Into the Fire

The books, the blogs, the authors, the marketing, book-signings, contests, reviews (professional and amateur), sales, bestseller lists, the speaking engagements, conferences, teaching classes, appointments, editors, agents, publicists, ad infinitum.

Such is the world of the published author, a writer. Since we address writing from a Christian standpoint, here we are again. Observing the swirling composite of an industry making strides in a secular-dominated profession . . . Making a mark. Competing for a share of the profits. Offering an alternative to the accepted norm of graphic sexual content, hardcore profanity, and detailed expressions of violence or drug usage mixed in with often entertaining storytelling, ribald humor, and taut suspense thrillers—some of it written by modern day masters of the craft but others of it written by average hacks who somehow appealed to an editor’s banal instincts and succeeded in attracting their market share.

In a previous post I revealed why I have chosen to read Christian novels exclusively. Skimmed down, it’s because of two things: I cannot get through an entire novel where the challenges of life, no matter how serious or simple, never give cause to consider God, and secondly, no matter how intriguing the characters or the story, without the Lord I fail to see value or any form of “wholeness”. I see emptiness and no validity. But that is me.

However, in the world of Christian publishing I have also observed this pressure to “perform”, to push oneself out there to be noticed and to declare oneself a force to be reckoned with. To shove one’s value into the faceless masses via whatever marketing techniques and tools one can find or employ to insure that people notice who we are and what we write—with the underlying premise that if we don’t, our sales will be low and slow, and our publishers will say, “So long.”

I’m not accusing any one publisher or editor or marketing team or individual of being ruthless in the pursuit of success in this business. There is my first *disclaimer* for this post. So what is my point? (You’ve probably asked this question a number of times on my blog.) My point is I see a lot of pushing, be it from the publishing end to get out there and market that book, and, as a result, from the author’s end to make the readers see what a gem of a novel they could purchase—if they just would. In other words, take heed of the hype and get to your nearest bookstore, online purchasing option, or wherever you can get the darn thing! Because my good friend, the author So-and-So, has written this fabulous book, and you absolutely need to read it right after you read mine.

If you want to read the reverse of this, read the heartfelt praise for Mary DeMuth’s novel Watching the Tree Limbs by Camy Tang over on “RelevantBlog”.

I’m not blaming authors for promoting their fellow friends/authors. I’ve promoted some of my favorite authors here, published and unpublished. Writers should celebrate each other’s creations. Rejoice with each other. Truly, it’s a wonderful thing to have a book produced.

But I just sometimes sense the pressing in toward Jesus is an afterthought in the process. Again *not by everyone*. If each one of us in this business, both on the fringe such as myself and others technically “unpublished”, pressed in for the direction Jesus has for us, how great might the interest be? How many new opportunities would result from our devotion to seeking first the kingdom of God? Then the pressing on toward the direction God has for us as individuals couldn’t help but be more fulfilling, could it?

I hear the “pressure” in blog excerpts, contributions, and posts of writers pushing to create an interest in their material. Knowing full well that not everyone who stops by is their preferred audience. And let’s face it, people, there are few authors who can write a novel with universal appeal. Those are rare books.

There is a vast market for Christian novels and not only for Christians. God will certainly draw those readers with open hearts to specific books written by His people to shed light on His available mercy and grace. We can’t control that no matter how sterling our marketing skills are.

Isn’t the best solution for selling books pressing in toward Jesus Christ and then pressing on with what God has for us to do?

Father, it’s mind boggling to consider all the ways, ideas, and means to market books. I am no good at it when it comes to my own. They’re your books, Lord. Written for you and inspired by you. I have to trust you to do with them what you will, to prod me when there is something you want me to do, and to direct the books into those lives you’ve designed to receive them. Thank you for the stories, Lord, and thank you for what you have done and will do with them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.