I loved this group and this song. America produced some wonderful, albeit typical, early 70's tunes. This was one of my favorites. Thanks to Ken Kuehne, my Facebook friend for posting it. A few years after this song, one of their singers met Jesus. Hope he's still walking with the Lord.
Father, thank you for the talent you give. The beauty of all that you do is evident in so many things and people. Thank you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This one's for you, Brenda S. Anderson. It's quite elegant and the wood floor is spectacular.
Father, you make something for everyone. Again and again, thank you for the beauty. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
So. Who is the audience for Christian Fiction? Not an easy answer for this question precisely because of the problems we've discussed in Part One and Two. The obvious answer is Christians. But that's not complete enough because oddly it doesn't include many Christians who've abandoned the overall genre due to the restrictive choices of some publishing houses.
Some of those Christians who've abandoned Christian fiction have been gone for a significant time which means they haven't known some of the more current exquisite authors (i.e. Robert Liparulo, Steven James, Tosca Lee, Sibella Giorello, just to name a few who don't write in the romance or women's fiction genres). Some of these readers have said the writing in Christian Fiction is inferior to that in the general market, but that depends on who you read in both markets. Those listed here match up to anyone writing in their specific genres. Their prose and storytelling is indisputably well done.
Other Christians who've abandoned CF have done so because of the formulaic stories and inauthentic versions touching difficult subjects. Reality often dictates a harsh, stark, jarring account of situations and characters. In the "clean and chaste" versions of CF those types and that kind of depiction are noticeably absent. It's not that the difficult subject matter isn't in evidence but instead of the grit and edge that those topics sometimes demand, there are often high-drama emotional responses without any misfit language or terms, or there is the calm, Christian-ese response by someone in authority (i.e. a pastor or priest).
Recognizing I've made a generalization here, there is one constant in the clean and chaste novels and that is predictability which can often give way to formulaic story writing. If writing in the romance genre, there is a specific formula. However, if following that formula in turn presents predictability in the third chapter leaving the reader with 31 more to go, that creates boredom. And boredom is the reason some Christians have deserted CF, often missing out on good authors in the indie realm of publishing.
Let me tell you why I read mostly and write exclusively Christian Fiction. I spent 30 years of my life without Jesus Christ. I believed in God but didn't know how to find His Son. I experienced the secular philosophy, worldview, and lifestyle. It's ugly. I want no part of it. I understand it better than most Christians who've had the privilege to be raised in the church. It gives me both a measure of compassion and the same measure of contempt for those who languish in secularism or stay comfy in the church life. I write about it from both sides because I've lived it, felt it, known it, understood it, until the Savior of the world rescued me. That is why I write the way I do. Because the reality of the world is sometimes ignored by those in the church. Shunned, misunderstood, all under the guise of wanting to see souls saved without getting their hands dirty. Of course not all churched Christians are like this, but when you read the legalistic one-star reviews and hear the condemnation from those readers, you see why there are complete misunderstandings about who Jesus is.
It seems that Christian publishers stepped backward when the now-constant recession hit the economy. They began producing "safer" literature they knew they could sell. Unfortunately for the more authentic-seeking readers and writers, "safe" produced a vanilla grouping which pleased a select bunch that apparently keeps the publishers afloat, although several of the Christian publishing houses have sold their businesses to larger secular conglomerates who promised to keep the CF lines open. In publishing the "safer" fiction they alienated many Christian readers who looked elsewhere for their material, seeking authenticity and variety. As I said before, some of them left early and missed out on tremendous talent in the CF ranks, but others left later, disappointed in not finding what they hoped to read with a Christian worldview.
Most businesses are always seeking ways to improve their product, reach more customers, and to keep growing. I would have to say the publishers in Christian Fiction proved to be just the opposite and have settled for the smaller numbers that keep the presses printing but add few new readers because of their rigid standards - which many of them don't adhere to in their private reading.
Father, you are the One we need to follow and please. It's all about you. Not us. Please help each one of us to be true to you in everything we do. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." [Jesus]
Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)
So. How did Christian publishing become what it is today? All we really have from authors like myself are opinions. Lots of them. When I was introduced to Christian Fiction, it might've started before Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness, but that's what started Christian Fiction for me. His blockbuster duo of TPD and Piercing the Darkness hooked me to his work but also to exploring what Christian bookstores were offering instead of the typical general market fare which offered little hope, morality, or conscience.
Those two Peretti novels, bold and brash for their time, turned out to be a huge success for both author and publisher. Believers and unbelievers alike were challenged and awed by these stories and depiction of spiritual warfare. Few novels of those days made such a crossover impact without even trying. Powerful in their storytelling and definitely Christian in their theology without apology, Peretti ignited and set the stage for Christian Fiction.
