Sunday 28 March 2021

EAT MY WORDS by Ruth Bonetti

'A verbose writer in need of a good edit.'

So I have described myself. I'm grateful that editors and beta readers amongst this group have rescued me from indulgent door-stopper tomes.

But.
What if, even after thorough editing, we discover that concepts and attributions of an earlier book were misguided? False, even? Pulp the print run? 

May be an image of 1 person
Confession:
My concepts of my grandfather were filtered by my father’s life experience as an overlooked middle son. Even written into book two of my Midnight Sun to Southern Cross trilogy.


Older cousins revered Grandad as a shining light, who could do no wrong in their sight. Innovative, an indefatigable worker, a sharp eye for opportunity.

Yet, I viewed a hard-nosed business man who wrote cutting letters to Dad that I quoted–in my innocence–and indeed adopted as an inner vow. I allowed words directed to my father–rather than to myself–to reinforce insecurities about my own God-given talents.

Grandad’s missives to Dad chastised him for an idealism similar to that of his black sheep uncle Karl Johan 'KJ.' In these, Grandad expressed his forcible view that only a realist could succeed and be happy. Witness the damage wreaked by idealists like Hitler, Mussolini and Peter. 

A week before my birth, one such epistle arrived that stated that ‘the idealist pictures things as he would like them to be, but he can never achieve it, or come any way near his desire.’ 

In print, I wondered if Grandad ('WA') would dismiss my careers of musician and author as fanciful, too. 'Don’t I have a duty to use my gifts, Granddad?' 

I imagined he said:
You have been blessed with nice talents, yes, but God has given you children to raise, to feed and educate

Yet Grandad had expressed pride in my achievements as a musician. I discovered recently, while researching Book 3 The Art Deco Mansion in St Lucia; What drove the man who built it? 

I wish he had told me! I so needed affirmation. 

Move on

After publishing that second book, I shut the door on Finland heritage. When a cousin offered yet more letters, I surprised him with 'No thanks, I’m over family history.'

Gulp. I ate those words.

A new book could focus on Grandad’s part in developing St Lucia Coronation Park Estate and the Art Deco mansion he built. 

I couldn’t just regurgitate the same words from the last book, this needed new material. That wish was granted by Kay Maxwell, who first met Grandad as a week-old baby in hospital. 

A forward thinker

Kay's memories enlarged and revised my own.  Grandad was a well-rounded, cultured man, a patron of the arts. He sponsored his violinist niece to study in Holland, corresponded with luminaries like Doris Lessing. WA was forward thinking to embrace women in the workforce. In the 60s, married women had to resign. Rather than lose his esteemed PA, Kay's mother, Grandad set up an office in their home so she could continue working for him. He worked hard to provide for the family he loved. 


Child Ruth at far right observes family dynamics. This next book has added fresh insights to my family saga. I am grateful that I was prompted to explore these. 

Judge not. Forgive them for we know not...what they really think or believe.

 
May the words of my mouth and through my fingers pecking at the keyboard, the meditation and inner convictions of my spirit be acceptable to you, Lord.

Life is a journey. Writing propels us forward on that path. 

What words have you revised to edited along your way forward?


Methinks this is why we write?

What words have held you back in your life / writing journey?

The best of us must sometimes eat our words.
JK Rowling

What's in a number? 

Closer research reveals errors of dates. Whose voice is valid? Grandad's niece wrote in her memoir that WA arrived in Australia in January 1902. WA compounded this by giving that date on his naturalisation certificate. How could one mistake such an important date? In an interview for a Finnish magazine he gave his wedding date as 1907, not 1908.

My fortes are Words and Music, not numbers.

WA, and even more so his brother KJ, covered tracks in case pursued to the other side of the world by Russian spies. Sounds paranoid? Not surprising if you’ve lived under a Russian regime around 1900. If you were pursued to Suez Canal by Russian military police, as was his brother KJ.

My great grandfather was known as 'Kyrk Back', which translates as Church Hill. Because he lived on the hill near the church, and he was a church warden. As was his son after him but in Australia, in Mullumbimby and in St. Lucia.


WA ate his words in some of his many letters.

I relate to letters from KJ, self-published author, dreamer, philosopher and creative. Grandad wrote about wool clips, droughts and blow flies. Closer inspection shows much wider scope.

We must keep open minds rather that miss essential truths. 


