What is Christian Fiction Anyway?

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There’s been an explosion!! And its name is Christian Fiction.

The changes that have and are occurring in Christian Fiction is amazing. The variety of genres and the amount available are staggering and difficult to keep up with.  The question of what makes a book Christian Fiction could be debated and often is on a variety of writer’s sites.

Many people think Christian Fiction means sweet romances or Amish stories. But that’s only the beginning of what’s available. Do you prefer science fiction; fantasy; suspense; romantic suspense; horror; or literary fiction? As far as I know any genre other than erotica can be found in Christian Fiction.

Another myth about Christian Fiction is that they are all evangelistic in nature. There are some that are and they are wonderful books but that’s not the only style out there. Most Christian Fiction books today are written from a Christian worldview.

What’s that mean? It means the spiritual message is more subtle but still there. It’s not an in your face sermon but a sermon shown by the characters thoughts, choices, and actions. Much like real life!

Of course as with any change, there are growing pains. Some readers and writers feel that Christian Fiction should always show a “salvation scene” and that some genres can’t be written with a Christian message. Agree or disagree?

A great resource for finding the type of book you’re looking for is http://www.fictionfinder.com/  It’s a free service but you do have to register. You can search a specific genre and find books that match your needs.

To help, I’m going to be introducing some of my “writer friends” over the next few months at www.examiner.com/christian-books-in-cleveland/lil-duncan . And lucky you, they want to give away copies of their books—sometimes print—sometimes ebooks.

This week I’m giving away Hearts That Survive by Yvonne Lehman. All you need to do is go to www.examiner.com/christian-books-in-cleveland/lil-duncan and leave a comment. More free books to come…until then—God Bless and Good Reading!

What’s your thoughts about the genre of Christian Fiction? Should they stick to the more traditional stories or is it a good thing that writers are stretching their wings?

SMARTEN UP YOUR KID???

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Smarten up your kid? Is that possible? Yes and No. You can’t change your child’s inherent intelligence or abilities, but you can improve their language skills. Better language skills = more success in school.
 
Normally, I write about things on my mind or my writing, but today I want to talk about you. Specifically abour your child’s speech and language skills. I’ve been a speech pathologist for over 30 years. Obviously, God gifted me with a love of words.
 
Whether a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or teacher, there may be a child in your life with a communication problem. So, what you can you do about it? A lot, actually. Parent’s are and always have been the best language teachers for their child. Unfortunately, the busier we get the less opportunities we have to do just that.
 
Is your child struggling in school? Many times learning problems are a result of delayed speech or language skills. It’s not always the case but language skills definitely affect learning and school success. These language problems can often be subtle and not show up until 2nd or 3rd grade or even later.
 
Reading and writing are language processes so if your child has language problems (even mild ones) they can and most likely will affect their reading and writing skills. And schools are all about reading and writing. That’s why it’s important to strengthen their language skills.
 
I’ve released an e-book (and soon to be print book) with the title SMARTEN UP YOUR KID; STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD’S LANGUAGE.  This book is written for parents in an easy to understand style.
 
This book contains information about articulation and language problems and what parents and others can do to strengthen their child’s communication skills. It is NOT a substitute for a Speech Pathologist, but it’s filled with tips, strategies, and activities for you to enjoy with your child. And at the same time improve their language skills.
 
 
 
 
To learn more about this book or about Speech Therapy in general, visit www.SpeechTherapyExplained.weebly.com

I WAS WRONG!! When Life Gets In The Way Of Writing.

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I WAS WRONG!–When Life Gets in the Way of Writing

It’s been a while since I blogged. I haven’t forgotten about it but I’ve been a little busy. Since my last release-DECEPTION-came out at the end of last year, my husband had a very unexpected triple bypass surgery along with several other serious family emergencies.

I consider myself the opposite of a drama queen. In fact, I am the anti-drama queen. I like my life calm—some might call it boring. And that’s okay with me. But the last few weeks, my life has been anything but calm.

Oh, yeah. You probably want to hear what I was wrong about and why. Right before my husband’s surgery, I found out I had an article due for American Christian Fiction Writer’s Blog (ACFW). I panicked but several people told me to write about what I was going through at the moment. Good advice so I did. If you’d like to read it go to: http://www.acfw.com/blog/?p=2600

The gist of what I wrote was that no matter what, a writer should write since that’s what makes us writers.

