Finding Christians in Unexpected Places (by Susan J Bruce and Holly Hartman)

 

It started like every sensible writing decision starts: with me doing the responsible thing.

I’d just decided to shelve a Christmas romance idea so I could stay faithful to my mystery series. I even prayed about it with my husband. I stood up, walked five steps toward my study, and prepared to get back to the safe, sensible work of murder.

That’s when the still small voice cut in—clear as anything: “Christmas is in Vermont.”

And just like that, my neat little plan went out the window.

But let me back up.

Most people in Christian Writers Downunder know me as Susan J Bruce, a cozy mystery writer. I’m currently editing Mostly Dead, book two in my Ruthless-the-Killer mystery series—and loving it. 

But that voice led me into an initially secret identity: writing mainstream Christmas romance under the pen name Holly Hartman, set in a town called Christmas, where Christmas happens all year round.

The books are mostly sweet (with a dash of heat), swoony, fade-to-black romances—mainstream stories about love, hope, and second chances, written for readers who want heart with their happily-ever-afters. And yes, some faith content does seep in because it’s Christmas, and it's really hard not to have it there. 

Unexpected? You have no idea.

The idea began with a grumpy Australian veterinarian who hates Christmas and a sunshine game warden who loves the season. Add a stray dog with a knack for matchmaking, and it became Running from Christmas—a heartfelt rom-com about finding love after loss.

But the surprises didn't stop there.

When Characters Take Over

The story spawned a prequel (One Cabin for Christmas) and then, somehow, a book three (A Very Merri Christmas).

I was almost finished the draft of the latter when I realized it needed something. The story was set against the backdrop of Jack and Mia’s destination wedding (the couple from book two), but it didn’t feel Christmassy enough. That’s when my characters did what characters do: they took over. Secret carols appeared. A grand gesture started looming. And Liam—my male lead—casually revealed he could sing.

Who am I to argue with a handsome deputy?

Once I accepted that the wedding needed music, I had a new problem: what songs were playing in the background? I can’t quote lyrics unless they’re public domain, but I still needed the soundtrack in my head. Songs set the emotional temperature of a scene, and I wanted a Spotify playlist for readers who like stepping deeper into the story world. 

So I went hunting for warm, heartfelt, country-rock-leaning love songs. It turns out that even in snowy Vermont, the Nashville sound feels like home. That search led me to something I didn't expect at all: Christian artists in the mainstream. 

(Unexpected side note: I didn't see myself writing Christmas romance, and I definitely didn't see myself enjoying country music this much, although I don't mind country rock. God is full of surprises.)

Christians in the mainstream,,, 

Brett Young was my first small jolt of recognition. I loved the sincerity of In Case You Didn’t Know, then discovered he’d worked with Chris Tomlin and spoken openly about faith shaping his life. And I thought—wait. He’s one of us.

Then Russell Dickerson showed up in my recommendations with Yours. 

The music video is amazing. Dickerson is singing against the backdrop of a huge storm, lightning flashing (apparently there was a tornado warning that day). The lyrics are strong and song has the intensity and sincerity I needed for Liam. 

But even though it was a mainstream love song, the lyrics had a distinct Christian flavour.

I dug deeper.

I found Russell and his wife Kailey's testimony—shared openly in interviews. And the story behind the song got me. Russell had been dropped from a record deal. They were broke, newlyweds, and Kailey had to take side jobs to keep them afloat. They kept going anyway, following God’s call to bring Russell’s music to the world. The video was slow burn at first but then built into a massive hit.

I love stories like that. God at work while his people keep showing up, creating anyway. Then he steps in and shows off—lightning and thunder included!

It’s unexpected—and deeply encouraging.

Then there was another song of Dickerson’s that I couldn’t get out of my head. This was only a few days ago, after book three was published. 

Happened to Me is another huge hit of his, but very different from his other work. On the surface, it's just a fun breakup song. It went viral on TikTok. Catchy, cheeky. A song I’d normally enjoy and sing along to, but wouldn't necessarily dwell on.

But it got stuck in my head. All week. It even made me feel a bit teary. I couldn't work out why until one day it clicked. 

