by Jason Joyner | Sep 18, 2011 | Blog, books, reviews, zombies as literature
Hungry for something different in fiction?
Ready to sink your teeth into some tasty reading?
Or perhaps you prefer brains…
Pay Me In Flesh is the brainchild of one K. Bennett, a fertile mind who came up with a simple premise: what could be done that’s fresh in the zombie genre. Well, try this teaser on for size.
In L.A., practicing law can be hell. Especially if you’re dead.
In an increasingly hellacious L.A., zombie lawyer Mallory Caine defends a vampire hooker accused of the crime Mallory herself committed, even as a zombie-killer closes in and the love of her former life comes back as the Deputy DA she must oppose. And as Lucifer himself begins setting up L.A. as his headquarters for a new attack on heaven and earth, Mallory slowly discovers she may be the one who has to stop him.
This mass paperback book is packed with witty dialog, unforgettable characters, and an attorney with a bite. Mallory Caine is trying to find out who killed her and see if she can recover her soul. She hates to eat brains, but she’s doing what she must to survive. She’s not the normal lumbering, witless undead. Sure, she needs a little moisturizer and prefers educated brains (Harvard and Stanford go down much nicer than your drop-out), but she still sees a need for the innocent to get justice.
It is a fresh take on both the legal thriller and the zombie novel. The pace of the books keeps the reader lurching forward, and the city of Los Angeles becomes a character in the mood and setting of the novel.
I don’t want to give too much away. Suffice it to say, I think you won’t find a more original novel premise this year, and Pay Me In Flesh is a read that will have you laughing, drawn in, and hungry for more.
You may hear a rumor that K. Bennett shares a startling resemblance to James Scott Bell, but that’s a common point of confusion. Pay it no mind…
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by Jason Joyner | Sep 14, 2011 | Biblical worldview, Blog, creativity, music
I’d like to introduce you to a lovely young woman from New Zealand.
Brooke Fraser.
You may not be familiar with her. She’s a singer/songwriter who is gaining an international reputation for her thoughtful, creative music. Hopefully you will become acquainted with her, because her songs are quite beautiful, with a unique sound and a touch of whimsy.
So why am I talking about a kiwi musician on a writing blog?
I follow the publishing industry in general, but the Christian fiction (CBA) arm specifically. The discussion of what is a Christian artist/writer/book is a never ending cycle of back and forth.
As for Brooke, she seems to have two distinct careers. She has released three albums for the mainstream, each progressively doing better first in New Zealand, then internationally. However, you may have heard her music on Sunday mornings as well. Her songs “Hosanna” and “Desert Song” are known worldwide in contemporary worship services, and she has done worship with Hillsongs United in Australia (sometimes as Brooke Ligertwood, her married name).
The interesting part is this dichotomy, where she is a successful artist to a mainstream audience, and can write and sing for a Christian audience without losing her other identity. When asked about “tension” with these two different worlds, she replies in an interview on an Australian website for Christian music:
You can’t put what God is doing on this earth into a box… it can’t be summarised into tidy categories. Whatever God is doing through my life, it’s not just about me. There’s a stirring happening in God’s Church, through the creative arts, creative ministries and other things too… and as time moves on we get closer and closer to Jesus coming back. God has a plan for the whole earth and it involves everyone one of us doing our part — it’s not necessarily going to look like something we can easily understand on the natural. I write worship songs that are for the building up of God’s people in the Church, and I love that because I’m able to express really clearly, and declare uncompromisingly my love for Jesus. But at the same time I recognise the importance of my other songs as being like parables… taking Church to people who would never walk into a church…
She says in the article that she doesn’t consider herself a CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) artist and actually resists it strongly because of concerns about “merchandising the gospel.” I know other artists won’t identify with CCM because of concerns of being pigeonholed and possibly reducing their audience, but I’ve never found a major artist who refuses identification with CCM due to such a conviction.
I like the part where she recognizes some of her songs can be directly worshipful, and others are like parables. One of my favorite bands is Switchfoot, and I think many of their songs work in this way.
Songwriting is a different skill than writing fiction, but I believe the ideas brought out by Brooke in her interview and career offer insight to those pursuing writing fiction and wondering where their work fits. I think a fiction example would be Ted Dekker, who is writing best-sellers in the thriller market, while still pursuing stories that speak more directly to a Christian aspect. His books certainly fit a parable.
I know there is a lot to discuss as far as marketing, reaching audiences, and message, but I think having the concept of parable versus being a direct expression of faith in fiction is one to consider.
For my writer friends – where do your stories fit? Parable or more directly speaking to issues of God and faith? What are books that have done both well?
—
Oh, and go check out Brooke’s website for some refreshing music!
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by Jason Joyner | Sep 14, 2011 | Biblical worldview, Blog, creativity, music
I’d like to introduce you to a lovely young woman from New Zealand.
Brooke Fraser.
