TMA: A Gospel Push

My write-or-die chick, Sherri just received a publishing deal for a novel we critiqued in our writing group two years ago. Two months before she received the good news she wanted to pack it all in and give up on the writing thing. Rejections for her other manuscript cut her deeper than the sand between my sandaled toes in summer. Of course, we prayed her through her dissappointment, and we sighed relief when our prayers were answered.

Yet, I must confess. Her blessing has become a thorn in my side. See. Tia, our ringleader, got her book deal two years back. Now, Sherri has hers. So by default I'm next. Problem is I'm in a shame spiral, a horrible rut. Lord, help me. I need a gospel push.

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Judging Christy

This year I judged the Romance Category for the 2006 Christy Awards. We had thirteen books to read, rate and review. I received my shipment around the February 1st and had until the first week in April to rate them. Because I also review for Romantic Times, Anointed, Rejoice and Gospel Fiction I had to create a plan to keep track of all these books as well as read them on time. Thankfully, I had such a system. My good friend and former editor, Jackie Miller of Real Reviewers gave me Waterlane's The Reader's Journal. as a Christmas gift.

I love this book. It has great quotes from notable authors as well as plenty of writing pages to record what you read. One of my best quotes in the book comes from Ernest Hemingway:

All good books have one thing in common- they are truer than if they had really happened, and after you've read one of them you will feel that all that happened, happened to you and that it belongs to you forever...

This month we will discuss such books and how those books relate to this quote, and how why I think they were chosen for Christy selections.

But before we do. I want to know how you keep up with the books you read?

First Lines

I am a big fan of Poets & Writers magazine. One of my favorite sections in the magazine is the Page One section. When I'm hiding in the library or hanging out the Potter's House bookstore or Barnes & Noble I peruse books by reading the first chapter. Sometimes I make my selections from how I feel about the story after that first paragraph. So I decided today to start a new category for Gospel Fiction- First Lines. I will post the first line of the books that I am currently reviewing.

Click here to see the first set of 1st Lines. Stay tuned for the full reviews this summer and fall.

Dee

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Judging Christy Part I

This year I judged the 2006 Christy Awards Romance Category. For the next couple of days I will talk about my process, my picks, and concern over some missed selections.

If you could have selected the best christian romance novels for 2005, what would you have picked? Updated

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Soul-Stirring Spark Plug Storytelling

This past week my Ford Explorer, Blue Thunder and I burnt up I-75 South , the Florida Turnpike, and Osceola Parkway transporting two bright-eyed gals to see Cinderella's coronation in Kissimmee St. Cloud. Of course, I was more tired than the four whitewalls cartwheeling to the Magic Kingsom. The only fuel that I knew would keep my eyes on the prize was the sounds of gospel recording artist, Pastor Shirley Caesar. There's something about a Shirley Caesar song that rejuvenates the mind and forces me to not fall asleep at the wheel. On my drive back to Atlanta I thought about Caesar's power over my will. And my spirit whispered the truth behind her power. In fact, she shared that we all have that power. Read more.

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I'm Lois Lane

This weekend I watched Superman Returns and marveled at God. Although I had read commentaries that suggested that Superman was an American metaphor for Christ, not until I saw this movie did the truth jump out and kiss me square on my lips. Superman isn't Christ. Doesn't pale in comparison to him. But this movie does open up a lot of questions for me about the God who woos us, and the son that was born and adopted into this world to save it. Click here to learn more.

Best Summer Spec Fic. 2006

 

To say that I knew this book was going to be one of my favorites would not be enough. When it arrived in my mailbox I became a little giddy. See T.L. and I have become fast friends over the past years before this book got the green light. He always had something smart to say over in the Faith*in*Fiction discussion board and he always said nice things about my comments. So we had gotten off to a good start. I knew then that he knew how to please and please well he has done with his debut novel.

 

Waking Lazarus is the story of Jude Allman, a man who had been resurrected three times. The first time he as an eight-year old boy. So of course, by the third time he had become part local legend/part celebrity. Jude hid. Changed his name and became a recluse named Ron Gress, a janitor in a small town, Red Lodge, Montana.  However, this little cozy set up of his wouldn't stay this tidy.  Children began to disappear. And worst, the mysteries of his own deaths were wrapped up in the disappearances some how.

Spook-ta-fide. Guarantee(I say with a Creole accent.) :)

 

But beyond the spook factor, this book is a hot dog good read. I am a book critic, so my inner critic is always on when I'm reading. Ane Mulligan and I talked about this last night. But when I read a book and I forget about plot, character, and all the double talk, but just sink in and follow along...choir members, that book gets a 5!! I couldn't find a paragraph, sentence, nothing that wasn't pitch perfect. Hot dog this is a good book(July, $18.99.)

 

And is in the running for one of my top books  of the year. What say you? 

 

 

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