Novel Journey interview

Tweet

Today I'm being interviewed at Novel Journey. Gina Holmes, the founder of the site, asked excellent questions about TitleTrakk.com, which gave me a chance to share Tracy and my vision for the site. She also asked about my novel writing, so I got to share a little bit about that as well. Check out the full interview here.

Where The Map Ends

Tweet

In case you haven't heard, there's a new website devoted to Christian speculative fiction. Aptly titled Where The Map Ends, the site was started by Jeff Gerke. Jeff has written several novels (including the Operation Firebrand series) and was an editor with Strang (he helped start the Realms imprint) and NavPress.

There's lots of great stuff at the site. Interviews, tools for writers, and most recently a collaborative fiction project has been announced. Especially helpful is a Booklist featuring science fiction and fantasy titles in the Christian market.

Karen Ball interview at TitleTrakk.com

Tweet

Karen Ball had some great answers to the questions I asked for TitleTrakk.com. She candidly shared the struggles she faces in balancing her editing and writing careers, plus much more.

"I think I may have been writing in utero."
--Karen Ball

Check out the whole interview here.

Flicka movie review

Tweet

"..an enjoyable, feel-good western."

Read my full review of Flicka at TitleTrakk.com here.

Sixteen-year-old Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) is all you’d expect of a Wyoming rancher’s daughter. She’s feisty, head-strong, and opinionated. More like her father (Country music’s Tim McGraw) than either of them realizes. While out riding one morning, Katy finds a young mustang and instantly bonds with the creature. Determined to catch and tame the horse, she’s even willing to risk her father’s wrath and do it behind his back if that’s what it takes. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned. Dad finds out, is less than thrilled, and sells Flicka in front of a begging, pleading Katy. How far will Katy go to get Flicka back?

Christian novels for $5.00

Tweet

My friend, freelance writer Katie Hart, is selling off some of her vast collection of Christian fiction titles---for $5.00 each, including shipping. Can't beat that.

Visit Katie's blog for all the details. Here's an excerpt from her post:

...While I don't have time right now to list all the titles I have, why would you want to read through a whole long list anyway? You already know what books you want to read, and if you're looking for more, a quick browse through ChristianBook.com should yield a large wish list. Send me your wish list - theloneislands at yahoo.com.

I'll go through my books and zap you back a list of what titles I have from your list. Chose them all or just some, and I'll confirm that I have them reserved for you (first come, first serve!) and send you your total. Pay me via PayPal, and I'll mail them out! Buy ten books and get your 11th one free!

Scripture in Novels

Tweet

Recently an online writing group talked about how much Scripture to include in Christian books. I answered from a fiction writer's viewpoint:

I think one way to look at this question would be to ask ourselves how often we would quote Scripture in our everyday lives. Very rarely, I'd imagine. We want our lives to speak for themselves. An unbeliever will be much more likely to ask us about our faith when we're kind when others are mean, go out of our way to love the unlovely, and keep a smile on our faces, than if we pound a Bible over their heads.

I think this is true in novels as well. Let your character's lives speak for themselves. If the opportunity comes up to share a Scripture (just like in real life) by all means share it, but make sure you're not quoting Scripture just to look smart. And I say all this recognizing the great power in the Word. After all, the gospel [good news] is the power of God for the salvation of those who believe.

"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply, and how good is a timely word!" Proverbs 15:23

The Last Sin Eater movie opens today!

Tweet

Read a review of The Last Sin Eater movie here.

Read interview with Michael Landon, Jr. here.

Read interview with Francine Rivers here.

Find a theater here.

Francine Rivers Interview & The Last Sin Eater movie review

Tweet

My interview with Francine Rivers is up at TitleTrakk.com. Francine shared how her novel The Last Sin Eater became a movie, what motivates her to write, her current writing project, and much more. Check it out here.

Every time I start a book, I'm going, "What makes me think I can write a novel?" --Francine Rivers

I have a review of The Last Sin Eater movie posted as well. Read it here.

"Enriching and uplifting ... what a Christian film should be."
--TitleTrakk.com review

Bethany House Publishers wants your input on a book cover

Tweet

Dave Long over at the Faith in Fiction blog posted a link to a survey where readers can give their input on the cover of upcoming Bethany House novel Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock. It's a quick survey but will enable you to see what goes on in choosing a novel's cover, plus you'll be able to let your voice be heard.

Dave is an acquisitions editor for the publishing house, by the way. Click here to get started.

FIRST Blog Tour - Abiding Darkness by John Aubrey Anderson

Tweet

It's time for the FIRST Day Blog Tour. (Join our alliance by clicking the button.) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and their latest book's FIRST chapter.

This month's featured author is:

John Aubrey Anderson

and his book:
Abiding Darkness

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John was born five miles north of the setting for Abiding Darkness, a cotton country town within a rifle shot of two rivers, a bayou, a double handful of lakes, and endless acres of woods.

After graduating from Mississippi State, he flew six years in the Air Force then twenty-nine years for a major airline. And now he gets to write.

He and his wife have been married for forty some-odd years and live in Texas—about twenty miles south of the Red River. He spends the biggest part of his time writing; she’s immersed in leading a comprehensive, women’s Bible study.

They like greasy hamburgers and Dr. Peppers, most species of warm-blooded creatures (the kind that don’t normally bite), and spending July in the mountains.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Abiding Darkness is the first book in the Black and White Chronicles.

It initially anchors itself in the relationship between two children.

Junior Washington is an eleven-year-old black child. He lives in a small cabin out on Cat Lake; his parents work for the Parker family. He’s loyal, he’s compliant beyond what would normally be expected of an eleven-year-old boy, and he’s a committed Christian.

Missy Parker, who lives on the other side of the lake, is the crown princess of the Parker family. At seven years of age she’s beautiful, wealthy, willful, and tough as a tractor tire. And—in the midst of the most defined segregation in our nation’s recent history—this little white girl and Junior Washington are best friends.

Only one thing stands between these two children and a storybook childhood . . . they are destined to encounter a faithful servant of the Author of Evil.

Abiding Darkness starts almost gently. The first sentence offers doubt, but readers may not see any real trouble surface until a few sentences later, and that’s mostly kid stuff, almost cute. From there through the second chapter readers are given a little more to think about . . . an opportunity to imagine what might happen to the children . . . especially the girl.

By the end of the second chapter intuitive readers will be taking a deep breath . . . they’re going to need the oxygen.

To Read the first chapter, visit the FIRST blog.