Reviews You Can Use by Julie Arduini

Aside from buying books,the best thing readers can do for an author is take the time to write a positive review after finishing. It’s an important part of the industry, but hard for authors to market as it sounds self-serving.

I’ll admit, I don’t know if it’s true for product reviews, but I sense it would be the same. Afterall, a great buzz generates more interest. I remember a couple decades or so ago I remember my mom coming home with a Thighmaster simply because she heard all the comments and was curious enough to purchase it. Word-of-mouth works, and in our cyber society, reviews are an important tool.

Did you know reviews could brighten your day as a reader? I didn’t. I was having trouble settling my mind one night and decided to stroll read  stalk through Facebook. One of my friends offered a link and encouraged everyone to read, saying the reviews were funny, hysterical, and a mood lifter.

What was it for?
The Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer.

I’m not kidding.

There are over 3,000 reviews for this banana slicer, giving smiles to readers.

As I type, there are over 3,000 reviews. Yep, for a banana slicer.

I’m not going to spoil the fun. You have to go there yourself.

Do you need a banana slicer? Maybe. Maybe not.

But on this winter’s day, I think we all could use a smile.

When finished, do something uplifting for an author and write a positive review for a book you enjoyed.

Let’s making smiling contagious!

Amazon image

Is Reading Dangerous to Your Health? by Elizabeth Goddard

I have enough writing deadlines these days (which is a good thing) that my health might be suffering.  Okay, there’s really no question. And that’s a bad thing. You see, I don’t have time to do much more than write, which means I’m sitting.

A lot.

TrekDesk Treadmill/ Amazon.com

I need to exercise. This isn’t about making excuses either. I used to run every day until about two years ago when I started writing on double deadlines.  But you don’t have to be a writer to have this problem.

If you’re crazy about reading this could be you too. Maybe you’re not a couch potato, technically speaking. But do you spend hours reading every day? Still, I don’t think we’re going to see the Surgeon General Warning on books, at least anytime soon.

Thinking about this reminded me that years ago before I was a published and had writing deadlines to meet, I spent the time reading, and a good part of that time I spent riding a recumbent bike while I read.

I’m not sure what happened to that bike. Did it end up in a garage sale? Or sent to the Goodwill?

I’d love to have it back.

Fortunately, I’m not the only one with this all-consuming work schedule so there are many exercise machine solutions out there. I might even think about asking for one of these contraptions for Christmas. Think about it—you can read and write while you exercise on a TrekDesk Treadmill or any number of other offerings.

Sounding like a commercial isn’t my intention.  I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve tried the various exercise machines that allow you to read or use your laptop while you exercise. What do you like or dislike? I really want to know.

This could be the answer to my exercise problem.

___________________

Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of over a dozen romance novels. Treacherous Skies is her newest romantic suspense.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let’s make a few lists.

A. I wrote several pages listing everything that I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. I started with breathing. That’s right. We should be thankful for each and every breath. If you start there when creating your list, you realize the list can go on and on. The list is infinite.

You better understand the scripture:

1. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.1 Chronicles 16:34

Or . . .

2. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

God’s love is infinite. It never ceases, therefore our thanksgiving and praise should never cease.

The list of thanksgiving scriptures goes on.

B. Then I also wrote a list of things needing prayer, and things overshadowing my Thanksgiving. Two things that loom darker than the rest are:

1. Israel

2. Black Friday

The two hardly seem to go together, but there it is. There’s nothing more I can do for Israel except pray and prayer is most powerful. (And yes, our  nation needs major prayer too.)

On Black Friday, I have a question for you. I have never been one to brave the chaos on Black Friday, which has now morphed to include Thursdays, too. If you’re one of those brave souls, I assume you’re in it to save hundreds of dollars, otherwise what’s the point?

I’ll share with you that my dear grandmother beat the crowds to the Dollar Store one Black Friday. That’s right—the Dollar Store. Ahem. . .there wasn’t exactly a crowd there either. But picture that in your mind, and I hope it makes you smile.

