Encouragement for the Rookie Writer

Being an unpublished author can obviously be quite discouraging, and the current book selling climate isn't helping matters any. It's a financial risk for a publisher to take on a new author and it's much easier to go with tested novelists. Since publishing is a for profit industry, that makes perfect sense.

We're frequently told it's nearly impossible for the unpublished author to break in. Considering this, I would have thought a list of debut authors in one year's time would be short.

Clearly, I was wrong.

When, on a whim, I decided to create a list highlighting debut authors, I had no clue of the tremendous response it would garner. As of today, I have thirty books listed from several different genres. Books from well-known publishers to small publishers and even e-book publishers. The majority of those listed release by June. And more are coming.

Seeing this leaves me with tremendous hope. It's the improbable becoming possible. Thirty plus authors breaking in in single year? Why can't that debut author be you? Or me?

So, the next time you hear the naysayers claim it's impossible to break in, just look at this list and you'll know the truth.

There is hope for the rookie writer.

Book Review or Recommendation?

I follow several blogs regularly, but there are two that continuously ask me to think outside my comfort zone: Nicole Petrino-Salter's Into the Fire and Mike Duran's deCOMPOSE. Both offer thoughts on writing, theology, and life in general. Both authors are outspoken and aren't afraid to broach the controversial. If you want a daily challenge, I highly recommend their sites.

This week, they've both espoused their opinions of book reviews (FYI and In Praise of Bad Reviews) and on having a book review site. I found their take very interesting. After reading their blogs, they've encouraged me to clarify the purpose of Spire Reviews.

I began writing reviews several years back as I discovered how few Christians read Christian fiction. It's natural to assume that the target market would be churchgoers, right? Well, I volunteered in our church library and frequently asked fellow churchgoers what they liked to read. Rarely did someone answer Christian fiction because they often assume it's all simple, happy reads that fail to connect with the reader.

As a voracious reader, I knew that to be false so I started writing book reviews for our church newsletter and highlighted the diverse selection of Christian fiction (and some non-fiction). My intent never was to critique books, but to show the members of my church the variety they had to choose from. From there, it naturally made sense to post these recommendations on a blog.

But, for me to recommend books to others, they have to meet my very picky standards, likely born from my background in literature. I've completed 23 books this year and have only highlighted two on this blog. Not that the others were poorly written, but only two wowed me. If I'm going to make recommendations to a non-reader of Christian fiction, I want to make sure I tell them about the best books out there.

So, if the function of a review blog is to critique the novel or highlight its pros and cons, admittedly I am not doing that.

The purpose of this blog has been, and will continue to be, recommending excellent works to others, and to dialogue about Christian books, with a focus on fiction.

In Support of the Debut Author

I'm always looking for new authors, people with a unique voice and an usual story. Often I find that in debut authors. The problem is, how do you find those writers out of the thousands out there? How can we offer them support?

I discovered during a discussion on Laura Frantz's March 4th blog, that I'm not the only one who loves supporting debut authors. I did a little research and couldn't find any site dedicated solely to the new novelist (not that there isn't one). So, I figured why not create one?

Debut Novels for 2011

But, I'm going to need your help.

I've gotten a decent start on finding debut authors in the inspirational market, but I know I've barely nicked the surface. If you know of anyone whose first book releases in 2011, please let me know so I can add it.

Thanks for your help!

The Resurrection

debut novel by Mike Duran

Realms 2011
320 pages

Haunting and Redeeming

Ruby Case is an ordinary mom living a quiet life ... until her prayer and simple touch raise a boy from the dead.

Ian Clark is a disgruntled pastor, haunted by demons past and present--demons both figurative and literal. He no longer knows what he believes in. It certainly isn't the God who deserted him years ago. And Ian can't wait to remove himself from the church.

When Ruby's touch brings the boy back to life, both Ruby and Ian are thrust into a search for meaning behind this "resurrection" and uncover a spiritual darkness that's been gripping their town for years.

I've recently discovered Mike Duran's blog, deCompose, and found it to be extremely challenging and thought-provoking. I may not always agree with him, but he continuously encourages me to think beyond my typical box and that's definitely a good thing.

The Resurrection does the same by confronting our spiritual complacency and our acceptance of the status quo. It's not comfortable. And that's good.

As I was reading, questions kept invading my thoughts:

• How many of us have secrets, demons, lurking in the corners of our homes that we try to ignore or are too tired or afraid to expel?
• Miracles happen around us daily. An acorn grows into an oak tree. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Life is created when a man and a woman join together. All wondrous miracles, but ones that science can explain away. But how would we react to a Lazarus type of miracle? What would we think if our best friend's touch brought the dead back to life? Would we look to God for the answers? Or would we react with fear?
• And what about spiritual warfare? Do hordes of demons swarm around us, vying for our soul, or is that purely myth?

