at the Guardian wrote an interesting article today, titled Our Stories aren't all Tragedies.

African writers and other "ethnic" writers are seen and read primarily as representatives of their ethnic groups, if not the continent as a whole. But we do not write guidebooks or manuals on contemporary or traditional African life, so we must not be expected to portray what is considered a typical African experience.

I have experienced the same awkward encounter as an African American writer, especially since I am southern and my mothers have been in this country since forever. But as a christian fiction writer that adds a whole new layer to the conversation. It's as if I am a not "keepin' it real," if I don't write about fried chicken,homosexual tambourine players and growing marijuana in grandma's backyard.

My godmother and personal pied piper told me the other day, "Vida Pooh, make sure you got some juicy stuff happening in that book or no one will want to read it, but your family."

Didn't want to tell her how last year my writing group disapproved and responded to an Atlanta Journal article that described Black Christian Fiction as "fried-chicken-eating, money-grubbing, behind-grabbing preachers" books. The excuse they received from the AJC editor was that he was under deadline so he didn't do all his fact checking.
Is that the case with most media today? Not enough fact checking just feeding off our inability to check the double standard. Listening to my godmother, too?

As a christian writer(irregardless of your race, gender, red or blue state) what common stereotypes do others believe about what you do?
And what are great suggestions to defunk those myths?

Hurry, comment quick because I need to give my godmom a very well thought out, bible verse-backed response to why the only juice going on in my WIP is the orange juice at the dinner table. :)

Writing to see what the end's gon' be,
Dee