Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Too Edgy?

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's topic is: Christian fiction is generally known for being clean and non-offensive, but lately there's been a lot of chatter about edgy Christian fiction and the need for Christian fiction to be more realistic. Christian fiction has certainly changed and contains a lot more edge than it used to. This makes some readers uncomfortable, and I was wondering what your line is? What would push the envelope too far for a Christian fiction novel for you? Language? Sex? Violence? Main characters who never believe in Jesus?

If you came across something that offended you in a Christian fiction book, how would you handle it?

My Response:
Of all of the categories that would make me uncomfortable, only two go over the line. Profanity has no place in Christian fiction. When I read Stephen Baldwin's The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips, I was negatively surprised at the profanity. Even the Lord's name is taken in vain. I don't understand how that book can be defined as Christian fiction.

Adult themes can be a bit hairy in a Christian fiction work, but good taste can reign supreme. Sex can be written into a novel without a play-by-play account.

If any character--even the protagonist-- refuses Christ, that does not bother me; in fact, it is quite realistic.

I happen to like edgy Christian fiction; I like that realistic topics are found in good plots. I feel that a good writer ought to be able to handle it and write to honor Christ.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - The Christy Nominees

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

The Christy Award is designed to:
* Nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview.
* Bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership.
* Provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.

Today's assignment is:
Look at the list of nominees and share whether or not you have read any of them. If you haven't read that particular novel, have you read anything by that author? Have you read all of the books in any category? What are your favorite books on the list? Are there any books you haven't heard of?

Christy Award Nominees, 2009:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren • Tyndale House Publishers
Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney • David C. Cook

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Summer Snow by Nicole Baart • Tyndale House Publishers
You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman • FaithWords

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
Dogwood by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers
Embrace Me by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson
Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas • Moody Publishers

FIRST NOVEL
Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake • David C. Cook
Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers
Safe at Home by Richard Doster • David C. Cook

HISTORICAL
Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley • B&H Publishing Group
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers
Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser • Bethany House Publishers

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy • Barbour Publishers
From a Distance by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen • B&H Publishing Group

SUSPENSE
By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer • Tyndale House Publishers
The Rook by Steven James • Revell
Winter Haven by Athol Dickson • Bethany House Publishers

VISIONARY
The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka • Harvest House Publishers
Shade by John B. Olson • B&H Publishing Group
Vanish by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

YOUNG ADULT
The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina • FaithWords
I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke • Moody Publishers
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

My Response:
I have read and LOVED Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin and The Rook by Steven James. These books were terrific. I also read and enjoyed Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler. It's exciting to see these three listed as nominees, and I hope they win. My reviews are listed in my sidebar under both the title and the author.

I have just started If Tomorrow Never Comes by Marlo Schalesky. It's the first book I've read by her.

I've read and reviewed The Perfect Match by Susan May Warren. I hope to read more of her titles.

Among the nominees, Robin Jones Gunn is the author I've read the most. My list includes: Until Tomorrow, Secrets, Sisterchicks in Sombreros, and Engaging Father Christmas. In addition, I have three other titles of hers on my shelf waiting to be read: As You Wish, I Promise, and Gardenias for Breakfast.

I can't help but notice that my favorite author, Angela Hunt, was not nominated. She continually pumps out fantastic work. The Face was certainly worthy of a nod. However, it's wonderful that there are so many authors I haven't yet read and so many good titles waiting to be explored. We live in an exciting time.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Christian Bookstores

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's topic is:
While books and bookstores in general are suffering, Christian bookstores are suffering even more in this economy. Do you have a Christian bookstore that you shop at? Why don't you tell us about your local Christian bookstore and the benefits that it offers. If you don't shop at a Christian bookstore, then please tell us where you get your books, music, and other Christian gift items.

My Response:
I'm fortunate enough to live close to two Christian bookstores. One is named Truth, and although they seem to be a bit pricey, they always have a great sale table chocked full of books, most with the black mark on the bottoms. I've picked up some goodies for as little as $2.99. Of course, those were a few years old.