Three weeks later, I admit I was wrong! Boy was I wrong.

Yes, writers need to write and develop the habit of writing through all sorts of circumstances. After 16 years of writing, I’ve got that habit pretty much nailed down. And, in fact, I’ve done lots of writing things the past few weeks. Mostly guest blogs and other commitments I’d made, and I also started writing a new story. I’m happy to report it looks promising but…

I WAS WRONG. Writers do need to write but there will be times when that’s not the best choice.

Reason number 1…after almost three weeks of taking on all the household chores, being worried and anxious, I’m tired. And when I’m tired, I don’t write all that well or make the best decisions.

Reason number 2…I can’t stay focused on any one thing long enough to let my creativity flow.

Reason number 3…when life happens and problems pile up, the last thing anyone should do is add more pressure to their life.

I was wrong and I’m willing to admit it. Here’s my new advice when life gets in the way of writing.

Give yourself a break—take time off to renew your energy, your spirit, and your creativity—stay in the moment and do what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family—the writing will be there waiting for you when the time is right!

Hows that for some good advice? Do you agree or disagree? What’s going on in your life and how are you coping with it?

IN THE BEGINNING-DECEPTION

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In The Beginning—DECEPTION Publishers can be quirky—sometimes even annoying. Writers write all these beautiful words and what do they do? They cut them. Well, that’s their job. They know what it takes to make a good book great and as writers we have to learn to trust them.

That doesn’t mean we always agree.

My newest release-DECEPTION-is being released on December 30. The prologue was cut from the book but as a surprise here it is…..Hope you enjoy it….

Jamie paced the perimeter of her living room feeling frustrated, anxious, and alone. She glared at the white leather sofa, the plush white carpet the exact same shade as the leather, and the splashes of brightly colored accent pillows tossed about the room.

The room was so perfect it could have been in House Beautiful.

Jamie detested the room and all it represented.

All she wanted was to go back ome and for her daughter to have a normal childhood. She wanted her daughter to know her aunt. Jamie stopped pacing at the thought of her sister.

She put a hand over her heart; the pain of missing her twin so real it hurt.

Her life was a mess and she had no one to blame but herself but soon she would be able to clean up the mess. As much as she wanted to quit her assignment that moment, she wouldn’t. If she didn’t finish what she started, innocent people would die.

She couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t do all she could to prevent it.

She took a deep breath. Worrying and obsessing over things she had no control over did her no good. She needed to focus on the present. Her life depended on it as well as countless others. Soon, it would be over and then she could go home.

She moved to the sliding glass door leading to her patio and opened it.

The steamy air rushed into the air-conditioned house to greet her. Darkness enveloped her. She inhaled the scent of the tropical flowers adorning her patio. She welcomed the darkness and the quiet of the late night.

Wound up to the point she couldn’t think, and that could be dangerous. Jamie eased off her robe, revealing a scanty black one-piece suit with a plunging neckline. Her wavy blonde hair sparkled against her tanned body.

Guilt tugged at Jamie once again.

Sabrina deserved a full-time mother, not one who spent a handful of days with her every few weeks. This craziness would stop soon, and then she could make a real home for Sabrina. She hit a button and the cover of the hot tub slid away.

Steam bubbled up into the night air. The warm water enveloped her as she lowered herself into the hot tub. Her muscles relaxed. She chided herself for wasting time in the hot tub. She had a ton of things to do before she left the next day but she felt better already. While her body enjoyed the heat, her mind focused on the impending culmination of her efforts.

A slight whispering in the bushes drew her attention.

Jamie turned toward the noise and peered into the darkness.

Nothing.

Still, she felt a chill creep up her spine in spite of the warmth of the night. Her senses went on alert.

Time to go in.

She stood and turned toward the patio door. As she stepped out strong arms encircled her. She struggled to break the hold. Too strong. Her training kicked in and she allowed herself to go limp.

Her attacker’s arms went slack for just a moment.

It was the moment she needed.

Slipping through his arms, she whirled to face her attacker and in one fluid movement slammed her foot into his face. The man grunted and fell back. She jumped out of the hot tub, water sloshing over the patio.

