THE MEMOIRS OF A WRITER: Batman Begins is the Prequel of the Year

My bad. You have to go to my other blog for that review. Whoopsydaisies.

Writing Black, Writing Christian: Book Promotion

Bible verse for thought: James 2:1-13

Tayari Jones, wrote an excellent entry at Conversational Reading on living a double life as an African American author promoting her novel. Although her latest release is not a christian fiction title, I thought this entry was appropriate since it buttresses my experiences with trying to purchase christian literature written by writers of color in bookstores.

I would love for Christian booksellars to not participate in systemic racism as secular publishing houses do. Since our faith includes diversity, relishes in it even, we, writing evangelists of color should feel relief in knowing that christian booksellars do not participate in the acts Tayari describe. But I haven't found one, except my favorite bookstore that is more inclusive. However, the Potters House is an independent booksellar, who is losing battle with Wally World and Sams Club every week. Distributers don't come cheap and neither does salvation. So what can we writing evangelists of color do to change christian booksellars perception of us, if that is all possible?

How can we get our white christian authors to mobilize with us, to ensure that our stores are better than Walden and B& N? When can our stores display great books irregardless of the black people on the cover? If anyone knows a business investor, I'm thinking about starting my own online store Something must be done...

Ok. That's it. I'm putting that soapbox away for ninety days. The next week's blogs will show my spunky, christian kitty self. we will talk about juicy summer christian fiction. Grown Folks are talking:)

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

Is Father There?

f a i t h * i n * f i c t i o n: The Will to Publish: "There’s a sense of perspective, though, that’s sometimes lost in the desperate race to see our words on the printed page. Our industry does much to fuel that race. I hope we can also do much to offer perspective. You are God’s children, creators made in His image. What you put to paper is a splinter of what it took for Him to breathe us into being. There is you comfort, your joy. A bound book is its reward, a testament to many things, but the writing is of first importance. It’s where we can meet God, if we can suppress the will to publish long enough to hear Him in the echo of clattering keys or the scratch of a pen."
-Dave Long, Faith in Fiction"

It’s a little after noon and I feel as if my soul didn’t sleep with me last night. I am rejuvenated and my body tired from last night's first Third Thurdays. But overjoyed all over my self, rejoicing in constant rejoicing, because my soul exists in total praise right now.

We do what we do not because we are programmed machines, but because our creation means something important to God. Angels can’t do what we do. We choose. And with the choosing we are enveloped above a halo-like glow.

Our writing, if it is good, if it is holy, transcends best seller lists, race, this life... it is an eternal writing.

Dave is preaching over at Faith in Fiction this week-bring the anointing here, Dave:)

--As we began to thank our father’s for being fathers this weekend. Let us thank our Father in Heaven, our Father who gave his son-our lover our Lord, our Creator, our Perfect Peace, this weekend as well, especially in our writing.

Our Faith. Our faith in our writing.

If you’ve completed your first draft WIP, this weekend is the time to find God in it. And if we walked away from him prior to the Black Moment, lets ask him back in there. If we’re still writing, then let’s march on Christian soldiers, march on until the tale is told. If we’re critiquing each other’s work this week, let’s make sure we seek God and with grace and integrity let’s help our writing partners put Father back in there. Let's be there for each other like sisters and brothers should.

When I was a teenager our little missionary baptist church lost our minister and we gained a new one. A young, Airmen who was stationed at Moody Air Force Base in my hometown, Valdosta, Georgia. He was toweringl, statuesque-Rev. Reginald Benjamin. But what stuck out most for me was that he had this voice that was a hint stronger than thunder and it rolled through our bodies as he spoke, particularly when he prayed. He always began his prayer like this: “Father…” And the way he made it sound-- It was more than just Daddy or dad or daddio(my dad’s likes me to call him daddio.) It was sacred…Father…slow, deep, powerful. Better than when James Earl Jones says. “Luke, I am your father.” Close, but not as close as holy.

Now close your eyes and say "Father" like you know it should sound when we think about God. Say it before you began to work on your WIP.
Father…
Hallelujah.
May you have a blessed week. And keep on writing for...Father.

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

Dee's on SIsters of the Vine

On Thursdays I google myself and found an article that I forgot about posted on Sisters of the Vine. Click on the title to read: The Feminine Mystique: Hagar, A Single Mother.

Now I'm going to sleep:)Third Thursdays was fantabulous. Will tell you in a few hours...

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

The Writing Life: Crossing Ts and Dotting I's

The Writing Life: Look At the Dark Side--Returns: "ccording to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Time Warner Book Group has two warehouses near Indianapolis. One building is called the “happy warehouse” and another the “sad” warehouse. Trachtenberg’s article is fascinating and can be part of your ongoing education about the bookselling business.

So what can writers do about this dark side of publishing?"

Great blog entry from Terry Whalin and something to think about. As Dave had spoken earlier about raising the standard in our writing, this article adds to that on another level. Just from the little stories and articles I've freelanced to magazines, the writing game has changed the playing field. Whether we shoul devote a great deal of time thinking about it is a worthy debate for another day. But we should at least know the rules of the game.

Tonight is my first Third Thursdays event and I'm excited. And I can't believe I am not afraid, but I turned this event over to the Lord the moment the Holy Spirit whispered it in my ear. I've dotted my i's and crossed my t's. Everything is decent and in order just like God would like. We will bless him and ask him to spend a few minutes with us.

And so in reading Whalin's entry when we approach our writing we should take a leap and let the spirit move through our minds and fingertips. Then cross our t's (make sure we have a basic knowledge of the publishing industry-Terry) and dot are I's (make sure that we are conditioned to compete in the game-Dave:) ) So let's write on, good Christian soldiers.

I know you will be with us tonight in Spirit.

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

Anticipation Psalm

An ode to Gaspard on his arrival to Atlanta in two days

Anticipation Psalm
by Davidae

Egoiste, ivory soap, my peach bath salts perfumes my mind until it reaches the tip of my nose inside as i remember how his head smells when it rests atop my...selah...french creole, soft thunder and an octave raised into a hungry whisper when my names rolls off his tongue just before he leans toward my lips and...selah...hard,yet soft lean, yet mountaineous muscles lift me up toward his strong, dark gaze...je'taime, davidae...i love you, davidae i anticipate this experience with him again for the rest of our lives, amen. Selah.

Anne Rice Defends her Christ POV Novel

Remember my post regarding Anne Rice's new book-Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Well, she replied to Chucky P's Cult Writing Workshop. Here is a snippet to wet your appetite.

Anne Rice comments:

Regarding Anne Rice and her upcoming book Christ the Lord, I was amazed that so many who had read so little of my work cared so much to say so much about it. For what it's worth, I appreciate your taking the time to focus on it, and be assured that the book is a deeply considered and deeply committed attempt to bring to life the Christ of the gospels for my regular readers and perhaps for many who've never thought about Christ before in any significant way. I'll do just about anything to get the word out. For me Christ is the ultimate supernatural hero, and the ultimate outsider, and the single most influential figure in western history. I could say more about that...

Click on the title to read what she has further to say.

Question: Have you ever wanted to tackle such a strong subject--writing a novel in Christ's point of view?

Writing to see what the end's gon' be,
Dee
PS. Next week will be a fun week for the blog. You will not believe :)