Life changing fiction One other characteristic of life changing fiction is that it is worthy of being read over and over. I first had C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series read to me when I was seven or eight years old. I enjoyed the stories but I doubt I knew that I would read the series every year from the time I was about thirteen. I little realised how the words and ideas would influence my thinking. Of all of the…
Life changing Christian fiction – what does it mean? In the eighteen months prior to publishing Grace in Strange Disguise, I have immersed myself in the world of Christian fiction. There are millions of words out there. The more I’ve read, the more I’ve hungered for stories that are worth reading. I’ve read many that are well written but they don’t move me to tears. They don’t make me hunger and thirst for following Jesus. They don’t make me want…
2017 has been the year I’ve gotten into ebook reading in a big way. This was mainly because I wanted to read Christian fiction to understand the market I was entering. Among the dross (sadly there was quite a bit of it), I’ve found authors to follow. I’ll include books in this list that weren’t ‘my thing’ but were well written and might be yours. 1. The Long Highway Home – Elizabeth Musser. One of my few 5 star reviews…
Interviews, interviews, As both a traditionally and self-published author, I have experienced a range of author interviews throughout my hybrid writing career. Technology is also changing rapidly and that may be one of the factors in how things have changed. My first publisher (traditional) didn’t arrange a single interview. Perhaps that was normal for 2010 and the UK. The US publisher worked hard and even though I wasn’t in the US, they found me two radio interviews there and one…
Announcing new book – Stories aren’t just for kids: Busting 10 myths about Bible storytelling I have been training people in Bible storytelling since about 2008. During trainings the same objections to using storytelling keep coming up. Stories aren’t just for kids: Busting 10 myths about Bible storytelling was written to tackle the most common objections. This book is different to my other books as it is written as a ‘taster’ to my non-fiction. It is also only currently in ebook…
Author Interview The reality of indie publishing is that instead of the publisher finding people to interview me online, radio … I have to find those myself. Over the next months, I will have various author interviews. Christian Shelfesteem interview The first interview/giveaway is being run up 30 Sept -8 October. Of course, the interview will be available much longer. The interviewer was one of my editors – Iola Goulton. I highly recommend her work. Author Interview | Christine Dillon…
Grace in Strange Disguise – published 1 October, 2017 Available online in ebook, print and AUDIO format. The story behind Grace in Strange Disguise Here Back cover blurb People disappoint us but what if God does too? Physiotherapist Esther Macdonald is living the Australian dream, and it doesn’t surprise her. After all, her father has always said, “Follow Jesus and be blessed.” But at twenty-eight, her world shatters. Everyone assures her God will come through for her, but what happens…
Life changing books – 5 star book reviews I seldom award 5 stars for a novel. But in the world of contemporary Christian fiction, Elizabeth Musser’s book, A Long Highway Home, stands out. For Christian fiction to be awarded 5 stars it must have excellent writing, cover, editing and story, AND if it has ‘eternal impact’ content. By this I mean, does the book matter in eternal terms? Does it challenge and inspire me to follow Jesus? ‘Eternal impact’ books…
Grace in Strange Disguise – Back Cover Blurb Physiotherapist Esther Macdonald is living the Australian dream, and it doesn’t surprise her. After all, her father has always said, “Follow Jesus and be blessed.” But at twenty-eight, her world shatters. Everyone assures her God will come through for her, but what happens when he doesn’t? Has she offended God? Is her faith too small? So many conflicting explanations. Will finding the truth cost her the people closest to her heart? Grace…
Iola Goulton is an editor and upcoming novelist who lives in and loves New Zealand. I got to know her through the Australasian Christian Writers group on Facebook and was so impressed by her posts that I asked if she’d edit my novel. 1. You didn’t start out in the book world. What was your journey into editing? In a word, circuitous. Some might say it was a series of coincidences, but I don’t believe in coincidence. I lost my…