The song is about a woman on the run from a breakup and a guy who falls for her even though he knows she'll probably devastate him. He’s falling for her, taking every second he can while knowing this can’t go well.

Cue the facepalm. I can be dense sometimes.

That was essentially the back story of the characters I’d been living with for the past two months. 

The details in the song are different, but the mess of feelings is the same.

In A Very Merri Christmas, Liam met Merri right after she'd had a nasty breakup. He spent the next two weeks falling for her hard, then watched her pull back because it was too much, too fast. 

Six years of her being the one that got away—until a destination wedding and a snowstorm finally made them stop running.

It's a thrill when a song nails the emotional truth of something you wrote—like proof you tapped into something deeply human.

It was like it had been put there as an Easter egg for me to find. 

Totally unexpected.

But I digress…

Making Beautiful Work

Accidentally finding Christians lurking in creative places. Hearing how God breaks through for talented people creating, working, persisting, creating beauty and heart, and trusting God through the hard times. 

It shouldn’t be unexpected, but it is. 

It’s easy to put on blinkers and create a false dichotomy between the sacred and the secular and limit our understanding of what a Christian work is. 

There's a quote from philosopher Jacques Maritain that I love: 

"If you want to make a Christian work, then be Christian and make a beautiful work, into which your heart will pass. Do not try to make Christian."

Be a believer, make the best work you can, and infuse it with your heart. Who knows what the Lord will do with it?

Christian author and editor, Iola Goulton, recently wrote an article about this. I found these words from Covert and Crossover Christian Fiction empowering:

 "If you don't feel called to write Christian fiction, don't. Write to your calling. Trust that God's light will shine through in whatever you write. And trust that God will bring your words to the people who need to read them."

In that same article, Iola shared a story about a family who came to faith after the father read The Da Vinci Code—a book nobody would ever call Christian. He'd never heard of Jesus, but the novel sparked his curiosity. He researched, became a believer, and started bringing his family to church.

If God can use that, imagine what He can do with the words you and I are writing right now. He can bring fruit from work that doesn't have a label stamped on it. He can use songs and stories about love and life to soften hearts, to give courage, to stir hope, to remind someone they aren't alone. 

He can take mainstream US musicians and use them to encourage the faith of a writer in Australia. He can take the creative work you and I are called to do and carry it further than we can imagine.

If your call is to write Christian fiction. If your passion is to encourage Christians and create stories that outline the path to salvation, then please do so. Your words are needed. But if that's not you, that’s okay too.

The world needs your words, your heart and your hope.

Photo courtesy of www.svklimkin.com on Pixabay

Your Turn

Finding Christians in unexpected places over the last few weeks has been like finding a light left on the porch outside. It's hope. Our brothers and sisters are out there. Faith isn't confined to one section of the bookstore, or one playlist category, or one approved pathway.

God is at work—everywhere.

So here's my encouragement to you, especially if you're a Christian writer who sometimes wonders where you fit.

Write to your calling. Write with beauty, truth, and integrity. Pray over your work—not only for success, but for God to use your words in ways you will never see. Pray that it strengthens other believers who stumble across you out in the wild. Pray that it reaches people who would never pick up something labelled Christian, but who might still be hungry for hope.

You might never hear the results. That doesn't mean nothing happened.

You may be someone else's unexpected find.

Is there a "mainstream" song, movie, or book that has deeply encouraged your faith recently? Share the title in the comments below so we can add it to our reading/playlists!

__________________________________________________

If you’d like to explore more:

• Susan J. Bruce mysteries

• Holly Hartman romances 

• The Holly Hartman Christmas in Vermont Official Spotify playlist

Susan J. Bruce is a former veterinarian and self-confessed animal addict who writes mysteries with heart, humour, and plenty of fur. Find her binge-worthy Ruthless-the-Killer series at www.susanjbruce.com.

She also writes funny-with-feeling romantic comedy as Holly Hartman, where falling in love feels like finding home. Follow Holly Hartman on Amazon for swoony, emotionally rich, fade-to-black romance with small-town warmth, second chances, and excellent coffee instincts.

LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF OTHERS

I just spent an enriching day immersed in the wilderness of a deep gorge, with beautiful waterfalls, cascades, forests and fauna. What made it significantly enriching was not just the wonderful environment but the time spent hearing the tireless stories of this area's custodian, geographer and eldered mentor.

Often as authors and story tellers we are more interested in telling our stories to others than taking time to hear other’s stories. This may be true of us as authors, but it is often also the case when we are considering points of view in a world that has so many. What our world needs is some humble listening to help us navigate the monumental changes and fluxes happening across our planet and in the intimate realities of people. People who Jesus cares for.

Jesus demonstrated great listening by giving people his undivided attention, fostering trust, and validating their worth. I love the story of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Jesus didn’t just do all the talking. He listened patiently to her, providing a safe space for her to open up about her life and spiritual questions, allowing for a deep, unhurried conversation. In doing so he circumvented cultural norms and ignored his own needs to address her shame, fear, and spiritual hunger. In like manner when Jesus came across blind Bartimaeus (despite the crowd trying to silence him), Jesus heard him, stopped, and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus valued, affirmed and ‘saw’ Bartimaeus so he could fully give him agency in the healing that took place. This was modelled many times.

Listening to others' stories is important. It is crucial for fostering empathy (listeners can begin to relate to others as they recognise that the messenger has feelings and experiences just like them (Colgate 2008)). Listening to other’s stories catalyses our connection with others and takes our relationships to a deeper emotional level.  It helps to build stronger communities by creating closer relationships, trust, and empowerment and encouragement for others to tell their stories. Sharing in people’s personal stories helps others gain new perspectives, understand diverse experiences, and promotes personal and collective growth. We learn from each other’s journeys.

My wife and I are “Member Carers” involved in the vital work of helping to support mission individuals, couples, families and teams on the cutting edge of community development initiatives and humanitarian responses. We are bringing much needed care to those reaching the unreached.  Decades of Chaplaincy, pastoral care, community development and cross-cultural service have produced our unique skillset to help bring this care and support.  Simply listening to their stories is one of the most valuable assets we bring into this space.

We recently met face to face with many long-serving and new-to-field workers in restricted access areas. They face constant significant challenges to their own health, safety and the effectiveness of their operations. The personal cost of service for them encompasses insecurity, loneliness, physical risk, and heightened psychological burdens. Visiting them and providing care by our presence and listening has helped maintain their active service.

Robyn Fivush (2020), Professor of Developmental Psychology at Emory University and the director of the Family Narratives Lab confirms these sentiments: “Knowing how to listen to others’ stories is just as important as being able to tell your own story. When we listen, truly listen, to someone else’s story, we understand who they are in a new and different way, we hear their perspective, their interpretation, their understanding of the world and of themselves. Closely listening to others’ stories creates a shared moment of compassion.”

Colgate (2008) adds another powerful reason why it is important to tell our own stories so others can listen: it brings healing for us and sets others up for their own healing journeys. “As we recall our own stories, we begin to uncover old wounds, hurts and traumas. We also begin to identify the ways in which we have tried to cover over or to deny our pain. Then, by the gracious touch of Jesus and often with the help of a friend, we can experience healing and release. This whole process of healing, release and renewal has tremendous impact.”

I have learnt over the years (with all the cultural immersion and care work I have been blessed to be engaged in) that respecting the culture and history of peoples requires a wise acquiring. This is empowered by access, understanding and actioning of endemic communication methodology and storying that requires listening, adapting, and adopting creative methodologies.

An example of this are my relationships with Indigenous friends who have welcomed me like family. When I was considering the recent musings and discussions of Australia Day, I took time to reflect on the blessing of interactions and family connections with many ethnicities (my family were  immigrants in the 1800's and 1950's. English, German, becoming generations of Aussies) and multiple indigenous embracings.

