Sanity Check

[writegirl1949]

I would really like some honest feedback to some observations I've made regarding Christian fiction. Is it just me or what? :confused: Let me explain.

I love suspense. And I usually accept book blurbs and/or publisher's promos as honest "teasers" to what's inside those covers. But, except for a very few Christian authors, I've yet to find "real" Christian suspense or mystery.

As I said in the thread regarding Peretti's new book, Monster, he's one of my favorite authors. The reason being is that he writes about real people who sometimes have bad things happen to them. These are people I can identify with. I can't identify with a group of friends who have been involved in various crimes over and over again ... either someone has tried to kill each of them (in separate books, of course), or they are all always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do you know people like this?

And, if I read some of the "most successful and/or most published" Christian writers whose works are labeled "suspense," I find I'm usually disappointed. I don't want to name names here because I know they have large audiences (otherwise they wouldn't continue to be published by big Christian publishing houses, right?). And I don't want to criticize their writing. Many times it's really good. But too many times it isn't that fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that was promised.

So my question is: Is it me or does Christian suspense fiction tend to be watered down when it comes to the "thriller" part and too full of homilies and preaching?

I guess that's why I'm so disillusioned with contemporary Christian fiction. Most of it doesn't hold my attention.

And while we're at it, if anyone can recommend some good Christian fiction authors, I'd sure appreciate it.

Thanks ... and blessings, Francine
__________________
Writegirl

[dublinheart]

I agree totally! Peretti is one of my favorites also because he brings the raw suspense to life, but very few do.

I think perhaps Christian authors have a fear of becoming too much like the world. They do water down the suspense, I think, because "Christians should not experience thses things." That's bull! :eek: Christians should have the most suspense of anyone, because we are in a spiritual warfare unlike anything the world has to offer.

Our writing should be more graphic, more exciting, more truthful than anything the world writes. That doesn't mean we have to use all the four letter words we can remember. It simply means that if we are to influence the world, they have to be drawn into our stories. They won't be if we give the impression that we have no idea what they are going through.

All Christians were not saved at birth, with no stain from the world. Most of us have loads of baggage from that world. Let's write about that baggage so that the reader realizes,

"Hey, they know where I'm coming from, and they made it. So can I. Maybe there's hope after all."

You had to get me started, didn't you?

Excellent observation and insight. I'd like to hear more opinions, also. !thumbsup!

[writegirl1949]

John ... thank you, thank you, thank you.

I agree with your thoughts exactly. I guess the bottom line is I don't feel we have to be "preaching to the choir," so to speak, in order to reach others for Christ.

I'm not crazy. :eek:

Blessings, Francine

[wgjones3]

I think the problem is more with the Christian publishing houses than the writers themselves. You look at the market and it's a very saccurine market--people get offended at the silliest stuff. I know one writer who said that a reader wrote an angry letter to his publisher and demanded that the books be pulled from the shelves and never labeled as Christian again because he was so utterly offended by the first five pages of the book. The first five pages?

FYI--I've read the first five pages. Nothing bad at all.

But that's just how it is. Good writing will be turned away if it's deemed too contriversial. You can't risk publishing a book that Family Bookstores or Parables will take off the shelf because of customer complaints. So, I'd imagine, the aquisitions editor has to balance those kinds of considerations when looking at a manuscript. So if the choice is between this tightly woven suspense that crosses the line a time or two to tell the tale and something more traditional that is both wordy and preachy, the publisher will likely go the safe route--wordy and preachy. Hey, it's worked before in this market.

The biggest gripe I've seen with Christian publishing is the lack of editing in books that do manage to make it to market--again, an eagle-eyed editor would make suspense more suspensefull. I've talked with readers about things in popular Christian books that made us roll our eyes and groan, and it's really a lack of editorial judgement. But anyway, I digress.

Mr. Otis has read and highly recommends Nightbringer by James Byron Huggins on his website. And I would highly recommend you try one of Sharon K. Gilbert's books. So far, I've found Winds of Evil to be tightly paced and highly enjoyable. And there's a book I read called Driven by W.G. Griffiths--not the best book I've ever read, but the one that comes closest in my mind to being what you're looking for. And as I look through my small bookshelf, that's the only book I see.

[Gumpngreen]

Some of Shane Johnson's work could be considered "Suspense", especially Chayatocha:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=SHANE%20JOHNSON/002-9729292-3752025

[DMKinjorski]

Check out my story on the Fiction Workshop called "Family" - I am not worried about your critque of it so much as I am about whether or not it would be considered - Christian Fiction....

I personally think that it is suspensful :cool: I know it needs a little more work and everyone has an opinion - like everyone has a belly button, but they don't ....excuse me, I jumped onto a rabbit trail (like we pentecostals do).... :rolleyes:

Anyway - check it out ------ Is it considered Christian Fiction? I wrote it with a subtle message behind it....


Dan

[DMKinjorski]

There is good Christian Fiction out there, but we (you and I) are not published yet. I know some, like Angel....and another young writer who wrote a fantastic piece for me....that will make great "published" fiction writers.

We just have to get someone to stand up - under the pressure - and publish them anyway....and keep them on the bookshelves and promote them...yet it takes "moola" or "greenbacks" ok....dollars...money...heart...passion...compassi on...etc

Oh, excuse me...got carried away - you are the Choir!