Her gun.

But it was in the house. If she went in, she would only bring the attacker closer to Sabrina. She advanced toward her assailant, who crouched and squared his shoulders. Jamie kicked at the man again, but this time he was ready.

 He grabbed her foot and hurled her to the pavement. He pounced on top of her but she rolled out of his grasp and brought her head up and smashed it into his. She heard a moan but in the next second, more arms encircled her from behind.

Before she could turn, the new attacker shoved a chloroform soaked cloth over her nose and mouth. Please God, keep Sabrina…

So…what do you think?

If you want to see what happens, you’ll need to read DECEPTION. To learn more about Lillian Duncan’s books visit: www.lillianduncan.net

DECEPTION- SOMETIMES YOU DON’T GET A SECOND CHANCE.

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DECEPTION—Sometimes, You Don’t Get A Second Chance.

My latest novel—Deception is about to be released. And I’m soooooo excited about it. It’s a suspense story with a message.

This is a book that wouldn’t go away. I wrote it several years ago, but couldn’t find a publisher. I put it away and started working on something else but….the story nagged at me…pestered me…wouldn’t let me alone.

So, I started working on it again.

Got some nibbles on the rewrite. More than nibbles, really—some editors and publishers were very interested. But again, the deal fell through.

UGh..sigh…what’s a writer to do?

 I put it away and started another project. But….well, you get the point.

This story wouldn’t get out of my head and for a good reason.

I wrote it after the death of a dear friend with whom I was estranged. I’d always planned to reconnect with her—when the time was right.

But I’d waited too long.

Lesson learned. It was a painful lesson.

What was the lesson? In life, you aren’t guaranteed second chances.

So when an opportunity presents itself—you better take it. There may not be a second chance. Forgive the people you love and even the ones you don’t. Because again—there may not be a second chance. Go ahead and do those acts of kindness, mercy, and love when you get the opportunity. Because second chances aren’t guaranteed.

In DECEPTION, Patti is estranged from her twin sister. And with good reason, but as the story proceeds Patti comes to understand being right isn’t a good enough of a reason to be estranged from a loved one.

And I believe that’s why this story wouldn’t go away andleave me alone.

There’s a message to be learned and I’m sure each of us have learned it or need to learn it. I’m hoping people will read DECEPTION and decide to reconnect with that friend or family member before it’s too late. After all, there’s no guarantee we get a second chance.

To learn more about Lillian and her books visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

And to celebrate the release of DECEPTION, there’s a contest on my website. Grand Prize is a NOOK.

Dreams Do Come True–Just Ask Josh Krajcik!

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DREAMS DO COME TRUE—Just ask Josh Krajcik.

Ever wondered what the appeal is of all the so-called reality shows, especially the talent shows. The X Factor, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and on and on. Sure they’re fun to watch and you get to see some great talent—and some not so great.

But that’s not the appeal of the shows. At least, not in my opinion. We watch those shows because we love to see dreams come true. If it can happen for them, it might just happen for me.

Right? Of course, there’s a difference between them and us couch potatoes watching them.

We’re sitting and watching their dreams come true while they are busy working to make their dreams come true.

What about you? What’s your dream? And what are you doing to make it come true?

I can hear you right now. That won’t happen for me. I’m just a ___________fill in the blank with a job from ______________________ fill in the blank with a small town.

Think again.

 Here’s what Josh would have said a few months ago: I’m just a burrito maker from Shreve, Ohio. And now look at him. He’s competing for a 5 million dollar recording contract and win or lose—he’s got his dream. To sing for a living.

Josh grew up in the same town I live in. I work at the elementary school he attended. I graduated from Triway—the same school he graduated from. (You’ll see it on the X Factor tonight.) My step-son went to school with Josh. So, you can imagine there’s a lot of excitement here in Wayne County, Ohio for Josh right now.

But again, I ask what’s your dream and what are you doing about it?

My dream is to be a writer. Almost every day, I sit at my computer and write my stories. I have four books published and my fifth is about to be released. It takes time away from other things I should be doing—like cleaning my house. But dreams don’t just happen. It takes hard work , dedication, and never giving up. I may never have the same fame as Josh, but I can say dreams do come true.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

Tonight, watch the X Factor and vote for Josh. But tomorrow–get busy and start working on your dreams. Because dreams do come true!