Back to the topic. Are books ever on your list of items to grab during the chaos? No? Do you ever enter blog contests to win a free copy of an autographed book? They make great Christmas gifts to the book lovers among your friends and family. If you’re not interested in taking the time to comment on blogs for free books, perhaps consider shopping at your local Christian bookstore. If we want to remain thankful for the ability to shop at these stores, we need to support them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Be Blessed!

Elizabeth Goddard

Lifetime Readers

Maureen mentioned her non-fiction reader friends react somewhat negatively when she brings up a book she just read. Jim mentioned that he’s facing an empty-nest, but the good news is his wife is starting to read novels.

So where do lifetime readers come from?

In one of my previous posts, I talked about receiving a big box of books for my home schooling efforts.  I remember reading somewhere  that home schoolers are driven to produce readers. I know that’s true for me. Unfortunately, I’m in competition with the video gaming world, but the good news is—I think it’s working!

Life has interrupted a few times, and I had to put off reading to them. I wasn’t even sure they enjoyed our reading time, or if they were listening. But apparently all three of them have listened.  My middle son has been spouting off silly metaphors he learned from one of the books.

Imagine my pleasure when my oldest asked when we were going to read again—he really missed that particular story. I was ecstatic, too, that the kids groaned when I finished the chapter because they were anxious to hear what happened next.

Don’t get me wrong, they read a lot on their own, which I anticipate will also produce the desired results—lifetime readers.

If you’re an avid reader, never give up on your efforts to enlighten the non-readers around you.

 

Blessings!

Beth

 

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of Treacherous Skies, releasing November 27th.

 

 

 

Banned Book Week: Have You Read These Challenged and/or Banned Classics? By Julie Arduini

This week is Banned Book Week. I thought I would share, courtesy of the American Library Association, the classic books that have most often been challenged for removal or outright banned.

Have you read any of these?

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Ulysses, by James Joyce

Beloved, by Toni Morrison

The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

1984, by George Orwell

Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner

A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston

Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison

Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison

Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

Native Son, by Richard Wright

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey

Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut

For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway

The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Go Tell It on the Mountain, by James Baldwin

All the King’s Men, by Robert Penn Warren

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair

Lady Chatterley’s Lover, by D.H. Lawrence

A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie

Sophie’s Choice, by William Styron

Sons and Lovers, by D.H. Lawrence

Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles

Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh

Women in Love, by DH Lawrence

The Naked and the Dead, by Norman Mailer

Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller

An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser

Rabbit, Run, by John Updike

What’s your opinion on banning books? We live in a free country but most of these challenges come from wanting to protect students from objectionable themes. Are there any titles above that you would refuse to have in your home? Any contemporary novels you would like to see banned?

I look forward to dialoguing with you on this.

A “Perfect” Book

I’m going to piggyback my post with Beth’s from yesterday. The ACFW awards gala was amazing. It was a special evening to recognize winners in published and  published fiction. The air felt weighty with anticipation: whose work will win the top awards?

This year one book in particular that won the Carol Award for women’s fiction, Dandelion Summer, by Lisa Wingate. What distinguished it this year is that it’s the first book that received a perfect score from all five judges. Perfection.

When they closed the book, I’m wondering what went through their minds. Were they tired, or exhilarated? Did they wipe the tears away? Did certain turns of phrase resonate in their minds, even when they laid the book aside and went about their business?

I had the opportunity to interview Lisa on my online radio show, The Flashlight Reader, on Tuesday evening. She was stunned, thrilled to win, but also equally pleased that her book touched readers.

When I asked her about how she developed the characters for the book, she told me that the elderly male character in the book was based on a very-real character who was involved in the Howard Hughes space program. He’d become a fan of Lisa’s books and one day, while she was away researching, he told her his own story. One of the things he told her was he’d never told his story because he didn’t think it mattered to anyone.

Of course it did. Of course ours do.

His story went on to become the genetics of Lisa’s character. To think if she’d never heard his story or took the time to listen.

We all have stories, maybe none of them perfect. But our own stories can resonate with someone.

What’s the best true–or fictional–story you’ve read lately? Anything “perfect?”

