Change of Venue

She Reads has moved!! To better serve you the reader, we've created a new online home: www.shereads.org

Come on over and don't forget to bookmark the new site. We've got all sorts of fancy-shmancy new features, contests, giveaways, and book club perks.

Helpful Resources for those touched by domestic violence

I'm humbled that you've come here from the Proverbs 31 devotion to explore more about the issue of domestic violence, whether it be your experience or the experience of a friend. My husband and I have found ourselves in the middle of helping women get safe, and we've learned a little about the journey along the way. Take some time to explore some of the following resources available, and if you know of other great places that help victims of domestic violence, please share them in the comments section.

Warmly,

Mary E. DeMuth

For a further resources and a discussion on domestic abuse, visit the She Reads website: www.shereads.org

Related Articles:

• Daisy Chain Protecting the 'Least of These' from abuse

• Providing Shelter: The Church and Domestic Abuse

• An Ugly Secret: Domestic Violence in the Church

Books:

• Daisy Chain, by Mary DeMuth

• Angry Men and the Women who Love Them.

• No Place for Abuse: Biblical and Practical Resources to Counteract Domestic Violence

• Keeping the Faith: Guidance for Christian Woman Facing Abuse

Online resources:

• Share your family secret anonymously

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: http://www.ndvh.org/

• Hagar's Sisters, a community of women supporting each other.

• Focus Ministries.

• Safe Haven Ministries.

For friends of those who are battered:

• Article: The Silent Epidemic
  

• Book: Domestic Violence, What Every Pastor Needs to Know
  

Change of Venue

Time for the big announcement: She Reads has moved!! To better serve you the reader, we've created a new online home: www.shereads.org

Come on over and don't forget to bookmark the new site. We've got all sorts of fancy-shmancy new features, contests, giveaways, and book club perks.

Reading and Discernment - Part One

The newest Harry Potter movie released this summer. Truth be told, I'd love to go see it. But my husband loathes all things Harry Potter and I really don't like going to the movies by myself, so I'll wait until I can convince a friend to go with me.

I mention this because I had an interesting conversation with a friend about Harry Potter recently. A friend so close I consider her family - a unique blend of sister, mother, and aunt. I adore her. And yet we don't always agree about which books Christians should, or should not, read. My friend thinks that Harry Potter definitely falls in the "should not" category.

On one hand I think she has some valid reasons: heavy subject matter, focus on the occult, homosexual undertones (or so says the author - I didn't detect that theme when I read them).

But I disagree on the overall blanket statement that the books are "Bad."

And it got me thinking about why Christians don't read certain books. And if we don't read a book, can we really have an honest opinion about it?

I, for one, love the Harry Potter series. They sit on my bookshelf right next to the Narnia Chronicles. As an author I live and minister in the world of publishing. I read many things that don't support my world view or affirm my faith. And yet I am able to recognize great writing, great premise, and great content even in books that some would find offensive. If I want to authentically share my faith then I have to take an authentic interest in what others read and write. That's what it means to be in my world.

I love books and I love the people who write them, even if they hate Jesus.

So what is a good reason NOT to read a book?

A dear friend of mine has chosen not to read romance novels by Nicolas Sparks because they create unrealistic expectations in her marriage. Her marriage. She made that decision after reading a few of his books and realizing that they created discontentment. Yet she does not place value judgments on the books or the author. They simply are not good for her. In my opinion, that is a good reason not to read a book.

I made a new friend several weeks ago who has chosen not to read the Harry Potter books because her mother got pulled into the occult and she witnessed first hand the damage that occurred. She has a deeply personal reason for not reading those books. In my opinion, that is a good reason for not turning those pages.

Yet I also have a friend who will not read any books that challenge her faith out of fear they will entice her away from Christ. I don't think fear is a good reason to do, or not to do, something. Doubts should serve to strengthen our faith, not weaken it, as George MacDonald says:

"If perhaps your belief is but the shallow absence of doubt, then you must ask yourself a question: do you love your faith so little that you have never battled a single fear lest your faith should not be true? For what are doubts but the strengthening building blocks toward summits of yet higher faith in Him who always leads us into the high places? Where there are no doubts, no questions, no perplexities, there can be no growth into the regions where He would have us walk. Doubts are the only means through which He can enlarge our spiritual selves."

