Category: Genre

The Generosity Mindset

The generosity mindset

A lot of new faces this month on JPC Allen Writes, and today YA Christian author Stephanie Daniels is here to talk about the generosity mindset and a spiritual approach to marketing books. Welcome, Stephanie!

It’s never too soon for writers to develop a marketing strategy. What’s the best way to get eyeballs on your Magnum Opus? Amazon, Bookbub, Meta ads. Blog tours, book clubs, reader groups. Each of these things may have measurable success with experts teaching classes that can help you navigate them. Here though, consider some spiritual principles which might give you a new perspective.

I’m always impressed with the passages in Scripture about God exalting us, esteeming others better than ourselves, and putting the last first. God’s emphasis is always on others. Giving His own Son to purchase our salvation was the ultimate example of selflessness. We know this, but we seem to get anxious about whether our message is getting out there.

God is the One who put the idea/plot/character on our heart, so can’t He also get that book to the right readers? Without our help? We trust Him to supply finances, healing, and wisdom, but not those meant to read our book?  Does that mean we shouldn’t ever tell anyone about the works of our heart? No, but we can become too focused on salesmanship, instead of allowing Him to show us how able He is. Some authors spend money on advertising only to be frustrated and discouraged by dismal results. God wants to show us His greatness, but too often we don’t let Him. 

Does that mean we shouldn’t have a strategy? After all, if you don’t have a goal, you’ll hit it every time. Not at all. Learn the things, if you’re able. Take the ad classes. Join the reader groups. Post on your socials. But consider adding something I’m calling The Generosity Mindset to your marketing toolbox. 

First, pray for the results. When I was close to publishing, I told my husband that I didn’t want to use our regular household budget for my writing endeavors. We’ve mostly been able to stick to that. It’s something with which I wanted to trust God. Two years later, and God still gives me a certain number of sales on my first and thus far only published book. Is it because I’m a big name? I’m an indie published author writing in a teeny tiny Christian genre for teens, so no, it’s not because people know me. Is it because I’m such a talented writer? If I am, to God be the glory, but doubtful. The feedback is mostly good, but unlike most YA authors, I’ve not even reached fifty reviews. What I have done is asked God for a certain amount each month–granted, a very small amount–and He has been faithful to give that to me. He’s also given me opportunities. Opportunities I never sought. Those aren’t things I specifically prayed for, but I believe trusting Him with the rest of it has opened other doors. 

Second, put others before yourself. Read books by other authors in your genre so you can give good suggestions. I’d advise even reading books outside your genre. Besides the obvious benefits of improving your craft and helping you stay current in the market, readers love recommendations. And guess what? They notice when authors are generous by mentioning other people’s books. It might even make them curious about yours. Don’t do this to expect something in return. Being generous means no expectations. 

I’m sure this advice seems contrary to everything you’ve heard. It certainly wouldn’t make a good workshop of tried-and-true guaranteed results. We serve a big God though and He’s more than able to sell our books for us. Try Him and see.

Read guest blogs by YA authors Melissa Knight and V. Romas Burton.

*****

What price will she pay for following her heart?

Chicago, 1871. Sixteen-year-old Whimsy Greathart would rather fight against Chicago’s child labor practices than attend her privileged family’s high society events. And a very public social blunder only strengthens her resolve to use her influence for good.

On the night of the Great Chicago Fire, her tenderhearted choice leads her into danger and results in life-changing consequences.

With her world turned to ash, she must rely on the mercy of poor relations to rebuild her future and is forced into the very labor system she wished to fight against. As Whimsy staggers under the weight of street gang violence and hazardous working conditions, a chance at deliverance persuades her to make a promise. One she intends to keep. But now she must determine whether it’s God’s heart she’s following or her own.

A Top Faved Christian story on Amazon’s Kindle Vella. Now available in paperback and e-book.

*****

Author Bio: Stephanie Daniels writes Christian historical fiction for young adults and the young at heart. She lives in southwest Missouri with her husband and three sons. She is also the treasurer and active member in her MozArks ACFW chapter and helps administrate the Teen/YA Christian Fiction Bookshelf Facebook Group. Her debut novel in her Uncertain Riches series (The Uncertainty of Fire) first published on Amazon’s Kindle Vellaas an episodic story in 2021. A year later she released it in paperback and e-book. Currently she is releasing the second book in the series, An Unconfirmed Report on Kindle Vella with plans to publish it in traditional formats in late fall 2024. You can sign up for her monthly Pastports newsletter for reading recommendations and writing updates.

9

Book Review of Lion Warrior by James R. Hannibal

Book review of Lion Warrior by James R. Hannibal

I found another reader for this book review of Lion Warrior by James R. Hannibal: my oldest. He loves the series it belongs to, Lightraider Academy, which is aimed at teens. Who better to review YA fiction than a YA?

Lion Warrior, Third and Last Book in Lightraider Academy

The dragon war has breached the barrier.

