Pope John Paul Tribute 1920-2005

Pope John Paul Tribute 

Washington Post has a great tribute on Pope John Paul's life and legacy.
Click on the title it will take you there.

You can also check out his writings at Encycliclas, Writings of John Paull II.

Saddened that I missed my chance to meet him here on Earth. But am thankful that he is no longer in pain. And he embodied so much faith and peace. A true hero.

Dee.

Do Christian Fiction Writer's Write Boring Stories:Cheri Paris Edwards Responds

The other day I posted a question about Christian Fiction:Do Christian Fiction Writer's Write Boring Stories.
This morning I received a response to this question from Walk Worthy Press novelist, Cheri Paris Edwards, who's book Plenty Good Room is this month's April Book of the Month. (We will talk about this book and talk to Cheri about the book later.)
I wanted to post her response, because she states some things that I haven't thought about. And she speaks on African American Christian Fiction Writing--a subject that I explore on this blog. What separates are writing from the others or more so is their a justification behind the separation?

Hi Dee,

Thanks for the chance to reflect on this subject. In my viewpoint, Christian fiction is in a process of metamorphosis. I think the writing will begin to encompass controversial subjects with greater regularity as the authors become more diverse in their writing styles and in the life experiences they bring to the table.

As a Christian, while writing, the portion of the book that speaks about God was most important to me; but it is my hope that the characters entertain and hold the readers interest first. I don’t think any author need apologize for creating ‘happy endings’ as these exist in all genres of fiction. Though, many novels end predictably, it doesn’t stop folks from reading and enjoying the trip to the end. An upbeat ending doesn’t mean every problem is solved in the character’s lives, it just means at the point the novel ends life is okay. Additionally, I don’t find a ‘fairy-tale’ ending awful either as these type stories provide an escape for some readers. Stories, even movies, with ‘fairy-tale’ endings are plentiful, and do quite well in society and I see nothing wrong with having our share in African-American Christian fiction as well.

Having said that, I think as the genre (especially African-American Christian fiction) expands it will reflect greater differences in writing styles, wider ranges in the depth of the character studies, stories and endings that are more bittersweet…there will be more diversity in everything. Young writers like yourself may play a crucial part in ‘raising the stakes’ through your own creative interpretations of Christian life. Our walk with God is personal and for many of us the greatest struggle we have is in our own mind; I’m with you totally on that one! The issue becomes how we write about that Spiritual struggle in a credible manner.

In my own case, I wrote a story from my heart based on my own questions about love and loving. God was part of the story, because He’s been the greatest and most constant part of my own life. I’m so grateful that in all my imperfections and struggles I still feel His love for me. I can’t write without including God in the story because He’s such an essential part of my own story. I think that’s why Christian fiction exists….because we who write the stories truly believe in God and believe He’s made a difference in our own lives. Our writing is our testimony to His existence.

I am grateful for all Christian authors before me because it is they who proved an audience for the writing exists, enabling an opportunity for my voice to be heard. I think African-American Christian fiction is in a wonderful place and truly believe that as time goes on and more voices become part of the mix, the genre will begin to reflect greater diversity in its voice and attract more readers in the process.

Now, it’s time for me to shut-up, because I’m supposed to be working on something else, as usual!!

Anyway, this is just my two cents and a dime!

;-) Cheri

Thanks, Cheri.

What say you?

Post your comments no matter how long they are.

Writing to see what the end gon' be,
Dee

Coming Clean: Do Christian Fiction Writer's Write Boring Stories

At Faith in Fiction I posed a question after reading Dave's thoughts on creating meaningul moments in writing.

And boy have I gotten a wealth of responses. One that stands out and is still being discussed even now is this idea that Christian Fiction is ultimately boring. Regardless of the plot, readers know that God will win in the end. So why bother reading it?
I remember talking to an author, who doesn't understand why the Christian Fiction genre exists at all. She felt that christian novels were propaganda pieces created to push Christ down everybody's throat.

And to be honest she has point.

J. Mark Bertrand, a member of the The Master Artist and the Faith in Fiction Communities, who has really enlightened me in the past two weeks replied to my discussion with an interesting thought.

He says:

The Christian writer -- particularly the evangelical one -- faces both an aesthetic and a theological struggle. In fact, I would almost go so far as to say that Christian fiction ought to be defined as "fiction that results from aesthetic and theological struggle," because it's when the story lacks evidence of (a) aesthetic effort, (b) theological effort, and (c) struggle, that it seems to fall short. A lot of what passes for Christian fiction works from a settled, pat theology, just as it operates within a settled, pat aesthetic. The only struggle is the actual, physical composition: the naming of characters, the arrangement of episodes, the minutiae of plot. When a writer abandons these dishonest certainties and plunges into the struggle, at whatever level, the nature of his work begins to change.