I remember always caring, sometimes intense 'Aunties' sharing stories, welcoming, praying over, calling forth my formative, eyes-opened, heart-responsive, listening and learning, loving and growing, going and journeying in community, family, mates and markings. Nows and futures. Together. 'Uncles' doing likewise with practiced hands teaching to walk and talk the land, gather and collect, hear and hunt, treading, trusting, braving, sometimes slow, moving, mustering, making, moulding, and mentoring.

Lessons of humility stand out with stories of responsibility and storied teachings of reverence, sacred ways of giving thanks, awe of life and spirit, Creator and created, experiential teachings of giving, kindness, caring, justice, mercy and love, orality, oral pronouncements and wisened sayings by meaningful adult interactions. They are oral in spoken words as well as in songs, in utterances, and the sounds of sight and sounds of thoughts and feelings shared on journey together, perhaps gathering foods or hunting or wandering with purpose together on an adventure, sitting in the dust around a camp fire and simply being together, and sometimes this means sitting in silence for a long time and simply sharing space together in the presence of The Almighty.

I am humbled and honoured for their welcome. Thankful for teaching me and helping me listen. To see. I am glad we can join hands with all our diverse backgrounds to journey into our future together.

There are many other examples of relationships with many different peoples I could share of the vitality of listening.

Finally, when stories are shared to listening ears and hearts, they are spiritually powerful:

“We overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb” (Revelation 12:11).

It may even be considered to be a form of spiritual warfare as it is truth telling, helps to break down deception, and reveals Godly purposes, plans and prophetic insights therefore countering  isolation, judgment, and spiritual darkness. Honest testimonies and authentically hearing others, can help bring freedom, build hope and faith, and testify of God’s power.

Jesus took time to listen to people. Perhaps we can too.

Listening to others’ stories empowers their future story. I believe it is also a potent way for us as story tellers to have more powerful future stories.

My wilderness journey and storied immersions have changed my life. I hope your adventures in listening do too.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Colgate, J (2008) Relational Bible Storying and Scripture Use in Oral Muslim Context,

Fivush, R. (2020) Listening to Stories: The Power of Story Circles Story Circles build compassion and connection during challenging times. In Psychology Today. 

Lausanne  (2004) “Making Disciples of Oral Learners” Oral Communicators and Oral Cultures in the Lausanne Report (pages 14-18) Making Disciples of Oral Learners Can we in our day do for oral communicators what Gutenberg in his day did for literates? In Report from the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization Issue Group  Pattaya, Thailand. Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2004

Strauss, R. (2018) “Tell This Man We Were Sleeping” EMQ, October–December 2018, Volume 54, Issue 4, Missionexus Introducing-story-strategic-methods/

Unity in Volatile Times

 

I've been thinking about unity a lot lately, or perhaps disunity is the more correct word. Christians have always had different opinions on some elements of doctrine and practice, hence the emergence of difference denominations. Though hopefully, we agree on core aspects of our faith, often expressed in words such as the Apostle's Creed. 

God also gave us all different spiritual gifts, talents, personalities, and passions to serve Him in different spheres of influence. I think most of us have some idea of what that looks like in a church context, or at least what it should look like. We are all parts of the one body (1 Corinthians 12), we're called to 'make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace' (Ephesians 4:3, NIV) and we're to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). But what does that look like as Christian writers?

I should warn you that this post has more questions than answers. I am genuinely trying to work this out myself and I'd be interested to see how you're navigating this space. So here's my problem.

A Volatile World

In the last six years, I feel like the world has been in more upheaval than it has been for decades, perhaps even since World War II. With that upheaval has come a lot of issues that have polarised people, including those in the Christian community. It seems we all have different views on the COVID crisis, vaccinations in general, the war in the Ukraine, unrest in the Middle East, world politics, the Voice referendum, free speech and a host of other issues. There's nothing wrong with having different opinions. Yet sometimes we act in ways that make an enemy of the person with a different view. I've found myself reacting negatively to some social media posts, and then in turn, harbouring negative feelings towards the person who circulated that post. I know this is not how Christ would want us to behave towards each other, but what is the solution when we feel so strongly about certain issues? 