———————–

Lynette Sowell writes fiction for the inspirational market, from contemporary romance to mysteries. She’s always looking for the perfect recipe for a story–or a great dish–and is always up for a Texas road trip. You can listen in to the Flashlight Reader on Monday nights here.

Novel Recommendations by Elizabeth Goddard

I can’t believe I’m the first one to post on this!  I returned from the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference on Sunday with an armload of books to read. Usually, I don’t bring too many books back because it’s tough getting them into the luggage for my flight home. But this time I drove to the conference so I could take as many books as I wanted.  One of the fun things about the conference is there are a lot of free books.

Thomas Nelson gave out copies of The River by Michael Neale, and Zondervan shared copies of Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman, for starters.  I came home with many more books that I’m eager to start on but I also purchased a few from the Carol Award Winner’s list, including a book the earned a perfect score in the contest–Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate. I also plan to read the finalists, too.

While my TBR (to be read) pile is growing, I’m working hard on getting the books read and loving every minute of it. In case you haven’t seen the list, I’m sharing the 2012 Carol Award Winners here.

Be blessed with some of the best that Christian fiction has to offer.

2012 Carol Award Winners

Debut Novel
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Contemporary
The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell)

Long Contemporary Romance
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)

Long Historical
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Historical Romance
To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)

Mystery
Falling to Pieces: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery by Vannetta Chapman (Zondervan)

Novella
An Accidental Christmas from A Biltmore Christmas by Diane T. Ashley/Aaron McCarver (Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense
Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)

Short Contemporary
Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan (Love Inspired)

Short Contemporary Suspense
Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical
The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)

Speculative Fiction
Broken Sight by Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller
Fallen Angel by Major Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky (B & H Fiction)

Women’s Fiction
Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate (Penguin Praise/Berkley)

Young Adult
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

How Do You Choose a Book? by Elizabeth Goddard

When you visit your local bookstore and browse the books, what are you looking for? What catches your attention—the author’s name, the cover art, or the back of the book blurb that tells you what the story is about.

Then if everything is right—the cover and the blurb intrigue you—do you open the book and read the first few pages to see if you’re hooked?

What about when you browse the books online at Amazon or Barnes and Nobles? Is the cover still important? Do you read the back cover copy and look at the reviews too?

Something new that I’ve been doing is downloading a free sample of the book. Then if I’m hooked by the time the free reading is over, I’ll most definitely buy.

The pressure is even greater now for authors to hook readers within the first few pages.  But there have been many books I’ve greatly enjoyed because I’ve pushed through the slow opening to be rewarded with a spectacular ending.

I’ve asked so many questions in this post because in this changing publishing world I have no answers. I’m curious about the changes in the way we decide what book we will buy.

Thoughts?

What Are You Passionate About? by Elizabeth Goddard

A picture is worth a thousand words. The old adage means that a picture will tell us so much more than we can easily put into words. What is the above image worth?  A thousand words, more or less?

One of my first thoughts when I saw these pictures was  about passion. People busy themselves with what they’re passionate about. They go out of their way.

My niece participated in the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas  last week as part of the crew, which meant the family got up in the wee hours of the morning to get there. Depending on responsibilities in the event, someone on the balloon crew might have to get up at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning.

Now that’s passion. But the pictures tell us that the balloonists’ efforts are well worth it.

Writers have to be passionate about what they do because the process is painful, requiring time and sacrifice. Without that burning fire that drives an author, readers wouldn’t have books.

Book lovers are passionate about their books. About reading. We’re committed to reading, even if it means we only get a few minutes a day to read.  But mostly, we love it when we can read a book through to the end. Maybe we read through the night, finishing a novel in the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes, we even re-read the ending to experience the euphoria again.

Or is that just me?

Elizabeth Goddard is the author of OREGON OUTBACK  available  wherever books are sold.

Social Media and Writing: What? Why? By Julie Arduini

One aspect of therapy on my wrist that I didn’t anticipate was talking about my writing life. The therapist admitted she crafted a story and wanted to have it published, but didn’t want “everything else that comes with it.”

That everything else was social media. She admitted she was on Twitter but had no plans to ever send a Tweet. Facebook? No. Pinterest? Instagram? She didn’t even know what they were. Her hope was that a publisher would see her story, publish it, market it, and everyone lived happily ever after.

