Love Has Many Faces

"The best book I read this summer! I loved it!" -- Donna Hodge, St. Louis

Two distinctly different women. A father's shady past. A mother's hidden anger. A child gone unloved. The crutch of religion. A search for God and peace. A dark secret that comes back asking for life's highest price. . . . Love Has Many Faces is a Page-Turning Book that addresses real life issues and allows its readers to begin to heal. . . ." You'll see. Love does have many faces. . . .


Christian Fiction

Readers today look for insight and entertainment when they read Christian fiction, novels that have a purpose that extends beyond entertainment. People who read Christian fiction also want to read about stories that have a real life tone to them. It's important writers and authors who create Christian fiction understand and respect the fact that Christian book readers are not naive. In fact, many people who read and enjoy Christian fiction once lived different lives than they are living now that they have choosen to follow Jesus Christ. In other words, these book lovers are not naive to the ways of the world's thought system. Some may have been knee deep in the world's thought system for years before they accepted the Atonement and decided to follow Jesus Christ. Christian writers who remember this as they create their stories can reap a range of benefits, including strong character development, realism and honesty.

To develop Christian fiction, be it a short story or novel, Christian writers and other novel writers, can observe people as they work to navigate their way through different experiences. As a tip, many of these observations can take place by watching one's own family, friends and colleagues. If Christian writers look inward and become introspective, they can also recall how they faced and dealt with a range of personal experiences they had. The more emotional the experiences cause people they observe (including themselves) to become, the stronger the lesson may be, and the stronger the material will impact readers after Christian writers add bits and pieces of the material into books they write.

Writers of Christian fiction can also strenghten stories they write by focusing on three to four life experiences of life situations they have witnessed people struggle to deal with. Some of these life situations and life experiences might include divorce, watching a loved one transition or withdrawal from his or her physical vessel (body), moving to a new town, aging in the physical realm, getting laid off from a job, getting married or having a child and having to raise the child singlehandedly. There are other life experiences and life situations that Christian writers can draw upon. These are merely a few examples.

As a Christian fiction writer, you may find that you are able to inject more emotion into your writing as you have more different life experiences (that draw great amounts of emotion from you) and as you continue to observe others as you journey through life. Next, it's important that you write something everyday to improve your writing as a Christian writer. Keep in mind that each of us has room for improvement as we continue to use and hone our craft.

Before you submit your work to editors and publishers, work with a professional editor (someone who has edited books and stories for a dozen or more writers). You can also join professional writers critique groups and have your work critiqued. Be open to feedback rather than working hard to defend your work. Pay attention to times when other writers and editors tell you a part of a story you wrote confused them. Be open to ideas on how you can improve your writing and remember that readers are not inside your head. What I mean by this is that readers of Christian fiction and other types of books do not know why you had a character say something, why you placed a character in a certain situation or why a character did what they did. Therefore, it's up to you to make this clear in your writings so readers can understand what motivates your characters to think, say and do what they do.

If you are serious about getting your Christian fiction published, research the market. Find out which book publishers are publishing the types of Christian books or short stories you write. It may be these publishers who will be most willing to take you on as a client. Also, familiarize yourself with clauses in good book contracts. You may be able to find samples of good book contracts on the Internet. Of course, you can also reach out to published authors and ask them to tell you what makes for a good book contract. After you get your Christian fiction published, prepare to start marketing your work. In other words, get ready to tell as many people as you can about your work. It's a great way to build an audience for your Christian writings. In fact, good book marketing, can propel you forward as a Christian writer, strengtening your writing career for years. Oh, and one last thing -- have fun . . . lots of it!! After all, life is about LOVE and JOY!!>

To read more from Portia Click here. To read more from Love Has Many Faces Click here.

If you are serious about having a writing career as a Christian book writer, I encourage you to visit Christian Writers' Conferences. They have conferences all over the world. We list conferences at our web site at . We update the list of conferences regularly throughout the year. We also list upcoming conferences in our literary newsletter, The Book Lover's Haven. When you look for conferences, check for conferences that will have editors and agents present. Bring a copy of your latest manuscript with you to the conference and introduce yourself to agents and editors who work with the types of books that you write. Be courageous and make those contacts! Connect with other writers and definitely connect with editors, agents and publishers who attend conferences. More than a few writers have gotten their break this way. You could be next! Other places to find great Christian Writers' Conferences are: magazines, journals, local newspapers, and of course the Internet! We wish you the very best on your journey as a writer! Drop us a note and let us know how it's going. We'd love to celebrate your successes with you!

Enjoy these two Christian novels, books that make you feel good about yourself! Books that entertain, teach, enthrall and engage your interest!