Into the Fire

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Questions from an author . . .

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I don't know if other authors ever consider who the "audience" for their novels is not, but I do. In fact, I believe I can identify who my readers are not better than I can describe who they are. Authors are asked by agents and/or publishers who they think their audience is. That includes ages and other characteristics they assume will be their target readers. 

Well, let me tell you who the audience for my novels is not:

  1. If the occasional use of the word hell, damn, or the suggestion of a cuss word offends you, chances are, even with the brevity of these words being used in the story, you will be offended. You are probably not the audience for my books.
  2. If the portrayal of the world as it is but without the graphics might offend you, probably not going to want to read my novels.
  3. If the reality of sexual attraction and temptation incorporated into the romantic storyline tends to offend you, my novels are definitely not for you.
  4. If you don't like guns and would rather not have them mentioned or have them belong to any of the characters, you will not want to pick up a few of my books. 
  5. If you prefer short stories or novellas, my novels are generally longer than the average romance novel.

I also write for adults. Young adults in today's world can handle my stories. The themes are redemptive and faith in God eventually appears and is established. I don't cut corners with the redemption parts in my novels. So, if Christianity offends you, there will definitely be that faith realistically portrayed. 

So. Any other authors care to share who they consider "not" their audience? 

 

Father, thank you is never enough for all that you've done for me, given to me, the patience you exercised in bringing me to Jesus, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life – all of it. More than I could ever imagine. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of sharing you in my stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

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7 responses to “Questions from an author . . .”

  1. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Hmmm, let me think …
    If you want tidy, wrapped-up-in-a-pretty-bow stories, you probably won’t like mine.
    If you like your Christians to be near perfect … Christians and non-Christians alike will be imperfect in my stories.
    If you want a book that skips over life’s messes …
    If you want a story that is Jesus-lite …
    There are probably more, but that’s a beginning!

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  2. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Oh, I missed a big one…
    If you don’t want to be challenged, if you don’t want to read something thought-provoking, you might want to stay away from my books.

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  3. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Great points all, Bren. Truly. Did you ponder these before you published? I know I didn’t, but I learned fast from reading the Amazon reviews about other stories I loved. Mostly about the Christians who definitely should not pick up one of my novels.

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  4. Karin Kaufman Avatar
    Karin Kaufman

    I’ve struggled with number 1 in your list. While I think Christian authors (I’m one) should be judicious about their books’ language–why emulate the world?–I also think that a murderer using the word “hell” is pretty mild and in most cases absolutely necessary. Even in the cozy mysteries I write. I mean, we’re talking about MURDER, for crying out loud. Should a murdered say, “Oh, dilly” and then knife someone?
    I’ve also been surprised by what some readers consider “taking the Lord’s name in vain.” Is “By God,” spoken in a very tense moment by a Christian character, taking His name in vain? I don’t think so. But I’ve been told that it is. And I’ve lost sales because of it. I’ve considered writing many of my future books under a pseudonym.

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  5. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Frankly, Karin, I’m amazed at what some Christians think are swear/cuss words such as: hell, damn, dang, darn. These people are extremely legalistic – and that won’t fly with my writing. Hell is a place, for crying out loud. An evil place, but that doesn’t make it a swear or cuss word – even if someone directs a person to go there! That’s a curse on them, definitely not cussing them out.
    And how many times have we said in desperation: “Oh, God!” Some think that’s taking the Lord’s Name in vain. Huh-uh. And “by God” is a moment of taking authority, not using His Name in vain.
    It’s a shame we have these differences with our fellow believers, but such is the game of life on a sin-stained planet.

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  6. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    I didn’t ponder them beforehand, but I did know that’s the type of book I enjoy reading. I’ve never liked fluff.

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  7. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Not a fluff reader per se either. You deal with it in some romances, but the ones that matter to me are the ones that get to the heart of the love thing, the spiritual thing(s) – that’s truly serious and I need to read and write from that perspective.

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