Into the Fire

As a writer, I want to express myself well. I desire to communicate and bring my thoughts to life. As an author, I choose to make pictures with words, dramatize scenes and scenarios, create lifelike characters who stimulate emotional reactions from readers, and aim for a reality that touches the truth of our human existence.

I had to face the fact early on that my life experiences which contributed to the underlying themes of my stories would not afford me the "usual" audience for much of Christian fiction. That conclusion became the impetus for self-publishing my work. Even though I would not use graphics in any sexual situations, my approach to romantic and/or sexual circumstances was deemed too raw for certain mainstream publishers of Christian fiction. They served a particular reading audience and could not be faulted for catering to those readers. 

I don't regret my approach to love stories for many reasons, but I would have to say the primary reason is because there are many readers such as myself who perhaps knew the right way to conduct their romantic experiences (as I did) but failed to adhere to that knowledge (as I also did) before or possibly after knowing the Savior of the world. This is the significant factor in why I write redemptive fiction. "Raw, Romantic, Redemptive" is my tag-line. Many Christians need to be reminded that their failures where romance, love, and sexuality intersect can be redeemed, forgiven.

Sometimes reading a good novel can provide the catalyst to righting a few wrongs if it can encourage a hurting heart. Or it can help readers realize they are not alone in their experience(s). Novels have done amazing things to and for readers. There's nothing like having a story touch you deeply.

And, well, writing one that does that for/to someone else? Priceless.

Father, thank you for every word, every story, everything. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.