Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

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

  • Is it news? (**Warning: Not PC**)

    One thing that isn’t news: “the news” can’t be trusted. How many times have you read in one day’s time the exact opposite postings on whatever your homepage tells you in the business, weather, political, or even entertainment categories? If it wasn’t so annoying and pathetic, it might be humorous.

    We hear the negativity of “partisanship” blasted from the airwaves of Congress and the media-mentionings on a regular basis. But how could there not be partisanship? The great divide which spreads apart wider and wider on a seemingly daily basis separates two diametrically opposed philosophies. Their conversion cannot be predicted for anytime soon.

    Our local newspaper is mostly a leftist propaganda rag. Once in a great while, some actual articles appear untainted by the so-called politically correct viewpoints. Rarely but occasionally, the paper will endorse a Republican candidate—which only serves to make other Republicans nervous about said candidate.

    What’s amazing to me is that the leftwing political crowd eschews news’ operatives and reporters of being biased against the liberals. Ay ay ay! If they’re biased against the left, heaven help us in even finding the right.

    That’s all. Most of the time it’s no longer news: it’s propaganda.

    Father, one day this world will be no more. And not from the hands of men but from yours. You will have had enough. It will be no more. Your patience with mankind is beyond my comprehension. I pray for the salvation of souls, for your calling out to the lost, and I pray you will keep me in your strong hands until the end . . . In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Do we dare say it?!

    In keeping with the niche novel discussion, is it absurd to suggest there are too many CBA novels on the shelves? Not only CBA novels but general market (secular) novels?

    When a reader can’t find his/her kind of novel on CBA sites or recommended by people/authors/pros they respect, the answer to the “too many” question might be either yes or no. Too many of one kind, not enough of other kinds.

    We’ve all read and heard that the glut of CBA novels remains in romance and women’s fiction: these are the foundational bestsellers in the Christian novel spectrum. Those who read, relish, and reproduce romance novels sit pretty in the top tier of the industry. There is no shortage of general market romance readers for sure and might even measure up as a larger group proportionately. This points to women buying the bulk of fiction in either market.

    The huge number of novels on shelves of any bookstores makes a yet-to-be published author queasy. The most ambitious and optimistic of the bunch imagine seeing their novels on those shelves one day. Realistic? Who’s to say?

    It seems the publishing industry is in flux. Economic issues, e-books, POD, Lulu, the steep ladder to gaining access to agents and editors, and so many variables seem to have put the biz a little back on its heels. The echoes of “most books not earning out their advances” strains the credibility of the professionals’ choices for publishing contracts. Some claim the emphases on platforms rather than on actual writing talent have been responsible for some less than scintillating novels. And just yesterday Dee Stewart over at The Master’s Artist brought out the dirty little secret of evidentiary racism in the CBA publishing ranks.

    The glut of novels is just the tiny tip of the proverbial iceberg. The slush piles, queries, proposals—all have agents and editors spending hours and hours trying to diminish the stacks of writers seeking publication. The odds of being selected have never been any greater than they are right now. The focus of marketing somehow shifted to place the majority of responsibility upon the authors, although some publishing houses are more accommodating than others. It’s been suggested to writers to hire publicists with their advances, being warned they’re the best persons to sell their books. (I would argue most authors are the best people to discuss their novels but not necessarily to sell them.)

    The weird position of today’s publishing industry suggests the status quo is changing. Past successes might not prevail. How the industry morphs into something new or different or stretches to find what will ultimately create a new kind of growth remains to be seen. But it does suggest that feeding the niche market can’t hurt if there’s a way to make it profitable.

    God, Lord of all Creation, you see all things. You ordain the steps of your people. You know hearts. You make streams in the deserts. Thank you, Jesus. Am desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Finding the niche . . .

    Niche novels. “Literary” novels supposedly don’t sell well in CBA. I think it depends upon your definition of “literary”. And, believe me, it always depends on who you ask. The general consensus claims a literary novel uses lovely language to tell a story. Sometimes that story revels in quirky characters or circumstances but certainly not always. Some editors search for these niche novels and hope their houses will take a chance on their success much like those editors who seek out and push for speculative fiction.

