Into the Fire

It’s a funny thing to describe the “influence” of certain authors and their books. Especially when discussing novels. Lately around the blogs different ones have listed a number of books, both non-fiction (outside of the Bible) and fiction which have influenced their lives and/or their writing in some way.

For me, I have the before Christ and after Christ to consider. I could easily differentiate between the two periods of time, and the books and authors would be noticeably and significantly opposed. Not so much in styles or genres as in philosophy.

One of my favorite authors before my life with Jesus was Ken Kesey. You might remember him from his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He also wrote Sometimes a Great Notion. Both were made into films, and both were wonderfully written. I loved his style. Also from that time I read a couple of the controversial novels by D. H. Lawrence who I liked, although he was very different from Kesey, much darker. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse effected me because I’ve always hungered for the spiritual even when I couldn’t discern the dangerous from the perfect. God was patient and allowed me to travel that self-destructive road until I deduced it led to certain death. When I read Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, I enjoyed his writing and the story, but I’m hard pressed to remember it now with so many years and books having been consumed since I read his work.

Going farther back I grew up on The Black Stallion stories by Walter Farley and read the illustrated version of Black Beauty. I never read National Velvet but saw the movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. Later on I loved Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.

This will surprise some of you: I’m just now reading Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. I’m enjoying her writing and the story, but I can say it won’t pack the punch for me that it has for many a reader. Obviously, it’s well-written and true to her characters. Her style reminds me of contemporary authors Rachel Keener and Mary De Muth, both of their recent novels reviewed here.

Slipping into contemporary Christian fiction, Frank Peretti is one of my favorite authors, the reason being, for me, his novels give me a movie in my mind’s eye plus the supernatural and spiritual content contained great insights and uninhibited exploration. In all of my work I’ve tried to do the same. Writing that references all my senses, emotions, and delves into spiritual content with depth appeals most to me. Francine Rivers’ contemporary novels struck chords with me because of her writing strength and tackling hard issues. You all know I enjoy Robert Liparulo’s thrillers—his intense pacing and unique storylines driving his stories forward. Kristen Heitzmann’s style and sense of romance rings true and real. Susan Meissner writes with melodic prose. Lisa Samson captures serious and real with good writing, deep reaches into the souls and spirits of humanity. I love Don Brown’s military novels, Tim Downs’ Bugman books, Randy Alcorn’s series, Harry Kraus’s voice, C. Mair Burney’s voice, Tosca Lee’s elegance, Brandilyn Collins’ first suspense novels because they were longer with great character and spiritual development. And so many more.

But, did they “influence” my writing? Not sure that they did. I didn’t get my stories from theirs. I hadn’t read several of the above before I wrote five of my novels. I know who I’m similar to in my style, but did I try to imitate them? No. And since a lot of my favorites don’t write in the genre that I do, it would be stretching it to say they influenced my actual writing.

Their influence has come in the stories: the impressions they passed along, absorbing the fabric of storytelling while reading them, breathing in their ways with words, appreciating the uniqueness of so many writers.

How ‘bout you? How have your favorites influenced your writing, if they have?

Father, you’ve gifted so many with such unique ways to tell a story. It’s a pleasure and a joy to share in their stories. May mine be used for your glory. Somehow. Some way. Someday. Thank you for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.