The forces of the Liberated Land are near to breaking. Without a heavy and rapid shift in the Assembly’s strategy, a dragon invasion will be unstoppable.

Connor and Kara have kept the full knowledge of the Red Dagger’s location secret for almost a year. A chance to destroy Heleyor and end the war is within the Lightraider Order’s grasp. They must now reveal what they know and call for action.

With time running out, Connor, Teegan, and Aaron attempt to recover the dagger, and Kara helps the Airguard train a new corps of soldiers—windfighters—in their own bid to change the war’s tide. Meanwhile, Lee and Zel search for Heleyor’s army of tortured Aladoth. This force, thousands strong, has vanished. They’re heading for a hidden portal, and may emerge at the heart of Keledev at any moment.

Every path that lies before the cadets seems a great risk. The slightest misstep may cost them their lives, their loved ones, and their homeland. But to do nothing means certain failure. To succeed, they must charge ahead into dark uncertainty and trust the Rescuer.

My Son’s Review

“I like the characters in Lion Warrior because they aren’t annoying or mushy, although there’s a romantic subplot. I also like how it wraps up The Lightraider Trilogy but leaves the possibility of more books. Action scenes are the author’s strong suit, gripping you throughout the whole scene. All of the characters, whether they are good guys or bad guys, act logically and not stupidly. I don’t like slap-you over-the-head-with-religion books, but the fantasy setting makes the faith element work.”

For more reviews of YA books, check out Smoking Flax and The Outsiders.

0

Three Rules for Writing YA Fiction

Three Rules for Writing YA Fiction

Give a warm welcome to author Melissa Knight, who writes YA Christian contemporary fiction. Today she’s writing about her three rules for writing YA fiction. And check out her latest novel, You Were There, releasing tomorrow!

Is writing fiction for a teen audience any different than writing for adults? Perhaps a better question for authors is, what will make a teen audience want to read your book?

Prior to writing my first YA novel, I taught English, among other things.  I attempted to match up students with books which interested them, allowing the books themselves, and by default the authors, to captivate and entice the students into becoming lifelong readers. One of my biggest triumphs was watching a fourth grader, below grade level in reading and with precious little interest in books up to that point, almost walk into a wall because he was so engrossed in a Magic Tree House book and wouldn’t put it down!  In my second gig now as an author, I have heard from a teacher working at a juvenile detention center that her incarcerated students enjoy my YA Christian romance books- even the guys. I’m delighted by this but don’t pretend to completely understand what the secret sauce is.

Here’s what I do know, and the convictions by which I abide.

Keep it real but honor the reader’s innocence. Yes, there are YA books out there with obscenities and suggestive, if not explicit, sexual encounters, and they sell. An argument for this is “realism”, meeting the readers in the everyday worlds in which they live.  My counter to this as an author is that we can do better. We can depict gritty circumstances and convey the pressures teens face with solid, well-chosen words that resonate with our readers, without cheapening the reading experience with vulgarity.  Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I used to tell my own kids that cussing only reveals a poor vocabulary!  Let’s honor our teen audience with solid, thoughtful writing, not sensationalism.

Keep it snappy. It helps me to imagine each chapter, or section within a chapter, as a scene from a movie.  If it doesn’t have movement or conversations to carry the plot forward, does it need to be in the book?. Teens today have grown up with memes and brief social media posts. Involved descriptions of the way the sunlight shines on the water may be beautiful and seem necessary to set a scene, but make sure it’s downright magical or a lot of young adult readers are simply going to skip it. Even I do that! (And I’ll bet you do, too.)  Great dialogue and strategic action will keep me, and those teen readers, wanting to turn to the next page.

Read what other YA authors are writing.  I’m a firm believer that the more you read, the better a writer you become. If I want to perfect my peach cobbler, I’m for sure hanging out with the legendary cook at the church potluck or examining that southern chef’s cookbook recipe! I read YA romance all the time, as well as other YA genres, and have often been stopped in my tracks by a great line or a plot twist I did not see coming. I cheer for those authors, and also learn from them. How did that writer pace the story?  How did she freshen up a tired trope?  What made the flashbacks effective?

Bottom line? Solid writing is solid writing, regardless of a reader’s age. 

Call me biased, however, but in my opinion our young adult readers, for a variety of reasons, deserve – and have- the cream of the crop.

*****

True love? What a fantasy!

Reese has plenty of reasons for being a skeptic. The Owens women, despite their thriving wedding planner business, have a sad history when it comes to matters of the heart!

And yet, there’s this guy…

Tall, athletic Daniel Dixon is full of contradictions. Super-competitive yet gentle, his bold stance on what love really means affects Reese deeply.

Complications arise when she discovers a not-so-secret figure from her past. Add a troubled ex-friend to the mix, and Reese questions not just her judgment, but her physical safety.

Reese’s journey to faith, and to a love that is joyful and enduring, is told with humor, honesty and a healthy dose of grandma advice!

You Were There is a Christian YA Romance, Book One in The Rayburn High Romance Series. Find it here on Amazon!