    Literary novels don’t often translate well to “commercial” novels. There are multiple opinions as to why this might be, but we do have some notable writers in CBA fiction who could be labeled as literary authors. Here is a sampling of my selections: Tom Morrisey, Chris Fabry, Athol Dickson, Tosca Lee, Susan Meissner, and—based on one book of hers—Lisa Samson. A few years ago Bethany House published the very quirky and short little novel Danny Gospel written by David Athey (reviewed here). My review says it all. I dare say if I had written the book, it would be lying in stasis with the rest of my novels, but with David’s credentials and intellectual appeal, the novel made it into print, most likely due to Dave Long’s hard sell, but I’m not entirely sure about that, more of a guess really.

    Regardless of your feelings or preferences concerning literary novels, they deserve a place in CBA publishing just as any other niche novels do. The problem for any niche book is selling it. If it’s produced in the same vein as, say, a Karen Kingsbury novel—which of course wouldn’t happen—then it will fail. The practicality of printing larger amounts of books as opposed to smaller means the publisher traditionally pays less to print more. However, if the printer would work with the publisher in printing smaller numbers for niche novels by establishing some kind of discounts for its loyal customers, wouldn’t it be possible to produce these niche books for those readers who enjoy them? This working arrangement could also help new authors who have yet to gain recognition. Producing smaller quantities gives opportunities for both publisher and author to “earn out”. No? Someone please enlighten me if I’m wrong here because all I’ve ever been told is: “It doesn’t work like this.” Or “It isn’t done that way.” Why not? If not before, why not now when publishing is being threatened by e-books and POD?

    I’d really like to know.

    Lord, lead me on to the place you have for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Sunday’s Offerings

    And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

    Luke 2:40 (NIV)

  • Saturday Sample

    (continued from 11/27/09)

    Hutch drove up to Mick’s barn to see if Nelson might want to grab some dinner. He was about to stop when he saw what he thought must have been Bob’s truck parked outside the barn. He decided to head to his motel and gather up some of his stuff to take to his new home. He liked that the place was furnished. The furniture was well-used but he could tell it’d been cleaned. The good thing was Mr. Raleigh told him he’d just put a new bed in the place the day before Hutch arrived and made a point of telling him it was a Sealy Posturepedic. Hutch looked forward to sleeping on a good bed especially when his back would get to hurting him after shoeing a few tough ones or shoeing a few too many in one day. He wasn’t getting any younger, but he wanted his career to last as long as possible. It just gave him such satisfaction. When he corrected a problem, there were no better words to hear than “Nobody’s been able to fix that except you”.
    The rain stopped by the time Hutch pulled up to his unit at The City Motel. Still cloudy with a darkening sky. He would’ve preferred just to shower and go to bed, but he forced himself to haul out the boxes he intended to take over to the duplex. Then he went to the office to give the manager his check out date.
    Showered and dressed, he headed back out to his truck unable to keep from thinking about his wife and how much he missed her. He did wonder if she’d somehow reconsidered and not filed the signed papers but sincerely doubted it. Her final words to him rang painfully in his ears, “You know, Hutch, right now I could say to you I never want to see you again and almost mean it.” The tears were there in her pretty blue eyes. As much as she’d tried to hold them back, she couldn’t, but she saw the tears in his eyes as well. He continued to wonder if there was any way on earth she might have thought it over after he left and . . . well, what was the point of thinking about it now? He redirected his focus back to moving, but his mind didn’t cooperate for long.
    Just as he pulled into the small carport at his new home, Nelson pulled up in his silver Toyota pickup.
    “Hey, horseshoer,” he greeted him.
    “Mr. Foreman, to what do I owe this pleasure?” he jived.
    “No pleasure, man. Just neighbors.”
    Hutch laughed. “You eaten yet?”
    “No. Give me 20 minutes to clean up.”
    Hutch unlocked the unit and returned to his truck, methodically unloading his stuff. It felt dreary moving into a place alone. He liked married life—or his version of it, he guessed. Obviously he didn’t have a clear understanding of what it took to stay married, and he cussed himself.
    His Mom and Dad were steady but seemed kind of distant. He was well aware of their love for him and his brother and sister. Both his brother and sister wanted to go to college, and his parents sent them. He’d always been the one who loved the animals; the one who nursed the hurt birds, loved on the two dogs, the two cats, the turtles, the fish, and anything else that found its way to the Hutchinson household. His brother Robert was the math whiz, always trying to invent things. He laughed to himself as he remembered the go-cart Robert made with the “convertible top” so he could drive it in the rain or sun. Trouble was when he took off down the steep hill one afternoon in the rain, the convertible top flew off behind him and smashed into his friend Curtis’ go-cart sending it and Curtis flying into the wet grass. That was the end of Curtis’ go-cart and the end of Robert’s convertible.
    His sister Sally was the home economics queen. She could cook and sew anything, and she thought she wanted to be a home economics teacher until Benjamin Crosser swept her off her feet in September of her sophomore year of college. They were married before spring quarter started. She ended up working in a fabric store where after only three months she became the assistant manager. Benjamin completed his studies and became an electrical engineer. Both he and Robert worked for the same firm and made the big bucks.
    Sally cried when she found out Hutch was leaving. She couldn’t believe her brother was getting divorced because she knew how much he loved Susan. No woman even came close to snagging Hutch until he found Susan. She knew her brother wasn’t perfect—that he’d been a drinker and a carouser and sometimes a pretty bad actor, but he’d always been good and dependable with the horseshoeing, and when he met Susan nearly everything changed. Sally felt overwhelmed at their wedding because she knew how much he had to love this girl for him to settle down and get married. Susan was the only one for Hutch.
    “Hey, you look like you’re a thousand miles away,” Nelson remarked as he walked over to find Hutch leaning up against his truck.
    “Yeah, just about.”
    “You know you’re going to have to call that girl.”
    “What girl?” he asked, puzzled.
    “The one you claim is divorcin’ you.”
    “I don’t think I could take gettin’ hung up on right now. Ready to go?”
    “C’mon. I’ll drive.”