Although we've "come a long way, baby" in years of Christian writing with many successful and talented authors published by various Christian houses (successful and talented not necessarily synonymous), I can't help but wonder if the evolution has been as good as it could've, maybe should've, been. What does it say about CF when many of its editors and other professionals primarily read general market material? And knowing that, why are the restrictions and requirements of some Christian publishers so rigid?
The answer to that seems simplistic. There are some very loud and proud Christian readers who demand their versions of "clean" stories and threaten with ultimatums to "never read another book from so and so" if they don't quit publishing such objectionable material in their fiction. It's a catch-22. The publishers have created this mode of story-telling and the readership they've generated who keep the coffers full demand they kowtow to their expectations. If they deviate from the expected norms, they hear about it. I'm not casting blame on any publisher who wants to make the maximum profit from their businesses. However, what they've ushered into the domain of Christian Fiction are inflexible readers with unvarying tastes who aren't afraid to voice their displeasure in somewhat mean-spirited one-star reviews on Amazon or elsewhere.
Some areas of Christian Fiction remain stagnant. Predictable, formulaic, routine. Certainly not all of it. There are some fabulous writers of Christian novels in all genres. Talent galore. Some have had to go the independent route to write in the genres of their choices (i.e. sci-fi, fantasy), and others, like me, have had to choose self-publishing in order to write the way they prefer.
Some exceedingly talented Christian authors have been dropped from mainstream Christian publishers after a few books, leaving many of us wondering why. These were exceptional writers with excellent stories. Good reviews. It was hinted that their stories might've been a bit too edgy. Considering the depth and value of their writing, it was impossible to accept that reasoning.
There's more to this. Part Three will follow.
Father, we're all desperate for you. We need to obey you above all else. We need to use the talent/gifts you've given each one of us for your glory. Help us all to do that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Over the years of doing this blog I've written and conducted many discussions on Christian publishing. Several years ago, I asked professionals in publishing, authors – published and unpublished – and some editors to describe their opinions of Christian Fiction. We've talked about the requirements and rules for getting published in this market, the dissent and rebellion to those demands, and then we've commented on the overall product both past and present.
What's interesting in today's marketplace is the new avenue foisted upon the publishing world by the e-readers headed by Amazon's Kindle versions. These devices opened up the publishing realm to a rush of indie (independent) authors/publishers who specialized in creating the formats for the various e-readers. Those indie publishers often consisting of authors who simply do it all themselves with their tech-savvy skills, hire a cover designer or are creative enough to design one themselves, do all the little extras that must be accomplished before making their work available as an e-book and eventually, if they choose, a POD (print on demand) volume. Reputable "self-publishing" houses have offered to produce novels for e-readers and/or print, some offering a higher percentage of revenue to the author than traditional publishing houses.
That way a writer can include previously taboo words (i.e. hell, damn, breast, etc.) without having to eliminate them because they are "offensive" to a publisher's Christian audience. Note that I'm not talking about the commonality of four-letter words found in much of secular/general market publishing. I'm talking about the words that contribute to a character's definition, description, and demeanor. Real words that inhabit the conversations or exclamations of real people.
So how did Christian Fiction become what it is? I don't have the answer(s) to that, but tomorrow we'll talk about it.
Father, you love us all in spite of us. You give us purpose and direction if we will only follow you. It's not easy for us, but we need to do what you desire of us because it's the best – even if we can't see it that way. Thank you for loving us anyway. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
No, I haven't seen it yet. But I will.
Johnny Depp has been in the news of late accused by his wife of 15 months (girlfriend and fiancée for a few years) of drug/alcohol addiction and emotional and physical abuse. As ugly as divorce can be, this one has become one of "those". It's no secret to my friends that Johnny Depp is my all-time favorite actor, but it's been evident in recent times (actually since he and the mother of his two children split up) that he has regressed in his choices for films, excluding this one. There is usually some truth to accusations by combatting couples, but often they are exaggerated or stretch the truth. Whether or not the ones made by Amber Heard are in fact real, Johnny needs help. If these are fabricated, Amber needs help. The sad part is these two proclaim to be atheists. That would explain some of this unhappy situation.
Lord, you've heard my prayers. I pray they were enough. Only you save souls. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This is a similar floor plan to another kitchen most of us liked. I love this floor and the way it blends with the wood – or vice versa. White countertops could present problems over the long term, but it does look nice with this floor and wood. I do wish we could see the rest of the kitchen, but for a narrower (not small) kitchen, this looks like a nice layout.
Father, thank you for skills, imagination, inspiration, and the beauty you share. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners', expecting to be repaid in full. Bu love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)
Here ya go, rustic kitchen lovers. Is this gorgeous or what? I could do without the pot rack or whatever it is hanging up there, but other than that, this is beautiful. Love the window frames, and the wood cabinets are similar to ours.
Father, thank you again and again for the surviving beauty in creation. You are behind all of it. Thank you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
