“How do I create something out of nothing? I think it is by questioning.” ~Amy Tan
Last post I shared about how I go about naming my characters. That includes animal characters too. I posted a picture of my sister’s cat and you all suggested some neat names for him. Most of you thought he was so pretty that he must be a girl. In answering your comments, I shared how my sister’s granddaughter gave the cat, then a kitten, a name. Fluffleupagus or something like that. She was young at the time. But this cat was not a Fluffy. He needed a name like George or maybe, as one of you suggested, Prince. Actually, you came up with some great cat names. I may drop a cat into this new story and if I do, I’ll remember all the great names you suggested. Or who knows? If I do, I might ask you to name a cat again once I decide what the cat looks like. It’s more likely that this story will have a dog. Not one exactly like Scout in These Healing Hills, but a dog is always fun to drop into a story.
That’s where I am with this story. Questioning everything. Trying to answers questions about everything. The history of the time period I’ve picked. How my characters look. Or even before that, what characters I need. Who are they and what do they want? What spiritual thread will run through the story? I usually don’t sit down and figure that out before the story, but it seems to come as a natural part of my characters’ stories.
Sometimes prayer is the underlying spiritual theme. That certainly turned out to be true while I was writing River to Redemption. Inspired by what I read about my true life character, Louis, I had him often telling other characters in the story to “pray believing.” Prayer was also the spiritual thread in my last Shaker story, The Innocent. In it, the main character, Carlyn, keeps remember her mother telling her to “pray anyway,” no matter if the situation she found herself in was good or bad.
In These Healing Hills, my Appalachian mountain story about a Frontier Nurse midwife, the spiritual thread turned out to be that the Lord opens opportunities up to us even in the midst of what we consider the ruin of our hopes and dreams. Francine decides that perhaps the Lord leads her to a place right where she’s supposed to be.
I never intend to be “preachy” in my books, but my characters’ faith and their questions about that faith generally find a way into my stories. In a recent review on Amazon of my book, Angel Sister, the reviewer says my story is a pretty good sermon. I don’t think the reviewer meant it as a compliment. I don’t intend to write sermons. I haven’t been called to preach, but I am a storyteller. I like answering questions about my characters, and since I think what we believe matters, I feel that what my characters believe matters too.
I’ll keep asking questions and imagining answers until I get this story written. All the questions won’t be answered or even asked at the beginning. Maybe not even at the ending since life can be like that. We rarely ever have all the answers. But along my story road, I’ll find a few answers for these people I’m imagining.
This is your last chance to leave a comment to enter my book giveaway. I’ll be drawing for the two winners on Sunday and contacting them via e-mail and also have their names here. First place winner gets the lighted nativity scene pictured in last Wednesday’s post and his or her choice of one of my books. Second place winner gets his or her choice of one of my books. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter.
Thanks to all of you for reading my posts and leaving your great comments. You make writing more fun.
So what do you think? Do you like to see faith threads and journeys in the stories you read? Do you feel as though you’re reading a sermon when you read an inspirational novel?
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I love a good faith struggle. Questions. “Sermons” even. I think your readers long for that. I think this is your ministry. And what a cool one to have.
Author
I appreciate your comments, Judy. I don’t set out with this or that faith struggle in mind when I start a book. If one develops, it comes from the characters and the events. But it’s good to think about what we believe and why we believe it. Stories can make us think through some of those kinds of things.
Your books do not seem preachy to me. I like that the characters have faith. That is the only way that I can make it through this world too, my faith.
Author
Knowing you have God on your side can get you through some tough times and make the good times even more joyful, April. And right now at Christmas is such a wonderful time to remember the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ.
Your books are not sermons. They are a source of encouragement and inspiration. They are a way to strengthen you faith by witnessing the faith of your characters.
Author
Thank you, Janice. That’s such a great comment and an encouraging one as I set off down a new story path. Not sure right now about a lot of things in the story, but hope it will be romantic and encouraging and entertaining with some of those life lessons and some Kentucky history mixed in. Wow. That sounds like a lot to cover. I’d better get going on it.
If I am reading Christian fiction, I don’t want to have to search for the message or inspiration. The life lesson or message is one of the reasons I refer a book. You do an exemplary job. Please don’t change.
Author
I don’t think you should have to search for the theme or the meaning in any book you read, Nyla Kay. I think a good story lets you find that through your characters and the scenes. Sometimes I don’t really know what life lesson or message a reader might get from my stories, and I think that’s best. Of course, I was pretty strong with the last one to “pray believing” in River to Redemption. You would have had a hard time missing that one. 🙂
I read The Innocent and totally enjoyed the flow of the story, the mystery, the information regarding Shakers of which I had no idea. Never, for a minute, did I think any of the writing was preaching. It was a story well told. I look forward to reading more of your books. Keep the stories coming.
Author
So glad you enjoyed my Shaker book, The Innocent, Loretta. I liked being able to have my dog character, Asher, have a part in that story. Made me want to put a dog in every story. I did in These Healing Hills, but didn’t find a place for a dog in River to Redemption. I think I’ll be able to have some dogs in my work in progress. That Shaker book is a bit different than some of my other Shaker stories because I did try to put a little mystery in the story.
I definitely enjoy a faith thread when I read. Many inspirational books have given me food for thought….though some have gotten a bit too preachy for me. Still that doesn’t deter me from reading the inspirational books that come highly recommended.