ABOUT Ruth Bonetti
Child Ruth wrote florid essays, a play about Midas called Too Much Gold! and edited a newsletter. After releasing The Art Deco Mansion in St Lucia (late April/May) she looks forward to the freedom of writing fiction after a decade of family heritage/ biography/memoir. 

Order your early bird pre-pub special until April 2, the anniversary of Grandad's death in 1974.



Thursday 25 March 2021

CWD Highlights - January to March 2021

 


Christian Writers Downunder is a diverse group of writers, editors, bloggers, illustrators. As a group we support each other through our Facebook page and blog.


Today's blog will highlight some of the achievements of our members from January to March 2021

Awards and Recommendations

Elizabeth Klein

Elizabeth Klein's The Gryphon Key won the ‘Recommended Reads’ Award for 2021 from Author Shout on March 1st, 2021.




Kathy Hoopmann


Kathy Hoopmann's All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum (Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2020) tops The Independent list for World Autism Awareness best books to read!

All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum is our best buy; it has a universal appeal, is useful as a social story tool, and is a feel-good read." https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/books/best-books-autism-world-awareness-day-b1817322.html




Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes all the joys and challenges of being on the autism spectrum


Link: https://kathyhoopmann.com/all-cats-are-on-the-autism-spectrum/


Kathy has written over twenty books for children and adults, with translations into nineteen languages and is best known for her photo illustrated books dealing with Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and anxiety.


New Releases and Cover Reveals


Jo-Anne Berthelsen


Jo-Anne Berthelsen launched her latest novel, Down by the Water, via Facebook Live in January. The novel is set in south-east Queensland in the early 1900s and follows Meg Porter’s journey, as she deals with the past and comes to understand God’s love and grace, after a family tragedy cuts short her plans to study art. 





For more information or purchase check out  www.jo-anneberthelsen.com



Jo-Anne Berthelsen is a Sydney-based author of seven novels and two non-fiction books, Soul Friend and Becoming Me, has worked in teaching, editing and church ministry and loves encouraging others through both the written and spoken word.


Elizabeth Klein


Elizabeth Klein has released her last book in the Bethloria series called Oracle of the Dragon Book 7 on 22nd January.


 

Blurb: With insurmountable odds stacked against them, the trio attempt to fulfil ancient prophecies and release Bethloria and Galfane from Morgran’s evil grip. But all hope seems lost when Morgran captures Dougray, and Belle and Robbie are under siege. This powerful, fast-paced fantasy series will leave you aching for more.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4

She has also released the second edition of The Gryphon Key with new cover on 16th February.



Blurb: For the traumatised mind of 17-year-old Cody Prince, Spells Meadow becomes a mystifying, alternate reality with disturbing outcomes after he discovers a mysterious key. If you love Neil Gaiman’s amazing fantasy worlds, you’ll enjoy Spells Meadow, a place with a twisted past and a bizarre future.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4


In 2015, Elizabeth and her husband left Sydney and now travel in a caravan full time. Besides having written many short stories, articles, plays and poems, she’s also authored YA and junior fiction books, as well as educational books.




Other News

Hazel Barker Interview 


In January, local celebrity Michelle Worthington interviewed Hazel Barker on her latest book, Count Your Blessings. Colin's Story (Armour Books)





Count Your Blessings. Colin's Story is the memoir of a young Aussie battler who struggles to fulfill his dreams. His mother has mood swings, and his school mates bully him. The Depression Years cast a shadow on his future, and his studies are cut short, but his plucky spirit carries him through one crisis after another and the unexpected turns up.

Hazel's two books, Heaven Tempers the Wind. The Story of a War Child & The Sides of Heaven have been Finalists in the CALEB Competitions of 2017 and 2019 respectively, and her short stories have won awards in competitions.

Check http://hazelmbarker.wordpress.com for details. Signed copies of Count Your Blessings: Colin's Story are available from the author for $20. Contact Hazel Barker at: candhbarker@bigpond.com

CALEB Awards 2021 now open



The 2021 CALEB Awards are open for entry in the following categories:

Adult fiction
Adult nonfiction
Young Adult fiction
Children's fiction (early reader and middle grade)
Children's picture books

The contest is open to books by Australian or New Zealand Christian authors, or Christian authors living in Australia or New Zealand. Entries must be written from a Christian world view i.e. they must be consistent with the Omega Writers Statement of Belief and not contain objectionable content (e.g. profanity, sexual situations, or excessive violence.)

The 2021 CALEB Awards are for books published in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (as determined by their copyright date), and which were not entered in the 2019 award (as some 2018 books were eligible to be entered in 2018). Books which have previously been entered in the Unpublished section of the CALEB Awards may be entered.

