Thanks very much for answering my questions so thoroughly. What I really want to know at this point is, will you tackle the "tough issues" ... blending experimental ideas with interpreting the Bible's teachings about them, when those issues only come up in your book, not in reality as such? I hope my question is understandable. It is 12:15 AM, after all.



I'd like to see more Christian oriented books that deal with tougher issues. I want to see more authors stick thier necks out to go for the cutting edge of humanity's very souls, existance, & future, via the musings of the pen. What would hurt humanity the worst, put lots of twists & turns in there, make us want your characters to succeed, & go for the gusto, girl! Let's see what stories are in your writer's heart? I encourage you to keep writing. How far along are you on the book to date? Do you have a projected finish date in mind?



Might views on God change with time ... you know, perspectives, understandings, beliefs that folks latch onto? Humanity's idea of God might change in the future, as it has over time so far, from what I see & read in history books.



But, as you pointed out, God's word remains the same. What would happen in a future book that took a twist on how humanity sought after, or believed in/worshiped God? Then, perhaps, a group of "old time" believers brought back the meanings that had been lost to the rest of the land somehow?



Spin it any way you like, just throwing general ideas your way. I'm eager to read your work. Make it about something important to YOUR spirit, so it "hits home" for readers who understand the plight as you interpret it. You'll go far. Keep finding & making reasons to smile.

I firmly believe tackling the tough issues is paramount in writing Christian fiction - and nonfiction for that matter. Jesus didn't shy away from controversy, but tackled it head-on. We're called to follow Jesus' example, so in that sense I have no choice but to do the same.



Part of my complaint with much of today's Christian fiction is the shying away from those issues, although that, too, is changing. In fact my novella that will soon be published through Booksurge deals in part with homosexuality. It's because I explore such a sensitive topic is one reason I'm self-publishing. No publishing house will touch it, secular or otherwise. Yet I think it's a good enough and important enough story to be shared with others.



Once it's done I'll add a link for purchase and include an exerpt to whet people's appetite. There's more I plan to do to encourage people to read it, but you'll have to wait until the book is ready for sale before I give the details. I expect that within the next month or so.



Fascinating idea with changing views of God. It didn't even dawn on me, but you're absolutely right. Our view of God and his word today is much different from the Spanish Inquisition, and even during the birth of the United States. Even from one religion to another today there are many and varied perspectives that sometimes contradict one another.



I'll have to keep your ideas in mind when I write new stories.



Thanks for the inspiration and the compliments. You sure know how to encourage people.

Interesting to read your post. I actually have a novel query sent in to Marcher Lord Press. :) Yay for Christian science fiction writers!

Oh, fabulous! I'm very glad that you are one of the authors who aren't afraid to tackle the tough stuff.



Congratulations on getting your novella published soon through Booksurge. I'm eager to read your book. Do announce how much the book will cost & where it will be obtainable when the time is right?



Wow, dealing with homosexuality in a Christian novella, you do have brass *#*#*! Good for you. Is a main character, a secondary character, or society/culture that is homosexual in the book? Is the novella entertaining without being preachy? How are the homosexual issues resolved? How does God's word get tied into all of what's going on as the book unfolds?



How long did it take after completion of the novella to get the self publishing off of the ground & in process? Does it take a lot of money to self publish? What inspired you to write this particular story line? Are any of your characters based, in part, on real people? Is the homosexual character(s) of the novella an antagonist or a protagonist in the story line? Just wondering.



Yes, I understand about the publishing houses not wanting to touch it, secular or otherwise. Hot issue, there! Nobody wants to take the risk. You must really believe in the book's material in order to lay it out on the line & turn to self publishing. Knowing that, makes me want to go out & buy the book to read it all the more! It causes me to want to find out what message is that important, from your writer's soul.



Looking forward to seeing the link when the public can purchase the book. I hope it won't be too expensive, as I am on a fixed income.



Have you chosen which part of the book to include for whetting folk's appetites for the work, already? What factors helped you decide which excerpt to use? Was it difficult getting someone to write the forward or the review, or did someone else write those parts into the book at all?



Wow, in the next month or so ... that's really soon. I bet you are excited! I can hardly wait to see it out in book buying land. How long has it taken, from the very beginning of the seed idea, to the actual book becomming purchasable? For some reason I always thought it took many years for stuff like all of that to occur. I guess it's different for all writers, the time it takes to complete.



Yes, I see you got the idea of what I was trying to communicate about the changing views of God over time, concerning humanity. Culture, nurture, nature, ego, time, & humanity's own vain graspings at truths sometimes warp the understanding of what God laid out for us in His word.



Hitler, Mary Magdalene, George Washington, & even Walt Disney probably all have different views on God's word, based on their life time's understanding of it.



Remember the guy who killed his whole community of followers with poison cool-aid ... how about the group who all killed themselves because they believed when the commet came by that they'd be closest to God & it was time to go? There are all kinds out there, that's what I'm trying to say.



In fiction, you can take an idea & run with it. Sometimes, as in the mentioned news headlines above, reality can be even stranger then fiction, for certain! Always stretch your imagination. That's when I find that I write the best story lines, when I'm "in the zone," thinking OUTSIDE of the proverbial box, as they say.



I'm glad that we can chat. It is refreshing to speak with other writers, again. Thank goodness for this Community site! It helps to keep "hermits" like me in touch with the rest of the writing world out there. Thanks for sharing your part of it with me, here. It's been interesting getting to know you & your work. Hopefully, I've encouraged & inspired you toward fulfilling your goals as a writer. We're all in it together, us freelancers & self publishers alike. Keep finding & making reasons to smile.