GO JOSH!

Is Santa Claus Real?

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Ever had this conversation?

“Is Santa Claus real, Daddy?”

“Go ask your mother.”

“Mommy, is Santa real?

What parent hasn’t heard this dreaded question?

If not, with Christmas just around the corner, many of you may hear it this holiday season. Your heart breaks just a bit for your child’s loss of innocence.

So, what’s a wonderful parent like you supposed to say in that moment?

There are lots of choices, but how about the truth in a way you may not have thought of? “Santa Claus is real, but now that you’ve asked that question you’re old enough to learn his real name—Jesus.”

Turn that dreaded question into a learning experience that will begin your child’s journey with Jesus. After all, Jesus is better than Santa any day. He’s always with us—not just at Christmas time. He gives way better gifts than Santa ever could—peace, joy, love, and an eternity in heaven with Him.

Bring out a picture of Santa and use it to teach your child even more about Jesus. The red suit signifies the blood of Jesus. The white in the suit shows the purity of Jesus. His white hair, beard, and kindly smile shows the love of Jesus. And that ample belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly shows the abundance of God. And his never-ending bag of toys symbolizes God’s never-ending grace.

And what about Santa’s helpers—the elves? Teach your child we are Jesus’s helpers here on earth. We should help others wherever and whenever we can. The more you think about the analogy of Santa Claus as an alter ego of Jesus, the more similarities you’ll discover. Everyone knows Santa lives at the mythical North Pole, but exactly where is that? It’s heaven, of course!

Is Santa real? You bet he is…and his name is Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Jesus! And Merry Christmas to all!

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME? REALLY?

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For the Love of the Game?

Nothing brings out more fan complaints than a strike or lockout by their favorite sports team.

Right now, that means the NBA is the focus but at any given time that can change to any sport. And the favorite complaint is: “It’s all about the money—not the love of the game.”

Sports fans utter and bemoan this fact all the time.

The loyal basketball fans are very much complaining about this at the moment. Whatever happened to playing for the love of the game? Most of the pro athletes became professional athletes because they love their game, whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or even bowling. T

here are few were able to get into the sport because of their last name, but most professional athletes do it the old-fashioned way—God-given talent along with hard work, determination, and perseverance. But an odd thing happens as they become professionals in the sport.

It’s not just about the love of the game any longer.

It can’t be. Because the game becomes their livelihood, their job, and their paycheck. And that means things change. That doesn’t make them bad guys—or girls, it’s just a fact of life. It doesn’t mean they don’t still love the game, but…When you become a professional, things change.

I’ve experienced this myself this year.

For fifteen years, I wrote because I loved to write. I wrote because I loved to read.

Funny thing happened when I got those two book contracts in my hand. Now, it wasn’t just about the love of the game any longer, it was about being successful at the game. It changed everything—for awhile.

But as so often happens, God has a way of speaking to us when we least expect it as well as when we need it the most.

A few weeks ago as I was lying in bed reading in the middle of the day because I was sick, I had an epiphany. In spite of being sick, miserable, and in pain, I was having a good time—just me and my book.

It occurred to me that I’d become so focused on my writing and on making my book successful, I’d forgotten why I write in the first place. Because I love books and I have a message God wants me to share. 

Writing is fun for me, and, hopefully, because it’s fun for me, that’s what makes my books enjoyable for my readers as well. I’d lost that joy in books. I’d been so busy trying to be a successful writer, I’d forgotten how much I love books.

Lesson learned!

As in all things, whether life or my writing life, moderation is the key. Proverbs 16:32 says “moderation is better than muscle.” I like that.

When things get out of balance, we start to lose our perspective and our moderation. And that’s when things start going haywire in our life.

I want to be a successful writer, but not at the expense of losing my love of the game. I still want to win the game! I want to be the best writer I can be and sell lots of books, but I will do that within the context of keeping it all in perspective and keeping it balanced.

Simply put, I love books, whether I’m reading them or writing them. And I want my readers to have the same enjoyable experience when they read my books. When they close my book after reading the last sentence, I hope they say, “Now, that’s a writer who loves books as much as I do.”

