I'm a Celebrity

Well, almost...

I had my first interview last night on Internet radio, specifically, Ella Curry's Black Author Network (BAN). BAN decided to showcase African American Christian Fiction. The show included Dee Stewart, Book Reviewer (http://www.christianfiction.blogspot.com/) and Christy Award Judge (http://www.christyawards.com/) , and several authors including Sherri Lewis (http://www.sherrilewis.com/), Tia McCollors (http://www.tiamccollors.com/), Dwan Abrams (http://www.dwanabrams.com/), cecelia dowdy (http://www.ceceliadowdy.com/), Shelia Lipsey (http://www.shelialipsey.com/), and about five more including...me. I was there to talk about my novel, Issues of the Heart.

I have to admit, I spent several hours preparing for this show, because I recognize every opportunity to talk about Issues of the Heart is indeed that, an opportunity. Even though I know my book inside out, I didn't want to stumble over my words or worst become a victim of the "Ummmms", which I do often when I have to talk off the top of my head, so I practiced. I read my blurb several times, revised my book summary, made notes about the key elements of the story, and on and on because I am really very anal for a creative person...then Ella suprised me by just asking me to tell her about how I got started writing. Duh, I wasn't prepared for that one, but fortunately, that one was easy enough to tell, because of course only "I" know how I started writing. It was a great question and I enjoyed answering it. I also enjoyed sharing my testimony about how I committed to Christian Fiction as a genre. So, yes, I'm a celebrity, in my own world. I'm proud of myself for not only keeping the "ummmms" down, but for stepping out there and sharing the most important aspect of who I am, and that's a person who really loves the Lord.

Next stop, Oprah!

Check me out in the archives for 4/28/2008. I'm about halfway through the show.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network .

Blessings,

Rhonda

Visions in Print - Online Conference - May 31, 2008

My wonderful writer's group, Visions in Print, the Southeast Atlanta Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers is having a Virtual Writer's Conference on May 31st. Registration will open at the end of the this week. Click on the poster and it will resize large enough for you to read. There be me in the corner. :o)

Issues of the Heart - The Unofficial Blurb

I finally finished the unofficial blurb for the back cover of my book. Unofficial because my editor hasn't approved it, but people have been asking me for it, so I decided it's time to put something out there. Thanks to the writing DIVA, Dee Stewart (http://www.christianfiction.blogspot.com/), Tanisha with KC Girlfriends Book Club (http://www.kcgirlfriendsbookclub.com/) and Yasmin from APOOO Book Club (http://www.apooo.org/) for your help with my blurb.

Issues of the Heart is Women's Fiction, not romance. I'll perhaps try my hand at romance one day since I love it so much.

Drumroll please...

In Issues of the Heart, a couple’s troubled marriage is pushed to limits when an enemy plots revenge.

More you say...

Faith Morgan is sick of begging her husband, Jonah, to spend time with her. Anonymous hang-ups on their home phone have her wondering if he’s sick of her, too. When she discovers Jonah's been keeping a secret from her around the same time his coworker accuses him of sexual harassment, Faith wonders if she can believe his side of the story.

Pediatric cardiologist, Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing, his work. The childhood death of his brother has intensified his desire to heal children, at any cost, including his family's plea to be more involved in their lives. When a nurse accuses him with of sexual harassment, Jonah finds himself at a crossroads. Will he continue to allow the memories from his childhood to haunt him or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

I know, I know...you wish you could go out and get it right now. So do I, but I'm reminded of James 5:7 "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord," or at least until the coming of my book.

In the meantime have a blessed week!

With love,

Rhonda

What is Christian Fiction?

I was asked this question a few months ago and shared the following response: Christian fiction is a novel or story that includes one or more saved (by "saved" I mean believing that Jesus Christ has redeemed us from our sinful nature. Once saved we have complete and radical trust in Jesus' power to change, restore, forgive, heal and make our lives new) character(s) who face an issue or challenge that pushes the limits of their faith. By the end of the story they resolve the issue or challenge in a way that's consistent with the integrity of the Christian faith. Wow, that's a mouthful and it came off the top of my head.

In Christian fiction at least one of the main characters demonstrates his or her love for God and clearly has a strong desire to lead an active Christian life, even if they miss that mark from time to time. In good Christian fiction they will miss the mark, many times, that makes for a realistic story and good conflict in the novel. Perfect people who handle things in a perfect way aren't real in life or on paper and that's been an ongoing problem with some Christian fiction. But I think as more people come into the genre and more networking is done with readers, authors will learn what readers want and some of the perfect people-isms will go away or the good writers will rise to the top.

In closing, I'll add that I don't believe Christian fiction is a story where the main character lives a life in which they do everything wrong before coming into relationship with Jesus Christ and neither does the Christian Booksellers Association (www.cbaonling.org). This is because in Christian fiction there needs to be a clearly articulated Christian worldview. The character can't have that if they aren't already saved. I think may confuse what I call "Church Fiction", that would be a novel about church drama that does not have a Christian worldview. So, that's my 2 cents. Some would disagree with me, but hey it's my blog.

Many Blessings and Much Love,

Rhonda

My first novel, Issues of the Heart, coming Dec 2009 from Urban Christian Books.

I'm Back

I know...I know...it really looks like I don't want to take blogging seriously. It's been 3 years since my first and last post.

Well, I'm back and I plan to be consistant now. I vow to blog at least once a week. I will post author interviews, share writing tips, share updates about my writing and my book and I'll even throw in an occassional book review.

Arduos blogger friends, hold me accountable.

Blessings,
Rhonda