Author Archives: Janet Sketchley

About Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

Review: The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, by Jeff Gerke

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The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, by Jeff Gerke (Marcher Lord Press, 2009)

This book is subtitled “The complete guide to finding your story, honing your skills, and glorifying God in your novel,” and it lives up to what it promises.

The material is divided into three sections: The Spiritual Heart of Writing Christian Fiction; Strategizing Yourself, Strategizing Your Fiction; and Writing Your Novel. The third section fills half the book and provides a comprehensive overview of the craft.

The writing and strategizing material is mostly aimed at beginners. These two sections cover characters, show and tell, point of view, description and dialogue. As we learn, we’ll want other books on the craft to give advanced teaching, but this is a great place to start, filled with practical instruction.

But this is not just a book for beginners. The first 40 pages offer something I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else in writing-focused books.

Jeff Gerke asks some penetrating questions before getting into the “how” of writing. Whose approval are we writing for, at the deepest level? God’s or man’s? Will publication—or a best-seller—provide what we need for contentment? What’s our calling as Christian novelists?

This part of the book justified the purchase price, and it’s something I’ll come back to again and again. I think it applies to writers of all stages of experience.

For new writers, another key benefit in this opening section is Jeff’s up-front warning that not all writing teachers agree. Instead of trying to reinvent ourselves to match each one’s view, we need to listen, learn, and then discern what works best for our own stories. Knowing this can prevent severe confusion.

Jeff himself recommends taking up to the first half of a novel before moving into the second act of a three-act structure. Traditionally this mark is closer to the one-third mark, which fits better for me. But he likes prologues when many don’t, and I’m happy to agree there!

The book’s spiritual grounding, big-picture strategizing and techniques will benefit Christians no matter what their fiction genre. For those writing for the Christian market, there are genre-specific tips and advice, including options on conveying profanity without being banned from the Christian bookstore.

The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is an essential book for the Christian writer’s library. It’s clear, easy to understand and put into practice, and there’s enough humour to make it a fun read.

[Review copy from my personal library. Review originally appeared in FellowScript, August 2011.]

Interview: Amanda Deed

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Amanda Deed writes historical romances set in mid-1800’s Australia. Before publishing her first novel, the award-winning The Game, Amanda was heavily involved in music ministry. These days her focus is on her family, her writing, and involvement in her local church.

Janet: Welcome, Amanda, and thanks for taking time to join us. What got you started writing?

Amanda: I always loved writing – especially doing creative essays in English in school. However, I never received outstanding grades for my work, so I assumed I wasn’t very good. I kept writing only as a hobby for many years until I was encouraged to try and publish.

Janet: Balancing writing and family… tell us what a typical day looks like.

Amanda: I usually do most of my writing between 5 & 6am and on the days I’m not working at my accounting job. Afternoons/ evenings and weekends are usually tied up with being a mum (mom), a wife and church commitments. It is a difficult balance and takes lots of discipline (No, Amanda, you cannot sleep in!).

Janet: Now that’s dedication! Your new novel, Ellenvale Gold, released November 1. Please tell us a bit about it.

Amanda: Ellenvale Gold is set in the Victorian gold rush time of 1854. My story is about a young woman who finds herself alone on a large sheep-run. Her pride and the deception of those around her make it difficult for her to know where to turn. Will it be her handsome neighbour, or the mysterious trespasser she accidentally shoots?

Janet: I’m intrigued…. Where did the story idea come from?

Amanda: You know, I really can’t remember exactly where the idea came from. I began writing it in 2000. I know I had been looking for Australian Christian historical fiction and there wasn’t much around, so I figured I should write one myself. 🙂

Janet: What is it about this particular era in Australia’s past that intrigues you?

Amanda: Being from Victoria, the Eureka Stockade (a riot raised by gold diggers fighting for their rights, in which many men were killed) is known as an important part of our governmental development. I really wanted to use the building tension on the gold fields as a backdrop for a novel. It was also a time of great struggles between the squatters who claimed huge tracts of land as their own, and those leaving the gold fields wanting a small piece of land to live on.

Janet: In your research, what’s the weirdest bit of trivia you’ve picked up?

Amanda: I found out about this character they called “Tulip” Wright. He was first transported to Australia for poaching and served his time in a penal colony in Tasmania. He then worked as a District Constable in Hobart. He didn’t wear a uniform but dressed in an outlandish fashion – thus earning the nick-name “Tulip”. He then progressed to being Chief Constable in Melbourne before becoming a publican along one of the roads to the gold fields. He would charge travellers a large amount to be ferried across one of the rivers there. What a colourful life!

