Meaty Fiction on the Plate

Below is a post I did for a wonderful book club blog called She Reads (a sister blog to Novel Matters). Each quarter, the She Reads book club will offer three current titles as featured selections. Readers have vast differences in taste and for this reason diverse genres and authors will be chosen.

Readers who join She Reads receive a number of benefits, including:

• Connection with other readers on the She Reads blog who are passionate about great fiction and uplifting stories.
• Information via the She Reads newsletter that will keep readers up to date on their favorite authors, and books, with a few surprises thrown in for fun.
• Reviews of newly released titles written by a variety of readers, writers, and industry professionals.
• Options to create a She Reads book club or bring an existing club under the She Reads umbrella.
• Relationships developed within the intimate setting of a regular book club meeting.
• Fun planned study guides with activities and interesting facts developed specifically for the She Reads book club.
• Online Community for those who can’t participate in a monthly meeting (or don’t live near an existing club), via the She Reads blog and Facebook group.
• Pre-selected novels they can trust and appreciate is an important aspect in today’s economy where every buying decision requires a second thought.
• Access to authors they love through print interviews, meet and greets, conference calls, etc. Each selected author will participate in two conference calls with the first 100 guests (per call) who sign up. This will be a free service and a chance for readers to have their questions answered by the authors themselves!
• Free books from time to time via contests, giveaways, and publisher promotions.

Meaty Fiction on the Plate

Is fiction an entertaining commodity meant only to be consumed? Or is that too narrow a view of the purpose and value of fiction? If the only function of fiction is to entertain – to be consumed as escape and distraction, then it barely matters what we read. Toss any ol’ story down the gullet of the eyes to fill the gnawing hole of wordy hunger.

But what if fiction has a role in shaping the nature of how we understand culture, both individually and corporately (us, and everyone around us)?

There are novels designed to function solely as entertainment, of course. I have no quibble with these fluffy novels. Sometimes one simply wants a bit of mindless escapism as a way of taking a break. This is a healthy practice in moderation. Too many fluffy books, however, is akin to grocery shopping at the candy counter – a very bad idea indeed.

It’s about here in this discussion where I find at least one well-meaning person who plays the snob card. The snob card argument goes something like this: You (meaning me) are a literary snob. What is fluffy reading to one person is life changing to another.

I doubt this very much. Is one man’s shallow pool another man’s swimming hole? I don’t think it is difficult for anyone to recognize a fluffy novel. And I think we all understand its purpose– fun fluff. And I am no snob. Remember, I’m not against fluffy books. Rather, I am for making rich, meaty books our regular literary diet, and putting fluffy books in their rightful place in our lives: on the dessert cart.

The next time you go looking for a novel to read, ask yourself if what you’re choosing is cotton candy, or meaty stew. If it’s fluff, promise yourself to pick up a meaty novel next time – and the time after that, and the time after that.

A quick checklist of questions to ask yourself when choosing between fluff and substance novels –

Will reading this novel accomplish one or more of the following:

• Challenge my current worldview
• Help me understand another culture or subculture
• Build empathy in me
• Help me understand a critical point in history either at home or abroad
• Explain the values of others
• Cause me to engage in art
• Point to a coming change or shift in my culture
• Explore the richness of what it means to be human
• Cause me to ponder religious and ethical dichotomies
• Give voice to movements within cultures that I do not currently know about or understand

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s a good starting point for us as readers. In 2011, challenge yourself to read meaty books. And keep a fluffy book by the bedside for a late night snack.

I bid you good reading.

Best Moments of 2009

What a year!

I've been reflecting on 2009 lately - a year end tradition for many of us, I'm sure. There is so much to be thankful for - here is my short list of fab moments:

January: Blog Novel Matters goes live. As life-changing relationships go, my friendship with these five authors is right near the top. The blog enriches my life, educates me, challenges me as a writer. The friendships of Sharon K. Souza, Kathleen Popa, Latayne C. Scott, Patti Hill, and Debbie Fuller Thomas are answers to prayer.

February: Party month: Heather turned six, Ben turned eight, Steve turned forty-six, and we partied like crazy.

March: Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You releases. To celebrate, I hold a one day seminar in Saskatoon - a life-changing event for all of us. It was a privilege to be in the room and witness the things God was doing in the lives of the women present.

April: Travel to California to attend the career track at Mount Hermon. All six Novel Matters women attended. We inhabited two cabins, held nightly late night chats and readings (I LOVED listening to the authors read from their current works. Amazing!), and reveled in each other's company. Pure joy from start to finish.

May: Advance copies of Talking to the Dead arrive at my home. I hold a copy of my first novel and feel at a loss for words (always a problem for a writer). The words, "Thank you, God" are spoken often.

June: Talking to the Dead releases. Interviews, blog tours, radio, signings - a flurry of activity and fun. Reviews pile up - I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by the positive response to the novel. It had the joy of spending time with my amazing publisher Don Pape, and my editor, Nicci Jordan Hubert. We hung out in Ontario, ate great food, laughed, dreamed a little, laughed some more. Definitely a highlight!

Later that month Steve is ordained in a ceremony in Calgary - I kiss The Reverend.

