Welcome to the Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
Are there particular occupations or hobbies that you enjoy reading about in christian fiction?
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 Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
I don’t mind most occupations especially unusual occupations. With hobbies the same one I loved reading about was Geocaching as at the time I hadn’t heard about it before. Other hobbies would be scrapbooking, photography and many arts and crafts. Would love to see diamond art in a book.
Your turn.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group
And don’t forget: if you’d like to participate in our weekly Book Chat by posting the question and your answer on your blog, drop us an email via our Contact page and we’ll send you the list of questions for 2020.
I love reading about small business owners, particularly characters who run shops.
I didn’t think I’d enjoy reading about youth ministry because as a former youth worker I didn’t find the work glamorous in any way! However Jessica Kate’s books changed that for me and I’m now happy to read what youth pastors are doing in fictional worlds.
Thanks for stopping by Lisa. I like business owners too. I guess there are always good things about some jobs that we don’t always see. I know a friend who was working in youth ministry at a school completely burnt out so I know it can be a very draining but rewarding job.
I read a lot of suspense/mystery books, so there are some fairly standard occupations that come up in those (e.g. police officers, FBI agents, forensic pathologists, investigative journalists, private investigators etc). While those characters are understandably involved, it would be good to see a few more original characters. There are a lot of occupations out there, so would be good to see more variety and also more diversity in terms of race and other groups.
Thanks for stopping by. Thats true about suspense books. I have read some cosy mysteries where the one who solves the cases are different occupations (Thinking of Father Brown and Jessica Fletcher) But one had a craft store which had a crafting circle who helped solve mysteries. (easier in the mysteries not the suspense). On was the owner of a second hand book store and the mystery happened there and the owner and some mates became the investigators. Barbour had a series of cosy mysteries with a few books a month and often each author wrote 3 books with the same person solving mysteries. (more the Murder she wrote and Father Brown type mysteries).
Hi Jenny, I enjoy reading books with unusual occupations that enrich the character and broaden my horizons. I loved Valerie Comer’s debut novella ‘Topaz Treasure’ (part of the Rainbows End novella collection) that featured geo-caching. Carolyn Miller’s lovely regency romances include a number of unusual and fun occupations. eg. A fossil hunting scientist in ‘A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh’.
Patricia Weerakoon’s novel, Snowy Summer, set in Jindabyne, includes a character who’s a park ranger. It was fun going to Patricia’s book launch in Jindabyne and meeting the park ranger who provided the real life research for her character. My fascination with park ranger characters goes back to my childhood love for the classic Aussie tv series – Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
What’s most important for me is that main character’s occupation deepens my understanding of their character rather than feeling like an add-on or an almost optional extra. For example, I recently had the privilege of reading Meredith Resce’s upcoming release – Organized Backup (Book #1 Luella Linley: License to Meddle). In the story Meredith has a character with an office job that’s not particularly exciting or glamorous, but that job is a central part of the story and really enriches the characterisation. A great read! 😊
Yes it was Valerie’s novella I was thinking about.
I agree with the job needs to be more than just a title.