Janet: Does Tulip have a cameo appearance in Ellenvale Gold?

Amanda: No, Tulip doesn’t make an appearance in Ellenvale Gold as I would have had to search for his descendants and ask permission. However, I have created a character using part of what I learnt about him – I really liked the idea of his outlandish dress sense. My character is called “Pinky” Wallace. He is a big landowner and is mentioned in Ellenvale Gold, but will probably feature more in the third instalment of this series.

Janet: What one key thing do you want readers to take away when they’re done?

Amanda: More than anything, I would like people to have a deeper understanding of the grace of God. And, of course, a greater appreciation of Aussie history. 🙂

Janet: Is there another novel in the works?

Amanda: Yes. I am working on the sequel to Ellenvale Gold, tentatively called Black Forest Redemption. It continues with the backdrop of the Eureka Stockade, but involves the Black Forest – a favoured haunt for bush rangers (Australia’s version of Highwaymen or Outlaws) – need I say more?

Janet: People can read chapter one of your first novel, The Game, on your site. What was reader response like for this book?

Amanda: The most common response has been “I couldn’t put it down.” I couldn’t ask for more than that. But my favourite responses are those where the reader has found healing or a new understanding of grace through my work.

Janet: I’ve always wanted to visit Australia. What are some of the things you like best about living there?

Amanda: How much time do you have? J Golden beaches, lush rain forests, glorious outback, mountains, desert – I keep praying for an itinerant ministry here. Apparently, Melbourne (where I live) has just been voted the world’s most liveable city. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! (Ok can you tell I REALLY love it here?)

Janet: Your books are published by Australia’s Ark House Press. How can readers in Canada, the US etc get hold of them? And are they available as ebooks?

Amanda: The Game is available through Arkhouse, but my new novel, Ellenvale Gold, is being published by Even Before Publishing. It will be available on Amazon in paperback and ebook.

Janet: Accessible to North Americans… I’m glad! Is there a particular song or Scripture verse that’s made a big difference for you?

Amanda: Psalm 139 has always been my favourite. I struggled with self esteem as a young person and it blew my mind to realise how intimately God knew me and loved me.

Janet: I’m still realizing that. Psalm 139 is one of my favourites. What do you like best about the writing life?

Amanda: Creating. Escaping into another world.

Janet: What do you like least?

Amanda: Marketing. I’m still trying to get used to feeling like I’m selling myself. (shudder)

Janet: What do your family think of your writing?

Amanda: I am so blessed to have a supportive family. I have not received a single discouraging remark from any of them. My kids, hubby, parents, siblings – they all brag about me so much I get embarrassed. 🙂

Janet: Writers are told to read widely and voraciously. I think that’s one of the perks of the deal. What are you reading these days?

Amanda: Not enough! I wish there were more hours in the day – or that I didn’t need sleep. I mostly read fiction in my genre if I can. I’ve read a lot of great Aussie books this year. I also try to read a bit of non-fiction so I can learn something for my spiritual growth.

Janet: What are you listening to?

Amanda: Hillsong (worship), Brooke Fraser (Aussie/NZ), Iona (Irish) & Casting Crowns.

Janet: I’m a Newsboys and Peter Furler fan… love Australian exports! What do you like to do to get away from it all?

Amanda: Umm … read or watch movies … in a silent, empty house. 🙂

Janet: What’s the most surprising/fun/zany/scary thing you’ve ever done?

Amanda: I’m not really that adventurous in real life – I save it all for fiction where I can’t really get hurt or embarrassed. J Well, I did wear running shoes under my wedding dress, does that count? My hubby does enough zany/fun/scary for all of us.

Janet: One in a family is probably enough… someone has to operate the camera or call the ambulance! Thanks so much for taking time to let us get to know you a bit, Amanda. May the Lord continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others—in every area of your life.

===

You can visit Amanda Deed’s website and find her at her blog, Amanderings and on Facebook.

Ellenvale Gold

It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled gold rush of the 1850’s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger. But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?

Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or will Penny’s faith prevail?

Australian orders (paperback) through Amanda Deed’s website or through Even Before Publishing.

International orders: paperback: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk. At the time of this posting, the ebook order links weren’t available, but let’s keep watching!

