When I mention my fiction writing in a group of Christians, I often get suspicious glances/blank looks when I explain I don’t write ‘Christian’ books or target the Christian market. It probably doesn’t help that I use the word ‘explicit’ to describe my approach. What I mean by that is I try to write whatever I believe best conveys a credible portrayal of both Christian and non-Christian elements. Part of my devotion to God is faithfulness in my vocation. I have to be true to God and true to my work, which has to be true to itself. I won’t apologize for using mandatory conventions of fiction or genre. (‘show don’t tell’, war violence in Military Sci Fi, ghosts or magic in Horror/Supernatural…)
Now I make every effort to avoid the gratuitous and contrived, but the notion that including certain topics and realities somehow diminishes or cancels the Christian ‘witness’ is lazy logic. The strength of an idea is the test of real life – how it addresses and overcomes contradictory positions – not in cloistering it from any and every opposing viewpoint. To be “holy” is not sitting behind glass in a museum but employed for different work. Utensils in the Temple were honed for bloody use, washed after day in, day out use.
That said, this recent Two-Star Review had me smiling:
The Time I Accidentally Read a Christian Novel, May 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
This review is from: Running Black (Eshu International Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I was looking for some gritty cyberpunk novel and found this. The world that the novel creates is truly excellent, and the technology is uniquely cool. I wasn’t expecting the christian elements which seemed to start out as a minor irritant when I was already mostly invested, but unfortunately by the end the christian propaganda has become a central theme. It’s an easy read, but instead of the expected grittiness you get Jesus freaks. I’d recommend passing this one over unless you want your cyberpunk to have what according to Christians are christian values.
***
The Christian faith themes are very clear in the book description and a number of reviews, so the charge of ‘bait and switch’ doesn’t stick. He got it though. I’m sorry he responded negatively to the Christian elements, but there’s little doubt he understood them. (Same guy also gave ‘The Book of Eli’ movie one star. Big shock, that.)
So this definitely helped offset the pain from yesterday’s hernia repair surgery.
Have a good day.
***
When a book leaves your hands, it belongs to God. He may use it to save a few souls or to try a few others, but I think that for the writer to worry is to take over God’s business.
Apologies for the delay. Here are the winners of The Barrow Lover Celtic Stained Glass Giveaway. Thank you to everyone who participated.
THIRD PLACE – Christi Mansfield
12″ x 12″ Foil wrap construction. Picture taken form angle to catch etched pattern.
SECOND PLACE – Jessica Thomas
12″x 12″ Foil wrap construction.
FIRST PLACE – Susan Shelton
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″
Each of the winners has one week to contact me via email (ccglazier AT gmail DOT com) with their shipping specifics. If I don’t hear anything by May 12th, another winner will be determined for that particular prize.
Once again, a thousand thanks to everyone who participated, sent encouraging emails, threw FB Likes my way, all that jazz. Your support for my work means more than I can express.
*How were the names determined? I sorted the Amazon reviews by most recent, rolled a D20 (of course I did. I’m a gamer) and counted back to the appropriate review. Simple.
Two Days remaining for a chance to win one of three Celtic Stained Glass Panels. The Fine Print is HERE, but the simple version is leave a review for my Celtic-flavored ghost story The Barrow Lover at Amazon.com before midnight 30 April, EST, and you’ll be entered to win. One entry per person please.
A thousand thanks.
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″12″x 12″ Foil wrap construction.12″ x 12″ with 18″ chain for hanging.
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″
To Enter, simply leave a review of The Barrow Lover at Amazon.com before 30 April and you will be eligible to win one of three Celtic-theme stained glass panels. No sock puppets please. One entry per review.
On May 1, I will draw three names from the list of reviewers and post them here at the blog. Winners then have seven days to contact me with their mailing specifics. Failure to do so by 7 May will result in their entry being void and another name selected for the prize.
The Barrow LoverStained Glass Giveaway (hereafter known as TBLSGG) winners will be drawn April 30th.
This contest is open to anyone in the ConUS.* To enter, simply fire off a quick, honest review of TBL at Amazon and your name will be added to the pool. If your name is drawn on that fateful day, and you respond with mailing specifics, I’ll mail you one of three Celtic stained glass panels, free of charge.
No, I won’t sell your personal info or spam you with sage writing advice and witty anecdotes. This is my way of combining my two vocations and showing appreciation to those who support my writing. I’m genuinely grateful. It’s that simple.
Thank you and have a great weekend.
(That’s a picture of the Second place panel, btw)
* apologies to overseas readers. Not to limit my gratitude but out-of-country crating and shipping is simply too expensive.)
If you recall back to Oct. 2014, part of The Barrow Lover’s release was a Celtic stained glass giveaway. The idea was to combine my part-time and full-time vocations, generate Amazon reviews, and say thank you to you folks who are gracious enough to buy and read my work.
Well, the review count is currently at 17, which isn’t bad after five months. I was aiming for 50, but as I’m not what you’d call an ‘aggressive marketer’, it might be while before I hit that.
I need clear window space in my shop for some of the new ideas stewing in my mind though. So…I have decided to set a deadline of the end of this month and draw names from whatever the pool stands as of midnight on April 30. Winners will be announced here on HSSJ the next day.
