Okay, so you have exactly 14 days to get these eBooks free. That’s right. Download these books until February 28, 2013
Here are the coupon codes for each book-NOT CASE SENSITIVE(clicking on the books will take you to their respective pages on Smashwords, or title links below.
The Prayer Monologues CODE: MQ73Y
Sea of Iron Hands CODE: AV35Y
Mark of Fortune (does not need a code. Free forever!)
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After one project is complete, another is always or have already been underway. In this case, the seemingly old question btaking over online systems is: Is it possible for books to have too much overt Christian themes? Back in February I wrote post on “Christian Romance and Crossing Lines” which explained what readers truly look for in a book. One of those elements are the bonds that tie human souls.
I doubt if my post this time will help others learn that telling a good story should be the utmost important in any genre, but I’ll have to explain why my new novel will more than likely be hard to classify.
First, the book will have the major plot and a couple of subplots that may be explored later- or not. The main idea is that a woman finds herself lost in more ways than one and she now has to live with a family member and start over. This family member tries to tell the girl that no one is more evil than the other. As humans we all have the capacity to love very much or hate very much and unfortunately some carry out that hate and can become truly evil.
The protagonist, however made some mistakes and those past mistakes are coming to bite her in the butt. In the meantime, a new event will take place in her life where she will discover her purpose during her downfall… could it be her downfall is really her just being human?
I am unsure how to categorize this one. Its not a supernatural, urban fiction but simply a fictional story with some romance in it. The idea of forgiveness and redemption is laced through the story, but for now I’ve been worrying over telling the story clearly.
Here’s my advice on letting the story spill:
Some Helpful Books…
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Allegories- meaning a symbolic representation of truth, are meant to be taken, it seems and with a grain of dedication and the salt of hard work, an author can achieve great success with his or her work. The question remains though: Should an allegory be very obvious or should it remain in the subtlties?
An example of going too far.
Vanessa Davis Griggs wrote, “Redeeming Waters” with King David and Bathsheba in mind. For those who are not into the bible here’s a brief catch of it. King David, a musician and handsome man spotted Bathsheba bathing one day and he sent his messengers out to see who she was. I mean, she was completely nude and he wanted her. Bad. So he finds out her husband is in the military and works for him and this does not deter King David from laying with her and making her fruitful.
The book was not bad, but the main character was judgemental and the book had character names that were strange and not original at the same time. One can basically figure out who was who with names like Unzell(Uriah), Brianna Bathsheba Wright Waters(Bathsheba), King d. Avid(King David), and so on. Each chapter began with a scripture from 2 Samuel or Psalms- which pretty much predicted what would happen next in the story.
Another allegory from the past.
“Hind’s Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard comes to mind. My husband loves the book because it is so profound, mesmerizing, and you can see it in your mind as events unfold. “The book takes its title from Habbakkuk 3:19″ in the bible and the girl Much Afraid has a family of fearful folks and a cousin named Craven Fear who keeps making advances on her. For more background see: Wikipedia: “Hind’s Feet on High Places” The allegory is in showing how much God loves her(us) and may also be based on “The Pilgrim’s Progress”
Yet, “Hind’s Feet on High Places” does not make things so obvious and you can see where she is going in her story when Much Afraid enters her journey with a Shepherd who we know to be Jesus and he pierces her heart with a vine of love……
So, the question remains. How much is too much in an allegory?
I think that when an allegory is written, there should be some deep reflection of what is happening to the character and the situation surrounding that character. Griggs did this superbly in Redeeming Waters- the situation was a sin that happened between two people and together they had to find a way to reconcile what happened and apologize/repent to their Creator. Basic message. In “Hind’s Feet on High Places”, the basic message is Love. That’s pretty clear. The message has to reflect the characters’ decisions and vice versa but you must be familiar with a story first.
Have you seen the movie Prometheus? I have not- but the name “Prometheus” actually was meant for a titan who stole fire from heaven and gave it to mankind. He was tortured by Zeus for this. So I am guessing the movie may be loosely based on this premise. The writer had to be familiar with the story of Prometheus.
Allegories are fun to play with and change up. There are typically no rules but I supose if you know what an allegory is, you should have at least a piece of that symbolic figure and situation floating around there.
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I promised in my last post to explain what it means to be versatile with genres of choice to read and write. I suppose there are many reasons why people choose the books they read- emotions and moods, curosity, work, school reports. anything.
My aunt one day handed me this thick, pink book of Inspirational Fiction with Christian themes- they were all romances and I read the book and actually loved it. I fell in love with Romantic CF but soon I fell in love with another genre- African American Romance/ Erotica while in college. After that I discovered YA books again with the introduction of Twilight in 2008.
Alright. That’s the watered down version and will be saved for a longer diatribe. The fact is I love to read. If there is a story I can relate to or wish to relate to then it is okay with me. I love storytelling and enjoy the many trips fiction has taken me on. I’m sure you know what I mean fellow reader/viewer/writer. It’s the best!