Lifeway is the second Christian bookstore and is by far the best bang for my buck. I love to walk through the door and hear the friendly greeting, while music is playing in the background. They not only have a sale table, but they have an incentive program so that they more you buy, the greater future discount you'll receive. In addition, they have some fabulous decorations for the home. For several years, I have gone after-Christmas shopping. I buy cards, wrapping paper, and this past year, a gorgeous nativity scene. I have a 24" set of pilgrims that I bought there a couple of years ago that really help set the tone in my home for Thanksgiving.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Surprised

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's topic is:
Have you ever read a book and been completely surprised by it? Was it either better than you were expecting, moving in ways you didn't expect, more captivating than you thought, or totally different from what you thought it would be about?

My Response:
Like our hostess, I was blown away by Tender Grace by Jackina Stark. The cover did not entice me; I had never heard of the author, but what a powerful book it is. In fact, I am reading the book of John again--slowly as the protagonist, Audrey modeled. 

On the other hand, Kiss by Ted Dekker left me cold. The cover is quite exciting, and I've certainly heard of his writing. I expected to enjoy that book, but I did not.

Then again, Rhapsody in Red by Donn Taylor is a much better than average whodunit with many twists and turns. In addition, there's an unexpected subtheme of music that runs through the novel.

I love to read. Opening the cover of a new book is always a delightful experience because most of the time, a treasure awaits.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - I Wish

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's topic is:
Christian fiction is growing as a market, but there are still many unexplored storylines and under-represented genres. What issues or ideas would you like to see tackled from a Christian worldview? Or, what setting would you like to see? Which genres would you like to see more books?

My Response:
I have been blown away by the diversity in Christian Fiction; it seems to me that everything possible to be covered has been covered. There's even a newly emerging category called "edgy" Christian Fiction. Think of Stephen Baldwin's book containing adult situations and profanity!

Teen fiction or Young Adult fiction is blossoming too. I've recently read and reviewed a science fiction about moving in and out of time (Out of Time by Paul McCusker), a thriller about blood diamonds (Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney--scheduled to post March 17th), and today's review about a contemporary teen handling her mentally challenged sister (Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson).

Christian thrillers and suspense novels are my favorite genre and a good many are written by women as well as men. Think of Brandilyn Collins, Colleen Coble, and Terri Blackstock. However, men don't seem to write romance novels. That might be an interesting twist, although I think Christian Fiction is saturated with romance novels.

Maybe you can come up with some ideas for today's questions. I wait to hear from you.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Biblical Fiction

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She presents topics, and we attempt to respond. If you're interested, join in. You may check it out here.

Today's topic is:
One of the areas of Christian fiction that is thriving is biblical fiction. Biblical fiction is when an author takes a story from the Bible and imagines more of the details. Tosca Lee's Havah would be a recent example of biblical fiction.

What I want to know today is how you feel about biblical fiction. Have you ever read any biblical fiction? Did you enjoy it? Do you think biblical fiction helps us to understand people who lived during biblical times better, or do you think that it's unnecessary? Have you ever read any biblical fiction that offended you?

My Response:
Biblical fiction is not my favorite genre. I'm leery of it because it might deviate from the scripture. Amy's example of The Red Tent is one book I choose not to read. I don't want to read with a frown; I read for enjoyment. Therefore, I usually choose not to read that genre. However, there are some wonderful exceptions of authors who know how to research, write, and handle biblical fiction. I'll cite three authors and the books that I have read and loved.

Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, and Whence Came A Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs, is a trilogy that parallels the biblical story of Jacob but is set in 1788 Scotland. Higgs follows with Grace in Thine Eyes, the biblical story of Dinah. I read these years ago as each one hit the shelves.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea. This was one of my first experiences of outstanding biblical fiction.

Angela Hunt wrote Dreamers, a book I've recently read and reviewed. Here's part of that review: "She takes the biblical account and using her attention to detail, fictionalizes it so that I end up thinking, 'Yes, it could have happened like this. It just makes sense!' " It's the first part of a trilogy of Joseph's life. It's followed by Brothers and Journey.