Entries are open from 15 March (today) to 20 April 2021. Read more here


Rendered Realms





Rendered Realms - consisting of Lynne Stringer, Adele Jones and Jeanette O'Hagan will have a table in Artist Alley at the  Supernova, Gold Coat - Saturday to Sunday, 17-18 April 2021. If you love all things fantasy and sci-fi, cosplay and great books & you plan to attend the con- we would love you to drop by, say hello and look at books, including some new releases.  


Omega Writers Book Fair (Brisbane) 2021







Omega Writers Book Fair (Brisbane) will be held on Saturday, 31 July 2021 at Hills Church, Queens Road, Everton Hills.  The Book Fair will have author stalls, workshops, book readings, and prizes. A great opportunity for Christian authors and readers in southeast Queensland to get together and celebrate books and writing. 

Mark you diaries - 31 July 2021


Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements




Monday 22 March 2021

Using Transformation to Create Riveting Stories by Nola Lorraine

 


We all love a good story, whether it’s Luke Skywalker defeating the forces of darkness or Elizabeth Bennett getting her man. However, we can sometimes wander off to the land of mesmerising metaphors or take a detour on the sidetrack of scintillating subplots before we’ve really come to grips with the essence of our story.

Sometimes we use the terms ‘plot’ and ‘story’ interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Good stories have transformation at their heart. Luke Skywalker realises his destiny as a Jedi knight. Elizabeth Bennett overcomes her prejudice. The plot helps us to show these transformations through a series of actions, circumstances, dialogue, revelations and more.

Entire books have been written on this topic, so I’ll only scratch the surface in this post. However, here are three authors whose methods have helped me to see ‘story’ with clearer eyes.


James Scott Bell’s ‘LOCK’ System

For James Scott Bell, the four components of the LOCK system make a good story.

  • L = Lead – A compelling lead character you can sympathise with. This doesn’t mean he/she is perfect. In fact, it’s better if you also incorporate some flaws. However, you need to care what happens to him/her.
  • O = Objective – The lead should be trying to get something or get away from something. This needs to be important enough that the reader will care about the protagonist’s journey towards his/her goal.
  • C = Confrontation – This could be conflict with other characters or it could be some outside force, such as an avalanche. In any case, it won’t be easy for your protagonist to reach his or her goals. We have to see him/her battling the obstacles.
  • K = Knockout ending – Is there a twist? A brilliant tying together of threads? Has the lead changed during the course of his/her journey?

For more information, please see the following book:

Bell, James Scott (2004). Plot and structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.

Bell also offers an online course on ‘How to Write Best-Selling Fiction’. 

 




Lisa Cron – Story Genius


For Lisa Cron, the story is about the protagonist’s journey.

 

  • What is your main character’s misbelief?
  • Dig deep to find the roots of their misbelief.
  • What situation are they going to be thrown into that will challenge their misbelief?
  • How do they change over the course of the story?

These questions need to be answered before you start plotting. First work out what the character is going to learn over the course of the novel, and then work out what plot will allow them to learn that lesson.

I’ve written another post that fleshes this out a bit more and you can read it here.

You can also find out more in the following book:

Cron, Lisa (2016). Story genius: How to use brain science to go beyond outlining and write a riveting novel. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

I also highly recommend her course on www.creativelive.com called ‘Wired for story: How to become a story genius’.

 



Jessica Brody – Save the Cat Method

Jessica Brody also sees transformation as key. Give the lead character a problem, a want, or a need. The plot is about fixing the problem or striving towards the ‘want’ or ‘need’. Obstacles are thrown at them, and they often learn lessons along the way that they didn’t expect. The plot shows the protagonist’s inner journey as they learn the life lesson they need to learn.

Once you have the main problem that needs to be fixed, you can start structuring a plot that helps the protagonist learn that lesson.

Using the ‘Save the Cat’ method popularised by screenwriter Blake Snyder, Brody shows how you can structure your novel using 15 beats, from opening image to catalyst to dark night of the soul to a brilliant final image. It’s beyond the scope of this blog to explain all of the beats, but you can find a full explanation and lots of examples in her book:

Brody, Jessica. (2018). Save the cat! writes a novel: The last book on novel writing you’ll ever need. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Also see her online course on www.udemy.com called ‘Writing a bestselling novel in 15 steps’.