    (excerpt from For His Glory; sequel to Hope Of Glory)

  • The Niche Novels

    There are hordes of Christians who explore, write, and love to read speculative fiction. A great number of that horde particularly enjoy fantasy and campaign faithfully for more CBA products in this genre. Other niche novels within the speculative category yield Sci-Fi, Vampire, Werewolf, Zombie, and the like stories.

    Here’s the thing: niche novels appeal to a certain group of readers. Outside of that niche group the overlap of other readers is slim and often not a negotiable number.

    My friend Mark loves the thriller genre (as do I). You know the kind: exploding helicopters, daring exploits, excitement and razzle dazzle with lots of danger and pop and bang and mayhem combined with a witty hero and occasional humorous banter or situations. Now if within that context a little romance shows up: it’s okay, but don’t you dare make it the primary focus of the story. In other words don’t have the hero look inside himself and contemplate deep emotional feelings, flaws, or foibles. The market for thrillers is large in the general market and ever expanding in the CBA market. And many readers cross over to it along with reading other genres. Therefore it has the benefit of drawing from other genre readers.

    On the other hand, many women love romance novels in varying degrees and styles of romance from contemporary to historical to Amish—you get my drift. Within that niche there are women who will read the gamut of romance novels and those who stick to a particular era or style of romance. The absolutists in this niche read nothing else, or there are those like myself who only read select and narrow romance market material and read largely outside the genre. The thing about the niche market for romance novels is that it’s huge. General market or CBA romance: huge. So big in fact that any concern about drawing from other genres probably doesn’t exist. Besides, good romance can be found within the pages of a mystery and/or suspense novel or in other genres. There’s no shortage of readers for romance and no shortage of romance for readers.

    My point today is this: when you read a certain niche-type novel, you tend to gravitate toward those who read the same kinds of books. This creates conversation, discussion, even controversy. Websites and blogs spring up. Fan groups and book clubs are formed. Interest generates. And the patrons of these sites enthuse about the need for more of these books. Writers gain encouragement and work hard to produce them.

    Here’s the problem: niche enthusiasm doesn’t always translate into major sales. The numbers of people seem like they’re available to support the unique niche. The outcry for more seems authentic and in great numbers. But when the books eventually get produced, the sales don’t support what the outcry suggested. The niche appears smaller than anticipated.

    Even though the blog tours take off with a roar, the praises roll in like the giant curl from a North Shore wave, and enthusiasm leaps from post to post, the sales begin to dissipate and drop off. Occasional criticism pops up, a bad review surfaces, some negative controversy incites those who will never read the book anyway, and suddenly the niche market seems to shrink.

