Into the Fire

From his Colors of Love album, "Don't Go." One of the most appropriately titled – each song exquisitely titled – Smooth Jazz at its best by a true master. 

Father, you know hearts and souls. We're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Here's my subtitle for this Monday: "Why I write Christian Fiction." 

I was going to say: "Why I write Christian Romance," but if I can't call them "love stories," I don't want to lump them all into the typically perceived romance genre. 

Many of you probably want to mutter under your breath, "Who cares?" 

Fact: you either like the romance/love story genre or you don't. Men tend to ignore it and assume the genre is for women, but I know several women who never read romance novels – Christian or otherwise. 

Bottom line, I was "in the world" for 30 years even though I believed in God. For several of those years, I acted accordingly to a degree. However, the last nine or ten between 20 and 30 (the year of my meeting Jesus) were spent in some serious rebellion without realizing that's what it was. Suffice it to say, it wasn't pretty. 

So, you ask, what does that have to do with writing Christian romance/love stories? Long story. I've written things all my life. When it came time to write a book many years after knowing Jesus, it was He who told me as clear as if He stood in front of me to write a Christian novel about horse racing. Well, you can't write about horse racing without covering the love of Thoroughbreds and that which passes for love between people on the track but often is just lust, and that's how my novels turned into Christian love stories.

Race is my only mystery, and it has a romantic thread that runs through it.   

Bottom line, I know what I want and like to read, and there are only a very few in Christian fiction that write it well according to my preferred tastes. I can do it and so I do. 

"Raw   Romantic   Redemptive"  and   "Nicole writes love stories with a passion" are my tag lines. Read at your own risk. 

Father, you designed me. Please help me to be all that you want me to be. I know I'm a real project, but I love you, Lord, and I'm always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who are in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

                            "'In the last days, God says,

                            I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

                            Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

                                 your young men will see visions,

                                 your old men will dream dreams.

                            Even on my servants, both men and women,

                                 I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

                                 and they will prophesy.

                            I will show wonders in the heaven above

                                 and signs on the earth below,

                                 blood and fire and billows of smoke.

                            The sun will turn to darkness

                                 and the moon to blood

                                 before the coming of the great

                                and glorious day of the Lord.

                            And everyone who calls

                                on the Name of the Lord will be saved.'

Acts 2:14-21 (NIV) 

                                                    U S A 

Lord God Almighty, we ask for your divine blessing upon America one more time for one more season. Bring new souls into your family and preserve our country once again for however long you choose. We ask in the Name of Jesus, the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                            That's it. It was that kind of day. 

Father, thank you for each day. There are always things to learn – especially from you. Please continue to teach me, Lord. I'm always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I find it mildly amusing that the novel which was the most difficult for me to write has the most reviews (even though there's not very many). I struggled mightily writing this one. Extremely grateful to the detective (at the time) who answered all my questions and made writing the police procedural/mystery possible. I was out of my league writing a mystery. 

In spite of primarily reading thrillers, mystery, and suspense, writing one was something I never thought I would or could do. I write love stories/romance! So my comfort zone in Race was a romantic thread that didn't overpower the mystery. That part was easy. 

I want to thank all of you who read and reviewed it. You can't know how much I appreciate you.  

It's also the only one of mine available as an Audio book, voiced and produced by the one and only Joseph Courtemanche.

If you enjoy mysteries/police procedurals, you might enjoy Race. Takes place on a Thoroughbred racetrack. 

As with all of my work: Raw  Romantic  Redemptive.

Father, thank you is never enough for all you've done for and given me. Please continue to guide my work and help me do as you ask. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Great question. One of the best from The Doobie Brothers. 

Father, thank you for all that you give to us. People living their callings – always the best when they honor you in the process. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

There is much to be "musing" about this Monday unrelated to reading and writing, but I'm going to keep it book-related for now.

I wouldn't say I'm a picky or finicky reader, but I would say I have a "type" of novel I prefer in each genre. And, like most serious readers, I have my favorite genres and authors in those genres. 

What kind of reader are you? What are your favorite genres? Favorite authors?

Father, thank you for your authors. Please help each one – including me – to keep writing the stories you have just for them to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

   the people he chose for His inheritance.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;

from His dwelling place He watches

   all who live on earth —

He who forms the hearts of all,

   who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army;

   no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

   despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

   on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

   and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord;

   He is our help and our shield.

In Him our hearts rejoice,

   for we trust in His holy Name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

   even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:12-19 (NIV) 

Five things I don't like that most people – not all – do like. 

        1. Coffee – I come from a long line of coffee drinkers, and I've never been able to acquire a taste for it.

       2. The movie Dances with Wolves. 

       3. The "Super-hero" genre of films. 

       4. Laptops. I prefer my PC – inconvenient as it can be at times. 

       5. History. I know that's not a good thing, but I'm too into the here and now, very contemporary. History is important – I understand – but not my favorite subject.  

Father, you made us all individuals in this human race. Your creation is amazing. Please continue to pursue those whose hearts are ready for the love and forgiveness you offer them. Thank you is never enough for rescuing me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.