Summary of the Techniques

Although these three writers approach plot in different ways, they all emphasise the importance of the lead character’s change over the course of the story. The plot isn’t just a bunch of things that happen, no matter how interesting or exciting. The plot allows you to show what your lead character has to learn over the course of the novel. Every scene needs to advance that story in some way.


A Few Comments about Transformation in Christian Stories

In the past, a recurring theme in 'Christian' novels was that one of the non-believers would become a Christian by the end of the book. That still happens in some novels, of course, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, just be careful to show well-rounded characters with real struggles. It's seldom as straightforward as one person sharing a gospel message and the other 'praying the prayer'. 

Also, Christians can go through the whole gamut of issues, problems and struggles that others go through. It's not always about someone being saved. I remember a dear old gentleman who came along to a missions talk one of my friends gave once. Afterwards, he expressed disappointment that she hadn't given a clear message about what her life was like before she met Christ and what it was like after. He came with very clear expectations, but that wasn't the purpose of her talk. She wasn't giving a personal testimony; she was talking about the mission trip she'd been on. But even if she had been giving a testimony, did it have to include a salvation message? It would have been equally valid for her to talk about one issue God had helped her work through. I think the same is true in fiction. Transformation can take many shapes.

In my historical novel Scattered, for example, my protagonist Maggie has abandonment issues and she needs to learn that God is the one person who will never leave her regardless of what other circumstances come her way. 

What examples of transformation have you seen in some of your favourite novels? I'd love to hear your examples.


Author Bio

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her inspirational historical novel Scattered was released in October 2020. She also co-edited the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light; and has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She and her husband Tim run a freelance writing and editing business, The Write Flourish, from the home they share with their two adorable cavoodles in southeast Queensland, Australia. 


She would love to connect with you through her website: https://www.nolalorraine.com.au/

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

You can purchase Nola's novel 'Scattered' through Amazon, Koorong, and Breath of Fresh Air Press.

N.B. Featured photo by Tumisu on Pixabay. Free for commercial use.

 


Thursday 18 March 2021

Which Path Will You Choose?

Who read adventure books as a kid where you chose your own path and changed the story? Ever read a book and wished the author had gone in  a different direction? And what about that old man sitting on the side of the road who told the protagonist to go left at the intersection instead of right, what’s his story? If these are things you think about when reading a story or writing your own, maybe you need a different outlet.




Aristotle defined storytelling as an imitation of an action … with incidents of pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions, and paved the way for story structure for novels and even the movies industry.


Now it’s the gaming industry’s turn.


If you love reading stories and watching movies, maybe this is the perfect time to have a look at taking up your son, daughter, niece or nephew’s Xbox or Playstation controller.


Game designers have had to think outside the box because of the countless intricacies and uncertainties associated with game timeline. For example, players can take infinite variables in time to complete a game. Players lacking skill or the game difficulty is too high can halt their progress. Level or quest based games having numerous tasks and puzzles can pull the attention of the player in conflicting directions; and non-linear games allow player’s to take control of the path and pacing of the story.





Skyrim, a game from the Elder Scrolls series, allows you to move throughout the world and discover different locations, people and stories. The main storyline is linear like a novel, however you have the ability to explore the Skyrim world and experience other storylines before returning to the main story whenever you wish.


Life is Strange, is an episodic graphic adventure game, which was released as five episodes periodically throughout 2015. This video game uses a branching narrative model and completely revolves around the choices made by you. These choices affect the outcome of the game and can produce a variety of endings. Imagine trying to write a hundred different choices, obstacles and endings. Now that’s a challenge.





Narrative has evolved so much in the last few decades of video games. Ga
me developers like those who created Skyrim and Life is Strange, even the action adventure game, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, have brought the complexities and emotional, real-life decision making into gameplay through storytelling and narrative.


These modern games encourage interaction from you, giving you choices that have real consequences and allowing you to make your own story based on the decisions you make. Narrative is becoming more elaborate in video games and an increasingly popular way of expressing stories. If you love writing, creating worlds and characters, maybe this could be a new outlet for yourself.


I’ve always thought a movie based on one of my novels would be cool, but a game? Now that would be epic!






K.A. Hart is a born and bred Territorian who moved to Queensland and had no choice but to stay after her assimilation into Toowoomba's infamous, collective known as Quirky Quills.


Since then, K.A. Hart has had two short stories published. Stone Bearer appears in Glimpses of Light and Tedious Tresses, in the As Time Goes By anthology. She is currently working on a fantasy novel.