Feelings and Emotions

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He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Isaiah 53:3, NIV*

I’ve been writing a lot lately about the deceptiveness of feelings and how we need to trust God instead of ourselves. I’m still learning, thinking it through on-screen, discovering what it means in my own life.

For me, the emphasis has been on not believing false feelings: the vague unease, dissatisfaction or sadness that can have me living “in the dumps” instead of in the confidence in my heritage in Christ.

Then there are true feelings, and I’ll call them emotions to help me see this clearer. Things like grief, fear, loneliness. Anger. Happiness—why does that one not come around as much as the others?

Jesus experienced emotions. There’s nothing wrong with them, and I think they’re a key ingredient in what makes us human. It’s not healthy to suppress or deny them, but we still can’t let them rule us.

Recognizing them can help us rely on God’s sustaining grace in our daily lives. In the words of author/speaker Grace Fox, if we feel fear over something God calls us to do, we need obey anyway—to “do it afraid.” Or sad, or whatever.

And He is calling us to do things. If angry, we’re still responsible to refrain from delivering a sinful response. Grieving, to treat others in love.

God our Maker, You know our weakness and You promise to give wisdom when we ask. Teach us to discern between deceptive feelings and genuine emotions. Teach us to rely on Your truth and to reject the lies. And help us rightly handle our emotions so we’ll live as genuine humans who trust Your care, neither denying what we feel nor being ruled by it.

∞

There aren’t a lot of songs about true emotions and about the lie that we shouldn’t express them. Here’s Don Francisco’s “It Ain’t No Sin to Get the Blues.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17cnMkBcTCA

Review: Legacy of Lies, by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

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Legacy of Lies, by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Love Inspired Suspense, 2010)

When recently-widowed Nicole Keller-Mattson moves in with her elderly grandmother in small-town Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to discover an infant’s bones that will reopen a 50-year-old investigation and incriminate the grandparents she’s always loved and admired.

Police chief Rich Hendricks is already swamped with a spate of robberies and no clues in sight, but he needs to see justice done for the baby’s family… even though they’re a dysfunctional and secretive brood who’d like to see him fail.

Nicole is the first woman Rich has noticed since his wife died, but she’s determined not to marry another cop. And if he has to arrest her grandmother, forget the chances of a relationship.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson is a strong suspense writer who has proven herself able to craft longer novels (with her “To Catch a Thief” series) and although I’ve followed her to Love Inspired, it limits her scope. Despite the smaller word count and the genre-specific need to focus on the hero and heroine’s mutual attraction that faces insurmountable obstacles, she delivers richly-crafted characters, a complex suspense plot, and some fun and fresh writing.

Take this description, where she doesn’t stop with telling us Nicole’s sensation but expands until we feel it too: “Nicole’s skin crawled as if tiny bugs scampered across her flesh.” (p. 106)

And the way Nicole describes one of the other characters: “Fern’s a good half a bubble off-centre…” (p. 156) If you’ve never used a carpenter’s level you might miss that one, but it’s new to me and I liked it.

Legacy of Lies is a hard novel to put down. Most of the chapters end with a stakes-raising twist that will have you reading the next page before you know it.

Love Inspired books only stay on store shelves for the month of release, but you can order them as paperbacks, large-print paperbacks, or ebooks through the major online retailers.

You can learn more about Jill Elizabeth Nelson at her website. To get a feel for Legacy of Lies, check out this excerpt. I’ve reviewed some of her previous books: Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Smuggler.

Watch for her newest title, Season of Danger, with Christy-Award-winning author Hannah Alexander, releasing November 29, 2011. From the Amazon listing, it looks like the book has two short novellas, one from each author: Silent Night, Deadly Night and Mistletoe Mayhem.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Progress!

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I’m preparing a talk for the local library, on “Writing Personal Experience Stories People Want to Read.” Last Saturday when everyone else was out, I opened the file and did my first talk-through.

It was… less than stellar.

The outline needs a bit of tweaking, but the points are sound. The illustrations of said points need major fleshing out. Did I expect to pull them out of the air in front of an audience?

Seasoned public speakers are probably nodding and saying that’s why we practice–to see what’s wonky or missing while there’s time to fix it. That’s what I say about a first draft in writing. It’s no big deal. You can’t polish what isn’t written yet.

As I umm-ed and uh-ed through this first attempt, the negative feelings clustered nearer. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, that sinking sense of hopelessness and desperation….

Before, I’d have drawn those feelings close like a comforting blanket and accepted their lies.

This time, God showed me what was happening and reminded me I can choose what to believe. And He helped me choose to believe Him.