Separate the Person from the Idea of Action

One way is to remember first that the person is of great value. Afterall, Christ died for them even if we disagree with them. Funny that! He desires that all come to a saving knowledge of Him. However, that doesn't mean we don't challenge their idea or offer alternative viewpoints. Try to remember that it's the idea or opinion we don't agree with, and keep that as the focus rather than personal attacks. And also remember that we are to speak the truth in love, which doesn't always happen as it should within the Christian community.

Look for Common Ground

It might seem that people have very different ideas from us, but if we dig deeper, we can often see that there is some common ground. For example, we could find three Christians who are all concerned about the erosion of family values and want to see families strengthened. Yet those three people might approach that issue in completely different ways. One will run a marriage enrichment course in their church because they believe that a strong marriage is the key to a strong family. Another will be concerned about a particular issue that they feel is undermining family values (e.g., some content in the school curriculum), so they will lobby government, write letters to the editor, get petitions going and so on to try to get change made to that curriculum. Someone else might feel that there aren't enough opportunities for families to come together, so they'll organise community events that are suitable for the whole family. All concerned about the family, but all tackling the issues differently.

So next time it seems like someone has a very different idea to you, try to dig deeper and see what's driving that idea. Ask some questions to try to get behind their reasoning. You might have more in common than you think.

What If You Can't Agree?

Sometimes different ideas are incompatible and you won't be able to find that common ground. That's okay. You have to be true to what you believe God has called you to do. Are you meant to challenge the other person or let it go? (I feel a song coming on!). Are you meant to write about it? If so, how will you do that in a respectful way? Are you teachable and open to the idea that your own ideas might need to be challenged and change as well?

Prayer and Humility

Above all, are we willing to seek God's perspective, humble ourselves and repent where necessary, and write the words God would have us write in these challenging times? As writers, we don't just represent God with our words, but with our lives. We can't divorce what we would put in a book from what we put on Facebook. It's all a witness, whether in a way worthy of Christ or not.

Some Questions

So here are some questions to think about, and I'd love to hear your responses.

• What does it look like to have unity, yet diversity, within Christian writing circles?
• What does it look like to represent Christ as Christian writers at a time when Christians disagree with each other on a lot of topics?
• How can we bring hope to a hurting world when we are hurting as well?

Let's always remember that Jesus is the 'author and perfector of our faith' (Hebrews 12:2, NASB). Whether we write specifically for the Christian market or not, let's remember that we reflect Him in everything we write.

Sources

Featured photo by John Hain on Pixabay. NIV = New International Version and NASB = New American Standard Bible. 

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 books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.

All Things New

 

by Rebekah Robinson

I am a weird little person who likes Mondays. And mornings. And Januaries … it’s like opening a brand new journal with that fresh, clean page smiling at you, all inviting.

God makes us a powerful future promise in Revelation 21:3-5 ESV:

‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’

Speed the day, Lord! A world with no hurt? Forever in Your presence? Bring it on.

In the meantime … we have moments like New Year’s Day. We stop and consider how we might improve our corner of this old world, or our performance within it. We resolve to try harder, do better. Perhaps we even resolve to restfully trust in the grace of our Lord more fully.

I have goals for the year, and aspirations, but I am too old (and maybe too jaded) for resolutions. Most of us have enough going on without piling more expectations onto ourselves. A quiet continuance in the right direction is also to be commended: to keep going with that book, to remain embedded in the Word, to inch closer and closer to the heart of God, surrendering more fully every day (even days that are not Mondays!).

Time is a construct, and God is not particularly obligated to pay attention to the numbers on our calendars. But being the gracious Person He is, He does often play along. There’s no reason He can’t give us a boost on January 1^st. He’s not going to withhold blessing because ‘calendars are ridiculous.’ If a date means something to us, chances are, it means something to Him. We are, after all, immensely cherished!

We are headed for the new world without pain, the world where God moves in with us. Yet while we find ourselves still in this world, we have work to do, rest to enjoy, people to love. Win the lost, be the family, build the Kingdom. This is our window of opportunity, and as writers we squeeze meaning and metaphor out of everything that passes by. What a privilege it is! What will He show us next? His ingenuity is endless.

