Own It Or Shut It

The last few weeks have had me chewing on a lot of controversy in the Christian writing community. A heated debate erupted that pitted one side against another. The topic at hand? Many actually, but the gist of it was the insinuation that Christian writers were sub-par and they needed to up their game, allow for a different model in their predetermined publication rules and that those writing on the fringe should abandon the CBA altogether and move to the ABA. As you may guess, this angered a lot of people in the Christian writing industry and the blow-back fueled many ranty blogs from both sides.  It got brutal with full snark and hackles in many cases.

Let me state this now before I go forward, I did not get involved directly in this dispute. I watched, helpless from the sidelines.

No More Tears for Angel

Did you really think I wouldn’t use this image again?

“I think I’m done with writing.” I typed those words a couple of days ago. They are not a quote from a work in progress. Not something one of my characters said. They are the words I said to a friend of mine–right before I sat down and had a good, long cry.

I’ve been going through the editors’ comments on my WIP, Seeking Unseen, the sequel to Finding Angel. No, they’re not mean comments. Nor are they off the mark. But as I read them I began to wonder if they were worth addressing. Whether the manuscript was worth the work. Whether writing in general is worth the work.

Because it IS work.

Making a Splash

Artwork by Eleon

I wear the watermarks of my publisher proudly. Maybe you have heard of them? Splashdown Books? It is a small indie press out of New Zealand run by the extraordinary Grace Bridges. She has gathered under her banner some of the best speculative writers in the business. Maybe you have heard of a few of them also? Shoot, three of them blog right here at The Cheesecake Thickens. Keven Newsome, author of the dark and dangerous Winter. Kat Heckenbach, author of the clever and imaginative Finding Angel. Or P.A. Baines, author of the heart wrenching story of a broken man and a computer that finds God.  I cannot go on without mentioning Fred Warren, Caprice Hokstad, Ryan Grabow, Adam and Andrea Graham (relation on the side of our heavenly Father), Rick Copple, Mike Lynch, Travis Perry, or Walt Staples. This doesn’t even include the wonderful artists and musicians we have.