Into the Fire

Destination is only available as an e-book. If I remember correctly, it was the fourth novel I published.

FOREWORD

WARNING: This is a novel that presents Christianity. If somehow taking a look at the faith offends you, this book is probably not for you although you might find yourself in its pages.

People in this world have their “come to Jesus” moments in both subdued and spectacular ways. They meet Him through family, attending events, visiting churches, talking with friends, hiking in the forests, the testimonies of athletes, or on country roads alone in a car the way I did. There can be abundant tears, mounds of regret, simplistic acceptance, unemotional responses to facts, or any number of reactions to the prodding of the Holy Spirit producing what the world has mockingly dubbed a “leap of faith.”

In Destination both young and mature meet the Master. Their journeys are simple and complex, easy and hard, calming and perplexing, but always supernatural.

And some refuse to accept His gift . . .

Father, you save souls. It's your desire that all meet your Son and yield their lives to your Love. You make it clear that some will and others will not. Redemption is the ultimate gift you provide among the many. Forgiveness through Jesus is truly magnificent. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

When I'm not writing, I'm reading. I've read several novels in the last few weeks, but I chose not to review them. Not because they were unworthy of reviews but rather they just didn't grab me enough to write one. 

As readers we tend to make requirements of our literature. I didn't realize that until I decided that if there were several things that aggravated me in a story I'd begun, enough to not finish the book, it occurred to me that there were "things" in others' writing patterns or story habits I just couldn't tolerate. I used to finish a book no matter how much I disliked it. Not anymore. I give it several chapters and then if I can't start thoroughly enjoying it, I'm done. Too many books, too little time. 

I haven't written a bad review in years. I regret the ones I did write. I'm of the opinion that if you don't like a novel, don't insult the author who wrote it or the readers who thought it was terrific. You know the old cliché: One man's junk . . . However, if you feel compelled to write a negative review, be a decent human being and simply acknowledge you were not the intended audience for the book.

Pointers for hefty readers. Do your favorite novels and their authors a huge favor: tell somebody how much you loved their books. In person, on all your favorite social media platforms, and whenever the subject of books comes up. You can't know how valuable you are to an author. You sell books for them! Thank you to all of you devoted readers. Especially to mine! Smile. 

Father, thank you for readers and writers. You give the talents and gifts. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

We've seen lots of rain in western Washington. Hope you like this oldie from the original Creedence Clearwater Revival. 

Father, you own the weather, the earth, your creation. Thank you for leaving us with beauty of all kinds in this corrupted, sin-stained earth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

It didn't take a long time to realize that "bestselling" in front of an author's name or book did not always guarantee "good" writing. That's not to say the writing wasn't entertaining, but, in fact, at times the writing could be not-so-great. I'll be the first one to admit that coming to that conclusion is purely subjective and definitely can vary from reader to reader, but the fact remains in some works of fiction with a sterling label, the actual writing is not what could be identified as particularly good. Obviously to be a bestseller, the story had to outshine the writing. 

What is "good" writing then? Again, that remains subjective, so I'll give you my opinion of what it primarily is not. Good writing expands imagery in unique verbal pictures, avoids the overuse of known expressions, keeps clichés to a minimum while acknowledging them as such, doesn't repeat the same phrases to describe emotions or actions over and over again while stating the obvious – to capture a few examples.

People read novels expecting various outcomes. Entertainment is a key reason to read fiction. However, some of us want the added benefit of "respectable" writing talent. Sometimes the story itself provides the entertainment but the obvious lack in either poor writing, editing, and/or proofreading to eliminate obvious errors subtracts from the value of the experience – for some of us. 

That's this Monday's musings . . . 

Father, thank you for writing, for stories, for the authors that write them. You are the giver of talents and gifts, and every good and perfect one comes from you. We can't thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     "'Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.

     "'I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.'"

Ezekiel 24:13-14 (NIV)

A Life Intercepted by Charles Martin is one of his older novels. 

Matthew "the Rocket" Rising has an incredible arm and is a two-time Heisman Trophy winner on his way to what appears to be an amazing professional football career. He and the love of his life are planning to be married and at the moment in their lives when everything is golden, the horrific happens and Matthew heads to jail for perverse crimes he swears he never committed.

While first governed by deep hatred and raging anger after entering prison, he slowly learns that those qualities are doing him no good and have done nothing to help him deal with his innocence. He knows the evidence portrayed an extremely hard to deny case against him, but he has no recall of what he's accused of and complete and stark surprise at the circumstances in which he woke up on that fateful morning. 