And so, whether you’re making resolutions or not – be encouraged. Take motivation from the clean slate of the newborn year, or simply Keep Calm & Carry On. Be blessed in 2026 with Jesus’s presence, inspiration and power, and remember His declaration in Matthew 28:20 NIV:

‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

Celebrating the Prince of Peace

 

If you’ve been in church circles for a while, you would have heard Isaiah’s prophecy about the Christ child many times.

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6)

The word translated as ‘peace’ in Isaiah 9:6 is ‘shalom’. Jewish people often use it as a greeting, but it has a broader meaning of ‘peace, completeness, welfare, well-being and prosperity’. A real blessing.

Yet many aren’t at peace this Christmas. The war is still going on in Ukraine and there are numerous hotspots around the world where violence and death are daily occurrences. Closer to home, we have just experienced our greatest terrorist attack on Australian soil, with the horrendous mass shootings during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Many also experience a lack of peace in their relationships with family, friends and colleagues; while others struggle with internal peace.

Has the Prince of Peace forgotten us? Is He powerless to stop the evil in the world and soothe our souls?

 A resounding, ‘No’! 

He has already won the battle over the powers of darkness and He is still active in our world. He still longs for us to experience His shalom.

Peace with God

First and foremost, Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost. We were far away from God, but Jesus died in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. If we put our trust in Him, we have peace with God and a new life through Him now and in eternity.

 

Peace in the World

Not many of us are in a position to directly affect world politics or engage in peace talks with feuding nations. However, we have God’s promise that one day there will be peace. In the Good News translation of the Bible, the section from verses 1 to 9 of Isaiah 11 has the subheading ‘The Peaceful Kingdom’. Jesus ‘will rule His people with justice and integrity’, and one day even ‘wolves and sheep will live together in peace’ (verses 5-6).

 

Peace with Others

Jesus has also given us a blueprint for living in peace with others. Confess our sins to one another, seek forgiveness and reconciliation where possible, see others as valuable in the eyes of God and treat them accordingly, serve others’ interests rather than our own, and so much more. We often fail, and sometimes the other person won’t budge, but their reaction is between them and God. As Paul urges us in Romans 12:18: ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’.

 

Peace Within Ourselves

When we look at the challenges we’re facing or consider the troubles in the world around us, it’s not easy to feel at peace. But the good news is that we don’t have to face our anxieties or fears by ourselves. Jesus wants us to have peace and He has given His Holy Spirit to help us. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27). 

It is not what the world views as peace. It is God’s peace—a peace that is beyond our human understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Final Thoughts

As writers, we have a unique opportunity to use our words to spread the message of peace and reconciliation that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. You might like to pray through the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, which reminds us that we are God's instruments; or offer God another prayer from your heart. May Jesus empower us with His Holy Spirit so we can partner with Him in bringing hope and healing to a hurting world. This Christmas, let's be channels of His peace as we celebrate the birth of our precious Saviour—the Prince of Peace.

 

 Sources

Main photo by Congerdesign on Pixabay. Author photo by Wayne Logan from Encouraging Photos.

Definition of  'shalom' from Lexical study on Bible Hub.

All scriptures taken from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.

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 books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.

 

Yep, times have changed

 

During a recent Grandparents’ Day at our youngest granddaughter’s school, I was definitely made to feel my age when her class asked what school was like for us.

‘We sat on forms – long wooden seats – behind long wooden desks that had holes for inkwells,’ I explained. ‘When we practised handwriting in our copybooks, we would use a pen and nib and dip the nib into the ink. We had to be careful not to make a big blot on the page!’

Their eyes rounded. But at least they did not ask the same question our granddaughter once asked me: ‘Nanna, when you were at school, did you use one of those things like a feather? Was it called a quill?’ Hmm. Imagine our grandchildren’s disbelief too when I showed them a small slate my father made me and a slate pencil I used in my first year of school in Queensland in the fifties!

