Into the Fire

                     This is from an old post written in 2018. 

A Double Standard?

Have you established criteria for what you expect to find when reading Christian fiction? I think it’s safe to say many readers do so. The expectations vary according to the genres, but they also vary based on readers’ favorite authors and a formulated general standard assessed by individual readers. “Standards” which often result in requirements by these readers. Standards which when not met cause the complaints we discussed not too long ago here.

I know some of us who read a Christian novel by an author we’ve never sampled hope to find an organic approach to spiritual occurrences. There aren’t any requirements necessary other than an authentic approach to any faith elements within the story including those addressing the unseen factors when they materialize into the physical realm. (A note here to fantasy fans: I’m not discussing your genre here.)

What I don’t want to experience in a supposedly Christian novel are token Christians whose faith is marginal at best spouting Christian-ese and uttering quick prayers in crisis. I guess you could say this is a requirement for my reading pleasure.

Christianity demands a certain boldness. However, that boldness shows itself in so many variations because our Creator doesn’t use monochrome in designing his characters (us). We can see ourselves in others, but dissected we’re different. We can share similar emotions, desires, talents, and skills, but somewhere our individualism will separate us and make us unique. That unique approach to portraying Christianity in literature is what can make a story sterling, satisfying, even superb.

So are you as tough on general market fiction as you are on Christian fiction? Do you apply a double standard to your assessments?

Lord, may we write as you have gifted us, being obedient to what you set before us. May we listen and be directed by your Spirit and no one else. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I had many joyful and fun Christmases as a little and young girl. I do think my favorite Christmas was the one where I got my full-size Schwinn bicycle and my illustrated Black Beauty book. I remember the picture of me straddling the bicycle in our living room by the tree holding up my Black Beauty book for the picture. Funny what you remember.

I also remember that I got to sleep out on the couch on Christmas Eve hoping to catch sight of Santa. My parents knew once I fell asleep I was literally dead to the world and they could put out the special gift that was supposedly from Santa. And, yes, we left cookies and milk for "him". I was all-in on Santa Claus. Our dog slept in the basement, but I'd wake up at around 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning and see the gift from Santa. I'd run and let our dog upstairs and he'd be with me while I opened all my presents all by myself. I'd give him his special stocking and invariably there'd be some squeaky toy he'd play with much to the agony of my tired parents in the middle of the night. It was great fun. People were aghast to think they let me open all my gifts by myself, but that's what I did for most of my young life. Pretty unique, I know. But I loved it. 

Funny note in hindsight. When I learned from a girl in my 2nd grade class there was no Santa – that "he" was my parents, I felt so guilty for not thanking them for those "special" Santa gifts. It was a brutal shock to this little girl. 

Just reminiscing this Thursday . . . 

Father, at that time, although I always believed in you, I did not know your Son. I knew about the birth in the manger, but I didn't understand the significance then. I regret that. But you knew. Thank you for rescuing me so many years later and allowing me to celebrate the perfect beauty of Christmas because of Jesus. There's nothing better than the real reason for the season. Thank you, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Whatever beauty or scene you associate with Christmastime, it will speak to others. The purest beauty of all was the humble arrival of the Messiah Jesus Christ. 

. . . who came to save us all from Satan's power . . . He's still doing that. 

Thank you, Jesus, for being the Light and Savior of the world. We're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. Help us, Lord, to find the Way, the Truth, the Life that you alone are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A beautiful version of O Holy Night with true praise of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Thank you, Jesus, for coming for us. We're still desperate for you. Always were, always will be while on this earth. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I love this picture, and I've made it my current favorite for posting my writing musings. 

So today I'm thinking about Epilogues. Here is the Webster official first definition of an epilogue: a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work.

How do readers perceive them? As a wrap up? As a future summary? As an "eventual" conclusion. By "eventual", I mean epilogues will often give a future picture as in "3 weeks later" or "6 months later" or even "one year later". Sometimes they're used to give the follow-up to a hard ending or an incomplete ending scene providing a more relieving conclusion to the story. 

Should they be short or long? Like a page or two or the length of a chapter? Does it matter? 

Do you have any opinions on Epilogues? 

Father, help all of us authors to do justice to the stories we write in every sense of the literary reference. You know who you designed us to be as writers. Keep perfecting us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 

Isaiah 7:13-14 (NIV) 

Email, Message, or Direct Message me if you want this novel in print or for your e-reader, and I'll send it to you OR I'll send you any one of the others. Three of them are for e-readers only. If you're FIRST to email me, etc., you win one free copy of your choice. I'll need a suitable address and/or your email address. Merry Christmas! 

Amazon.com : Nicole Petrino-Salter 

Father, bless each one who's taken the time and made the effort to read any of my novels. My prayer is that any reader can get something from you from their pages. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Give thanks to the One who gave you life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. "Land of the free because of the brave."

Have a truly blessed Thanksgiving and remember how, in spite of everything dark and dreary, the Light of the Lord still shines on this One Nation Under God. Thank you, Jesus. 

I just finished a novel that I've chosen not to review or reveal the title and author. Having said that, you're probably thinking I hated it or couldn't find enough good things to say about it to warrant a review. It was actually a good story, and certainly not badly written, an interesting mystery with ample suspense. Within the body of the story there was a romantic thread that started out combative but eventually warmed up.

Here's the thing: as a female author I strive to get the male characters in my stories accurate – from their reactions, their thoughts, their words, to who they are as men. I've written many different kinds of protagonists and peripheral or secondary male characters. I've been told by males that I've done a pretty good job with them. 

Which leads me to the novel mentioned above. I could not equate the hero's thoughts with a real man. This character was a former Marine, in law enforcement. But, to me, his "romantic" thoughts about the heroine were too girly. At least, to me. 

Maybe it depends on the type of men a particular author has experienced in life. Of course there are "sensitive" men, even Type-A personalities have feelings, can be tender, but they don't generally think or respond to emotional situations like girls/women. And this character just did not think like a real man in my opinion. I wanted to slap him upside the head a couple of times and yell, "Man up, bud!" Maybe it's just me. 

Anyway, that's why I chose to not review or mention the story. 

Father, help all of us authors write the stories the way you want them told, to do our best, to be who you designed us to be. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Starting with the best and most beautiful version of this modern classic. It's all here in the song: Jesus is the Reason for the Season. 

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to rescue us. To live what we lived and showing us how powerful and wonderful you are. And for leaving us cleansed from all of our vile sins if just accept your sacrifice and turn our lives over to you. Thank you is never enough. You're still rescuing us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.