Those are just a few of the questions Duran raises. The Resurrection doesn't necessarily provide tidy answers. Yet, amidst the darkness, this book is filled with hope and redemption.

I don't typically read speculative fiction because it's often so far out I can't relate to the characters or the story. Duran eliminates that problem by creating very real characters. He introduces them in plausible situations, and then throws in the fantastic. By doing that, he makes this story believable and relatable.

He keeps the action moving so the book is impossible to put down, and he keeps the reader guessing. I had no clue how the story was going to play out.

While this  novel is targeted toward adults, I know teens would love it. It's one part This Present Darkness (Frank Peretti), another part The Visitation (also Peretti), another The Nightmare (Robin Parrish), yet the story is fresh and it's told with a unique voice. My teens love Peretti's The Veritas Project two-book series and have read those books numerous times. Now, they're trying Peretti's other works. Parrish's The Nightmare is one of their favorite reads and they've recommended it to their friends. And look at teens' most popular series' today: Harry Potter and Twilight. Kids are hungry to learn more about the spiritual realm. As a parent, I can't think of a better book to give them than The Resurrection.

With this debut novel, Mike Duran has proved his literary prowess and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Learn more about Mike Duran at http://mikeduran.com/.

WORDS

debut novel by Ginny L. Yttrup

B&H Publishing Group 2011
352 pages

Haunting. Compelling. Beautiful.

Kaylee Wren is ten. And silent. She hasn't spoken a word since her drug-addicted mother deserted her, leaving Kaylee behind with an abusive man in a run down cabin hidden among redwoods. The only memento her mother left behind is a book filled with the words Kaylee can't say. A dictionary.

Twelve years ago, Sierra Dawn's horrible choices ended up robbing her daughter Annie's life. Living with the guilt steals any joy from Sierra's life.

On the twelfth anniversary of Annie's death, Sierra Dawn flees to the remote redwoods where she discovers the little girl with haunted eyes. Eyes very much like Sierra's.

The two begin a journey searching for truth and find love along the way.

Anything I could write would be inadequate in describing this novel, so I'll just leave you with a few emotions and thoughts I recorded as read this book.

Painful. Compelling. Tear-inducing. Beautiful. Sickening. Powerful. Heart breaking. Uplifting. Maddening. Inspiring. Heart wrenching. Frustrating. Redeeming. Haunting.

Grace. Mercy. Hope. Love. Beauty.

By far, this is the best book I've read in 2011 and I recommend it to anyone looking for books that dare to dig beneath the surface, that dare to get down in the dirt with the hurting and lift them up out of it.

Meet Ginny Yttrup

Ginny Yttrup is an author, freelance writer, and writing coach. She has two grown sons and lives near Sacramento, California. WORDS is her debut novel.

http://www.ginnyyttrup.com/

My Favorite Things ...

When it comes to what people enjoy in literature, readers' tastes are as eclectic as the people reading the books. What I might love, the next person probably hates. Another reader may be indifferent. I actually love it when a book has a variety of reactions; it makes for a for more interesting book discussion than when all readers agree.

So, what do I look for in a book? What are my favorite things when it comes to reading?

Musical prose:

I don't just read books, I hear them. Good prose has a tempo and meter. The tone crescendos & falls. Some books call for a staccato telling, while others require legato. Some books are written like a symphony with multi-dimensional characters and story lines, while others keep it as simple as a child's a Capella version of "Jesus Loves Me." Some books call for eight-part harmony (and dissonance), while others are best told solo. Neither is more beautiful than the other. When an author knows this about their prose, when their storyline matches the timbre and complexity of the words they choose, and their words sing from the pages, they've created a beautiful masterpiece that I will enjoy over and over again.

Complex Story Lines:

I've been a stay-at-home mom for nearly 19 years now, and that isn't necessarily conducive to deep thinking. Because of that, I crave books that proffer a challenge, books with multiple story lines weaving together, books with covert and overt symbolism, books with themes that challenge my status-quo way of thinking.

Male Protagonist:

Perhaps it's because I grew up in a household with four brothers (and two sisters), plus a male cousin who helped farm every summer, I tend to understand the male psyche better than female. I believe that women write too flowery at times, where men are typically more straight-forward. What I like the most, though, is hearing the male point-of-view. I want to know what they're thinking. I want to sympathize with their issues too, understand their problems, not just women's.