I think that is every writer’s dream, but reality is a different story.

The economy hit publishing outlets as hard as anyone else. When budgets are strapped, marketing departments get the squeeze. It is now more of the author’s burden to market their work than ever before. Social media is an easy and cost-effective way to get the job done.

What’s out there these days?

Facebook–Yes, it keeps changing, and it can be a time consumer. For me, it’s been a great way to promote my writing and gain an audience before my publishing goal comes to pass. I have a writing page where once a day I tend to ask a question with some aspect of surrender to it that will engage conversation. When someone new becomes my personal Facebook friend, I thank them and invite them to like my writing page. I have my blog auto-feed to both pages. If that was all I did, and yes, I tend to spend too much time on FB, I could be done in 10 minutes or less.

Twitter–This is similar to FB’s status updates, except you are limited to 140 characters per update, AKA a tweet. It’s important to be personal on Twitter, not always sharing links to your Amazon page, etc…It takes discernment, but it is possible to build a following that truly cares about your work and will interact with you. I use Tweetdeck, a grid of sorts with different categories I created to keep track of my followers. Forwarding or Re-Tweeting (RT) is a great way to be friendly and not spend a lot of time. Those few seconds it takes will pay itself back when you do have news that needs to be spread.

Google+–I think this is another fast, easy way to share your work. Each day I share a link to my blog. I scan and give a + to other posts by friends I like. It isn’t a time waster. It isn’t very social in my opinion, but for marketing, a breeze.

Pinterest–Think of a virtual bulletin board where you decide what goes on your boards. That’s Pinterest. This should be an author’s dream because you can have a board where you pin your book covers, website, Amazon page, etc…Pinterest gives the flexibility to create as many boards as you want with as many “pins.” A pin is anything on the Internet (except FB) that you canput on your board after adding a bookmarklet. Anyone visiting your board can click on the pin and it will take them directly to the website where the pin originated. My boards are close to my brand–things that are good, bad, chocolate, or about surrender.

Instagram–This is fairly new to me and if I understand correctly, a product of smartphone apps. Again, created out of FB’s creativity, you take pictures and add them with a caption instead of writing a status update. This doesn’t seem to be straight marketing, at least not what I’ve seen. I added pictures from books where my work is featured, but most pictures I’ve seen are of nature, random moments, and loved ones. It’s a great way for potential readers to get a glimpse of you without constantly telling them where to find your writing. It’s another audience to find, and again, the time commitment is minimal. Like Pinterest, I suggest using FB as a means to find followers, etc…Saves time, and you know who potential followers are if they are current FB friends. Find me as JulieArduini.

LinkedIn–It’s a resume, as far as basic definitions go. I think in other fields LinkedIn is a must, and I’m on it, but I don’t use it for marketing beyond making sure my blog and Twitter accounts auto-feed.

And that’s the best advice I can give: Make sure you auto-feed your blog to your social media accounts. It’s an easy way to gain an audience and be that marketing department your book needs.

Book Hoarders ‘R’ Us by Elizabeth Goddard

This month I moved from Texas to Louisiana.

Without my bookshelves.

They were built-in shelves, so couldn’t be moved. That was a bad decision from the start.

I have a lot of books. You’re probably a book lover, too, or you wouldn’t be reading this right now. So you understand what I’m saying, right? You can picture the utter chaos. Feel the overwhelming anxiety right along with me.

Moving has a way of opening a person’s eyes to the fact that they’re a hoarder.  I’m facing the music, er, books right now.

I have boxes and boxes of books with no place to go. I’ve donated some to the church library. Of course, I could buy some more shelves. But I’m taking my time and looking for new ways to shelve my books.  Browsing the web, I’ve discovered a lot of creative ideas.

Maybe I could just stack them against the wall or use crates. Or hang them in a specially designed macrame “shelf.” I’m open to suggestions.