We may complain about aspects of producing our manuscripts today as writers, but at least we do not have to use a quill and ink as Charles Dickens did – or my great-great-grandfather’s brother, R D Blackmore, as he wrote Lorna Doone in 1869! How did they do it? I well remember how long it took to write and rewrite by hand my many essays at university in the late 1960s. Thankfully, by the time I returned to study in the 1980s and again in the 1990s, things had changed. By then, we had a huge, old desktop computer at home – yay!

Things have changed too in the area of book promotion since the 1990s. When my first novel Heléna was released in 2007, while online promotion was vital (Amazon arrived in 1994 and Facebook in 2004), my then publisher ensured my novel also featured in the printed Christian bookstore catalogues mailed to subscribers, as well as in printed Christian magazines. Now the picture has changed indeed. These days, whether we have a traditional publisher or choose to self-publish, we need to be enthusiastic, innovative self-starters, willing to promote our own books as much as we can and to be as tech-savvy as we can.

Yep, times have changed – and those of us who are older may find this a challenge. Yet it is also interesting and even exciting to keep learning new things, don’t you think? And what a bonus too that, at the click of a button, we can promote our books far and wide rather than rely on print advertising only or word of mouth! But most wonderful of all to me is the fact that God surely did not make a mistake when calling us to write at this exact time in history. What a privilege, whatever the challenge, to be Christian authors in 2025 and beyond!

In the light of this then, could I suggest you take a moment now to stop, put your hands in your lap, breathe deeply and remember the Lord is with you and in you right where you are? Sit back and rest in his loving presence. Then, before moving on, thank him that he knows you intimately, has given you the desire and ability to write and will never leave you, whatever twists and turns your writing journey may take. The Lord is so faithful. May we in turn be faithful writers for him.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen is a Sydney-based author of seven novels and four non-fiction works. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked in teaching, editing and local church ministry. Jo-Anne loves encouraging others through both the written and spoken word and is a keen blogger. Jo-Anne’s books, including her latest, God Moments, is available via her website, Koorong Books and Amazon.

Side Quests and Finding an Audience

 by Jeanette O'Hagan

Brisbane Supanova 2025

A couple of weekends ago, Rendered Realms, aka, Jeanette O'Hagan, Lynne Stringer and Adele Jones had a table our seventh (or eighth) Brisbane Supanova (since our first one in 2017 & Covid in between).  In many ways, it's rinse and repeat  - we dress as characters in our story, we display our ever-expanding stock/inventory of books, we put up banners and posters, we hand brochures and bookmarks to interested patrons, we enjoy the creative display of cosplayers prarading past our table, we thrill at return customers and the friends we'd made over the years at the different pop-culture cons. 

This years had a different vibe for one reason only. As some excited customers exclaimed - they loved a sidequest. Those smaller filler quests that branch off the main quest line in a RPL (roleplaying) game. They also love bling.  Talking of side quests - let me backtrack :) 

To diverge - Finding an Audience

I started telling stories a long time ago. 

For many years they had an audience of one (me). Well, two, to inclule God who knows our thoughts before we do. At any stray moment, my characters would clamour in my head, telling me their adventures, suprising me with twists and turns along the way. Villains with backstories and redemptive arcs, new lands and new peoples, family dynamics and farflung journeys - which only I was privy to. I drew maps, invented an alphabet, made extensie genealogies, drew and painted pictures of different aspects of my world and its peoples. 

Until one day, a family friend challenged me to write the stories down for others to read. Soon, I was in search of an audience - readers who I hoped would love my world and characters as much as I did. 

Broadening my audience gave my stories more substance and structure. Instead of a rambling ever-branching, ongoing adventures, they started taking the form of short stories and novels. And instead of pleasing myself and allowing my daydreaming mind to roam where and when it will, I had to think seriously about audience expectations - target audience (Young Adult, Adult), genre (Fantasy, Science Fiction), story structure and style (point of view, show don't tell, strong prose, pacing etc).  

Writing the stories is the fun part. 

Editing them is necessary. I enjoy editing,  though I wish it didn't take five times longer than the actual writing. 

