Into the Fire

Open and Shut

 

                              

 

The open door we desire . . . leads to the fulfillment of dreams, careers, accomplishments, relationships, and goals. Christians accept the door is opened for us by the Lord God, and we quote clichés about when God shuts a door, He opens a window. That is, some of us do.

In the writer's world a door sometimes whisks open only to close before you get your proverbial foot inside. The window of time between submissions of manuscripts and acceptances or rejections does not go swiftly, but when the door shuts, it seems like a quick slam.

 

                       

 

The perception of that closed door varies depending on the acquisition editor's response. If they bother to add a few words of encouragement accompanying their rejection note, which can be a rare occurrence, the door shutting might feel like the picture above instead of the loud echo and reverberation of a slam. Many writers experience both methods.

Some writers take all open and shut reactions in stride and persevere until they either pick the lock of a particular publisher's door or finally a particular publisher says, "Bring it on" referring to their manuscript.

Nowadays many authors choose not to wait for that door to be opened to them and burst through the publishing hurdles by engaging in e-publishing. They decide the multiple doors to various publishers which are locked when they knock, no longer seem like the preferable option.

Of course there are important drawbacks to each choice. In both instances marketing can be a huge deterrent, and in both cases the majority of implementing marketing lands squarely in the lap of the author. Selling books means you make your publisher happy - whether that's you or a traditional publisher.

We writers know well the case of the open and shut doors, and we can tell you the windows are sometimes painted shut. We labor over the words, but sometimes we don't know how or where to peddle them. We're tempted to take an axe to some of those doors, but we understand that's not correct protocol. So . . . we wait. And hope the Lord will escort us through one of those doors - the one He's holding open just for us. 

 

Father, you lead, I follow. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

 

 

                             

Trying for . . . Singularity

 

                      

 

If you've never read a Steven James novel, here's what you can expect: an absolute thriller chocked full of evil, fear, intensity, intelligent characters, deep and complex plots, morality issues, faith references and examples mostly in the undertone of critical decisions involving the threat of death, and stellar writing with his Master Storyteller credentials fully exposed. No shortcuts, no triviality, no pedestrian prose or dialogue. Always an intriguing end to a fully exhausted story.

Jevin Banks is a famous illusionist (often referred to as a magician which he refutes) who plays the Las Vegas Strip at a big casino owned by a billionaire. His friend and partner, the kooky Xavier, his assistant and love Charlene, a body double for him and Charlene, his friend and computer genius Fionna, single mother of four brilliant children, compose the basic entourage of Jevin Banks' group. He, Xav, and Charlene are in the Philippines to watch another of their young illusionist/protégé friends (Emilio) perform a "buried alive with Cobras" trick in Emilio's homeland when suddenly it all goes terribly wrong. Almost immediately after learning of Emilio's fate, Jevin and Xav realize Emilio's been murdered, but they can't convince anyone there to follow up on their realization. They bury their friend in his homeland and return to Vegas determined to find out why.

What happens during their search involves piranhas, robotic accessories, human experimentation, the notorious Area 51, a feared pimp named Solomon, a cartel drug lord named Jesus, a sociopathic call girl named Calista, and a psychopath who likes to be called Akisanya.   

Singularity is the second Jevin Banks novel in Steven's new series, the first being Placebo. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the meaning of "singularity" in this story. You'll learn more about robotic access and control than you'll care to know. And fused with the plethora of possibilities for manipulation of robotic replacements, you'll find yourself in the emotional, physical, and spiritual quandaries of merging man and machines to replace aging and making decisions.

Jevin Banks is challenged at every level of his humanity in this story and makes strides in his personal recovery from losing his wife and twin boys. Packed with action and philosophizing, the pure evil and the attempted good of humanity clash and wrestle to a satisfying but leading conclusion.

Singularity is a step up from Placebo, but I recommend you begin the series at the beginning and proceed to Singularity. If you want detailed and unusual, thought-provoking literature, grab and devour a Steven James thriller. 

 

Father, I ask your continued blessings upon Steven James. You've given him such intelligence and talent in storytelling. I pray he persists in using it for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Gotta get away . . .

 

                                 

 

                                               See ya later.

 

         Father, thank you. For it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sunday's Offerings

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

  and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)