Dan

[dublinheart]

No, writegirl, you are not crazy-just being challenged to change the way we Christians address the world's need of a Savior. Go for it, girl!!!!! !thumbsup!

[writegirl1949]

Thanks so much for the feedback and Dan, I'll check out the story on the Fiction Workshop. And thanks for all the recommended authors.

I kind of figured a lot of it had to do with the publishers. My book is being published by a small publisher which means I'll be doing the majority of the marketing. But I felt the message was important enough and felt God leading me to go with the smaller publisher. I don't expect to ever get rich or even make the kind of money I used to make in my past life -- lol. :cool: That's not why I write.

I also think that as I find good suspense writers, I'll look into who publishes their books.

As far as rabbit holes ... is the difference between Pentecostals and Baptists that Pentecostals jump in the holes and we Baptists just keep chasing rabbits? :D lol lol

I have to be honest and say I never envisioned my book in Family Bookstores ... not that there is anything offensive in the way I write. But I don't see myself as being sugary sweet and preachy.

Again, I'm loving the discussion.

Thanks, guys.

Blessings, Francine

[MsSherry]

Gumpngreen,
I checked out the Amazon page for Chayatocha by Shane Johnson. Sounds like it might just be very interesting. I love historical fiction and this seems to fit into that category as well as "suspense". I think I'll have to hop on over to the bookstore this weekend and see what they've got.

A gripe I have about bookstores (my local ones anyway) is that on the "Christian" aisle the books they have on the shelves are mostly either New Age junk or non-ficiton. Which is nice when I'm trying to find non-fiction, but I've never seen any Christian fiction in the Christian section. :eek:

(I don't shop at my local Christian bookstores much, as one is on the mall and I don't EVEN want to fight the crowds. And the other one doesn't seem to stock too much.-Think one copy of any given book.) :(

Hopefully, I will be able to find this book and maybe pick up a copy of Monster

By the way, any good Christian crime writers?? With no "fantasy" or "sci-fi" feel? Just good old crime stories in the vein of CSI or Law & Order.

[wgjones3]

By the way, any good Christian crime writers?? With no "fantasy" or "sci-fi" feel? Just good old crime stories in the vein of CSI or Law & Order.

My last novel was like that. It doesn't look like it will see the light of day anytime soon though.

[edmmom]

MsSherry,
Do you by chance have a Border's Book Store near you? You might want to check them out. At least the one near me carries rather a good assortment of Christian books. If you can't find what you want, they're more than happy to order it for you. I'm sorry your Christian book store isn't well stocked.

[MsSherry]

No, unfortunately, I don't have a Borders close by. I have Hasting's and Booksamillion. They have some fairly decent selections (when you can find them--lol) of Christian books.

I used to not mind going to the mall, but anymore it's just awful. No where to park and then when you get inside, no matter what time it is, it is full of kids. This wouldn't be a problem if they weren't unsupervised and running all over yelling and screaming at each other. And, the mall Christian bookstore is great. The staff is always helpful and knows where everything is. The other Christian store hasn't really been here that long, it may just be that they hadn't put much out in the event that they closed down. It's been several months since I've been there, I'd gone to get a copy of a book for a bible study I was in, and they had one book and no study guide. ( I ended up getting them at Walmart believe it or not). They may have expanded a lot since then. I guess I should give them another try.

WG, I'm sorry to hear that your novel is still "under wraps". But, you never know, it might just not be the right time yet. God could be saving it for another day.

While I'm thinking of it, is explicit language and behavior ever necessary in a Christian piece of fiction? I was attempting to find some Christian authors that I might be interested in on Amazon, and one of the reviews of a "Christian" book said that there were explicit sexual scenes. Am I the only person who thinks that this is inappropriate? It seems to me that this makes the story no more than erotica/porn. I realize, that sometimes a character might use "bad" language, but I'm thinking that there is such a thing as TOO much. It's not necessary to know every detail of a relationship is it?

[edmmom]

MsSherry,
You're exactly right that there is no room for sexually explicit material in Christian literature. Just because something says its Christian, doesn't mean that it truly is. I Peter 5:8 warns us that "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus, Himself, warns us, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered frome thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?"
A retired pastor friend of mine once put it this way, "If it has blood in it, then it's of God." When we question whether something is of God, pray, test it to see if it's Scriptually sound, pray, and be guided by the Holy Spirit for He will never let us down. I'm sure that the others here can give you a much better answer, but, trust me, put your whole trust in God, for He loves us like no other. He's our Father!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

MsSherry, a great Christian Mystery/Crime author is Kel Richards. Some of his books are:

The Second Death*
Death in Egypt*
Moonlight Shadows*
The Case of the Vanishing Corpse*
The Case of the Damascus Dagger*
The Case of the Dead Certainty
The Case of the Secret Assassin*
The Third Bloodstain*

Outbreak of Darkness* (this one is a bit of a supernatural thriller in the vein of some of Peretti's novels - but still highly recommended)

*These are the ones I've read

(oh, and he is an Australian author so I don't know how easy his books will be able to find in libraries and/or shops, but you may want to check some out).