Interview with Chris Fabry, Christian Author

Box Office Revolution: “What inspired you to first write Christian books?”

 Chris Fabry: “I don’t call my books “Christian” because only people can be Christians, but I know what you mean. I try to write authentic stories that have elements of faith in them and have a redemptive message that other mainstream novels may not deal with. I once had an atheist tell me she read June Bug and that while she didn’t agree with some of the conclusions characters came to, she understood why they believed. That was a big compliment.”

BOR: “What do you feel is your underlying philosophy of writing?”

CF: “I want to write compelling, engaging stories that make you feel the characters are real. I go by the dictum of Hemingway, “Write hard and clear about what hurts.” And I believe in the power of stories to change hearts in a different way than a non-fiction book. A novel engages the heart like Nathan’s story to David. It can sneak around the back and knock gently.”

BOR: “What do you think is the hardest part of writing a good Christian book?”

CF: “There are different struggles for different writers. Some struggle not to bang the reader over the head with spiritual content. Fiction shouldn’t preach. My struggle has been taking the idea I have in my head and bringing that to the page. I have high expectations for my stories to be cinematic as you read.”

BOR: “What do you think we need to see more of in Christian novels?”

CF: “Real-life issue and deeper character development. That’s what I’m striving to do.”

BOR: “What do you think needs to be improved about Christian books as a whole?”

N/A

BOR:  “How do you feel about Christian novel writing as being a collaborative effort rather than a ‘lone ranger’ creation?”

CF: “Most of my novels have been done in seclusion. Writing is a solitary job, which is part of what I like. Then, when editors get involved, it’s total teamwork and you try to make the book the best it can be. My latest novel, A Piece of the Moon, was like that. I finished and was happy with the story, but my editors felt it needed more work. I had to go back and change a lot of elements of the book and in the end, I think they made the book a LOT better. My work on making films into novels has been collaborative and it’s a different discipline. With that, you know the world being built is a community project.”

BOR: “How have Christian books improved during the time you’ve been involved in writing?”

CF: “There are more writers and publishers willing to tell gritty stories, real stories. Across the board I see a greater commitment to depth in good storytelling.”

BOR: “Is working with Christian publishing companies any better or worse than working with ‘secular’ publishing companies?”

N/A

BOR: “What are your future plans for new novels?  Can you tease any specific upcoming projects?”

CF: “On April 6, A Piece of the Moon releases and I’m really excited about it. I’ve waited 40 years to tell this “small” story about a treasure hunt, a radio station morning show, a love story—there are so many characters I think readers will identify with and come to love. The story is based on a fictional song that weaves itself throughout the story. I’m hoping the novel will sing in your soul!”

Thank you for your time and for sharing your perspective Mr. Fabry, we look forward to reading and reviewing your new release!

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March 22, 2021March 20, 2021 by amg16 Categories: News and InterviewsTags: Box Office Revolution Interviews, Chris Fabry, Christian Authors, Upcoming Projects Leave a comment

Interview With Jaime Jo Wright, Christian Author

Box Office Revolution: “What inspired you to first write Christian books?”

Jaime Jo Wright: “I’ve always harbored a deep love of story. When I was little, my first read that completely captivated me—I still vividly recall the feeling—was Dick and Jane. It was an old, hardback copy and seeing Dick run was riveting. It sounds silly, but as a four-year-old, those words made such a lasting impression on me. Movement was encapsulated on the page and became a story that breathed life into my imagination. From there, I devoured books until I was introduced to authors like Janette Oke, Tracie Peterson, Michael Phillips, and then I saw that not only were stories a reflection of life, but they could also reflect our Spiritual walk. The marriage of story and relationship with God became a passion of mine by the time was an early teenager.”

BOR: “What do you feel is your underlying philosophy of writing?”

JW: “Wow. What a great question! My underlying philosophy of writing is to write stories that can influence hope in Jesus, but also in a way that will touch the heart of someone who may not be familiar with faith. My passion is to show the reality of hope in real-to-life people—in broken people—and in circumstances that are less than ideal. I want Jesus to be real in the broken places, and even though the broken places may remain dark, there is hope. Hope is the driving force of each and every one of my stories. What do you think is the hardest part of writing a good Christian book? For me it’s finding the balance between writing solid thematic messages without being overtly evangelistic in my approach. There is a place for that approach in fiction, for sure, but I’ve felt led to write stories that come alongside and walk with the reader rather than a more bold, outright message. Because of that, trying to show faith and hope in action while not watering down the Gospel into a non-existent message, can be very challenging. It’s a balance between wanting to inspire the faith-driven reader, while not wanting to drive away the reader who may be exploring Christian fiction for the very first time.”

BOR: “What do you think we need to see more of in Christian novels?”