Monday 15 March 2021

Omega Writers Update | 2021 CALEB Awards Open for Entry

 


The 2021 CALEB Awards are open for entry in the following categories:

  • Adult fiction
  • Adult nonfiction
  • Young Adult fiction
  • Children's fiction (early reader and middle grade)
  • Children's picture books

The contest is open to books by Australian or New Zealand Christian authors, or Christian authors living in Australia or New Zealand. Entrants must confirm they agree with the Omega Writers Statement of Belief.

Entries must be written from a Christian world view i.e. they must be consistent with the Omega Writers Statement of Belief and not contain objectionable content (e.g. profanity, sexual situations, or excessive violence.)

The 2021 CALEB Awards are for books published in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (as determined by their copyright date), and which were not entered in the 2019 award (as some 2018 books were eligible to be entered in 2018). Books which have previously been entered in the Unpublished section of the CALEB Awards may be entered.

Entry Fee

The entry fees are:

  • AUD 40 per entry for members of Omega Writers.
  • AUD 70 per entry for non-members (click here to join Omega Writers, then get the membership rate once your membership has been confirmed).

Members, you will receive an email advising you of the discount code.

Proceeds from the CALEB Award will support the Omega Writers Conference scholarship fund.

Entries are open from 15 March (today) to 20 April 2021.

Prizes

The winner in each category will receive an engraved trophy plus publishing services to the value of AUD 400 from one of our sponsors:

  • Adult Fiction: Editing services from Iola Goulton at Christian Editing Services
  • Adult Nonfiction: Cover design for paperback and ebook from Lisa Renee at The Collaborative Press
  • Young Adult Fiction: Editing services from Nola Passmore at The Write Flourish
  • Children's fiction (Early Reader and Middle Grade): TBC
  • Children's Picture Books: TBC

Entries close on 30 April.

Interested in Judging?

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to judge the 2021 CALEB Awards. We are still accepting volunteers.

If you're interested:

Monday 8 March 2021

Overflow of the Wine Glass of Life



 


My writing is an overflow of the wine glass of my life.
C. JoyBell C.

 


We’re often advised to write what we know, however, it could be said that we should write out of what we live

 

Creativity is birthed in life. 

 

In spirit. 

 

In adventure. 

 

In learning. 

 

In experiences. 

 

In relationships. 

 

In God. 

 

When I think of the overflow of the wine glass of my life, words like abundance, plenty, bounty, abundance, expansive, and spacious all create images of more than enough. 

 

The phrase, ‘the overflow of the wine glass of my life’ resonates with my soul. 

 

The oft-quoted Psalm 23 says, ‘My cup runneth over’ and we use that phrase when we are blessed beyond measure. 

 

 A phrase taken from The Message, makes me think of a life that is lived beyond the borders of restriction. 

‘I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.’

My life is full to overflowing but there are questions: 

Is my writing from the overflow of my life? 

Is my life so full that it overflows into my writing? 

Is my life full of the right things? 

 How do we go from just enough to overflow? 

 

There’s a paradox in that the more you give, the more you receive. In creativity, the more time we give to living, really living, the more we receive a creative spark. Cultivating a creative lifestyle that draws on an abundant life is a challenge for writers. 

That's why Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way suggests we go on artist dates. An artist date is a way to devote time to your creative self. It should be done soloIt may be walking through a stationery store or visiting a museum—anything you find creative and enjoyable.

Ideally, an artist date is best done once a week, but aiming for at least once a month is an ideal way to begin. 

    We don't need to travel the world or have a lot of money to live an abundant life. Living with this mentality is an overflow of faith and a commitment to our craft. So, simply living and enjoying Creation, going for a walk in the bush, swimming in the ocean, or walking around an art gallery can inject something positive into our lives. 

    Filling up our spirits, topping up our creativity, and spending quality time with people can all fill our cups. When our cups are full, they overflow to help others, and hopefully into our writing. 

    I am very fortunate. I spend my life travelling (pandemics aside!), learning, mentoring, loving my family, and, every now and then, when I sit back and toast my life, I realise my life is full to overflowing.

I want a life that is like an overflowing glass of wine. I want a soul that overflows from the goodness of God. 

 

I want a life where creativity flows like fine wine at a wedding.  I want my writing to come from that overflowing. 

Where does your writing flow from? 


        Do you write out of the overflow of your life? Do you write to live or live to write? Do you try and write what you know or do you write out of what you live?


