Into the Fire

I would love to say, "I've always wanted to write a mystery," but that would be a lie. I could say in truth, "I would love to be able to write a mystery." Most of you who stop by here know I love to read mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and all of their derivatives and pretty much maintain a steady diet of them for my reading material. But to write one? I would've said over and over again: Not gonna happen. I'm not qualified to write a mystery, I don't know the first thing about writing a mystery, and I seriously doubt I could figure out how to write a mystery nor do I know the ritual of figuring out the genre – much like I don't really write genre-perfect romances which is why I call them "love stories". I'm definitely a writer rebel without a cause when it comes to staying within genre parameters. 

Okay. Having said all that, my readers know I write redemptive novels or as we call it in the "biz" and to be more specific: Christian Fiction. Now of course that turns off a lot of readers who prefer secular – or as the publishing world calls it "general market" – fiction. So those who are not open to reading anything that has Christian references/characters will probably not want to read my work. What I do that could be somewhat different from some Christian authors is I present "secular" or "worldly" characters and circumstances realistically without judgment because I want whoever reads my books to see the contrast in lifestyles. That is not to say my Christian characters are sublime human beings. Nope. They're regular people with common struggles who persevere to resist sin and aren't always successful in doing so. 

I do have a point here. My "new" book which is now underway in the publishing process is, I guess, a murder mystery. Why did I write it? Well, I wrote it because for several years before I put the first word on the computer screen, the Lord gave me the idea and would not let it go away. Would. Not. And after a point, I knew I had to attempt it. He put it back at the racetrack (Thoroughbred horse racing) and filled in the many blanks. He provided a detective (a friend of my oldest son) to coach me in local procedures, and he was an amazing help.

Then I froze. I was incredibly intimidated and fearful of making one of those ridiculous, stupid mistakes that we occasionally observe on TV or read in a story. And I stayed frozen on this novel for a few years, starting two other love stories.

To be continued . . .

God, you are so patient with me, so gracious to me. I'm always, always desperate for you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.