As a discerning reader, I do not fear books or authors that challenge my worldview. Nor do I fear the doubts they may create should I tarry a little too long. I fear God, and that is the beginning of wisdom.

Yet, in all things, there is a balance. I choose NOT to read books, myself. Sometimes out of principle, sometimes out of preference. But do I have a right to place judgment on a book I have not read? Is it intellectually honest if I do?

So how do reading and discernment blend? How do we take a look at a words on a page and separate the wheat from the chaff? Ernest Hemingway was a master wordsmith. He played with words in a way that few people can. And yet I disagree with his worldview and have been troubled by the content of his stories. I can appreciate his writing without becoming obsessed with death the way he was. I can read the Harry Potter series and have no interest in the occult. I can read the DaVinci Code without it threatening my faith in the deity of Christ. And in the process of all that reading I can have an honest discourse with others who read them. I can read them (all of those books sit on my shelf right now) but I don't have to. And neither does any other Christian.

I think it is perfectly fine not to read a book. But we must evaluate our motives: conviction or fear. And even then, personal preference comes into play.

How do you think reading and discernment blend? What are the reasons you have chosen not to read a book?

Let me know by leaving a comment, and we'll pick up this conversation later in the week with part two of Reading and Discernment.

A Case Of Life Imitating Art?

As soon as Ariel mentioned Laura Ingles in her interview below, it go us thinking. Could this be a case of life imitating art?

Creepy, huh?

What say you?

Ariel Allison Spills The Beans

The SheReads team caught up to author Ariel Allison amidst her usual chaos: children, laundry, and a big black lab named Maggie, who we hear plays soccer - but that's another story.

First things first, you had an unusual childhood. Can you tell us about it? And how it influenced you as a writer?

My childhood was spent atop the Rocky Mountains in a home with no electricity or running water (think Laura Ingles meets the Hippie Movement). We didn’t have television in our home until I was almost twelve so we had to find alternative forms of entertainment. For well over a decade my mother read to us by the light of a kerosene lantern. By the time I was five years old I knew every character in the Chronicles of Narnia by name. As far as I was concerned, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, L.M. Montgomery, and Charles Dickens were household names.

My mother loved books and she loved to read them to her children. I owe my passion for the written word to her alone. I first learned how powerful stories can be while curled up next to a pot belly stove during snowstorms. Even at a young age I understood that Aslan was a type of Jesus, and because I loved Aslan I later came to love Jesus. So I longed to write stories that had meaning and purpose. That desire never wavered through the years.

Tell us about your family.

Eight years ago I married the best-looking, blue-eyed, dimpled-Texan you’ve ever met. In that time we’ve managed to have four boys: London (6), Parker (4), Marshall (2), and Colby (8 months). I often wish that my kids were sedate but the truth is that they have two speeds: running and asleep. As such, I have learned to embrace life on fast forward. The energy level and noise level in our home is insane, and I am often drowning in mind-numbing amounts of camouflage. Friends have dubbed my house the “Testosterone Zone.”

Which reminds me, I need an estrogen fix. Girl trip, anyone?

What inspired you to write eye of the god?

In the Spring of 1995, I stumbled across an article in Life Magazine on the Hope Diamond. The two-page spread showed Michelle Pheiffer wearing the jewel and gave a brief history of the legendary curse. I knew instantly that it should to be a novel. Being the curious gal that I am, I dug around and was surprised to find that although most people were familiar with the curse, no one had done anything with the concept. So I began researching and writing. That was fourteen years ago this spring.

How do you develop your characters?

This may sound a little odd, but I always come up with the title and premise for my novels first. And then my characters spring out of that concept. For instance, I knew instantly that eye of the god was the title for this book and I knew that I wanted to explore the legendary curse. But who were these cursed people? Half of that answer came from history, but the other half was found in my imagination. What kind of person would become obsessed with a big blue rock? Why?