Wow! And to be honest I sort of agree.
As a book reviewer, sometimes I don't want to read the end of a book, especially Christian Fiction. Becase by the time I get to midpoint I already know how it is goig to end: conversion scene, or big ephiphany, something big revelation that ties everything up just as sweet as an episode of Seventh Heaven. (OT: The best episodes are the ones with Mary and Simon cutting up)

But seriously. My comment to the faith*in*fiction discussion:

"I like the idea of creating situations where the character has to struggle with her notion of who or what she thinks God is.
That is very real.
I receive emails from...people going through things that have shaken their faith and they still live without an answer that they thought they would have received from God.
I struggle right now with my daughter's health. I have to wait until next Wednesday to find out if she has a normal heart murmur or worse. This fear is big for me, since I live with congestive heart failure.
Yet, where is my faith?
Shouldn't I carry on, joking and clowning as if this event will not shake my resolve.
I can't.
And regardless of the outcome I am more disturbed that I can't just let God handle it instead of my constant surfing webmd and Scottish Rite for answers.
I can't rest in a faithful peace and I would love to read about that.
Shoot.
I would love to write about that.
But I'm so scared of my own outcome. I'm scared of what if I write something for me and someone reads it, thinks that this will be the only outcome and send me a scathing email later abouth an opposite outcome. Or worse someone shirks Christianity because of it.
I agree, J. Mark. We need to raise the stakes in our writing. And that is going to eat me up. I'm coming clean."

What say you?

Writing to see what the end gon' be,
Dee

Infuze Magazine seeks Short FIction

"We've got a real drought in our Short Stories department, so if you've been waiting for your shot, this is it! (Remember, we're not interested in "preachy" stories.) And please pass this along to your creative friends -- we're always looking for new talent. Click here for our complete Contributor's Guidelines.

And while you're at it, we can always use lots more Poems, Artwork, & Short Films!"

Robin Parrish
Editor, Infuze Magazine

Toni Morrison Tribute. March 31, 1988

Toni Morrison 


March 31, 1988 Toni Morrison, editor, novelist, professor became the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for excellence in American Literature for Beloved.

Why is this book important to Christian fiction?

Could it be Toni's revision of the Old and New Testaments. Or they way she made her main character, Sethe, a metaphor for Slavery in America, a study on black and white relations in America? Or is this another allegory on the Song of Solomon or The Jews in Exile in the Old testament ?

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."

--Song of Solomon (6:3)

"I AM BELOVED and she is mine."

--Toni Morrison, Beloved

Is Morrison's work an example for post post modern christian authors to discuss and explore?
She has no conversion scenes. No angels coming down from Heaven to speak to us. But she takes a deep seated hurt and dissects the African American psyche, a christian's psyche, our undying faith or simply an alienated heart. She uses simple observations, incredible circumstances and hidden truths to do this. And she won a Pulitzer in spite of it.
What say you?

Writing to see what the end gon' be,
Dee

Who wants to write after you've read a really good book?

Am I the only one out here who feel like this...when you read a really good book. You think. Why should I write anything after that? It's hard to regroup after a really good read.

For me. It's Sue Monk Kidd's Secret Life of Bees, Olympia Vernon's Eden, and Chimamanda Ngozie's Purple Hibiscus.

What about you?

Angels in April: Previewing Heaven Sent

Apri Book Preview: Heaven Sent 

Today I received news of a new book release for April-Montre' Bible's Heaven Sent.

Synopsis:

Andrew Turner seems like your average small-town teenager. He struggles with his grades; he helps his mother make ends meet; he longs for the prettiest girl in school to see him as more than a friend. But when his mother succumbs to a mysterious disease, this quiet teen discovers his life-and his family-are anything but ordinary. What are at first frightening visions reveal that he has spiritual gifts-and that his mother's illness is part of an unholy plan that will test his faith and everything he loves. Now, an untried warrior in a centuries-old battle, Andrew must also deal with the pain and anger he feels about his long lost father's sudden return and strive to rescue the unsaved brother he didn't know existed. And if he is to become a man and accept his extraordinary legacy, he must also stand strong in the Word and rely in God's almighty strength and unlimited love

First Lines:(you can click on the title to read the first page)

Hurry! Get in the car!” She yells at the top of her lungs. She is running so frantically that she doesn’t notice the blood running down her leg. She doesn’t have time to notice. All she can see in the pitch-black darkness are the taillights of the car ahead of her. She runs with the wind, and even the broken branches on the stony trail don’t seem to trip her up. The young man in the car starts it up and she jumps in. He cranks the engine, and before she can even close the door he is off. Dark whispering shadows consume the forest behind them.

“It’s moving faster!” she yells.

Oooh, spooky. Can't wait to read this one. If you read before I do, please comment.

Montre' said to me this morning. "Just to give you a little heads up, I'm hoping to create a series of books with the same characters so this first book is just the beginning of so much more! My publisher already has the second and is reviewing it so I hope that this first one does real well."

Now back to writing...He's writing his angel wings off and I still haven't gotten to Chapter Two.

Writing to see what the end gon' be,
Dee