You may not be familiar with her. She’s a singer/songwriter who is gaining an international reputation for her thoughtful, creative music. Hopefully you will become acquainted with her, because her songs are quite beautiful, with a unique sound and a touch of whimsy.
So why am I talking about a kiwi musician on a writing blog?
I follow the publishing industry in general, but the Christian fiction (CBA) arm specifically. The discussion of what is a Christian artist/writer/book is a never ending cycle of back and forth.
As for Brooke, she seems to have two distinct careers. She has released three albums for the mainstream, each progressively doing better first in New Zealand, then internationally. However, you may have heard her music on Sunday mornings as well. Her songs “Hosanna” and “Desert Song” are known worldwide in contemporary worship services, and she has done worship with Hillsongs United in Australia (sometimes as Brooke Ligertwood, her married name).
The interesting part is this dichotomy, where she is a successful artist to a mainstream audience, and can write and sing for a Christian audience without losing her other identity. When asked about “tension” with these two different worlds, she replies in an interview on an Australian website for Christian music:
You can’t put what God is doing on this earth into a box… it can’t be summarised into tidy categories. Whatever God is doing through my life, it’s not just about me. There’s a stirring happening in God’s Church, through the creative arts, creative ministries and other things too… and as time moves on we get closer and closer to Jesus coming back. God has a plan for the whole earth and it involves everyone one of us doing our part — it’s not necessarily going to look like something we can easily understand on the natural. I write worship songs that are for the building up of God’s people in the Church, and I love that because I’m able to express really clearly, and declare uncompromisingly my love for Jesus. But at the same time I recognise the importance of my other songs as being like parables… taking Church to people who would never walk into a church…
She says in the article that she doesn’t consider herself a CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) artist and actually resists it strongly because of concerns about “merchandising the gospel.” I know other artists won’t identify with CCM because of concerns of being pigeonholed and possibly reducing their audience, but I’ve never found a major artist who refuses identification with CCM due to such a conviction.
I like the part where she recognizes some of her songs can be directly worshipful, and others are like parables. One of my favorite bands is Switchfoot, and I think many of their songs work in this way.
Songwriting is a different skill than writing fiction, but I believe the ideas brought out by Brooke in her interview and career offer insight to those pursuing writing fiction and wondering where their work fits. I think a fiction example would be Ted Dekker, who is writing best-sellers in the thriller market, while still pursuing stories that speak more directly to a Christian aspect. His books certainly fit a parable.
I know there is a lot to discuss as far as marketing, reaching audiences, and message, but I think having the concept of parable versus being a direct expression of faith in fiction is one to consider.
For my writer friends – where do your stories fit? Parable or more directly speaking to issues of God and faith? What are books that have done both well?
—
Oh, and go check out Brooke’s website for some refreshing music!
—
by Jason Joyner | Sep 8, 2011 | Blog, faith, musings
We all need reminders.
I just wish I didn’t require a spiritual head smack to get one.
I’ve been frustrated with some circumstances, mostly at work. My job has changed over time, and I don’t always feel like I’m making a difference or using my training or talents. I went to school for medicine – I seem to work in crisis management (and not the medical kind).
Add in some co-workers who make life difficult at times, and I have been longing to do something else lately. Life could be worse. I’m still employed, the job is not difficult, and I am liked by my management. Still, I get agitating at times, and I was focusing more on my circumstances that I didn’t like over anything else.
That’s when God spoke.
It went something like this: “Knock it off!”
I was reminded to focus on the One in control of the circumstances, over the circumstances themselves. He is in control – as always. I have seen His faithfulness too much to worry. I don’t remember this all the time, and I’m glad He doesn’t lose patience with me.
So if you hear me whining again, give me a kick in the shins please. God is too good for me to do that. I felt much better yesterday looking to Him instead of where I am. That’s how I’d prefer things.
What about you? Have you ever had one of those holy “thwacks”?
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by Jason Joyner | Sep 8, 2011 | Blog, faith, musings
We all need reminders.
I just wish I didn’t require a spiritual head smack to get one.
I’ve been frustrated with some circumstances, mostly at work. My job has changed over time, and I don’t always feel like I’m making a difference or using my training or talents. I went to school for medicine – I seem to work in crisis management (and not the medical kind).
Add in some co-workers who make life difficult at times, and I have been longing to do something else lately. Life could be worse. I’m still employed, the job is not difficult, and I am liked by my management. Still, I get agitating at times, and I was focusing more on my circumstances that I didn’t like over anything else.
That’s when God spoke.
It went something like this: “Knock it off!”
I was reminded to focus on the One in control of the circumstances, over the circumstances themselves. He is in control – as always. I have seen His faithfulness too much to worry. I don’t remember this all the time, and I’m glad He doesn’t lose patience with me.
So if you hear me whining again, give me a kick in the shins please. God is too good for me to do that. I felt much better yesterday looking to Him instead of where I am. That’s how I’d prefer things.
What about you? Have you ever had one of those holy “thwacks”?
—