In the clarity of deception-free sight, I saw what my trial run really showed me: where to strengthen the material, and where I needed illustrations. It wasn’t proof of inadequacy at all, just a step in the preparation process.

I could have accepted the lies and given up. Instead, I’m relying on the truth that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I can do this. I can fine-tune the outline and locate good examples for each point. Several have already come to mind.

Public speaking is a stretch for me, but I’ve done it before and lived to tell. Recognizing and deflecting the lies is also stretching me, and I’m so encouraged to see progress!

Fear and Lies

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You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us.”
Deuteronomy 1:27, NIV*

It seems we have a propensity for believing lies over the truth.

I’ve been working through the study material with Robert S. McGee’s book, Search for Significance. This week’s lesson included listing some of the lies the devil has told us. Identifying them is the first step in replacing them with truth.

With that in mind, Moses’ words above struck a chord. He’s referring to the people’s reaction to the spies’ report of the Promised Land, when instead of entering the land they ended up wandering in the desert for 40 years. (See Deuteronomy 1)

Wow. We’re not usually so open in articulating the issue, or at least I’m not. I’ll feel anxious or put upon, maybe discouraged or even resentful, and in the past I haven’t investigated the feeling’s origin to root out the lie.

You can hear the fear in the Israelites’ words. And there were indeed giants in them-thar hills. But instead of bringing their fear to God, remembering that He’s bigger, relying on His promises, they went the other way with it and accused Him.

We may be more subtle, but don’t we do the same? Too often we listen to the doubts and believe the lies instead of standing on the truth.

Holy and sovereign God in whom is no lie or shadow, if not for Your grace, patience and love, we’d be doomed. Teach us to recognize the enemy’s lies and to rely on Your word and Your character. Thank You for setting us free; now help us learn to live in that freedom and in confidence in You.

∞

This week’s song is Casting Crowns’ “Voice of Truth.”

Review: Rescued, by Donna Dawson

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Rescued, by Donna Dawson (Word Alive Press, 2010)

Daphne Barrie won’t survive her pregnancy—and she’d rather die with her baby than make a hurried choice she could regret for a lifetime. Desperate for another option, she pushes for a chance at a radical new procedure that would transfer her microscopic embryo into the womb of a healthy recipient, Charlene McTaggart.

Embryonic micromanipulation has been a reality in livestock for years. Rescued is Donna Dawson’s exploration of what it might mean if it were possible for humans.

This is clearly an “issue” novel, but Donna Dawson is too skilled a writer to let it slide into propaganda. And it’s a look at an alternative to abortion—not an argument for or against abortion itself. Both pro-life and pro-choice readers will find it interesting as long as they’re comfortable with a book where some of the characters talk about their faith.

Daphne and Charlene are thinking, feeling characters who draw reader empathy. The supporting doctors, the helpful reporter and the tabloid hack all have parts to play in exploring the ramifications of such a radical procedure. And the extremist villain whose goal is to eliminate the “abomination” that is Daphne’s/Charlene’s developing baby shows another side to the picture—and keeps the tension high.

In places the book is very technical as the doctors try to help the public and their patients (and readers) understand the procedure. It’s also a poignant look at a teen who knows she’ll never deliver a baby and a woman who had lost hope of ever being pregnant. The bond that grows between them is touching, and it strengthens them both.

Because the novel focuses on the one key issue, we don’t get much of a feel for the supporting characters, including Charlene’s husband. We do get to see pro-choice and pro-life activists working together for a common goal.

As the novel points out, human embryonic micromanipulation would need careful regulation to protect against things like black market embryo sales and inept surgery. I think it’s worth doing, and I’m a bit angry that the medical and research community hasn’t already been working for this.

Industry professionals have said that a procedure like this could work. “Possible but cost-prohibitive” is what one source told the author. The cost of research and development would be high, but what’s too high a price for an alternative to abortion?

The emotionally-volatile argument would continue, because some would still choose abortion and others would oppose that choice, but what if there really could be another option?

Rescued is an informative and thought-provoking novel. The first part is more human interest: the fight to save Daphne’s life. The second part is more suspenseful: the fight to protect Charlene’s life as the religious extremist increases his pressure. With short chapters and a fast pace, it’s hard to put down. The only negative is that it didn’t have enough copy-editing, and readers who notice these things will at times be jolted out of the story.