Elaine Fraser


Find out more about Elaine here 




 

Monday 1 March 2021

How's Your Appetite?

by Mazzy Adams

My doctor recently prescribed a new painkiller for me; it’s a nerve blocker. She warned me one possible side effect is weight gain. Oh great, I thought. That’s all I need. The first couple of days I wasn’t hungry but I did have a constant urge to chomp and chew.

To make matters worse, the lettuce in the crisper was floppy and we were fresh out of celery. It was time for a distraction—something to occupy my mind and my hands, rather than my mouth.

Something like …

A book to read! Perfect!

Fortunately, my iBooks and Kindle App, bookshelves (the photo below is one of the smaller ones which happens to be filled with children's books for when the grandchildren visit), and my bedside to-be-read stash provide a literary smorgasbord from which to choose.



Lately, I’ve been adding the zesty appetiser of romantic humour from Meredith Resce’s Luella Linley novels to my plate, followed by a main meal of metaphysical poetry from A Poem a Day devotional by Philip Comfort and Daniel Partner (which takes some chewing and savouring).


Whether it's food for the body or food for the soul, some things just go together.

Fish and chips.
Bacon and eggs.
Readers and writers. 

Metaphysical poets might include thoughts and emotions, metaphors and similes, the physical and the spiritual in that list.

Now, when it comes to eating, I’m neither a foodie nor a culinary connoisseur. I don’t get hangry (angry when I’m hungry). I’m not a fussy or finicky eater (though in recent years I’ve had to avoid certain foods for health reasons). And I’m not terribly adventurous; the most ‘out there’ food I’ve ever consumed (discounting the incidental accidental Aussie fly) is a sausage made with minced Kudu meat (antelope) when I visited South Africa. I passed over the bowl of roasted Mopane Worms.

I am—as my daughter-in-law describes my delightful granddaughters—a fruit bat. I love fruit. All kinds of fruit. It’s my first choice, go-to food.




To put things in perspective, my house has one fridge, one freezer, one pantry …


And eight bookcases. Plus the to-be-read bedside stash (for midnight snacks). When it comes to selecting from a book menu, I'm much more adventurous.

Just as food sustains my body, books sustain … well, a lot of things; my brain, my heart, my spirit, my imagination, my connectedness to the world and to my tribe; you know, those crazy paper sniffers, stationery store stalkers, pen-pushers and keyboard crushers who love nothing more than a bubbling, creative mixing pot to cook their quixotic story ideas and/or piquant research into highly palatable text.

Yep, some things just go together. Like authors and bookworms. A casual exploration of Goodreads confirms this fact. It’s just one place where book foodies, literary connoisseurs, story gluttons, curious nibblers, and wild and wacky text eaters hang out, hoping to find their next new favourite bookish consumable and, hopefully, chat to its celebrity chef. (Got you there, didn’t I? You thought I was going to say celebrity author. Well, if the title fits…)

Yep. Readers and writers go together. We need each other to survive and thrive. 

And I love being both. Sometimes, reading or writing the right words is better than smelling the delectable aromas of culinary perfection. It’s as satisfying as banqueting at the grandest feast. Like the very act of breathing, it keeps me going, keeps me alive.

When I was seventeen, I read the following words for the first time:
And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:1-3 NIV*
Those words filled me up with curious wonder and piqued my appetite to taste more of what Ezekiel was having. Both Jeremiah the prophet (15:16) and the Apostle John (Rev 10:19-10) knew what it was to eat a scroll from the Lord (and I’m not talking Sticky Buns or Cinnamon Scrolls). 


In John’s gospel, (Chapter 1:1-3) we learn who the Word is, and in John 6:35 we learn who the Bread of Life is. What joyous satisfaction that meal brings.

Psalm 19:10, Psalm 119:103, and Job 23:12 are Bible verses for connoisseurs and sweet-tooths. And let's not forget Galatians 5:22-23 which is all about the FRUIT of the Spirit. 

Within the Bible's pages there are stories and parables, history and eye-witness accounts, poems and visions and glorious descriptive pictures galore; a veritable feast fit for … everyone. God invites all to come and dine at his banqueting table.


As readers and writers, whatever literary dish we prefer to prepare or eat—and both the fiction genre smorgasbord and the non-fiction banquet offer vast, superlative choices—it’s good to know that the tastiest, healthiest, most nourishing and satisfying meals are served at the table of the Lord.

What kinds of literary nourishment have you been cooking up or consuming lately?

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™


Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people.