Welcome Edgy Christian Ficton Lovers Blog Tour

Hello, we were expecting you. Some things may have changed since you last visited. I've spruced up a bit. Don't look in that closet. I hung a new sign for my new novel. Like it?
Let's get to what you came here for.

Urban, Not Necessarily the Opposite of Rural

Poor Mr. Webster, how demoralizing it must be to put out an annual reference that is basically outdated before it’s typeset. Once again, I have to call him on one of his definitions: Urban. Of, or pertaining to a city was one of his listings. Is that the kind of Christian Fiction that I write? New genres are created everyday. Citified Christian Fiction, although I like the premise and overall ring of the title; it is not necessarily what I write.
What are categories anyway, but catch-alls, and that’s the catch 22. I write Urban Christian Fiction. I write for Urban Christian (literally, that is the name of the publishing company I write for). Urban, loosely, subjectively and connotatively means of or pertaining to African Americans. It’s that simple or complicated. Like I said before, it’s a catch all category.
Believing that African Americans even in a niche market like Christian Fiction write all the same is like believing all African Americans are citified. WHat about the Southern Belles and gents. I just came back from The Faith and Fiction retreat (www.faithandfictionretreat.com) in Atlanta created by fellow Christian Fiction author, Tiffani L. Warren (What a Sista Should Do, Father than I Meant to go, Longer than I Meant to Stay and In the Midst of it All) where I learned that our audience as well as why we write is as varied as our skin tones. Some write primarily to edify the body of Christ, and others dubbed as pioneers of contemporary Christian Fiction like author, Victoria Christopher Murray ( Joy, Temptation, Sins of the Mother) feel compelled to write for those who may never grace a church pew.
Me? I feel a certain weight to write to try to demystify the black church. I am a certified church girl that was tired of movie portrayals of church with their attempts to paint a caricature or rely on stereotypes of “church folk” who liken sitting in Sunday service to serving fifteen years to life in a maximum security prison. I really hated those classic redemption scenes where the prodigal son or daughter literally crashes a Sunday service, joining in with the choir and dramatically giving their heart to the Lord. Sorry Steven Spilberg and his adaptation of Color Purple, but Alice Walker ‘s book shows what happens with Shug Avery between the time she’s singing Sista in the juke joint and when she comes down the aisle singing, Speak Lord in her daddy’s church. I try to illustrate Christians exercising their faith. I love to write about burgeoning love and a burgeoning relationship in Christ. Either may or may not take place in a church.
African American Christian writers are bound only by their conscious and publisher’s guidelines. We are CPA, self and mainstream published. We write multi layered novels, often tackling taboo topics with the overall theme of God’s love, forgiveness and redemptive power. Our diversity gives us our edginess.
Here’s the catch 22. (I’ll ask you to hold my base steady while I ascend my soapbox.)You will not see Urban Christian Fiction authors in the Christian Fiction section of the local bookstores. I dare you to look for me or any of my titles. Lord forbid if we are placed in two sections. Where are we then? As if we are children of a lesser God, we are clumped into the two to four shelves set aside for African-American interest. We are in with Urban romance, Urban classics, Urban contemporary, Urban Erotica and Urban Urban or what is known as Urban Street Lit genre.
Don’t get me wrong, I know my audience is primarily ‘urban,’. I know some authors prefer to be the only race categorized by ethnicity. I am sure there are Caucasian Christian authors who would prefer to be shelved in fiction instead of Christian. Like a true evangelist, I wonder who might be missing my message because they failed to realize or fail to wonder into African American interest section because they are not African American.
If you fall into the later category may I suggest some authors for you. Kendra Norman Bellamy, Norma Jarrett, Rhonda Mc Knight, Sharon Oliver, Sheila Lipsey, Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Dwan Abrams, Michelle Larks, E.N. Joy, Michelle Andrea Bowen, Cecelia Dowdy, Angela Benson, Shana Burton, Tia McCollors, Nicole Rouse, Kimberly Cash Tate, TN Williams, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Victoria Christopher Murray, Nikita Lynette Nichols, Vanessa Miller, Sherri Lewis,Ashea Goldson, Leslie Sherrod, Patricia Haley. This by no means is a comprehensive listing. There are a few men to mention as well, Victor McGlothin , James Jimason and James Guitard.
Just like rural doesn’t mean Caucasian, Urban does not literally mean African American. According to connotation , Urban is not necessarily the opposite of rural. You’ll find Christian fiction is more alike in its root message than different no matter what section you find it in or what race the author hapens to be.