    Publishers who dared to produce those niche books study the numbers and halt additions to what they see as a general failure to maintain interest which translates to earning income. Money talks in every business, and if a book doesn’t make money or look like it’s going to weather a slow start or sustain a quick one, said book is done. End of story as they say.

    There should be a solution for producing smaller niche-market novels. Jeff Gerke’s Marcher Lord Press is doing its part to support speculative authors. Other major publishers have given a few authors “a go” with speculative fiction, but it remains to be seen whether or not this mixed genre will survive in Christian publishing.

    On Monday I’ll present some more thoughts on niche novels . . .

    Father, you see the struggles of your writers. You know their hearts and what you’ve called them to do. Teach us all what you would have us learn in this writing journey. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • The publishing pipe dream?

    Is it?

    A pipe dream is a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. Wikipedia

    From the fantasies experienced when smoking an opium pipe

    A plan, desire, or idea that will not likely work; a near impossibility. Wiktionary

    I started my first novel in the summer of 1993, and, no, that’s not a first line from a memoir, a movie, or a book. I know: thank goodness. No, it’s the truth. Eight and a half years later, I finished that first novel. Naïve and hopeful, I started my journey in the world of publishing.

    Seven novels later with two self-published, I’m older and somewhat wiser to the ways of that publishing world but certainly no authority on any of it. At times it has occurred to me that it’s a pipe dream to seek publishing for my work. Athough frustrating in the trenches, I’m far enough along now to know peace.

    The common pet peeves of wannabe authors resound when they read those published novels which they evaluate as inferior. How? Why? Who agreed to publish this piece of . . . fill in the blank. C’mon now: most of us have been there. Aahhh, the subjective world of publishing.

    Generally it takes a lot to discourage the young and/or the determined. Those who pursue the goal of being published learn quickly but usually manage to commit at least a few faux pas in the process of writing/querying/submissions etiquette.

    One interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed in some newly published authors is the sense that somehow, even after all the efforts and disappointments they’ve experienced, everything’s going to be downhill from that first contract: like a smooth downhill slope on a perfect snowy mountainside. The enthusiasm thumps boundless through the internet, and the hope soars in every post and solicitation. The pipe dream is now smokin’, baby!

    Unfortunately, either a few novels later or a couple, publishers pull back, the economy wreaks havoc on either marketing or sales, and the once ecstatic authors face rejection of what they thought would continue to interest their peeps in publishing. The lack of dollars spent by consumers on their books nails down their demise.

    Every time I walk into Borders I marvel at the amount of published books. How can anyone feel confident standing in the midst of so many books? We all know not every one of those books is a bestseller or even deserves to be printed on the paper in that binding. That’s a fact. But if all of those books made it into print, how could there possibly be room for mine? Even within a good-size Christian bookstore, the amount of authors competing for shelf space is huge. And on Amazon.com another novel is so impersonal without a direct connection to drive readers to it.

    Once again the enormity of published books—even if the economy slows down the number of books projected for publication by major publishers, general market or CBA—challenges the mindsets of writers.

    Sometimes it really does seem like a pipe dream . . .

    Father, my hope is in you. What you want for me is what I want to want for me. Help me to do just that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Contest at “Unveiled” . . .

    “Be watching for my reviews of all these novels by Christy Award winner, Athol Dickson. Each review will contain clues that when put together might win you something very special, a complete set of Athol’s novels, autographed. Read, enjoy, and who knows? You might just be looking at a complete set of some of the best Christian fiction ever written on your book shelf. The fun begins the first week in January with a winner to be announce in February 2010.” Tim George

    Tim George reviews novels over at his blog “Unveiled“. If you’re a fan of Athol Dickson or if you’re looking for a new author to investigate, Christy Award winner Athol Dickson is a good place to start. With a variety of literary mysteries to choose from in his repetoire, you’re bound to find more than one to appreciate. Quality writing and interesting presentations of difficult circumstances preside in every story mixed with quality suspense and a message of faith.

    This a good opportunity to win autographed copies of all of Athol’s fiction. So far the contest entries are very light, so if you’re a fan of winning books, this is a good place to win not only one but a set of books by a gifted author.