Staircase bookshelves (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saeba/3161343181/)

Picture frame bookshelves (Avant-garde baroque style metal bookshelves
Graham and Green)

Glass enclosed bookshelves

Guitar bookshelves

Making a Connection by Elizabeth Goddard

Does point of view or narrative form play a role in your decision to purchase a novel? For instance, some people prefer reading novels that are written in first person over third person. For a while, I was stuck in third person—if I picked up a novel in first person, I would put it down. But I’ve learned to enjoy any narrative form.

Then there are people who prefer stories that are written in only one point of view. Others prefer more than one or two points of view. I enjoy reading stories that have multiple character views and the author reveals the story through their eyes. I love how an author will end a scene with a cliffhanger that’s  in one character’s view, and then I’m left to read through another character’s scene and resulting dilemma before I find out what happened in the last scene. These sorts of twists and turns will keep me on the edge of my seat. Add to that, I’m left to consider how these characters will meet or how their stories will fit together further along in the book.

If the author is skilled, I end up caring about all the characters. I feel connected to them.

I once met someone who would skip over a point of view switch so she could stick with the same character throughout the novel. Imagine!

I’m not sure how she could keep up with the story, considering how much is revealed through multiple characters. But she was an avid reader, so somehow she made this method of reading work for her. I’ve often pondered why she would read this way.  Had she grown comfortable with the character and become unwilling to let go? Perhaps it went much deeper—she connected with the character.

Photographer Michael Adams makes a good point in his article* when he says: “People will pay for connection; it’s what’s missing in their lives.” Though his article is about photography, it applies to everything because he’s right—connection is what’s missing in our lives, which is strange considering how much more we’re connected in this digital age.

Maybe when we read, we’re searching for that missing connection in the characters of novels.

At the end of the day, or ahem, the end of the novel, it’s all about connection and how deeply you connected with the characters. That’s the novel that will stay with you.

What was the last book you read that you felt connected with the characters in a personal way?

* http://digital-photography-school.com/3-things-i-learned-from-a-rock-star-about-the-business-of-portrait-photography#ixzz1zffkUbxC

All About Words and Weddings and Dreams by Elizabeth Goddard

Old photo of me in my wedding dress. Anthony B. Smith Photography

Recently, I went window shopping for a wedding dress with my daughter.  We didn’t go to buy a dress, but simply to browse the gowns and get a feel for what styles she liked.  If you’ve ever been in a wedding dress shop, you know that you can get lost in the dresses. They are so full and  thick and  all “gently” mashed together on racks that there isn’t a path through the store. A jungle comes to mind in which you have to chop your way through with a machete.

But of course we weren’t going to chop our way through the gorgeous dresses with lace and beads in every shade of white. Who knew white had so many shades, right? Then we were sent away with a bag of goodies that included wedding dress magazines and directed to the website with more wedding dresses to choose from that we could order.  If we order a dress, we have to wait four months.  A person could get overwhelmed with the choices.

Seeing the creativity and thought put into every imaginable skirt and design inspired me to the core, and reminded me that designing wedding dresses, or owning a wedding dress store, or becoming a wedding planner had been on my list of things I might want to be when I grew up. Anything at all related to weddings. Just one look at the bride-to-be on the dais trying on her gown brought tears to my eyes. At one point during my life I took cake decorating classes so I could make wedding cakes. See what I mean?

But that was just one of the many things I dreamed of becoming.  Here are a few others: marine biologist, astronaut, cellist in the orchestra, travel writer, work for the CIA or FBI, computer programmer. Some of these aren’t necessarily dreams as much as the reality of getting a paying job that I would enjoy. That’s not the complete list, but it’s a good start on my dreams and plans. Maybe I’m a little too eclectic in my thinking. My interests are both creative and technical. I love both science and art.

One of my dreams revolved around my love affair with reading. I wanted to do anything at all that involved the publishing industry. At one time I listed my business to type manuscripts in the back of Writer’s Digest Magazine. Back then, you could find pages listed with people in different states that would do that for you, and I was one of them.  Times have certainly changed, considering that most writers I know type their own manuscripts into their computer.  I wanted to do anything at all that would get me involved in the writing process because I loved words so much. I called that business,  All About Words.  Kind of sounds boring, but the title sums it up.