Well, that's a beginning anyway. I'm certain I'll have more Favorite Things to post as the week goes on.

I'm curious about you. What do you look for in a book? What makes you label a novel Favorite?

Why Christian Fiction?

The topic of Christian fiction has been widely debated on the Web these past few years. I've followed discussions with readers asking "Why the Christian label?" and other discussions that insist "Christian" fiction is substandard to fiction in the general market. And then there's the lack of choice for those who do enjoy Christian fiction. Often the debates become very heated, so clearly it's a sensitive subject.

So, what are the answers? Why Christian fiction?

I'm just a stay-at-home mom with my lit major collecting dust so I won't pretend to have great wisdom, but I do have my simple opinions based on my own anecdotal evidence.

• Why the label? Shouldn't Christian authors write material that will appeal to everyone instead of just preaching to the choir? Look at C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. More recently, Leif Enger's Peace Like a River and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson have both won wide acclaim from all markets.

First of all, as a writer, I'd love to have the talent of a Lewis or a Tolkien, but let's face it, they are true literary masters. Leif Enger's sophomore effort, So Brave, Young, and Handsome completely lacked the magic of his first book. Was his first a fluke or does he genuinely have the skill?

As for preaching to the choir? Don't Christians need to hear stories of other Christians' struggles, and witness the power of God's redemption? Yes, I'm a member of the choir, but my choir is filled with broken lives, and we all need those lessons Christian fiction teaches.

I would love to have the gift to write something that appeals to the general market as well as Christian, but so far the stories I'm compelled to tell will likely be rejected by non-Christians. I applaud those who are able to reach the wider audience.

• True or False: Christian Fiction is substandard to general market fiction.

Sure, some of it is, but then there's a lot of fiction in the general market that's pretty awful too. And yes, I read from both markets. It's a stereotype that needs to be broken.

A few years back, after continually hearing Christians and fellow church goers berate Christian fiction, I knew I had to find a way to show how much the genre has grown. I began writing a book review for our church newsletter highlighting a book a month, showing not only the diversity in Christian fiction, but also the quality. People were genuinely surprised by what's out there. That monthly book review is what birthed Spire Reviews.

But why read more Christian fiction than general market? For me, while I love to read stories about messy lives, I don't need that mess photographed out to me.

I prefer to read books that avoid crude language. I recently read a Michael Connelly novel (love his Harry Bosch series) and he likes to use the "F" word periodically. At first when I see the word, I tend to flinch, but by the end of the novel it's amazing how it's stopped bothering me. I've become desensitized to it.

People often say that the Bible would be R-rated. Really? Yes, the Bible is replete with stories of genocide, seduction, and adultery. Talk about edgy. BUT, when you read about David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:2-5, the NIV version says,

"One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Messy, yes, but hardly R-rated. I believe passion can be shown in a book without giving me pages of explicit description. I love stories that show people getting down in the muck to help others, as God meets us where we are, but when the author flings his own muck, the story loses its power.

As an author, I realize the potency of words and how important it is that we choose precise words when we write. If you choose to use crude language, it needs to have a purpose in the story. If you choose to open that bedroom door, that scene needs to have relevance.

Just my humble opinion. You're very welcome to disagree.

• True or False: Christian Bookstores offer a lack of choice for readers.

To an extent, this is true. When I peruse my local Christian bookstore's shelves, I see lines of historical romance and Amish. Sprinkled here and there are some mystery/suspense, some contemporary, maybe a literary or two, and if you look hard enough you'll find a speculative. But please look. The choice is there and it's worth the effort.

If you want to laugh, read Michael Snyder. Love a good mystery? We've got Steven James (who's reached a crossover audience) and Tim Downs. How about legal fiction? James Scott Bell's always enjoyable and Randy Singer has become a very competent writer. Love poetic prose? Then read Charles Martin (another crossover), Athol Dickson, and Laura Frantz. Need to be challenged? No one does that better than Lisa Samson. Mary DeMuth is close behind. Enjoy sports' novels? Rusty Whitener, Richard Doster, and Graham Garrison tell beautiful stories. And of course, I can't forget Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, River Jordan, Jennifer Erin Valent, Chris Fabry, Dale Cramer ... Well, you get the idea.

So yes, the bookstore shelves are burdened with historical and romance, but that's what the current market demands and that high-selling market is what allows the less popular stories to be printed. I think the real question is:

How do authors reach that wide Christian audience who won't pick up a Christian novel because of the stereotype.

What about you? What do you read? Do you enjoy Christian fiction or do you avoid it? And why?