To reiterate, I am giving away three Celtic-themed stained glass panels. (Yes, I’ll ship them at no cost.) To enter, all you need do is leave an honest review at Amazon for my little Celtic-flavored ghost novella. It’s that simple.
No sock puppets please – one entry per person.
Winners will be announced May 1, 2015, and must contact me within seven days of the drawing to confirm their shipping specifics. Failure to do so will result in your entry being null and void, and another name drawn.
Sorry, but this is only open to folks in the ConUS. (Overseas shipping is too expensive)
The Panels:
First Place.
Beveled Triquetra centerpiece, with rough-rolled wine and deep green halo. Secondary halo of 3/16″ beveled clear float glass. Perimeter body is mossy sage green with 1/8″ ribbed architectural glass arms. Corner accents are translucent stipple glass with hand-beveled 3/4″ thick green dalle de verre glass. Outer thin perimeter is a Kokomo heavy textured clear glass.
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″
Second Place. 12″ x 12″ small hanger with beveled Triquetra Center, Kelly Green Artique halo, Kokomo Wavolite secondary halo, Wissmach translucent white arms and rough-rolled medium gray body.
12″x 12″ Foil wrap construction.
Third Place.
Another 12″ x 12″ hanger, this same as above save the centerpiece is a negative-blast Celtic knot pattern on pale gray antique glass.
12″ x 12″ Foil wrap construction. Picture taken form angle to catch etched pattern.
So, if you like stained glass, Celtic stuff, ghost stories, quick reads, and have an opinion, this might be for you.
I know folks are busy, but could a couple of you break the ice and fire off reviews for the Shift Tense compilation? Short and sweet will do it. Anything to let potential readers know it’s being/been read. The other three combined had 30 or so, and it would be cool to start the ball rolling for this edition.
Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in the Stained Glass Panel Giveaway for The Barrow Lover and the offer of Advance Copies. According to the publisher, a late Sept/early Oct release is still an attainable goal. Here are specifics:
THE STORY The Barrow Lover is a Celtic-flavored ghost story with a couple horror scenes. I say Celtic-flavored because while the setting feels vaguely medieval, it’s non-specific and contains the occasional anachronism. I chose poetic verisimilitude (yes, I actually got to deploy that term) over historical accuracy. Might be a touch shocking but there is no gratuitous gore. A novella of less than 25K words, it’s a short read. Depending on how fast you read/if you like it, you’ll be done in a night or so.
E-COPIES
I have TEN copies to send to interested parties. Three are spoken for as of this writing. Please contact me through my gmail dot com account. The addy name is CCGlazier and I will send it right out. It is available in WORD or PDF.
PRINT COPIES
I also have SEVEN trade paperback galley copies. The print formatted small, but it is the complete manuscript. If you’d like one, I’ll need your mailing addy. Send it to the above email and I’ll post you a copy ASAP.
Please understand the manuscript is slated for a final copy edit, and the advance copies contain the occasional typo.
THE CATCH
There is none. Of course it’s copyrighted. Plagiarists will be dealt with vigorously through appropriate channels. I request any advance reader refrain from posting spoilers or excerpts before the official release. (Although opinions or encouraging words are always welcome.) I’ll be sure to announce the release date once I know more. Reviews at Amazon/Goodreads would be very much appreciated, but readers are under no obligation. This is a ‘no-strings-attached’ offer.
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″THE GIVEAWAY
To promote the book’s release and encourage those all-important Amazon Reviews, I will be giving away a total of three (3) Celtic-themed stained glass panels. Two will be smaller hangers, similar to pieces in my Etsy shop. I will post pictures once they are complete. The third piece is the 20.25″ x 20.25″ panel pictured here. To see more of my glasswork, feel free to browse my Studio Website.
The pool of contestants is strictly limited to readers in the Continental US and Canada who post a review of The Barrow Lover on the US Amazon.com website. All reviews will receive equal consideration; an honest review is worth ten ‘shill and gush’. Three names will be drawn at random once the number of qualified reviews reaches fifty. Winners will be announced here at my Blog and on Facebook. The panels will be packed, insured, and shipped free of charge to the winners’ confirmed address. I will consider a second giveaway once and if the number of reviews exceeds fifty and reaches 100.
IN CONCLUSION
Please contact me with any questions or requests for advance copies.
Finished this today, a stained glass panel I plan to give away as part of the initial promotion for my upcoming novella, The Barrow Lover.
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″ and features hand-beveled glass and various antique and textured art glass
Slated for an October release, (cross them fingers) I’ll be sending off Galley Copies to potential reviewers, contacting independent review sites, running targeted FB ads and all that jazz. But in appreciation to those gracious enough to buy and read my book, I decided to create this piece as the grand prize in a drawing. I’ve planned two other, smaller Celtic panels for second and third place prizes.
Wait, you’re giving this away? Like, for Free? What’s the catch, you ask?
All you need to do to enter is write an Amazon review for The Barrow Lover. Once The Barrow Lover gets 50 reviews, I’ll draw three names at random. The first two will each receive a smaller panel, the final pick receives this. Winners will be announced here at the blog, and where ever else I can get it posted.
One entry per review per person. (No sock puppets, please) Due to shipping expenses and customs, this contest is only open to people in the ConUS and Canada.
Feel free to ask questions here. Drop me a line if you’d like to receive an advance copy.
Hot Space Station Justice 