Jake Justus & The Plan of Attack

Every good detective, especially an ex-Navy SEAL like Jake Justus, needs a plan of attack. It is only right and proper that I (his creator) have a plan of attack for editing and finding a publisher for my novel “A Sacrifice of Time.”

The Macro Editing Process

Before hiring or making other arrangements for a complete edit of the book, I have decided to obtain the responses of an assortment of “readers” to read the rough draft and comment back to me with their first impressions of the work. These readers are trusted friends that I hope will be honest in their assessment. This Macro edit will better enable me to identify elements that need refinement, tweaking or out-right removal, prior to a more in-depth editing takes place.

For those of you out there that I have chosen to be readers: Please offer your honest opinions and suggestions. Growing is painful - I know, but I will only grow as a writer through a truthful assessment of the work. For those of you who may be waiting for me to finish: Please be patient a while longer. I’m almost there - I think?

Are you Hiding His Light?

Recently Rachelle Gardner (literary agent with Books and Such) wrote about a controversy brewing underground for awhile now, ever since publishers started promoting books by offering a limited-time free download. Many of the Christian publishers have done these promotions, but whenever Christian novels are promoted on Amazon as free downloads, many people download them without realizing they’re Christian. They start reading and when they realize it’s “Christian” they become enraged. They feel like they were hoodwinked somehow. And then they leave 1-star, angry reviews on Amazon. Here are some Amazon comments on a recent Christian novel that was free for a limited time:

·         “When you read the review for this book, no mention is made of the Christian nature of the book. This is misleading.”

·         “I resent the absence of the Christian fiction label. ”

·         “This book is not a [genre]. It is a Christian morality tale.”

·         “Why is it that authors of Christian fiction often hide that fact in the descriptions? I am simply irritated when I buy a book based on a secular description only to find that the predominant thread throughout the book is Christian proselytizing.”

·         “It is an excuse to promote a Christian agenda. When a book is Christian Fiction it should be promoted as such.”

            These responses are leading people to ask whether Christian fiction needs to be clearly labeled as such, maybe in the “Book Description” on the Amazon page.  She (Rachelle) went on to describe this problem as a classic “Do unto others…” moment.  She sees no reason to disrespect people of other faiths (or no faith) by refusing to label Christian fiction as “Christian.” I agree, in fact, here is my full response to her question:  

              What do you think? Should Christian fiction be clearly described as such in the book description? Why or why not?

                This is an excellent question Rachelle, thank you for this post. I guess I have been operating under the assumption that Christian Fiction is a genre, that it is well known and understood, even highly sought after and popular. It is the focus of my writing efforts and how I desire to serve the Lord. In fact, I currently have several written works underway in this genre. I am not quite ready to seek representation as I have yet completed my first novel, but plan to do so shortly. When the time comes I will be clearly and (dare I say?) proudly marketing myself and my work in the Christian Fiction genre.

                I think perhaps the scenario you describe comes from either the author or publishing house desiring (understandably) to market to as large an audience as possible. Political pundits call this approach searching for the “Big Tent.” When this happens, the problems (so very well described in your posting) are possible results. These negative comments not only hurt the sale of the particular novel in question, they hurt the growth and integrity of the entire genre.

                Perhaps more that any other genre we, as Christian fiction writers, need to be very careful how we present ourselves. We are after all trying to represent Christ to a fallen world. We are called to be a bright light, shining on a hill. We should not hide (His) light beneath a basket. If we are honest about whom we serve and do not “overreach” our calling, He will honor our efforts and in the end the glory will be all His.  

Baptized By Snow

I’d come to the diner to get something to eat,

then spied the old man from my window seat

he tugged at his collar, beat snow from his chest,

squatted out of the wind, as if trying to rest

The warmth of my table soon brought with it shame.

I yearned for his story, I longed for his name

the wind cut through my coat as I crossed the street

and asked this vagabond in to get something to eat

He confirmed he was hungry and gladly came along

to the warm cozy diner filled with Christmas song

we both then returned to that window seat

and I begged him to order all he wanted to eat

From neighboring tables came looks of alarm,

as if his mere presence should cause any harm

he showed no concern for these looks behind his back

as he ordered eggs over easy, toast and coffee - black

The warm mug of coffee never left his old hands

as he told of his travels across these cold lands

there was light in his eyes and heart in his voice

when he spoke of the reason that all should rejoice

I was baptized by snow on that cold winters day

and I suddenly saw things in a different way

he left me changed in both heart and head

with the things that he shared, the words in red

‘Twas a cold winters day when he came to town

his burden so heavy, he briefly laid it down

a sack full of booklets that shared the good news

spoke a truth too narrow for some people’s views

A World Full of Misfits

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas television family favorite that first aired on Sunday December 6, 1964. This stop motion animation classic, produced by Rankin and Bass, brings focused attention to the misfit feelings in all of us. The story is narrated by the voice of Burl Ives (as Sam the snowman), singing and telling the tale of a reindeer named Rudolph, born at the North Pole with a glowing red nose. As a yearling, lack of family support and severe peer ridicule leads Rudolph to feel himself an outcast and run away from home.