I do think that these books gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of people who lived during biblical times, and I had fun reading them. The key is the author; above all, she must be faithful to the scriptures.

Faith 'n Fiction - Questions or Answers?

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.


Today's question stems from a quote: "Too many Christians think we are supposed to use the arts to give people the answers. We’re not. We’re supposed to use the arts to lead them into a question."
Barbara Nicolosi, founder of Act One

What do you think? Do you think Christian fiction should provide answers or lead us to questions?

My Response:
The real question seems to be "What is the goal of Christian fiction?"

Sometimes it might lead us to thought-provoking questions and sometimes it might answer some questions we have been wrestling with, but most of the time Christian fiction is to enjoy. Do we go to the movies to have questions answered? Or do we go to be entertained? Watching television, listening to music, visiting with friends--isn't it all about enjoyment?

Along the way, we might find some answers or new questions to ponder, but that is not our major goal. Reading should be fun!

Christians authors do not have all the answers, but they should know who does and be able to make that clear by teaching through parables, metaphors, anecdotes, and real-life situations.

The goal of Christian fiction should be to present believable characters in real-life settings and situations, keeping true to the Bible in an entertaining mode, while remaining free from the assault of profanity, graphic sexual situations, and unnecessary violence.

Faith 'n Fiction - More Recommendations

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's question is:
You have a good friend who is a devoted Christian and voracious reader. He or she, however, tried to read a Christian fiction book in the past and found it to be too preachy and unrealistic. Your friend wants to try it again and has asked you for a recommendation. Their favorite genre of book is what is considered literary fiction. What book would you recommend to them?

You also have a friend who is not a Christian but wants to read fiction that is considered clean without being too Christian. They have asked you if there are Christian fiction books that might meet their reading needs. They are interested in romance and novels. What book would you recommend to them?

My Answer:
The reason I first began reviewing everything I read is for this very reason. I often have people ask me to suggest reading material for them or for those they want to gift a book. Since I don't care for "preachy and unrealistic" reading material myself, I would automatically turn to my favorite authors for recommendations.

For the first person, I might suggest The Elevator by Angela Hunt. During a hurricane, three diverse women: a betrayed wife, seeking revenge, a mistress with a secret, and a cleaning lady, afraid of having a horrible secret revealed are trapped in an elevator. They soon discover that the one thing they have in common is--a man! This is a suspense story that kept my interest, and I suspect it would be a perfect fit for my friend--whether or not she is a Christian.

For the second person, I might suggest Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs. Small town radio personality, Belle O’Brien, finds her stale career renewed with a move. She also finds someone new to bring into her life. I read this one awhile back and remember that it has plenty for the lover of romance novels.

At the bottom of my blog, I've posted my bookshelf from Shelfari. Each book is rated and has at least a small snippet of information about it. I would advise both friends to take a look at the books with five stars. There are many choices.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - I Recommend

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's question is: One thing we share in common is a love of books. I know there are participants of Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays that read over 200 books a year!
But while we may read a lot of books, only a few books in our lifetimes are special enough that we would never part with them, always recommend them, and maybe even reread them.

So...what fiction books with faith elements are on your keeper shelf? Please keep your answers to no more than 5 books!

My Answer:
I admire good writing, and all of my choices are good stories with well developed characters, written by talented authors. Since we're allowed series, I've selected two trilogies. In no particular order:

The Novelist by Angela Hunt, a story-within-a-story about an author with a problem son who teaches a class on writing and is challenged by one of the students to leave her comfort zone.



Doesn't She Look Natural? She Always Wore Red, and She's in A Better Place by Angela Hunt, a contemporary trilogy that teaches.







Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea.



Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, and Whence Came A Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs, a trilogy that parallels the biblical story of Jacob but is set in 1788 Scotland.






Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins, a thriller written in third person voice, interspersed with the chapters of the killer written in first person.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday -

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's question is:It's Christmas time and one of my favorite things to do is read Christmas themed books. Do you enjoy reading holiday themed books? Do you have any special book you read every year? Do you have a special devotional you like to use? (not fiction..I know!) Have you read any good Christmas books this year?