JW: “Diversity. Hands down, diversity. We need more authors from varying backgrounds, because we can’t all reach all cultures. I would write a very poor representation of an African American or Asian heroine as compared to an author coming from that specific background. And those stories need to be told so those who love to read and who want to grow in their faith, can do so under the representation of characters they can relate to. In this need for diversity, I also believe we need to diversify the characteristics and backgrounds of our characters. It’s time we realize humanities’ flaws aren’t something to be hidden, but embraced, challenged, and even confronted.”

BOR: “What do you think needs to be improved about Christian books as a whole?“

JW: “I think Christian books could afford to be less concerned about portraying a “separate from the world” hero or heroine. This tends to set them so apart that the only readers who can relate, or even want to relate, are Christians themselves. While this is good in some respects, it can ostracize non-believing readers as they see characters being caught up in trivial issues like drinking wine or using a slightly off-colored word. Instead, I’d like to see humanity represented as humanity truly is. We’re imperfect, searching people. Whether drinking wine or dropping a cuss word is or isn’t allowable, to me, isn’t so much the issue as the character’s journey toward faith and toward a relationship with Christ. When we vet all Christian fiction to be “clean” and “separate”, we can run the risk of vetting out reality. It’s a fine line, I realize. I would never argue that overt sexual material or dropping four-letter words are necessary to reach the non-believing reader. But I would argue, that sugar-coating our characters can make them very unrelatable in a world where very little is sugar coated any more.”

BOR: “How do you feel about Christian novel writing as being a collaborative effort rather than a ‘lone ranger’ creation?“

JW: “Oh, I definitely feel Christian novel writing is a community effort. There is a distinct, warm atmosphere among Christian authors where we support and back one another. It’s less competitive and more “how can I help”. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the collaborative efforts of established Christian authors nudging me, mentoring me, and helping me along.”

BOR: “How have Christian books improved during the time you’ve been involved in writing?“

JW: “I see an upswing in Christian books attempting to reach a broader readership. While I feel there is still plenty of room for growth, I’ve been thrilled to read authors like Kara Isaac, Rachel McMillan, Natalie Walters, and Joanna Davidson Politano who aren’t afraid to tackle deep topics, relatable characters, and create clean reads without incorporating sermons and soapboxes.“

BOR: “Is working with Christian publishing companies any better or worse than working with ‘secular’ publishing companies?”

JW: “I honestly haven’t worked for ‘secular’ publishing companies, so I would have to defer on this question.”

BOR: “What are your future plans for new novels?  Can you tease any specific upcoming projects?”

JW: “My upcoming novel, releasing in Spring 2021, will be the first novel where I touch on the Civil War, and also the first novel to incorporate a treasure hunt. It was so fun to write and so eye-opening to research the Civil War and how far north the Confederacy actually reached. But that’s all I’ll say for now.”

Thank you for your time and input Ms. Wright! We look forward to reading and reviewing your upcoming novel when it is released!

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020 by amg16 Categories: News and Interviews, Polls, Awards, News, and InterviewsTags: Christian Authors, Civil war novels, Jaime Jo Wright, News and Interviews Leave a comment

An Introduction to Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is a accomplished Christian author of nearly hundreds of novels, their genres ranging from fiction for adults, teen girls, and even children. She, much like Angela Hunt, is an author willing to take on challenging subjects and portray them in a poignant and meaningful way. Her somewhat raw look at life’s ups and downs is what drew readers of all ages to her addicting style. Many of her novels will forever hold life lessons for those trying to make it through the years of change and discovery. However, certain aspects in some of her novels keep her from being the best author of teen fiction, such as her view that it is okay to consume alcohol in certain situations. Unfortunately, Carlson’s motto seems to be that as long as you don’t get drunk, its okay to enjoy yourself on occasion. While everyone is free to make their own decisions, it is unacceptable for someone who claims to be a Christian author to be spreading this message. Therefore, if she would change this one aspect of her novels, I would recommend all of her novels to you, rather than a select group. Many of Carlson’s readers would argue that, at times, her gritty and eye-opening look at the modern world of high-school and relationships is needed and appreciated. I would have to agree with them in most cases, because it is rare to find an author that is willing to speak the plain truth when it comes to life choices, and the consequences that come with them. Some of Carlson’s best works include Finding Alice, The Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the Inn at Shining Waters series, Just Another Girl, and The 86 Bloomberg Place Series. All of these are excellent reads and most certainly worth your time, whether you are a teen or a young adult. In the near future I will be reviewing the works listed above, and hope that all you avid readers enjoy discovering the tales that lie within!

July 19, 2017August 8, 2017 by amg16 Categories: Box Office Wish ListTags: Box Office Wish List, Christian Authors, Christian Fiction, Melody Carlson Leave a comment