The Peril of the Pen . . .

              

Well, I suppose now it might read the Curse of the Keyboard. Ultimately it's the responsibility of the writer.

               
              


I'm an avid reader of Christian fiction who has championed many authors and novels on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, in personal conversations with strangers, family, friends, and wherever and whenever I get the opportunity. I love Christian fiction because it attempts to give a spiritual dimension to life and to the trials and pain of humanity. There are some truly incredible authors laying claim to some fascinating, touching, imaginative, and thought-provoking fiction in multiple genres.

As a writer - but even moreso as a reader - of Christian fiction, the current "safe" approach in publishing has resulted in a great deal of repetitive and incurious novels. Novels that follow rules righteously, adhere adhesively to the genre, and don't dare use adverbs like I just did to describe or amplify anything within the pages of their books. In fact, there is little "daring" at all going on and style is like a forgotten or ignored by-product of an elapsed era.

A lot of assumptions about readers have been made by publishing professionals in every area of manuscript buying and selling. It's certainly not difficult to advance more of the same to the reading demographic they've worked so hard to establish. Catering the same products to the same audiences creates enough to continue the same means to perpetuate more of the same. Or so it seems.

Now with the e-book popularity raging, another world of Christian fiction has opened up to readers who don't comply with the same old, same old, and for writers who don't - or in my case "won't" - fit into the sometimes surreal mold the CBA book publishing industry has established in certain genres.

A few of you know I've written seven novels. I know: big deal. "How many have you gotten published?" you ask with the slightest elevation of your chin. Zero, zippo, nada. I've self-published (I see you smirking) three of them. And for whatever reason, I'm actually writing three more. (Remember now, you're not supposed to call me a fool. Oh, go ahead.) I had no idea they wouldn't "fit" into Christian fiction when I wrote them because they're redemptive stories. I didn't realize "real-ly" portrayed romance would be outlawed in Christian romance novels. That sexual attraction was a no-no. That words like "breast" or even the more callous "boob": absolutely taboo. And not only were they not permitted, but if one of them managed to sneak through the penetrating eyes (or wishful thinking) of editors, holy hell would be unleashed on the author by "Christians" who forbade "bad language" in their "Christian" reading material.

The peril of the pen is to write the story the way it must be written and prepare for consequences. The Curse of the Keyboard is to believe certain ways of telling that story shouldn't - but inevitably will - offend someone, not because it's crude or vulgar or because it promotes graphic depictions, but because it dares to paint a picture that rings true and elicits emotion and demands examination or empathy or contrition. And, yes, whether or not those stories crack the barriers of Christian publishing is the risk and responsibility of the one who authored them.

However, the peril and the curse have been reduced by e-publishing, and the responsibility for professionalism has been expanded. And welcomed.


Nicole Petrino-Salter writes love stories with a passion. Visit her at hopeofglory.typepad.com.

 
          

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-1032026-3182020?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Nicole+Petrino-Salter&x=18&y=18

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To E or not to E ~ by guest blogger K. Dawn Byrd

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romantic suspense. A masters degree in professional counseling helps her better understand her characters and what makes them tick. She's an avid blogger and moderator of the popular Facebook group, Christian Fiction Gathering. When not reading or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 15 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

To E or Not To E

Okay. I'll admit it. I don't much like change. To be more accurate, I loathe change. When I heard snippets that e-Books were the wave of the future, I fought it with everything in me. I've been a book collector for over 15 years and have approximately 2,000 books in my home. The very existence of e-Books threatened my beloved print books. I vowed that I would never buy an e-Book (the enemy that might eventually extinguish the print books that I so loved so much.)

A Christian fiction book came out that I just had to read, but I didn't see it available as a print book. I e-mailed the author and she responded that it was available only in e-format. I kicked it around in my head for a few days and decided that I just had to have that book.

After I figured out how to download the first e-Book, I was hooked. I have the Kindle app on my laptop, my netbook, my Eken, and also my Blackberry. I have purchased dozens of e-Books since that first purchase.

I absolutely love e-Books. I'm not killing trees, using expensive ink or lugging around heavy objects. And best of all, I can read when I want on my cell phone. Anywhere. Any time. And, I can read in bed with hubby right beside me and don't have to worry about disturbing him with a bedside light. The font is adjustable and right now my font is larger and darker than the print in a paperback. It's backlit and easy on the eyes. I can purchase e-Books in seconds and never have to leave the house. I have literally thousands of titles at my fingertips. Also, e-Books are inexpensive and many of them, especially those in the public domain, are free. They're not taking up room in my home and I can read them again if I choose.

I've decided not to fight it. After all, how many people fought purchasing a microwave oven? DVD player? Cell phone? And, now an e-Book? Progress will continue no matter how hard we try to fight it. I, for one, believe that e-Books are here to stay and I'm loving every minute of it!

Thanks for allowing me to share my e-Book experience. I hope you'll give them a try and love them as much as I do!

I'm have two writings spaces. I keep my ball chair at the antique desk upstairs where my trusty old computer awaits. That computer is about 5 years old and not Internet ready, which is just the ticket when I want no distractions. The downstairs writing space is a cozy corner of my kitchen with a side window overlooking the street. The antique desk there has lots of little cubbyholes to hold my supplies and an antique clock, penwell and feather quill sit atop along with an art deco lamp and some of my favorite editing books. Thanks for taking a tour of my writing spaces!

Queen of Hearts, a WWII romantic suspense was the bestselling novel for her publisher during its debut month. At the time of this writing, it was the #1 bestselling suspense e-Book at www.christianbook.com.

Queen of Hearts

Daphne Dean is proud to be serving her country stateside during WWII as a reporter and an Office of Strategic Services operative. When the photograph she takes of the crowd at a murder scene places her on the mob's hit list, she's forced into hiding in a vacant mental asylum in the middle of nowhere with terrifying secrets of its own.

Daphne believed herself to still be in love with her ex-fiancée, Kenneth, until she spends several days locked away in the asylum with Vito, the mob boss' son. Can she put the terrifying events that occurred there behind her and allow herself to pursue a relationship with Vito? Or, will she return to Kenneth who has turned his back on his country by becoming a draft dodger and a black market racketeer? One thing's for sure, it won't matter if she can't escape the mental institution alive. 

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