I never dreamed that I would actually be writing novels myself one day, though I wanted to be a writer. Plus, my novels can be about characters that do all the other things I wanted to do in life but never had the chance. I’d love to hear your list of things you dreamed of doing when you were growing up, and maybe even still dream about doing one day!

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels, and she’s counting down the days until Oregon Outback releases on July 1^st.

Ever Have to Break Up?

My love for reading is so deep I would get in trouble in school for reading ahead.  Books were loyal friends that kept me guessing. I was able to travel around the world without leaving my room. The characters weren’t part of a story, they were my constant companions.

It’s been a couple decades since I’ve been a student, but my passion for reading is stronger than ever. My reading style tends to be by author. I choose an author and work on getting my hands on all their work. If I enjoy it, I keep an eye out for their new releases.

A few years back I learned about a character-driven author who had stand alone titles, and a series in the works with a favorite non fiction author.  Once I devoured that series, the author continued the saga on her own. Multiple books followed sharing the fictional lives of a mid west family. Even as my life transitioned through marriage, motherhood, and a move, once I knew a new book was coming out, I hit pause on my own life. I became consumed with thoughts surrounding this fictional family–what trial would overwhelm them? Would their be a marriage? A divorce? A health crisis?

Once the overall series surrounding the original family wrapped up, I realized I was so intertwined in the author and especially this family, I needed a step back, a breather. I felt bad because the author crafted such a great story it was almost a downfall. Turns out several friends admitted they stopped following the author because the same series that consumed me, took over their thought lives. The lines between fiction and non became blurred, and my friends decided when the author transitioned the series, they were going to make the break.

Guess what? The author has a new release, a stand alone that re visits the series I fell so hard for I had to walk away. Because it’s just one book, I’m flirting with returning to the family I loved so much I temporarily ditched my own.

How about you? Have you ever had to break up with an author or a series of books because you became too involved? Is there such a thing as an author being too good? Would you ever go back after a break up?

Writer and Speaker

Surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate

photobucket image

How Books Change Us by Elizabeth Goddard

Someone once told me that when you read a book you should walk away changed in some way. As a reader, I should expect the book to change me, and as an author, I should write a story that will impact my readers.  As a Christian writer,  I can do my best to develop a theme but most of the time that theme grows as the characters come alive during the writing process. Ultimately,  God is the One who directs much about the story that will change someone. By change I mean creating a positive influence on the way a person thinks or feels about various aspects of life. That could be spiritual or otherwise.

This month the Christians Read team is holding a contest over at The Book Club Network and featuring a huge giveaway. We’re having a great discussion with readers if you’d like to join. Reading through the discussions made me think about the way books can change us. Lots of folks have shared how Christians novels, specifically, have moved them in a variety of ways.

I thought it would be fun to share here which books left me thinking for days, even weeks, after I finished the book. This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, because I’d love to believe that every book I’ve read left me a different person in some way. After all, I’ve spent hours in the story world and have potentially experienced new situations through the eyes of the characters–situations I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

It goes without saying that the Bible is the not only the most popular book of all time, but has also had the most impact. For this post I’m referring to novels. These are a few that have impacted me the most. I’m sure many of you will recognize these stories and agree.

1)Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers:  This novel affected me in a profound way by opening my eyes to how much God loves us. Of course, my new understanding isn’t anything I can put into so many words, but it’s there. I’m a different person for having read it.

2)Mark of the Lion series by Francine River: It’s easy to understand why she’s a big author, isn’t it? In this series, I learned so much about the Roman Empire and saw so many things within our own society that reflect that of Rome during this period. Scary.  More importantly, I felt like I had witnessed first-hand how a true Christian should react in all situations. Hadassah serves as an example to me to this day.

3)Arena by Karen Hancock: This novel was an allegory of our Christian walk and revealed so many truths that I hadn’t put much thought into before reading this. I thought about the story, felt something move in me emotionally and spiritually,  for several weeks after reading it.

4) Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead: The incredible journey of a Celtic priest and how he lost his faith in God after too many hardships and found it again. I can’t say enough about how often I was brought to tears, especially at the profoundly written conclusion.

Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, but maybe this will get you started. Care to share which books have impacted you and why?