And that’s my definition of success!

QUESTION: What’s your definition of success—as a writer or in life?

Why Tiaras & Tennis Shoes?

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Glad you asked.

None of us are just one way all the time. Some days we love a burger and other days we want the filet mignon—with lobster, of course. Some days, we’re the life of the party and others—not so much. For me, I love beautiful jewelry. The sparklier, the better. But I’m a very casual dresser and usually wear tennis shoes. Fancy jewelry with tennis shoes and T-shirts? Mmm…I don’t think so.

Thus, the title of Tiaras and Tennis Shoes.

Along with this duality comes conflict and struggle. Between right and wrong. Between being good and bad. Between the face we show the world and the face we see in the mirror. Between expectations and desires. Between our insecurities and confidence. The list could go on and on, but I won’t. You get the idea.

I don’t know about you, but life can get confusing at times, don’t you think?

So, how do we come to terms with the contradictions in life and in ourselves? I’m still working on it. But as a Child of God, I have a wonderful source of wisdom to help (you might even call it a secret weapon), God’s Word.

As I was writing this blog I was reminded of the fact God made me and that HE loves me just the way I am, including the fact that I like pretty baubles and tennis shoes. So, I’m going to make an effort to start wearing all my shiny, glittery jewelry even with my tennis shoes!

Tiaras and Tennis Shoes is just my teeny tiny corner of this humongous electronic world where I’ll be musing, pondering, and pontificating about this, that, and whatever else catches my fancy. Not to mention, you’ll be hearing about me, my books, and my writing career from time to time.

Hope you’ll stick around so I can get to know you better. Tell me about one conflict in your life.

Who’s Josh Krajcik?

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I hadn’t heard the name Josh Krajcik a month or so ago and now I hear it, say it, read about it in one form or another almost every day. In case you don’t know who Josh Krajcik is, he’s one of the 16 finalists on Simon Cowell’s new music competition show-The X Factor. And he’s an awesome singer!

But that’s not the point of this blog post.

Josh is from my part of the country, graduated from the same high school I did, and went to school with my step-son. And everyone around here’s very excited about Josh and how well he’s doing on the X Factor even if he keeps saying he’s from Columbus (Come on, Josh, give a shout out for Triway!)And so am I. So, Josh, if you happen to read this, please don’t get the wrong idea. I’m thrilled for your success and hope you go all the way. You’ve definitely got my vote!

But somewhere along the way talent, success, money, fame, and most of all celebrity got all jumbled together. And many people seem to think if you’re not a celebrity, then you must not be talented.

 Is Josh any better of a singer now that he’s on TV and “famous” than he was a month ago before anyone had heard of him? Not from what I hear. Everyone tells me, Josh is an amazing talent and always has been. But, now that’s he’s on TV that makes him a celebrity and so…he’s suddenly legitimate as a musician.

And that brings me to my point of this blog.

I wonder how many writers, artists, and musicians are overlooked because they aren’t a celebrity. Does fame and talent have to go together? Why are writers, musicians, artists, and others with creative talents only considered legitimate if they are a celebrity?

And what about all of us struggling creative artists types, do we do the same thing?

If we aren’t “rich and famous,” does that mean we aren’t successful? Does that mean our artistic efforts aren’t good enough because we aren’t famous enough? Sadly, I think this mindset hurts many very creative, very talented people. Every day talented people give up their “art” because they don’t view themselves as successful.

The truth is they may have achieved success as an artist, but not celebrity.

I am a writer. It took me a lot of years to believe that and that’s partially because like so many others I believe fame and success are the same thing. It’s not, but I wonder…

If Oprah had me on her show as the hot new writer of suspense novels and I became an instant celebrity, how many of the people I know would have to go out and buy my books to see what all the fuss was about because they hadn’t supported my artistic efforts up to this point?

Mmmm. I’m probably better off not knowing the answer to that question.

And for those cynics out there who are saying I wrote this blog and used Josh Krajcik’s name simply as a way to get more attention, did it work? After all, everyone loves a celebrity!

To learn more about my writing visit me at www.lillianduncan.net

And the last thing I want to say is GO JOSH!!