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| First crocus of spring at the base of a birch tree* |
I’m not much of a talk-show watcher. Increasingly I feel
distanced from the celebrities who are interviewed and the projects they’re
working on. But the other day, I turned on an interview where the guest
spoke of family hardships before he landed his first movie deal. He
mentioned how God had gotten his family through, and the fact that after the
blessing he could give back to his family. You know what surprised me? The audience’s
response. Am I the only one who doesn’t expect the crowd to cheer for words
like that? I half-expected his segment to be edited down. I mean, he mentioned
God after all. But when he gave glory to God, and the audience cheered, I felt
something—hope.
There’s a game show (again, I’m not usually a fan, but I
happened to catch an episode) on TV where contestants play to win large amounts
of money—nothing new about that, right? This show was developed (as stated by
the creator) to help people who have helped others. So the contestants are
those who are making a difference in their own communities. As they play to
win, the audience is invested in their success. Collectively, the audience (and
the home viewer) wants to see them
win so that they can be blessed like they’ve blessed others. There’s something wired
into people that wants to see goodness (selfless people doing selfless acts) rewarded.
This is especially satisfying because we’re used to goodness going unrewarded
so often.
I think this goes back to the verse: “I would have lost heart unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 NKJV) People are encouraged by seeing a positive outcome, by seeing God’s goodness here on earth.
That’s why I love reading Christian fiction. I picked up a
book the other day that I thought was from a Christian publisher, because I
knew the author from my Christian writing friends’ circles. But from the
opening pages, I could tell something was different. The story didn’t have the
Christian tone I was used to. The words were harsher; the images, darker; the
world more bleak and hopeless and violent. Because I had a different expectation,
I was nonplussed. Reading a grim book because I choose to is different than
picking up what I thought was a CBA novel and finding bleak, harsh elements.
So, what makes a novel fitting for the CBA? That’s
a question left up to each publisher, though most follow a certain, biblical-based
list. I’ll tell you why I love reading Christian fiction—hope. Light.
Redemption. Healing. Life. Those are elements I love to see in the books I
pick up and include in the novels I write down.
What about you? What do you like to see in the books you
read, and write into the books you pen? What are the elements that, if missing,
will cause you to give up on a novel and move on, or rework until those
elements are included?
Write on, friends!
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| Husband Material by Annette M. Irby |
Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?
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| Annette M. Irby |
Annette M. Irby is a freelance editor and Christian fiction author who dabbles in gardening and photography. She has completely fallen in love with her grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband of over twenty-five years. You can learn more about Annette by visiting her website or her page here on Seriously Write.
*Photo credit: the awesome folks at Pixabay