My Answer:
As a habit, I haven't read Christmas themed books. However, this year, I've read a slew of them--thrillers, romances, and humorous books. I liked this change. So my habit for future Christmas seasons will find me reading books with a Christmas themes. I review everything I read, so anyone interested can check out the wonderful reads I've enjoyed. Two goodies are Engaging Father Christmas and One Perfect Day. To help children focus on WHY we celebrate Christmas, try Cole Family Christmas. What a GREAT book that is for children 9-12!

Most definitely, each Christmas Eve, my family gets together. Food is always involved, we play Christmas music and sing along, and as we gather around the tree, my husband reads Luke 2, the original Christmas story. What a nice family tradition that is; I recommend it.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - The Christian Fiction Label

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's question is inspired by a conversation Lilly started over at Book Blogs. What do you think about labeling books as Christian fiction? As you know, the range of spiritual content in Christian books varies tremendously. Some books barely even mention God while others use a lot of Scripture. Do you think Christian fiction books should be in a separate section of the bookstore or library? Do you think this limits who might read these books? Do you have any idea of how they could be arranged differently? And a little off topic but do you have a preference about whether or not books have a lot of spiritual content or only a little?

My Answer:
First, we will need to define Christian Fiction. A good definition would state that the book contains no profanity, no sex, and is biblically sound. Some books fall under this genre without any reference to scripture, while others have more. I'm fine with that either way.

Bookstores already have sections devoted to Christian Fiction. I think it is a good idea; even eBay responds with a long list of books available when a buyer types in Christian Fiction. It makes book selection so much easier. There should be some way to separate fiction books.

I've recently had two titles furnished to me for review that contained so much profanity that I wrote the publisher refusing to read them. She said she understood and would try in the future to point that out. From the book cover, title, and blurb, how can a reader tell what he is getting? I don't want to waste my time reading any more garbage.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Recommended Gifts

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.

Today's question is: As you may know, I launched a campaign to encourage people to buy books for the holidays (you can visit that site here) and there are some fantastic blogger who have really contributed a lot of great ideas into the blog. I hope you check it out.

But now it's your turn to share some ideas! What books should be others be buying for Christmas? Do you need any gift help? You can handle this topic in two ways....either make a list of recommended books to give as gifts this year OR ask a question about what book you should get someone. (for whom you have been unable to think of a book gift for).

Keep it about books!

My Answer:
I've always found that the men in our lives are the most difficult to buy for. My recommendation for every man is Never Surrender: A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom by LTG (ret.) William G. Boykin. Here's what I wrote:

My husband and I are very different people. I am an avid reader; he would tell you that he hates to read. Nevertheless, when this book came into our home, he picked it up. (Trust me, that's unusual.) He turned a couple of pages, and when I gently suggested he take a look at it, he began to read! He did not stop that first day until he got to sixty-some pages.

The following day, he picked it up and read some more! As we drove down the street one day, he began to tell me about this man's life. I asked, "If this were made into a movie..."

"I'd go see it!" he exclaimed, interrupting me.

On another day, he stated, "This man is a machine! You can't believe the things he's done!" Well, he finished reading the book! Yep, he read all 350 pages, and he loved it.

Obviously, this is a compelling read. Covered are Noreiga's arrest, and the tracking of Escobar, the Colombian drug lord. Boykin tells the truth about Delta Force's involvement during the Waco, Texas fiasco and clears up the "false story" from CIA agents that the news agencies reported. It's a man's story, made for a real man's enjoyment. Buy it for the guy in your life; he'll read it, even if he's a non-reader

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Dream Movie

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.


Today's question is:
We've been blessed to finally start seeing some of our favorite Christian books come to life on film. So far, these have been largely low budget films, but they generally get the heart of the books across. But my question for you is...if you had an unlimited budget, what Christian fiction book would you like to see made into a film? Who would you cast in the main roles? Would you have a preference on director? Any songs you'd like to see on the soundtrack?