July: Promotion for Talking to the Dead takes over life and limb - it is fun and fantastic. It is also the coldest July EVER and gaffers nearly freeze at swimming lessons at outdoor pool. Proud Mom moment: Ben learns to ride a two wheeler in one long (sometimes tearful) day. Way to go, Ben!

August: Talking to the Dead goes into third printing. New ideas/proposals for novels make their way to the page as I work on the outline for my next novel (coming 2010!). Hubby celebrates my birthday by giving me a framed cover of Talking to the Dead with a card signed by everyone at David C. Cook.

September: Heather starts grade one (Ben grade three) and I suddenly have full days in which to work! We take a road trip to Alberta where I teach at a writer's conference and present a two day seminar for Your Best You.

Talking to the Dead is chosen as a winter pick for She Reads - my introductory post spurs a heartfelt host of comments - 170 comments by the time we are done!

October: A Saskatchewan Your Best You seminar and the start of a seven week Your Best You small group helps women make a fresh start. Plans to take Your Best You to the inner city develop (we start Your Best You in the downtown core of Saskatoon January 29th!).

November: My first royalty cheque arrives! Much blinking and blinking, and thankfulness to everyone who bought a copy of Talking to the Dead. I'm amazed, humbled, and grateful to each of you!

Complete manuscript for new novel - Title? Time and Time Again (details to come early 2010)

Novel Matters and She Reads announce a partnership between blogs that will knit together the communities of writers and readers.

December: Ten thousand Christmas concerts/dinners/recitals for gaffers. They sing, dance, play piano, wear sparkly tinsel, memorize lines - and perform with aplomb (Mommy watches it all with teary eyes and a heart bursting with joy and pride). Talking to the Dead is listed in Rachelle Gardner's Favorite Fiction in 2009.

Yes, it's been an amazing, and sometimes exhausting year. You have been a huge part of making 2009 fantastic!

I bid you Merry Christmas, and good writing!

Great Day In The Morning. . .

. . . as my Mother would say.

Yesterday was a slamming good day!

I FINISHED writing the new book. Wow! So cool, so exciting to write a book I love, but I have to say, that feeling when I have written a book I love is pretty great!

AND: We have a title. I'm very excited because I LOVE this title. It's just perfect. What is it? Ahh, soon and very soon, my friends, I will be able to share with you ALL - the title, the back copy (the little blurb on the back of a book) AND the cover. Yep, we are diving right in and starting work on creating a cover. I'm very excited about this - the same creative, brilliant people who created the cover for Talking to the Dead will be at work on this cover. It promises to be wonderful.

Another amazing great thing about yesterday was that over on Novel Matters, we announced a brand new partnership between Novel Matters and the wonderful book club blog She Reads. Hop on over and read all the details. There is definitely a place for you to join in with your thoughts, ideas, experiences - whether you are a reader or a writer (or both!).

I bid you good writing.

Proverbs 31 Ministries and She Reads - Win an iPod nano!

It was my privilege to write a devotion for Proverbs 31 as the feature author of She Reads.

I invite you to read the devotion, and I hope it is a blessing to you.

Leave a comment on the She Reads blog for a chance to win an iPod nano - loaded with cool goodies like the soundtrack to Talking to the Dead, a personal message from me, and whatever other cool and crazy thing I can think of.

I bid you good writing.

SheReads Winter Selections - Talking to the Dead!

I'm thrilled to announce Talking to the Dead has been chosen as a winter selection of She Reads! This wonderful book club is passionate about connecting readers with fiction they will love. It is an honor to have my novel chosen as one of three winter selections. You are invited to learn more about She Reads (info below is from their website), and, of course, you are invited to join the She Reads book club and get connected to great fiction, authors, and readers! It's about making the most of your reading experience! Here is more info:

She Reads exists to honor Christ by connecting readers with novels that:

• inspire through excellent writing
• explore deep issues of faith
• initiate change in the reader’s life

Each quarter, the She Reads book club will offer three current titles as featured selections. Readers have vast differences in taste and for this reason diverse genres and authors will be chosen, with a total of twelve books per year.

Why should I join She Reads?

Readers who join She Reads receive a number of benefits, including:

• Connection with other readers on the She Reads blog who are passionate about great fiction and uplifting stories.
• Information via the She Reads newsletter that will keep readers up to date on their favorite authors, and books, with a few surprises thrown in for fun.
• Reviews of newly released titles written by a variety of readers, writers, and industry professionals.
• Options to create a She Reads book club or bring an existing club under the She Reads umbrella.
• Relationships developed within the intimate setting of a regular book club meeting.
• Fun planned study guides with activities and interesting facts developed specifically for the She Reads book club.
• Online Community for those who can’t participate in a monthly meeting (or don’t live near an existing club), via the She Reads blog and Facebook group.
• Pre-selected novels they can trust and appreciate – an important aspect in today’s economy where every buying decision requires a second thought.
• Access to authors they love through print interviews, meet and greets, conference calls, etc. Each selected author will participate in two conference calls with the first 100 guests (per call) who sign up. This will be a free service and a chance for readers to have their questions answered by the authors themselves!
• Free books from time to time via contests, giveaways, and publisher promotions.

Who is running this thing anyway?

She Reads is an offshoot of Proverbs 31 Ministries, helping bring God’s peace, perspective, and purpose to today’s busy woman. As an organization, Proverbs provides leadership and technical support.