Twelve years later, he is released after making a real friend while incarcerated of one of the prison guards who broke through his resistance and got him throwing the football and working out again. He's the only one Matthew will miss when he leaves.

On Wednesday's post I wrote about how special and unique it is when a writer creates true brokenness in a character or characters. Charles Martin excels at writing "broken." The devastating loss that Matthew Rising has experienced, the utter desolation that his fiancée lives with . . . well, suffice it to say, it's real pain written well. 

Charles is good at making the reader favor Matthew's version of his claims, gaining the sympathy of the reader and injecting a character early who seems totally capable of somehow framing him for the crimes. While some would share his fiancée's doubts, I probably would not so she became a bit unsympathetic to me. What she needed from Matthew was one thing only he could do, and because of his forever love for her, he agrees to do it.

The ending is exactly how it should be. You just can't take a reader through that incredible, lifeless, excruciating kind of pain detailed in this story only to leave them with that. It's a worthy conclusion to a special novel.

Always highly recommend Charles Martin for gut-wrenching, powerful, and meaningful stories.      

Father, only you know our hearts, minds, spirits. Only you minister truth to us. Thank you for the beautiful gift of writing you've given to Charles through his own pain. Please continue to bless him and his family in your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Something a little different for this Throwback Thursday: I'm giving you the Foreword to this novel (available for e-readers only) today, a general explanation of my views . . .

FOREWORD [to Sweet Release]

Be warned: this is Christian fiction. From start to finish.

We are constantly besieged with what the world calls “love.” This book was written as a stark contrast to the multi-layered attempts of the world to define love. When I began this novel, I had no idea it would take the direction it did, but as with all of my writing, I trust the Lord has the contents in His beautiful, creative hands, and I am so blessed to go along for the ride.

Love, romance, and sex are the subjects of endless books, films, television shows, and various other media efforts. Some of those efforts are educational and informative, others are purely for entertainment, and yet others demonstrate the most perverse nature of mankind. In Christian literature authors in the non-fiction arena strive to inform us about God’s intentions for us in love, sex, and romance. They try to diligently address the “normal” as well as the terribly destructive roadblocks to achieving freedom in learning to love at the spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. It is a divine task given the nature of our souls and the condition of our world.

Since God is Love (1John 4:16), and since He is the Creator of lovemaking (Genesis 2:24-25), it is my heart’s desire to give readers a picture of the way relationships should be in contrast to what the world tries to sell us as the “real” thing. Christian couples are not immune to the hard sell of the worldly style of love, romance, and sex. Many have never been presented with a contrasting viewpoint. To me that’s tragic.

Every now and then I need a novel that illustrates the goodness, passion, and the lighter side of being a human in love. A story of people finding love, working through their pain or hardship, finding real truth and meaning in their lives . . . Having said all that, I give you Sweet Release and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Most of my writing is for adult readers, and this novel is no exception.

Father, thank you is never enough. Please keep me going in the direction you designed just for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

From this author's point of view, in order to write "broken", you have to be or have been broken. For a short or long time, you had to have "been there" where everything hurt so badly you thought it might never go away. That the pain was so intense, it took your breath away, your appetite for food and everything else gone. Broken. And to capture that in words and portray it in a character or characters to allow the reader to experience the depth of such sorrow in the soul? It takes a special kind of writing. So few can do it well. 

That kind of writing if done correctly is not melodrama. It feels so real, the reader has to set the book down to remind him/herself this is fiction, it's a story. But those readers know how deep that pain must be because they can feel it from the words on the pages.

Writers can do this "from a distance" to that kind of pain, but then it's just imagination. In order to convey true soul-searing pain, you have to have felt it that deep. And that is this author's opinion.  

Father, above all, you know that pain. And you know when each of us experiences it. You, Holy Spirit, are the Comforter and only you can provide the kind of comfort each of us needs in the midst of that pain. Jesus, you're the Friend that sticks closer than a brother. Only you can knowingly walk alongside us when we're in that kind of pain. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This beautiful theme song from the eclectic film Con Air sung here by Trisha Yearwood. Love this song. 

Father, thank you for the beautiful songs and lyrics and musicians. You've made music so powerful. You speak through much of it. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Things said to authors:

"You should write a book about this." (Fill in the blank.)

"How long does it take you to write a book?" 

"How do you get your ideas?"

Silent responses:

"No, I shouldn't." 

"Seems like forever."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." 

Hey, it's Monday. Hope yours is a good one.

Father, help me finish this book I'm working on because it literally is taking "forever." I'm desperate for you always, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.