Guest Post from Mary DeMuth

Throughout the year, we will be spotlighting nominated and winning authors through interviews and guest blog posts. These are interviews and posts that are original and created specifically for this challenge!

Today's guest post is from Christy Award nominated author Mary DeMuth, whose book Watching the Tree Limbs was nominated for the 2007 Christy Award for First Novel.

Hang with the Hairdo

In organization, there's a funny little thing that happens to me. I wonder if it happens to you. You pull out a bunch of stuff from a closet. Chaos reigns a very long time. You work, toil, donate, pare down, and still you're in a mess. But if you keep at it, it seems like suddenly everything is organized and beautiful. It's like a messy hairdo one minute, and a professional coiffure the next.

Writing can be a lot like that hairdo.

When you're putting together an article or a book or anything in between, you filter through far too much information. Scraps of paper are everywhere. Your mind is cluttered and crazy. You start writing, but you still feel overwhelmed. Piles of words are everywhere. What to do?

Keep going.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Eventually, in a happy flash, it will all come together. So many writers quit in the middle of a project because the chaos seems too high. Or overwhelming. If you keep quitting in the midst of your project, you'll never complete a project and you'll never become a writer. Stick with it. Keep at it. One glorious day, you'll be holding a finished copy of something that comes together quickly at the end.

I had a dream to write a novel. I harbored that dream ten years. I gathered information, thought about the plot. The timing wasn't yet right to start the book, as my kids were very young and needed a lot of my attention. But one wild day, I started the book. Four months later, I typed THE END. It took a lot of time and effort to get to that point, and I almost quit several times in the midst of the book, not knowing where to take it. But eventually I finished it. God even gave me the ending of the book in a dream!

That book led to an agent, which led to contracts, which led me to mentoring writers.

The question to ponder: Would I be where I am today had I not pressed through?

And a question for you: What hairdo are you threatening to abandon? What could you persevere through today? Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow. Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

Interview with Melody Carlson

Throughout the year, we will be spotlighting nominated and winning authors through interviews and guest blog posts. These are interviews and posts that are original and created specifically for this challenge!

Today's guest post is from Christy Award winning nominated author Melody Carlson, whose book Finding Alice was nominated for the 2004 Christy Award for Contemporary.


Do you think the Christys are important?

I do appreciate the Christys because they’ve helped to elevate Christian fiction to a new level. But the truth is, despite having received various book awards myself, I feel a bit torn. On one hand, I love to celebrate fiction and I applaud writers who do their best and are honored for it. But at the same time…the idea of “competition” makes me uncomfortable. I guess it’s because literature is so subjective and personal. What one reader loves another may hate. It’s difficult to fairly judge art. And yet it’s sometimes award ceremonies like the Christys or even the Oscars that foster open discussion. So, you see, I’m a little divided on this.

What does the Christy Award mean for you?

Again, it’s an honor to even be considered for this award…and yet I think there are many much loved books out there that aren’t even nominated. So again, I’m unsure. Also, as a Christian, I wonder about the value of earthly awards. Quite honestly, I treasure my reader letters far more than any of my writing awards. In fact, I kept my awards in a box for a long time.

Why do you write Christian fiction?

I write fiction because I am, at heart, a storyteller. And I love telling stories because I believe it’s a great device for divulging truth—sometimes it’s those hard-to-hear truths about things like mental illnesses or social issues. Because my world view is that of a believer, I guess you would call my writing “Christian fiction.” But in reality, I think of myself as a writer who is a Christian. I find it difficult to label my writing as “Christian” just as I would have difficulty saying my gardening skills are “Christian.”

What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Christian Fiction?

I think some readers assume that “Christian fiction” is substandard. I have even met people who have treated me like my writing would never cut the mustard in the general trade. And while that hurts a bit, I can understand their perspective—especially since literature is so subjective. But there’s also the misconception that Christian novels are evangelical, full of preaching and proselytizing. I’ve also heard complaints that Christian fiction is “shallow, predictable, and formulaic.” My response to any of these comments is usually: How much Christian fiction have you read? Because I know there are plenty of deep, thoughtful, and surprising novels.

What writers of Christian fiction do you think are influential?

Naturally, I would list my favorites. Early on I was inspired by the Thoenes and then Francine Rivers. I greatly admire Lisa Samson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Patricia Hickman and many others.

What do you think are the weaknesses of Christian fiction?

I think good writing is good writing—whether it’s Christian, Muslim, or Hindu. But, as a reader, I don’t enjoy books where the main purpose is to proselytize. To me good fiction is simply good storytelling and that involves realistic characters, interesting places, compelling plots…woven together in an artful way.

Besides your own book what is your favorite Christy nominated or award winning book?

Passing by Samaria by Sharon Ewell Foster comes to mind—a memorable book. Also Lisa Samson’s Songbird.

How did you feel when you heard you were nominated?

Surprised…and honored.

What inspired you to write the book you were nominated?

Real life. Finding Alice is about schizophrenia and my son was treated for this mysterious illness. I wanted to share what I’d learned with others.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m in the midst of a teen novel in a new series called On the Runway. I don’t expect my YA books to win awards (although some have) but my readers seem to enjoy them and that’s what matters most to me.Melody Carlson is the best-selling author of more than 100 books for adults, children, and teens. She and her husband, the parents of two grown sons, make their home near the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon. Melody is a full-time writer as well as an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.