What’s next on the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers tour. Check out these past and future dates. Oh and by the way, don't just eat and run. Take your feet off my good furniture, take a look around and leave a comment.
Sun July 11: Joy Tasmin David, Edgy Christian Romance http://www.edgyinspirational.blogspot.com

Wed, July 14: Dan Calabrese, Spiritual Warfare and the edgy Christian novel, http://www.dancalabresebooks.com

Sun July 18: Nike Chillemi, Edgy Christian Crime Fiction, http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com/

Sun July 25: Janalyn Voigt, Edgy Christian Epic Fantasy Fiction - medieval http://waysinger.blogspot.com

Wed, July 28: Lisa Lickel, Outside Of The Box Romance https://reflectionsinhindsight.wordpress.com

Sun Aug 1: Michelle Sutton, Sensuality in the Edgy Christian novel; both YA and Adult romance.
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

Wed, Aug 4: Sherryle Jackson, Edgy Urban Christian Fiction www.thefateofthefire.blogspot.com

Sun Aug 8: Tracy Krauss, Edgy Romantic Suspense
www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.blogspot.com

Wed, Aug 11: Keith Madsen, Edgy Christian Fiction In The Ebook Market
http://www.keithmadsen.com/Wrestling-Alongside-Jacob----a-Blog.html

Sun, Aug 15: Shawna Williams, Clean Doesn't Equal Christian
http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/

Sun, Aug 22: Shawna Van Ness, Culturally Relevant Characters http://srvanness.blogspot.com

Sun, Aug 29: Donna Fletcher Crow, Spiritual Authenticity in Fiction
http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php

For the Ladies: Terry McMillian’s Sequel to Waiting to Exhale is on the Way

For the Ladies: Terry McMillian’s Sequel to Waiting to Exhale is on the Way
Reader’s Tidbit
Preparing for a sequel

Call it ironic or just dumb luck that Soon After which is the sequel to my debut novel, Soon and Very Soon, releases the same month as Terry Mc Millian’s sequel to her hugely successful book-slash-movie, Waiting to Exhale. To say it’s long awaited is an understatement.
Getting to Happy comes after a fifteen year departure from the four female characters, Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin. And, I thought two years was pushing it with my sequel. My Executive Editor, Joylynn Jossel, advised that I don’t put anymore time or another book between my debut novel, Soon and Very Soon, and its sequel. Because I am a lesser known author and because my characters, Willie and Vanessa Green haven’t graced the big screen, she worried that too much time will make my audience lose connection with the newlywed couple that decides to combine their churches.
In either instance I wonder how an author gets back into that same mind-space where those same characters are speaking, and in some cases, haunting you again. In my own pre-release promotions, I realized the readers have some preparing to do as well. When I tell friends and fans that the sequel is coming out in the early fall they tell me that they have to pick up the first installment that came out in 2007 and read it again to refresh their memory.
I recently found my copy of Waiting to Exhale in the basement of my mother’s house. It’s been that long. I loaned it to her to read and it never quite made it to my Terry Mc Millian shelf along with Mama, Disappearing Acts, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and most recently, The Interruption of Everything. With thousands of books that came out this year alone, I’m not sure I have time to devote to reading the beloved book again from cover to cover. Many questions crowd my mind as I prepare to pre-order Terry’s book with my own on an online retailer. Consider these things when
When and where does the second story pick up from the first book? I’m talking setting here. My title sort of gives that away. Not to let the cat out of the bag, but the cover sort of eludes to a fire that happens at the end of Soon and Very Soon. The story literally picks up, Soon After. In Getting to Happy the same amount of time has passed for the characters than the time it took the author to revisit them, 15 years. The diverse and dedicated friends find themselves in the thorough of mid life. Sometimes it’s fun to go to the first book and read at least the last couple of chapters to predict where the plot may go in a sequel.
Is this a stand alone sequel? Does the book include sufficient background information from the first book that the reader can understand the plot without gaping holes of understanding for the reader? Some authors do this better than others. I’ve read some sequels that are 60-75% re-cap. The preferred practice is to drop background information like breadcrumbs. My back cover summary gives no mention that Soon After is in fact a sequel . The rationale is that the publisher doesn’t want a reader to put back the current title because they haven’t read the first installment in an all or nothing deal at the bookstore.
Does the author plan this to be a part of a series? This is helpful for a reader to know if all the loose ends will be tied up for their favorite characters or do they have nine lives as in many adventure dramas and mysteries. I don’t know about Terry, but I never wanted to write a sequel, let alone, a mystery of sorts. I am a Christian Fiction writer with heaven, not the hell of crime scenes and jail in my view. But, I went there. Who knows, there may be a third installment. As the old church mothers put it, ‘Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.’
To make the distinction, Soon and Very Soon is being re-released in mass market paperback August 1st. Soon After is released August 30/ September 1st online and in bookstores nationwide. Terry Mc Millian’s Getting to Happy comes out September 7th.