*****

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Melissa Knight and her husband live in west Texas. They enjoy exploring state and national parks, eating good food and hanging out whenever they can with their two grown-up kids. A former high school and special education teacher, Melissa writes YA Christian contemporary fiction and adult Christian nonfiction which entertains, encourages and challenges readers to deepen their relationships with God.  

Follow her on Amazon, Facebook, BookBub, and Goodreads!

7

Book Review of Smoking Flax by Jennifer Hallmark

Book review of Smoking Flax by Jennifer Hallmark

To open this month’s theme of all things young adult, or YA, fiction, I have a book review of Smoking Flax by Jennifer Hallmark, which released this past January.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Almost nineteen-year-old Read Anderson wants to belong in a world where he hasn’t always fit. Three days after graduation, he decides to ride a bus back to Louisiana and deals with the events of his thirteenth summer once and for all. Back then, he’d stood up to his abusive Pa, protecting Momma and his sister, taking control of his life. But who was the faded image of the child he saw that day? Aunt Lula predicted his life would shift and change. Something about space-time-continum and the fourth dimesion. He tucks her words in his heart. If he survives the shift, this could be his chance to start over. But the ghost child haunts his dreams. Even though six years have passed, does he want to confront the lies he’s always believed?

My Review

Jennifer Hallmark does the two things that almost always keeps me reading: she builds sympathy for her main character, and she lets me live the setting.

Reed is trapped in a very tough situation. The plot deals with racism and child abuse, and a rape from the past is mentioned. None of these are written in explicit ways.

I love how Jennifer makes you feel like you are living in the 70’s. It isn’t heavy-handed but written very much like how a book written in that decade would refer to current events and customs, so her descriptions are very natural. I also liked how she describes a southern summer. I could feel the heat. And if you want to know why I put Star Wars toys in my photo, you’ll have to read the book.

The ending surprised me and was very dramatic, which is fits very well with all the serious problems that have coursed through the story.

If you like speculative fiction mixed with history and realism, pick this one up.

For another recommendation of a YA book, click here.

To read guest blogs by author Jennifer Hallmark, click here.


0

Writing Speculative Flash Fiction with Punch

Writing speculative flash fiction with punch

Say hello to author Jen Booth! She’s new to JPC Allen Writes and today provides advice on writing speculative flash fiction with punch. Take it away, Jen!

Speculative fiction is a tremendously fun genre to write, because you are inviting the reader to experience the “what if” and “what could be.” In speculative fiction, we create something new—either taking our world and adding fantastic elements or creating an entirely new world. The most recognized speculative sub-genres are fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, and horror. 

Flash fiction is a very short story, usually under 1,500 words. When we think of speculative fiction, we tend to think of stories with a broad scope, often in a series, and with a lot of words. How does a writer take such a sprawling genre and turn it into such a short story?      

Think of a flash fiction piece as a snapshot. While it will have a beginning, middle, and end, it is like zooming in on one aspect of the greater world. Some call it a story within a story.

The rules of good flash fiction apply especially to speculative fiction, because we are asking our readers to suspend their disbelief. We must draw them in and hold them fast, putting them in the character’s shoes in a world that defies reality. That’s why it is vital to begin with a sharp hook. Set your hook, and they’ll stay on for the ride.  Make them ask, “Why?” Spark their interest. 

From the hook onward, every sentence must play off the one before it. Verbs are your friends here. Stay away from too much backstory, and choose powerful but minimal description, giving just enough to let the reader’s imagination fill in the details. Flash fiction inevitably forces you to tighten your prose to make each word count. 

Use a strong narrative voice. Whether writing in first or third person, immerse your reader into the mind of your character so that they experience the story as if they were there. A strong narrative voice helps the reader believe what you are showing them. If the traveling bard has a relatable personality and realistic reactions, the reader can buy it when his songs become weapons to slay monsters in the neighboring village. Make the reader connect to your character, and they can connect to your story. 

Just as you begin the story with a hook, end it with a strong punchline. Sometimes this is a plot twist, but it doesn’t have to be. The ending should tie things together and illuminate what was foreshadowed throughout the story. A good flash fiction piece will not end on a cliffhanger—but it will leave your reader wanting more.

If you would like to read great speculative flash fiction, check out Havok Publishing. They have a free story every day, in various sub genres by many different authors. 

Don’t forget to have fun! If you’re enjoying your story and the world you’re creating, it will shine through your words. Pour yourself onto that page—just keep it short! 

For more tips on writing speculative fiction, click here.

*****

Jen will have one of her speculative flash fiction, “The Rejected”, published in a Havok anthology next year!

Jen Booth is an author, wife, and mother who hails from the lush hills and lazy bayous of North Louisiana. She has had four flash fiction stories published with Havok Publishing and one with Clean Fiction Magazine, and is currently querying an epic fantasy novel. When not writing or homeschooling her children, you can find Jen outdoors—usually with her family, and often dreaming of dragons. Follow her on her website, Istagram, and Facebook.

5

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