        Meanwhile, a North Pole elf named Hermey tackles his own problems. Wishing to be a dentist instead of a toymaker, he consistently disappoints the Head Elf. He too feels unwanted and alone and decides to leave in pursuit of his own dreams. Out on their own, Rudolph and Hermey eventually meet up and join forces. The bond of being unique draws them together and they decide to be misfits together. Now "independent together", they set out to seek "Fame and Fortune", singing the song of the same name.

        On their journey, Rudolph and Hermey meet another unique individual, a prospector named Yukon Cornelius who is determined to find silver and gold. Adventuring with Cornelius, the two misfits eventually end up on the shore of The Island of Misfit Toys.

The island is a sanctuary where defective and unwanted toys are sent. Among the inhabitants are a misnamed, but otherwise normal Jack-in-the-box named Charlie-in-the-box, A spotted elephant, a toy bird that swims instead of flies, a cowboy that rides an ostrich, a train with square wheels on it’s caboose, a boat that sinks, a plane that cannot fly, a squirt gun that shoots jelly and a dolly for Sue with no apparent defect.

        Most interesting however is King Moonracer, a winged lion, who acts as the island’s ruler and lives in the large castle atop a hill on the island. As sovereign ruler he enforces the rules, deciding who is permitted to stay on the island. However, he has no apparent ability to meet the deepest need of the island inhabitants, their need for unconditional love.

        After leaving in the middle of the night, to spare his new friends from imminent danger and then subsequently coming to their rescue, Rudolph is welcomed back home at the North Pole, just in time to also heroically save Christmas by becoming Santa’s headlights and cutting through the worst of storms. The first stop for Santa on that foggy Christmas Eve became the Island of Misfit Toys to meet the needs of the toys there by providing them to loving boys and girls around the world.

        This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. Perhaps it is because the deep felt needs of misfits around the world really can be and are met by the unconditional love that God so graciously gives. He truly is the only light that can burn through the fog that still blinds some men to the truth.

I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me

 will not remain in darkness. John 12:46

Something is Wrong

At times my legs feel funny and I struggle to decide which one should support me, as I stand shifting my weight from side to side. Something is wrong.

At other times I question the temperature. “Is it hot in here?” I may say, as sweat crowds my brow, weeps down my sideburns and spills onto my shirt. Something is wrong.

Whether slow or fast in its advance, eventually I feel its weight; it pulls me down and drains my strength and wisdom all too quickly. Something is wrong

Time is slow now. I discover I have downshifted from a participant to observer. I can’t report my findings very well – Energy is spent, even moving is difficult. Something is wrong

In many ways I’m not with you. I am standing beside you – Two steps back. The seat of my chair – Below you on the floor. You are a movie I’m watching, silently from my seat. Your caring words, lines in the script – Heard by me without reaction. Something is wrong.

You narrow your eyes at me, focused now on my struggle. Some might ask if I’ve been drinking, but you know me. You know that something is wrong.

You know me, so you know something. You know what is wrong.

You save me because you know me and know that something is wrong.

Job and The Job

Not too long ago, because of the struggling economy, the company I work for had to make some adjustments. In order keep the ship afloat a variety of changes were made. Reductions in pay, work hours and vacation time were instituted to lessen the payroll load. Proposal efforts, vitally important to gain new work and grow the company back to health were also targeted in these sweeping changes. We were told that hours we spent on these efforts would be held in a special reserve account to hopefully be compensated for later.

        The company was also taking advantage of the State of California Work Share program at the same time however. Hours unpaid by the company were being compensated (at a reduced rate of course) by the State Employment Development Department (EDD). To provide incentives for employees to spend time pursuing proposal work while still enabling them to participate in the state EDD program, it was suggested by management that we turn in two (2) timecards. One that the company would use to generate our weekly paycheck and one to “hold in reserve”, for possible payment in the future, should things turn around.