Why We Watch: 'Pawn Stars'

Why We Watch: 'Pawn Stars'


I am soooooo watching this show. Which brings me to my Unusual Suspects #2- Abe Townsend, the Pawn Shop Preacher



Abe Townsend, Willie's successor as pastor at the Harvest Baptist Church is a preacher who happens to work in a pawnshop. We met him briefly in Soon and VEy Soon, the first installment as the nephew of the infamous Deacon Charley Thompson. Abe was trained and hyped on ministry until he took a fall that cost him his integrity, spiritual home and mentor. One step away from an identity crisis, he never feels quite authentic unless he is behind the doors of the shop where he exchanges cash for desperation. He is coaxed into getting his ministry mojo back by his uncle as the new pastor. Abe hadn't been the Pastor(S)Elect for more than four months before a fire ravages his church on Easter Sunday. Was he so desperate for a way out of his new appointment to light a match to his own church. The gig may be up for this Pawn-Shop Preacher.

Use the comment section to tell me what you feel about Abe as a suspect.

Edgy Christian Summer Blog Tour

What can be more noble than the fight of good vs. evil? What is more dramatic than a sinner putting his last hope in a prayer or more diabolical than a dying man without either.I linked up with a group of faith based writers who undertstand as I do that redemption doesn't necessarily take place in a church, and faith is a journey not a destination.

Our name is Edgy Christian Fiction lovers. We write crime and mystery,romance and science fiction. We use modern urban settings and also the historical past to tell our stories. Our goal is to reach every beach, lawn chair and chaise lounge as part of your summer reading choices. After this blog tour we are sure you'll become a Edgy Christian Fiction lover too.

Follow the links below to join in on the fun and learn about the type of stories this divinely diverse group of writers write. Leave a comment or inquiry. We don't bite

EDGY CHRISTIAN FICTION SUMMER BLOG TOUR


Sun, July 11: Joy Tamsin David, Edgy Christian Romance
http://www.edgyinspirational.blogspot.com

Wed, July 14, Dan Calabrese, Spiritual Warfare and the Edgy Christian Novel
http://www.dancalabresebooks.com

Sun, July 18: Nike Chillemi, Edgy Christian Crime Fiction, http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com/

Wed, July 21, Donna Dawson, Research For Edgy Christian Fiction
http://www.authordonnadawson.com/apps/blog/

Sun, July 25: Janalyn Voigt, Edgy Christian Epic Fantasy Fiction - medieval
http://waysinger.blogspot.com

Wed, July 28: Lisa Lickel, Outside Of The Box Romance
https://reflectionsinhindsight.wordpress.com

Sun, Aug 1: Michelle Sutton, Sensuality in the Edgy Christian novel
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

Wed, Aug 4: Sherryle Jackson, Edgy Urban Christian Fiction
www.thefateofthefire.blogspot.com

Sun, Aug 8: Tracy Krauss, Edgy Romantic Suspense
www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.blogspot.com

Wed, Aug 11, Keith Madsen, Edgy Christian Fiction In The Ebook Market
http://www.keithmadsen.com/Wrestling-Alongside-Jacob----a-Blog.html

Sun, Aug 15: Shawna Williams, Clean Doesn't Equal Christian
http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/

Wed, Aug 18: Tracy Kraus, Christian Theatre - Not an Oxymoron
www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.blogspot.com

Sun, Aug 22: Shawna Van Ness, Culturally Relevant Characters
http://srvanness.blogspot.com

Sun, Aug 29: Donna Fletcher Crow, Spiritual Authenticity in Fiction
http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php


Other Edgy Christian Fiction Resources:

Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning)
http://edgychristianfictionlovers.ning.com/

Edgy Christian Fiction Book Club (Goodreads)
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/33583.Edgy_Christian_Fiction_Book_Club

Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Shelfari)
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/11509/about

Gritty Christian Crime Fiction (Shelfari)
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/59017/about

Inspirational Ebooks (Goodreads)
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/34059.Inspirational_Fiction_Ebooks

The Unusual Suspects - Willie Green

At the door Willie tried again to ask. “Am I a suspect?”