    See the link at the sidebar for Unveiled or hit the Technorati tag at the bottom of this post to enter.

  • Daring

    (**DISCLAIMER** The effect of this entire post is of course contingent upon someone actually liking my writing voice, style, and stories. Okay? I get that.**)

    If I could hand pick an agent for myself, I’d choose one whose love for the Lord permeated every aspect of his/her decision making processes, who prayerfully considered where to direct submissions, who could easily discuss spiritual matters as comfortably as discussing the publishing industry.

    If I could hand pick an agent for myself, I’d find one who loved a challenge, who wasn’t afraid to defy the norm by championing contemporary long novels because of his/her belief in their ability to find an audience, and who liked the idea of stretching publishers to accept something beyond the status quo 300-350 page, 80-100,000 word novel.

    Don’t get me wrong: I totally understand the job of an agent is based on sales of manuscripts. It’s not enough for an agent to believe in the work of an author—agents have to be able to sell that work to a publisher and secure a fair and hopefully lucrative deal for the client to receive payment for the agents’ hours and hours of work. Believing in someone’s work, regardless of its length, genre, or writing, doesn’t earn that someone a free pass into publishing.

    And on any given day, I wouldn’t doubt that queries can all start to sound the same, no matter how well done. I bet Solomon’s words “There’s nothing new under the sun” start to echo in the mind’s synapses after checking emails on some days. Even good writing could seem mundane after straining the eyes to read multiple submissions.

    Just as selective as the publishers have had to become in the tightening economy, so the agents strive to peddle their wares and serve their authors as best they can . . . Some agents continue without new clients or budget for fewer new authors in their stable.

    The clichés still ring out: “We’re always looking for that fresh voice.” “Great writing finds a way to get published.” Those who’ve been researching the publishing industry for any length of time know them by heart. It’s our only opportunity to roll our eyes from our side of the game.

    But . . . since I can’t hand pick my entire experience in this biz, I’ll do what it takes to be faithful to the One who makes my path straight and be thankful in the process.

    Father, ordain my steps. Continue to make my paths straight. Thank you for watching over me, Lord. Thank you for the stories you’ve given me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • With a boom or a bang?!

    Monday posts spread across the blogosphere: back to work in blogdom. Wonder how many were written during the past week or late Sunday night . . .

    I’m sure to some extent those who are returning to their blogs considered how they wanted to start out 2010. I’ve been calling it 20/10, how ‘bout you? Anyway, here are some of the topics I considered: lists (of novels, of course), perspective (again), renewed thoughts on publishing challenges (ay, ay, ay), politics (but starting out the year with a raging rant didn’t pass inspection) . . . you get my drift.

    “New” year stuff felt old. I already posted on the “past”. So . . . where to for the first Monday post?

    Football. What?! Yes, football. I happen to be a huge fan of a bad team with lots of quality players who’ve gotten smacked around for most of the season. Yes, the coaches and the systems are new, the players have admitted some consternation in adapting to them, and the results have been . . . well, horrible. When the system fails to work, what once might have been minor weaknesses suddenly become exposed as major weaknesses because in the scheme of things where disorder permeates the method and mood, those who can often pick up the slack can’t be found in the midst of their own confusion.

    Writing this post on Saturday, it’ll be the final game of the season for us tomorrow, and it’s actually a relief. It’s tough seeing good athletes getting tromped on week after week, looking like they can’t play the game when they certainly can. All the clichés about “learning from this”, and so many more, will quiet, and fans will move on to rooting against the team they hate more than the other team. At least I will.

    Football at the NFL professional level consists of athletes who generally are bigger and faster than all the others to play the game. The exceptions come in smaller and less flamboyant packages, but they still excel where others couldn’t. Even waiting on the bench are quality players who’ve made it through a battery of tests and super scrutiny to gain that position where only the most devoted fans know their names.

    However, as is the case in another sport with which I’m familiar, in horse racing as in football there are athletes who might not get to play where their talents indicate they should. Struck down by injury and/or timing, their prowess remains unknown to most because for whatever reason their performance has been hobbled and will not be available for public consumption.

    There’s an analogy in there somewhere if you want to make it . . .

    Guess I decided to come in with a whisper.

    Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings, your kindness, and your help in all things. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.