        I immediately felt my integrity challenged. How could I turn in a form to the state claiming one amount of compensation, when a second timecard existed with at least the potential for more, one they would never know about? I wanted to continue to assist in writing and pursuing work for the company, but knew I could not submit two timecards. I questioned the legality of the policy and was told that the only way the state would ever know about the practice would be if I blew the whistle.

        I’ve been told that I was the only one in the company who decided to only submit one timecard, one true and accurate timecard. Several weeks maybe a month or two went by when it came to light that many of the “secondary or reserve time” timecards submitted displayed some questionable hourly entries. Proposal times were apparently being exaggerated, perhaps believing time itself would hide the real efforts expended in this “shady” practice. In the end the whole “second timecard” idea was scrapped and in my refusal to participate I felt vindicated.

        As the struggle in the economy continues, so too do Satan’s attempts to derail the progress and efforts of believers. He has but one mission, one focus – our ruin. Our focus and time is too often split between competing influences. When I read the words in red, the words of Christ, I read a focused message spoken to a broken and lost world in need of grace and love. When we look at each other what do we see? Are we too – at least acting like – the lost world around us? Should we see things differently than we do?

        Every year I read through the Bible. Reading The Daily Bible compiled in chronological order into 365 daily readings by F. LaGard Smith has been a daily ritual to my morning quiet times for some time now. The presentation of the complete Bible as one story is attractive to the writer inside of me and having it presented in small bites allows me to consistently remain in the word of God.

        The chronological format of the presentation forced Smith to make some hard choices however. The book of Job is a good example. Job is fittingly presented in Smith’s compilation just after the great deportations, at a time of Israel's greatest suffering. Job is understood to be an early patriarch, not a child of Israel. He was just a lone human being who finds himself in terrible suffering for no apparent reason.  Reading the Book of Job is difficult even when our burdens are light. There is great distress and anguish throughout the narrative. How can anyone remain unmoved by an author cursing the day of his own birth for instance?

        Scholars argue that the book is a vindication of the justice and goodness of God. Although these divine characteristics are seen in the story, its purpose may more directly speak to integrity. Job is blameless and upright at the beginning and, although discouraged, nothing is able to move him. He proclaimed, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (13:15). Satan was allowed to test Job and was unsuccessful.

        As the reader, we know this but isn’t it interesting that Job didn't. So the issue of the integrity of Job demonstrates the greater truth of the integrity of God Himself. As trials came (and still come) to God's children through the ages, Satan's claims would be (and will be) broken, case by case, as they prayed (and we pray) for the power to overcome through the merits of the slain lamb. Let’s live lives of integrity for Him.

Aspiring Writer's Forum - Welcome to Y3

Last Wednesday initiated the third year of the Aspiring Writer’s Forum at Chino Valley Community Church. Our first meeting was well attended, but a number of familiar faces were missing. Some I understand are struggling with the time demands of life to find room in their schedules for the AWF. Prioritizing and finding a God honoring balance can be difficult (see previous posting on this issue). There were a few members that I know are continuing and just could not attend the first night (you were missed Carl and Keala).

As this new year of AWF begins, I just wanted to unofficially (as I am not one of the group leaders) welcome everyone, new and continuing (not old), to our little group. I hope that the insightful perspectives that we always seem to find in each others writing continues this year, as we stretch ourselves to honor God through the written word.

Let me tell you a secret:

When I first joined – one year ago – I hated the idea of journaling at the beginning of each class. First of all, when I write it is usually in my favorite office chair at home on the computer (in the shelter of my cave) not sitting around a table writing by hand (as an engineer I write in block letters, not cursive, so my penmanship is very slow). Secondly, I do NOT journal. I had never enjoyed or found any use for it. I guess I always considered that once I had spent the time, in my head, mulling over an issue, there was little use getting it all down on paper. It was time to move on to the next issue or urgent task. Also, my writing project of over 14 months (at that time) was a crime novel. How could journaling about last week’s sermon help me with that?

Boy was I wrong! Our journaling time each week accomplishes a number of great things:

• When it’s focused back on last weeks sermon (which it isn’t always), it allows us to reengage a fresh lesson from God’s Word.
• As we write and then (maybe most importantly) share, we learn about how God himself is speaking to and through our fellow AWF members. This gives us a bigger picture of how God is moving in and through the body of believers here at CVCC and perhaps the world as well.
• Finally, it's important as writers to flex and stretch our writing muscles, even out of our comfort zone, right there on the spot.

So, if you are feeling like I did when I started, take heart and watch what God will show you through this class. If not, then you are way ahead of me! In any case, welcome to the AWF.