“Everyone is either a suspect, co-conspirator or witness. Have a good day, Reverend,” Chief Rich said before leaving.

Willie Green is my franchise character. In my debut novel, Soon and Very Soon he recounted coming to the Harvest Baptist Church as a 40-year old, unmarried minister, basically straight out of college. After celebrating his ten year pastoral anniversary God blessed him at 50 with a wife and a vision to combine churches with hers down the road at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

Not everyone was happy with the merger. A significant rift occured as a result of the Unification, leaving some of the the Harvest members, lead by WIllie's own trusted Deacon, Charley Thompson. A not so friendly church meeting occured in Soon and Very Soon where Charley's group of dissenters presented Willie with a petition to remain at Harvest Baptist church which should have been alright except Willie had plans for a Community Outreach center at that location. Let's just say things weren't handled Christian-like as Willie lowered himself as a man of God and retaliated for scathing accusations made toward his new wife. "The slap heard around the world" gave cause for another 1/3 of his congregation to seek another church. Needless to say things were not going to be worked out peaceably. Another scene in the first installment shows the disillusioned pastor in mediation with his former deacon and his nephew-the Pastor S"elect". It came down to Willie's willingness or un willingness to turn over the keys, deed and church funds to those that chose to stay.

Is Willie the resident good guy that everyone knows him to be in and out of church.
Will the ministry he birthed be expoited by another? Will he stand idly by and let that happen?

What do you think about him as a suspect? What would be his motive for arson?

The World Premiere of the Soon After trailer

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

There is no science to a book trailer. The last couple of years, novelist have taken advantage of the powerful montage of still snippets, sounds and music to give people ateaser as to what your narrative is about. There are you tube sites devoted to those marketing tool. Whether you are creating these video synopsis yourself or hiring a contracter, placement is important on social networking sites and in ezines.
Ghost Writer Extraordinaire has established a brand among authors as the go-to entity if you'd rather pay then play. Online magazines like EKG Literary magazine can embede the codes right in their pages.

I prepared all my videos on One True Media (www.onetruemedia.com) That site is super user-friendly. Even I could figure out how to manipulate the slides and change timing and transition with powerpoint-ease. I've set yp a group called Book Trailer Park on Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers NING (www.edgychristianfictionlovers.ning.com)

I invite your comments. Feel free to get the codes and repost to your networks.

Shot in the Dark Mysteries

I love themes. I love themed parties. Here's an exclusive. I am letting you in on some ideas I have for this novel, Soon After and its promtions. I found this site called A shot in the dark mysteries (www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com. They make custom murder mystery games. How cool?
This woman apparently was a writer so she knows the plight of balancing the creative brain with the stiff collar business of marketing and promotions. She said she has created a game for other authors to use in their instore signings. I still have nightmares about in store signings at big chains like Borders where I've been upstaged by cut-outs of the newest children and teen book series characters. With a pitch of an in store murder mystery ( minus the murder) game to draw readers, how can I be denied. You can hear me, but I am doing my best imitation of demonic evil-genius laughter. Read the letter I left them:

I started my search in a little engine that could " google" looking for "personalized games to correspond with my new novel i am trying to promote called "Soon After." It is the sequel to by debut novel, Soon and VEry Soon which is in the genre of Christian Fiction. In bref, two pastors marry and they combine churches. In this second book once church burns down. Yes, arson, I needed a mystery game for my mystery book. Church ladies and Fire cheifs, reporters and pastors, I can see it. Your site is intriguing. For my other works I downloaded the blank jeopardy games and who wants to be a millionaire games, inserted my questions made CD-ROm copies and called it book club for one. I love throwing events and wanted something to spark( yes, I went for the obvious pun) an interest in my book. I love the idea to couple your game with book signings. Please check out my site for more information on my novel and the buzz I am trying to create www.thefateofthefire.blogspot.com. I would like an interactive game for either my blog, book signings or a book release party.

Sherryle Kiser Jackson

Stay tuned!

New question for my last copies of Soon and Very Soon, the first installment. What was the best party or event you've been to and what made the gathering so great? Leave your response in the comment section and your email addy so i can contact you.