Fish Sticker Sighted Scary

Mike Duran talks about Fish Sticker Sighted Hollywood, Scott Derrickson's The Exorcism of Emily Rose and what some of us having been discussing at the faith*in*fiction message board about Horror as the Perfect Christian Fiction Genre at his Decompose Blog.

Duran: I've always believed the line between "christian" and "non-christian" films is artificial. I believe we can find God in the most unlikely of places.

Scott Derrickson, writer and director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose states in the current Infuze Magazine issue.

"Horror is a genre that is often disrespected, because it is sometimes very exploited. And yet, historically, Christians have been making scary paintings and writing scary stories, like Dante's Inferno, for centuries. There's a lot of moral and spiritual passion behind thousands of years of church art that deals with this kind of dark subject matter."

Tidings Online has an interesting article that suggests that Derickson exploits horror instead of using it as a theological tool.
An excerpt from Theological Horror:'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' writtenBy Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP

"Emily" shows that Derrickson has not moved far from the via negativa approach he has to salvation or spirituality for that matter. ... Given that this is a horror film we don't expect much light. We accept the gothic darkness, but this kind of theology seems rather manipulative to me. Fear is a medieval way to bring people to God that does not invite a free response to faith, nor hint at God's loving providence... But faith and Christian living are so much more than the sum total of fear of the devil on a dark and rainy night. This more than anything is why "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" is a horror film.

Now I'm not going to front. I told Mike Duran I was too scared to see the movie and make a judgement for myself. So any horror flick fans, please let me know how you feel? Is this movie quality fiction or a Hollywood version of the Bible?

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

Guerilla Book Promotion: Church Bookstore Fundraising

From the New Publisher's Journal:

Spread The Word Ministries allows other ministries to set up their own online bookstores, for fundraising purposes. Their 'fundraising,' from a purely business standpoint, is the difference between their wholesale cost and their retail price...pretty much what all bookstores deal with. The wholesale discount Spread The Word gives ministries is 30%, so if they're getting something akin to the 50% large retailers get, the main ministry is keeping a good chunk of money, their middlemen ministries keep another chunk, while customers can still see 10-20% discounts comparable to Amazon.com...The distributor gets sales without marketing, small groups share the power of volume purchasing, and everybody goes home happy. I believe there's home electronics companies who do this; booksellers can benefit as well.

Hmmm.... :)

Dee

Lorraine & James Issue One

Last week, a nice nifty package came in the mail address to me. Usually I take these type packages an add them to the bottom of my review pile, because most of the time they are either galleys and ARC's for me to review or someone's unsolicited manuscript, who thinks I am more than what I say I am. (Note: I'm not an agent or a publisher. Maybe a small press owner someday, but...)
I get this package from Jasai Madden, publisher of Lorraine and James literary journal. Lorraine and James is a triannual global urban print journal that produces a summer, fall and winter issue of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. As I open the book and began to read, I notice my name in the acknowledgements section. Hotdog! Then I began to read some of the work included in this issue.
Let me just say I am excited about Lorraine and James. I am ecstatic for Jasai. Hon, this is an awesome publication. Each story whether this was planned or not deals with the issue of discovery. From spending the last year talking with Jasai about how this publication would come to fruition, these stories seem to parallel with Jasai's own discovery on what she could accomplish with this book. She wanted a publication similiar to Glimmer Train and McSweeney's, but held the voice of people of different ethnicities and races. But this issue #1 does more than that. It speaks on the discovery of the spirit. And since I'm still working on my conversion story. (Yeah. That's right. I am.) I found it helpful for me to read something outside the voices of Christian speak.
One of my favorite shorts in the issue is Jess Stuart's Blood of the Lamb. The story is about, a Jewish virgin who lost her assignment to bring the Christ child into the world, because she stood up to God and asked for a woman Messiah.
My other favorite is Debbie Annie Ice's Sculpting and Jasai's interview with Nicholas Montemarano.
To learn more about Lorraine and James, to read an excerpt of volume 1 click on the title. If you plan to submit to them, click on the title or check out their blog at LorraineandJames Blog.
Kudos, Jasai!

Dee

A South African Parable, Prayer and Katrina

Bonnie Calhoun has a wonderful story on her blog, Bonnie Writes. If you don't do any reading this weekend, read this story. Let's support the Gulf Coast this weekend. I still like taking my food to the Salvation Army in Lawrenceville. I actually see the evacuees getting the food and supplies, so I will do that this weekend.

I have so much stuff to post this week. I will save for next week. To ensure I want have a dryspell. J. Mark Bertrand talks about Arts divinity at The Master's Artist today. I will talk about that more later. And I will tell you about Lorraine and James and my mention in the acknowledgement section of their fall publication early next week the latest. Have a great weekend. Thanks, Bonnie, for the great weekender to my blog.

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

Man Booker Short List Announced

McEwan's Saturday taken off. Zadie Smith's On Beauty still holding on. I think Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go will win. I was rooting for either McEwan or Zadie Smith's, Ishiguro has more backing. I think.

Click on the title to learn more about these books.

Dee

Vanessa Davis Griggs a Good Girl

Good Girl Magazine's September/October issue spotlights my sweet blog editor and prolific author, Vanessa Davis Griggs. Click on the title to direct you to the interview.

Marina, keep doing the thing. Call me later. :)

Dee's Books Reviewed: Dark Star

DeathStroke frontman and rockstar legend, Everett Lester almost waited to late to remove the demons out of his life. But his old ultraegotistical boozing ways lands him him a murder one arrest warrant when his psychic, Madam Endora Crystal is murdered. The only person who believes that he's not capable of killing is a fan of his soul, Karen Bayliss, a woman that brought him to Christ through a fan letter.

Kansas christian, Karen Bayliss's soul want let her give up on the ugliest soul she's ever encountered, alternative rockband, Deathstroke's lead singer, Everett Lester. Little does she kow that his psychic, Endora wants his soul, too. But it is up to Everett to decided who he wants to believe in.

Creston Mapes weaves this tale from past to present without making the reader gag from all the flashbacks. In fact, the flashback is more than just backstory, it is The Story, our story, a redemption story. How does a God hating unbeliever, find and adore God? How does someone full of excess find that he is just as destitute as his poorest fan? And how one person--Karen Bayliss--can save a man's life.

This novel is more than a mystery/court room novel. Mapes threw in a kidnapping, demonization, a suicide attempt, a romance and two Rolling Stone interviews to keep it interesting.

I've talked about this book before, in regards to how Mapes uses nonfiction techniques to connect with his readers. Everett's thoughts about how could God exist, and why many don't believe in God anymore--add more realism and incite to this series. Although I thought the dialogue at times didn't push the story along, I understood why it was necessary for readers to see Everett's transformation and his band members and the media's struggle with believeing that Everett's Jesus talk wasn't just "foxhole religion."

Moreover, this book is a testament to the power of intercessory prayer. Every Saturday my friend, Dr. Vanessa Battle holds a prayer meeting at our galpal, BJ's church. I have told myself that I was too busy to go until I read the book. Now I think there are some souls in and around my house that need extra praying over. Don't you? So I'll be there Saturday. If you have any prayer requests hit me up.


Dee