I occasionally read Christian fiction stories that tackle deep and challenging real life issues. Story can be an effective way to teach us how to empathise with people who are in difficult and messy situations. Through the character's point-of-view we can gain valuable insights into how they think, feel and respond in specific circumstances. We …
Book Review | Hook Your Readers by Tamar Sloan
Tamar Sloan is an Australian psychologist and author who has combined her talents to write this book. In it, she explains the importance of story to the human psyche (which Lisa Cron also addresses in Wired for Story), and discusses the key psychological components that make a book compelling. Sloan starts with the 1944 Heider …
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Book Challenges
By Jeanette O'Hagan Book Challenges. Some readers like them, some don't. Personally, as a reader, I find book challenges enrich my reading, broaden my knowledge of books, helps me discover different authors and genres and gives me something to aim for. Many readers express a dislike of challenges because they feel too pressured by deadlines …
Tuesday Book Chat | What’s Your Favourite Book With A Four Word Title?
Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week. Today’s question is: What's your favourite book with a four word title? We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared …
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Devotion: This Designer Doesn’t Offer Discounts
For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV Shopping in a luxury boutique intimidated me, especially on my budget. I usually looked for discounts not designer labels. I worried about feeling unsophisticated in a shop that sold merchandise I …
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What’s New From Members of ACFW Beyond the Borders
I'm posting today in my role of Zone Director of the Beyond the Borders zone of American Christian Fiction Writers, which includes many Australian and New Zealand members. This post used to be called Monday Milestones ... but it's now posting on Friday. I guess that means we need a new name. How does Fiction …
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When I Woke Up – Part 2
By Meredith Resce Two weeks ago, I talked about the new ‘Woke’ phenomenon, and asked you about addressing non-conservative, controversial issues within Christian Fiction. Your response was immediate and it seems that this subject is stirring in many hearts. This time, I wanted to talk specifically about one issue that has always been controversial to …
Author Interview with Sally Hewitt
By Sally Hewitt Welcome to the blog, Sally. Let's start with five quick questions to get to know you: Long black or flat white? Flat white, and only one a day, otherwise I’m jittery! Kiwis or koalas? Koalas. My first stuffed toy was a koala which is particularly unusual because I am English, growing up …
Tuesday Book Chat | Do You Have Book Storage Problems?
Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week. Today’s question is: Do you have book storage problems? We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian …
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Devotion: Where Did The Stars Go?
Devotional by Karen Rees “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb. 1:1 I love gazing at the stars, seeing a myriad of tiny lights spangling the black velvet sky. Having grown up on a farm, at night I would see more than I …