Canadian author Donna Dawson is an award-winning novelist, speaker, writing instructor and the creator of the popular writing advice blog with Duke the Chihuahua. She’s also a singer. Rescued is her fifth novel. You can watch a video interview with Donna at Talk On The Way. Here’s a link to the trailer for Rescued.

[Book provided by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. A shorter version of this review first appeared in Faith Today’s online July/August 2011 issue.]

Belief and Unbelief

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I’ve posted recently about believing the truth of God’s Word rather than our feelings or our circumstances: Believing the Truth and Handle with Care. This is one of those slow-learning areas for me, where I keep needing the message reinforced.

God has been doing that very nicely through a couple of Violet Nesdoly‘s Other Food: daily devos posts, and I want to share the basic nuggets here and encourage you to read her full entries if you haven’t already.

In Doubt, skepticism (a.k.a. unbelief), Violet looks at the sin of unbelief–and its consequences. Then she challenges:

I ask myself, do I as a believer in Jesus live a life characterized by belief or unbelief? What about you?

Her Clay Backtalk post includes this insight:

Being content with our lot in life, including our physical appearance and the strengths and weaknesses with which we were born, is part and parcel of our confidence/belief in God.

It’s so easy to forget to believe, as silly as that sounds. To forget to act on what we believe. To begin to complain or criticize our Maker. I’m thankful for these reminders to live like what we believe is true–because if we’re believing God, it is!

To Praise the Lord

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It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night.
Psalm 92:1-2, NIV*

Thinking about some of the reasons it’s good to praise the Lord:

it’s right and fitting, and He deserves it
those who don’t know Him may hear and learn
it makes us stop and notice what He’s done and who He is
it restores our perspective on our “light and momentary troubles”
it encourages our faith
it encourage others’ faith
it restores our hope
it causes us to flourish, to stay fresh and green, to bear fruit

The header for this psalm says it’s “For the Sabbath day.” As Christians we’re invited to live in the Lord’s rest day by day, moment by moment, but there’s still something special about taking a Sabbath break.

It’s a chance to stop, breathe, and renew. To spend some time with God and remember who—and how big—He is. To regain perspective.

Holy and magnificent God, it does us good to get our eyes off ourselves and onto Your glory, and the more we look at You the more we see to praise. How great is our God, and how blessed we are to be Your redeemed people! Please open our eyes to see You more clearly, and soften our hearts to adore You.

∞

To help us praise, here’s Robin Mark with “How Great Are You, Lord.”

Review: There You’ll Find Me, by Jenny B. Jones

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There You’ll Find Me, by Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson, 2011)

Two years ago, Finley Sinclair’s older brother Will died in a terrorist attack while doing humanitarian work. She’s 18 now, and still broken. Her family hopes that a year as an exchange student in Ireland will bring her some closure, as she follows the steps Will recorded in his travel journal. Visiting the sites he loved will help her finish the music she’s composing in tribute, which will be her audition piece for entry into the New York Conservatory.

Teen actor Beckett Rush offers to be her driver—if she’ll work as his assistant. Beckett has charm, good looks, and a bad-boy reputation. She can’t finish her music without his truck, but can she resist his charms? And survive the venom of a jealous classmate?

Although Finley tries to talk to God, He’s been silent for a long time. Her music teacher, Sister Maria, is one safe place in the chaos around her. Her school community service project, visiting a hostile senior citizen, is not.

There You’ll Find Me is a young adult novel, and I’m hardly the target audience. But I’d heartily recommend it for teen girls and women of all ages. An unexpected bonus for me is that Finley is Alex’s younger sister from the author’s adult novel, Save the Date. I’d forgotten her name and was part way through the novel when I put the clues together, and I was so pleased to see her again and to get some news of the rest of the family.

Teens would enjoy Save the Date as well, but it’s not required. Each novel stands alone. Where one follows the other time-wise, reading There You’ll Find Me first would give away one or two key aspects of the first novel’s ending.

Jenny B. Jones is one of my favourite authors. Her characters come to life with a mix of spunk, sass and wit. There You’ll Find Me is funny, touching, and real. And the Ireland it portrays is beautiful. The Thomas Nelson product page has links to a sample chapter and to a discussion guide.

You can find Jenny at her website and her blog. While she’s best known for her young adults’ “Charmed Life” series, (which are good fun for adults as well) she’s also written two novels for adults (safe for teens too). I’ve reviewed them here: Just Between You and Me and Save the Date.

[Complimentary electronic review copy provided by the publisher through BookSneeze®]