What Would Jesus Read

I firmly believe an editor will jump at the chance to publish a great story. If he has to shave off some parts, so be it.
-Bryn Jones, an F*I*F member stated in our forum "Christian Fiction-relevant?"

Since last year and I'm sure long before that Christian writers, particularly fiction writers have questioned the relevance of the genre. Publishing industry peer pressure? I'm not sure. But the past month I've been questioning my role in this genre. Am I relevant? Am I the right person for it?

Yesterday I posted about my starving Christian artist struggles. Every day I think this may the day I throw in the towel and focus on a form of writing more lucrative. Yes. There are more than a handful of Christian fiction writers making a nice living. Truthfully, we're not supposed to be writing for the almighty dollar, but our Almighty God. Yet, gas prices are up, milk cost more than chicken and who wants to write a novel with no hopes of more than a handful of people reading it?

Why are people reading Christian fiction? Do they think those are the books Jesus would read? really? If not, what kind of books is Christ reading right now? Are you writing that kind of story? Tell me.

Congrats

Don Hoesel for winning the Daily Sacrament Short Story Contest. His winning short story, Goodbye Sophie will be featured in Issue 3 of Relief Journal. I'm excited about this. Angie Poole was runner up. These writers are illuminating and gifted writers. I am glad to see them getting a place in the spotlight.Congrats! Way to go Faith*in*Fiction crew.

100 Most Beautiful Writers

OMG. Someone thank's I'm beautiful.
I made the special editorial edition cover of People's 100 Most Beautiful.
Read here how I made the cover.

I'm so excited.
Which writers should have made the list?
And...do we read books, because we crush on the hunky authors?
If so, then how what do you publishing hotties need to do, to turn your fans eyes to Christ? Afterall he is heavenly looking. :)

To Believe Like De La Tour

Photo of Joseph the Carpenter courtesy of Wikipedia.
Today I was reading Creston's blog over at Amazon, and thumbing through a chapter on Baroque painting, as I continue to research while finishing up on an old novel. As I reread the stories behind some of Christianity's most prolific artists(Georges de La Tour), I am baffled at their strong attention to detail and their strong work ethic. What wows me even more is that they remained steadfast to a belief that they really were creating God's work. They believed that their work was of God's. I wonder when we work what do we believe?

When you are crafting a story, drawing a picture, building a melody what do you believe?

Befriending Becky

If you are The Master's Artist- a Christian artist- and you want to find out what kind of work does God want you to create, then I advise you to attend one of Mary Demuth's workshops. Last September, I sat through two days of rediscovering who I am in Christ through her at the ACFW Conference.

I also discovered what I am not.

Today Mary talks over at the TMA Blog about Becky, a fictitious representative of the Christian buyer's market, a woman who in no shape or form could ever be me.

There's a fake woman who symbolizes the target audience for much of Christian music, and specifically for Christian radio. She's generally called Becky, though some stations have their 'own' 'woman.' She embodies all of the demographic junk of their average listener--she has so many kids and does this and shops here and only likes music she's heard 800 times before, blah-blah. And they'll talk about her like she's real--'Becky' or 'Jennifer' or whoever 'doesn't like that song.'"
- Built for Becky?

Problem is this Becky Jennifer is a real person. I know her. In fact, I know many like her. And I can't speak for her, because I am not her, of course. But I can share her perspective. I can share with you what she needs and how God has planted us here at the same time as she, to help her. To help all of us.

A few years ago I used to think that the only people who would understand my words were deeply southern, Black Christian Women who watched TD Jakes and Juanita Bynum every morning. She attended church with me, grew up wanting to be Whitney, belonged to the Young Adult Ministry, wore MAC makeup, dreamed of wearing an Amsale wedding gown, watched Bobby Jones Gospel and had a secret crush on Bobby Jones(circa New Edition) and now crushes on LL Cool J or Tyler Perry or Boris Kodjoe or JMoss or Blair Underwood or Common. I called my fake bookclub president, chick-Tonya Yolanda Jones.

After writing and allowing others to read my words Tonya Yolanda Jones needs a new name. She is far more mainstream, multicultural, cross generational than my old gal pal now. So I wonder...

Who is the embodiment of your readers? And why? And what should I call my new fanclub president?

TMA: Our Defender of Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy
he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil
or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Last week America experienced one of the worst tragedies in our history. In Sunday School yesterday my friends shared that they felt and still feel loss, a loss in their spirit, a loss in their world, and a loss of a dream. We all have young children. And this loss has produced a fear that has challenged them either to become more proactive in making their world a better place or to let this loss become fear and darkness and shadows and soul corruptors and dream stealers and hate.

This month I spoke of having my own dreams deferred and cut off. It is an unfair reality that can easily chip away at the heart of who you are. Last week we have seen what spiritual darkness can do. Thank God we have a cure. Hope.

I often talk about wanting to read more stories that depict both current and universal fears coupled with some soul food, the kind that satiates the thing that haunts us and give us some hope. Today I want to share a Master’s artist who has penned a book series that must be God inspired, not just because of its timeliness, but also because of the truth that lies beneath every page and the fact that I personally know this author.

I know the fears she has had to conquer, while championing this series to fruition. I know for sure that she knows the power of Hope. Let me introduce you to Multnomah debut author, Amy Wallace and her well written new book, Ransomed Dreams (Defenders of Hope). Goto The Master's Artist Blog to read more about me and Amy's interview.

Dee's Update

Hi all. Thanks for your emails, phone calls and cards. I am back home. Been home since last Friday, but I am still recovering. I have home health care for six weeks. We predict I may recover sooner than that.

I will begin posting new content sometime next week and plan to pull gospelfiction.com back up by June.

Thanks again for the Get Well Cards. :)

Dee