Author
Books that give us food for thought are the best kind whether they are Christian fiction or general market books. The best books are those highly recommended by my reading friends, especially my sisters and my daughter. What recommendations do you note for new reads?
I like your stories with the faith threads. Usually your characters are thinking a lot of the same things we think as we go through our day to day activities and the situations we find ourselves in.
Author
That’s good to hear, Connie. I want my characters to be people you might like to get to know.
I love all of your books and never find them to be preachy. My main reason to read Christian Fiction is to get a faith filled story and in the content learn something I may not know. When I read your books I feel as it is from one Christian to another. Don’t stop adding the faith of your characters in the books, they wouldn’t be the same.
Author
Thanks, Donna, I so appreciate your words and that you read my stories. I think those who do read Christian fiction want to read about people of faith or who are coming to faith. They also like that they won’t find ugly language or scenes. But they still want a good story and I think readers can find good stories in the Christian fiction section of any bookstore now.
Your book may have hit some nerves with the person who wrote the review and it made them feel “preached” to because that is what they needed. Who knows how many people may move forward in their faith journey and grow closer to the Lord, just by reading your books…which is a great gift and legacy to leave. Merry Christmas Ann and hope all the pieces of your next story come together quickly for you!
Author
Thanks for your sweet words, Hope. I did one time have a reader write to me after reading my book, Orchard of Hope to say the story touched them so deeply that they rededicated their life to Christ. Now, that was something, but I do have to admit that if I ever did preach in any book, it might be that revival scene in Orchard of Hope when Miss Sally got up to talk to the people at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. That scene is a real tearjerker in a good way. At least, I hope so.
This is the ultimate reason for telling a story. As God gave words and stories of broken people which ultimately became the Bible, he in a sense “preached” to the reader. He also guiothem to follow Him and gave them hope. Jesus slsobised parables to teach and preach. There are. Many people who won’t pick up a Bible or enter a church building, but they will read a book! God will use your material to draw them unto Himself. So, pray and gently preach as the spirit guides!
Author
Thanks for you thoughtful comment, Debbie. I’ll just tell the story the Lord gives me and let my readers find any “sermons” in the story words and events. You are very right that not everybody will study the Bible even though it is more readily available that ever before. You can even download several translations on your phones. So many ways to find the Word of God these days. And while I don’t want to “preach” to my readers, I’m fine with them finding a few spiritual truths by reading my characters’ stories. And I definitely need to pray that I will write my stories in the best way possible for me and for those who might someday read my words.
The threads of faith are the best part of your stories,Ann! 🙂 When I read your threads of faith in your book, it honestly doesn’t feel like a sermon; but rather a encouraging, Christ-Centered, Biblical antidote. 🙂 ~Psalm 136~
Author
Thanks, Emily, for your always encouraging comments. I appreciate you and I’m glad you enjoy the faith in my stories. I like being able to include the characters faith in my books.
I definitely love the faith threads throughout your stories. I admire your mind in being able to bring all these characters together in your stories and in presenting such great themes!
Author
I couldn’t do it without the Lord’s help, Darlene. I’ll be writing and come to a certain scene and I do believe the Lord inspires me to think of this or that Bible story or verse to make it work. I just had to fill out a questionnaire for my publishers and one of the questions was to expand on the theme of my upcoming story. I’m going “what theme?” I don’t really think about themes while I’m writing. They just happen with my characters.
I think your faith threads are very natural. They happen to ordinary people like us. You are preaching a sermon by writing and you meet us where we are. Remember God spoke to Isaiah in a still small voice not in the earthquake! Shouldn’t all our lives be a sermon to teach others about Christ? 1John tells us to show love to one another. We can show how Christ loved us!
I love reading your books. God has given you a gift of storytelling. Thanks for being faithful to share it! Blessings!
Author
That’s all so true, Paula. Our preacher likes to quote a poem to us at times about how all of us are writing a story as we live our lives that others are reading and how we might be the only “Bible” they ever “read.” I can’t remember how the poem goes but it makes more sense than how I’m explaining it.
I do like having faith as a natural part of my characters journey. I’m so glad you think my stories work. And I do so appreciate you reading my books.
Yes, Jesus loves me. And you. And everyone.
Your books never seem “preachy” but I do love the faith your characters have.It’s part of the reason you are my favorite author.
I am looking forward to your new book in April and the next and the next….
Author
You’re so kind, Lisa. I can’t imagine being anybody’s favorite author, but I’m glad you think that. I appreciate that so much. And I do hope I get that next… and next … story written. 🙂
The threads of faith in your stories is one of the things I like best about your books. I don’t feel like I’m reading a sermon, but instead I’m reading a message of hope and inspiration. Maybe the reviewer who called it a sermon, needed to be “preached” to? 😉
I’m enjoying these posts and all the comments this week.
Have a wonderful weekend, Ann!
Author
I’m glad you’re enjoying the posts, Lavon. I’m really enjoying the comments although I didn’t intend to fish for compliments from you all with my questions about whether you liked having faith threads in the stories you read. Still, it’s kind of neat to know that you do like the faith threads in my stories. I’m glad you don’t think my stories are like a sermon. But you know, I have heard some pretty good sermons at times, and Jesus did like telling stories to get His message across to the people. So maybe storytelling with a little faith is good. I do want my stories to be encouraging to those who read them. And entertaining as well.