Different books have shown me different facets of my own heart:
R.L. Stine/Horror: showed me I can be spooked from the pen of an author and what power words can have.
Christopher Pike/Speculative-Horror: Christopher Pikes books took me to places where vampires can cry and young girls could be gods, and there is an answer to the afterlife if we search hard enough.
Christian Fiction/General: Helps me to see my life struggles and happiness are not my own. Some books have actually helped me with my prayer life!
African American Romances: Black women need love too 
Yeah thats all I got out of most of them…
So here I am, a Christian Fiction Examiner who promotes these works to another kind of demographic. Am I a hypocrite for this? Aboslutely not! Books rooted in a certain theme or religion are not bad books if the writing is good. Period. However I am born human first with many sins and my color, culture and religion all come after that fact(singer Erykah Badu can explain this better than I can!) Anyhow, I have learned so much spirituality from secular fiction as I have from Christian Fiction. Put another way:
Secular Fiction= the reality of the need for a Savior.
Christian Fiction= needs to write more about the need for a Savior and not just those who are already saved.
For now I am comfortable in my skin, enjoy good music, books, and what I write about. All these things are me.
Question: Why do you like Christian Fiction/Secular/Both?
Earlier this week I wrote an article on Questionable Language in Christian Fiction and also visited blogs and forums which told the horrible truth that most “clean” Christian Fiction are dull, unrealistic, and just not up to par with others. This does not mean that secular writers have it going on- many don’t.
Which is why when I read “My Stubborn Heart” by Becky Wade, I was pleasantly surprised. It has been many moons since I’ve read a good Contemporary Romance infused with Christian ideals and still love it. Here’s a brief review from my article about this book:
“Kate Donovan, 31, has had one bad relationship after the other and prays for God to send her a husband. Then one day her grandmother invites her to Redbud, Pennyslyania to a little town called Chapel Bluff to renovate her childhood home. It is there Kate meets the guy who will be renovating- the chocolate dreamy eyed ex- ice hockey player Matt Jarreau.
Matt, 32 is still grieving over the death of his lovely wife. It has been three years and the only way he can somehow cope is to help people with fixing their homes, retrieve to his dark home and brood around others.
That is until he meets, spunky, waif, and witty Kate Donovan. Meeting Kate can seem to be like getting hit head on by a train. The author is careful with word choice to really communicate Matt’s torrent of emotions as his heart and spirit wrestles with one question: Why am I still attached to my wife who would want me to move on?” (Read more on Examiner)
I never thought I could actually read a Christian Fiction Romance without putting it down and even now I have to reflect back on why didn’t I put it down? I think this is why:
I can’t say enough how excited I am about Becky Wade and I am anticipating another good love story from here. Visit her website for deleted scenes and other fun extras!
Also stay tuned for a post about why I am such a versatile blogger. In other words why am I knee deep in sensual fiction, action, erotica and still talk about Christian books like “it ain’t no thang”…And who else will be receiving this award? See you soon!
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Authors may be getting five stars for their smooth, writing quality, but there seems to be a failing grade in originality. The characters are not even appearing remotely different across the genres. What sparked this “cut from the same cloth technique?”
The Doll Pressed Issue:
One reviewer, Marg K on Goodreads said, “First of all, I just did not find the characters to be original or even interesting. They were all made from the same molds we’ve seen used in YA fiction over & over again.”[Review of a teen fiction]
The same reviewer goes on to list her own evidence of cookie cutter themes in works based off the novel she read.
What sparked the girl -who-doesn’t -think -she’s- pretty -but -caught- in- love- triangle -theme, may not be working for most readers.
But does this mean every teen novel should have the plain/beautiful girl in distress who finds out she is something more through interaction with hot dudes?
I have read some pretty interesting teen fiction and I don’t mind love triangles, in fact I crave romance and silly triangles. I don’t know, it’s a fresh but reused idea in a way, but now it appears to be getting stale for most YA fic lovers.
So what are readers looking for? More specifically what I am looking for when I read a teen fiction novel or any novel for that matter.
First, I look for a good storyline.
Second, believable characters that do unbelievable things yet make me love and hate them as if they are real.
That’s all I hope for when I read a novel. Two books I read this year were really good, but one had the proverbial triangle, yet had great plot.
There You’ll Find Me, had no triangles but featured a handsome actor who falls for the main character. Lovely.
Halflings is about a girl caught between two handsome angels and each encounter was pretty hot. Nice.
What are your thoughts on in this matter?
Alicia K. Leppert talks about her new book Emerald City and how Olivia and Jude’s story is basically our story. In the novel, Olivia suffers from severe depression and is rescued by her mysterious neighbor named Jude. Jude could be more than he really seems, but will this revelation help or harm Olivia?
Examiner : Did you plan the concept of the story or did the Olivia and Jude’s story kind of formed along the way?
Alicia K. Leppert: I had a very basic idea of how I wanted the story to go when I started. It wasn’t until a few chapters in that suddenly the outline of the story unfolded in my mind, at least 3/4 of it. I had no idea how it was going to end until I was actually writing the ending.