My Answer:
This is a tough question for me. My mind is swirling with the many titles of books I've enjoyed. To "fit" into a movie, characters should be well developed, and the plot must have some unexpected twists and turns. I'll give three recent reads: Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin, The Face by Angela Hunt and The Rook by Stephen James.

Until We Reach Home is a story of three sisters from Sweden who flee their home country to come to America. When they arrive, they do not find the easy life they dreamed about, but a life of hard work and deprivation. Austin is well known for her strong characters and involved story lines.

The Face by Angela Hunt is a story involving a birth defect wherein a baby is born without certain facial features (the nose, the mouth, the ears). Surgeries provide make-shift features, and the child is reared in a CIA facility, where she grows up to provide valuable expert help in the computer lab. In essence, she's a slave. It's a John Grisham-type of novel and would make a gripping film. Hunt is well known for her unexpected tales.

The Rook by Stephen James is a FBI thriller, with a web of intrigue and a killing device that would cause the film to be a R-rated. That means I wouldn't go see it, as I steer clear of those! However, the public would love it. I loved this Stephen King-type book.

Sorry, but I can't name actors, directors, or music as my brain is dead at this time of the morning and my knowledge in these areas is limited.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Reviewing

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here.
Today's question is: do you receive review copies of Christian books? If so, do you review them honestly? How do you handle it when you don't like a book but are obligated to provide a review? Who do you see your first commitment being to in book reviewing (besides God)? Yourself? The author? Your readers? Does your review change based on the spiritual content of the book or is it solely based on technical or artistic merit? Have you ever had a negative experience with an author after giving them a negative review? (please don't name names)

My Answer:
I am honest--in my life and in my reviewing. I receive Christian books to review, and I have had books that aren't "WOWers." However, I believe that there is something positive about every work I read, so when I come across one that falls into that category, I look for the good in it. I state the weak points, but highlight those good points so that people can make their own informed choices.

"To thine own self be true," is an axiom I believe and after God, I am committed first to myself. One book promised to be Christian, but as I began reading, I quickly discovered that it expressed the opposite of Christian beliefs. In fact, it was quite confrontational. I knew that there would be no way that I could recommend that work. I did not finish reading it, and I will not review it. I feel that I did the author a favor by not writing THAT review!

I have authors email me with happy comments about my reviews, and one author, who did not receive a stellar review emailed to inquire. This was handled in a professional manner and not at all confrontational. I was happy to give her my reasons; she claimed that this discussion helped her grow as an author.

I look forward to reading your answers.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - First Book

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. If you're interested, check it out here. Today's question is:

We all come to faith in Jesus at different times in our lives, and we all come to Christian fiction at different times, too! What's the first book in the Christian fiction genre you can remember reading? What was your impression of it? Did it make you want to read more or less?

My Answer:
I've always loved to read, but I thought that Christian fiction was rather bland and predictable, much like romance novels. The first Christian fiction book I remember reading and enjoying is Left Behind in the Left Behind series. I continued reading the entire series, even though they got pretty drawn out; I am a stubborn thing!

Next, I joined a book club at church and read Francine River's, A Voice in the Wind. It is the first in her triology. I went on to read #2, An Echo in the Darkness and #3, As Sure as the Dawn. It was such an exciting time for me.

After that, I read One Tuesday Morning, and I was HOOKED on Christian fiction. It's my favorite genre.

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday - Character

Amy at My Friend Amy has a meme going for those who enjoy Saturday Christian Fiction. Today's question is:

There are many outstanding characters in the books we read but often there's that one special character we remember for a long time. Sometimes it's because we relate to them, or maybe we were going through something similar to what they experienced. Or maybe they are just the sort of person we wish we were.
Who is the most memorable character in Christian fiction for you and why?

My Answer:
I don't seem to be able to remember a certain name of a character, but the personality I relate best with would be similar to the characters I often find in Angela Hunt's books. They are strong-minded, able bodied, Christian women. As I read, I like to think that God can use this material to change me for the better.