Getting the stories published has it's own challenges - finding a publisher, deciding between traditioanal publishing or Indie publishing, Hybrid etc, 

But the hardest thing about seeking an audience - is being noticed in the crowd. In other words, promotion and marketing. And whether we are trad published or  indie (self) published, we need to market our books so people can find them. 

Each year, 2.7 million books are added to Amazon.  And once a book is electroncially published, it's generally stays published. So in the hustle to find our readers, we are not just competing with all the new books out there, but everyone else's backlist - including all the republished classics from decades to centuries ago. 

When we look at the figures, it can be disheartening. 

There are various ways to find an audience - connecting with groups, schools, libraries, book clubs, social media, etc, collaborating with othe authors, competitions, giveaways, promotions, advertising, newsletters, street teams, etc 

One way, Adele, Lynne and I have found to connect with our potential readers is though Pop culture festivals like Supanova, Oz Comic Con, Fraser Pop, Comicgeddon. The people in cosplay streaming past our table are interested in our genres - science fiction and fantasy - and a good proportion of them are avid readers. Many of love supporting local and small arists and authors in artist alley. 

Even though many others are more interested in merch and art than books, these events attract crowds of people - tens of thousands with Supanova. If the book lovers are ten or even five perscent - that's a lot of people.  Enough to make the event worth while. And certainly, I know I  sell far more books through such events than through Amazon or Draft2Digital.

But each event,  I find I have to fight against the temptation to funnel down on how many sales I am making (have I covered costs). Each sale means either a new reader or someone who  has returned for the next book (both are fantastic). Having someone relieved to find our table after seraching for it beause they are desparate to buy book 2 (Rasel's Song), is magical. But it's not just the sales - it's the real connection we make with fans and other authors ,and being a presence, that is just as important.

A Wayward Dragon

So, back to sidequests,  what was different about Supanova this year?

Last November at Supanova, one of the authors had the birght idea to do a charity anthology open to all the authors at Supanova, to be launched at the 2025 Brisbane Supanova. Many of us thought it was a great idea. 

Each author wrote a short story set in the author's world - my story, of course, was set in Nardva.

Each story would include a palm-size dragon with a single gold coin hoard, whereever the coin went, so did the dragon. The dragon connected the stories, changing as he went from world to world. 

The book itself was shiny - a special edition with foil and dragon scales on the edges. Each author also got a small green dragon and a golden coin to display on their table. More than one person commented on the fact that they kept seeing the same book seemingly everywhere.

The book was a limited edition - only sold in print, only available through the authors. 

The book had a uniform price with a portion going to charity - over $1000 raised. 

Most of the authors were at the event (over ten) & those buying the book were encouaged to look out for the little green dragon and make sure they got as many signatures from the authors as possible.  This was a hit - a number of people were excited about this 'side quest' or treasure hunt (to find the other authors). 

We even had one 'roving author' with the dragon on his shoulder. 

Supa Hoard of A Wayward Dragon was a complete success. The only possible drawbreak was it may gave overshadowed our other books to some extent  - but not complerely.  We still sold our own books. And the whole experience strengthened connections with the other authors, added a buzz to the event, as well as attracting people to our table.

I wonder - what is our main quest, what is a sidequest. Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in a side-quest, and forget the main quest. 

For me, that's a reminder that, yes, I believe God has called me to write books so others might read and be blessed by them. And yes, I need to work towards gaining an audience through writing the best books I can and doing what I can to bring them to the attention of readers. Yet, in the end, it's not numbers or sales in themselvest that matter - but connecting with the audience God gives us and being a presence in a secular world. 

And now for a side quest, if you are up for it - how many times does the wayward dragon appear in the photos in this blog - answer in the comments below or on the FB page :) 

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Ruhanna's Flight and Other Stories, Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad’s Legacy series and more recently in Stepping Sideways and Supa Hoard of a Wayward Dragon. Her story in Stepping Sideways, 'In a League of Her Own' won the 2024 Aurealis Award for YA Short Stories.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and writing. She loves reading, painting, travel, and pondering the meaning of life. She lives in Brisbane.

Find out more about Jeanette at:

My Website | Facebook Author Page | Amazon | Books2Read | Goodreads