Examiner: I must admit that Olivia’s stream of thought was much, but enlightening; however things really picked up with Jude entering the scene. He’s an interesting person. Tell me, will we see more of him and Olivia in another book…? (Will there be another book and when?)
There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eighteen year old Finley Sinclair is preparing for a music audition, trying to seek God and is about to spend senior year in Ireland- the place her deceased brother loved. While there, she meets the teen movie heartthrob Beckett Rush and she gets more than she ever prayed for.
Finley, whose name means “fair warrior” has a few problems in her life and the main one is getting over her brother’s murder. To try and alleviate her pain and see the places her brother writes about in his journal, she travels to Ireland and decides to spend her senior year there visiting the sights, the sounds and the food in the beautiful country. However, once on the plane, she meets a seriously attractive guy in the most unusual way: By snoozing and drooling-on his sleeve.
The handsome stranger is none other than Beckett Rush, the teen movie star who plays a flawless vampire and is in every magazine causing girls to scream and faint on site. But not Finley. She has too many problems of her own and does not earn him the time of day. As the story progresses, however, we learn that Finley has another serious, dark issue which has been going unchecked and it will take a nun, an actor, and a dying woman to show her that God really is still in the picture and letting go of the pain to let Him usher in joy can begin to healing process.
What was so poignant and exciting about this book was Jones’ attention to the little things we miss in life: Such as how someone gives undivided attention when we speak, or when someone comes to rescue us, or how one small misleading incident can draw rifts between families. The very exciting part was how Beckett Rush was a movie star but was so caring- much too caring than a teen star would probably be in real life, but then again who knows? Finley became too unbearable to deal with towards the end, shoving away those who loved her when they began to notice signs of her secret. Again, in reality young adults still have much to bear but may not communicate their needs well if at all.
If You Like: Ireland, fish and chips, and a good love story, then you’ll love There You’ll Find Me
*Book Details:
There You’ll Find Me
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Published: Thomas Nelson (2011)
ISBN: 978-1-59554-540-4(soft cover)
310p
*Book received for my unbiased review through NetGalley from Thomas Nelson Bonus
Review Feature: In the novel There You’ll Find Me, Beatrice is one of the mean girls with an eye out for Beckett Rush and this forms a kind of stumbling block for Finley. The reading group guide at the end of the book asks why would a girl be this mean. In my opinion, girls are only mean because they have severely low self esteem. Otherwise, why would they belittle others?
What are your thoughts?
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I can’t list the enormous amount of websites I travel and I see the same thing: Christian e-books are now third in sales, people love bonnet fiction, or its changing trends.
Truthfully, my heart bleeds for those who follow God as I do but feel the need to compromise story to deliver an awesome Gospel message. I feel that some will disagree with me here, but as I have said on others’ blogs: “Just tell the story on your heart…the message will be there.”
Now, the really dicey matter is when it concerns sensual/sexual scenes.
I will admit wholeheartedly that the first kinds of books I read since I was eleven years old were Harlequin romances. No lie. I devoured those books and learned about the weaknesses of men(and women) while reading the tasty little pages. Now, don’t get me wrong, the steamy scenes were what I looked forward to. Not because of the scene itself, but afterwards it formed something between both the protagonist and their lover- a bond.
Bonds are what we look for in books if we are honest with ourselves. We want the girl to finally stand up for herself. We wish that the guy can get the girl and rescue her not just from danger, but to be the second heart and mind she yearns for.
For those of you like me, you don’t want o see a weakling female. You see her as strong, independent and intelligent enough to know when she needs a partner instead of a savior.
Hmmmm.
I like those kinds of books too.
So what can the Christian writer do to make a sensual book into something non sexual but speaks to the contemporary man or woman as well?
I might try focusing on scenes that lights up the page to where I learn something more about him/her- like in Tamara Leigh’s ‘Restless in Carolina‘ there is a sweet, but hot scene between J.C. Dirk and Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan where she leans against the ground and he is looking into her eyes….a swoon worthy moment without the sex. Then you have the teen book Halflings by Heather Burch where there are very close, intimate scenes between Nikki Youngblood and the half angel boys-whew! Yet again, there is no erotica or sex in these works and it still pulls off as great romantic reads.
So is that the key then? Good romance? The connection?
I don’t know, just had this one on my mind a bit.
What do you think? Is this something to think about or something for publishers to worry about?
All opinions are welcome!
More angelic reads coming up this month. To follow up Halflings, I am reading ‘Eye of the Sword’ by Karyn Henley. although similar in theme to Halflings by Heather Burch, I immediately see the differences in both writers’ approach to angels.
Here’s my little comparison chart. Any further discussion or opinions on this is welcome.
Halflings
Angeleon Series(Breath of Angel & Eye of the Sword)
So based off those points, I’ll say this year is bringing on the best in fiction/fantasy writers and their take on these magnificient heavenly creatures!
For more on the study of Angels and other unique angel books, head to these blog links:
Angel Study and Wendy Alec’s books