Do parts of your book come from real-life experiences? If so, please tell us about them.

The main character, Abby Mitchell, has a very broken relationship with her father. Unfortunately, that is something I know a great deal about. My dad died five years ago and I had to ask him on his deathbed if he loved me. So I was intrigued by the idea of a woman who would do anything to gain her father’s love – even if it meant betraying her own values.

In addition, my little sister is named Abby, and in many ways, the character in this book is a combination of the two us – both physically and emotionally. It was fun to cherry pick bits and pieces of my sister and I, stir them all together, and come up with this imaginary person.

With so much going on, when do you write?

Whenever I can: before my children wake up, while they nap, or after they go to bed. Once we had our fourth child it became increasingly difficult to keep a consistent writing schedule. So these days I give it to God in the morning and ask that He provide the moments I need. And he always does. I keep my laptop open on the island in my kitchen so it’s always there when I need to jot down a thought, a snipit of dialogue, or a quick scene. It has become part of the ebb and flow of my daily life instead of something I set apart at certain times. I’m sure things will change as the dynamics of my family shift.

Novels tend to give readers “time to escape.” Have you ever felt this escape while writing?

That is the moment every writer strives for – when thought and creativity blend seamlessly on the page and the story unfolds right before you. I had a number of those moments while writing this novel – when you know you’ve gotten it “right.” I can still read those passages today and get an electric feeling in my fingertips. They are the parts that practically wrote themselves, the parts that have gone unchanged through each draft and the editing process. One passage in particular is committed to memory because I know it was told exactly the way it should have been. I remember where I was when I wrote it (a green velvet chair at Starbucks), what I was drinking (white chocolate mocha), and how I got goose bumps as the words spilled onto my laptop. My prayer is that it translates to the reader and they feel that same sense of belonging to the story.

Do you write yourself into any of your characters? If so, does your family know who you are?

I think every writer does that whether consciously or not. There are bits and pieces of me in each character: hopes, dreams, struggles, sin, fear. As creative people, writers mimic God in the way he created. To a certain extent, I think we all make our characters “in our own image.”

I think my family would recognize pet phrases and mannerisms, but wouldn’t be able to point to a specific character.

Tell us about your hometown or where you grew up and how that place has impacted your writing.

Taos, New Mexico. Hippie capitol of the world (in my opinion at least). New Mexico is called “The Land of Enchantment” for a reason. And my hometown in particular attracts people who are drawn to the quirky, the artistic, the unusual. I think growing up in a place like that allowed me to see life a bit differently – to experience a certain amount of diversity that falls far from the beaten path. Artists. Native Americans. Woodstock Rejects. Environmentalists. And I think I’m better for it.

How much research did you do for your book to lend it credibility?

Oh my. I easily spent as much time researching as I did writing. Years. Because I tell four different stories in one novel, I basically had to do four times the research. On one had I had to understand security procedures at the Smithsonian Institute and on the other I had to delve into the intricacies of the French Revolution. Then I’d thumb through books on 17th century India and 1920’s Washington D.C. It was both exhausting and rewarding.

Readers love to identify with characters and want them to do the right thing. Do you feel a responsibility to give your readers what they want?

I feel the responsibility to tell the truth. Sometimes people don’t do the right thing. The truth is, sometimes I don’t do the right thing. Or my readers for that matter. I’ve yet to see a life where all the loose ends tie up neatly at the end. I want my stories to reflect real life: the hard choices and the heartbreak. But I do want to portray hope and redemption in the process. My job as a writer is to give my readers what they need, not what they want.

What is your all-time favorite movie?

The Princess Bride, hands down. I’ve read the book (shocking, I know – most people don’t even know there is a book) and I have the entire movie committed to memory…“Stop rhyming now, I mean it!”…“I do not think that word means what you think it means”… “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!”

My husband flat out refuses to watch it with me. I just can’t help reciting it line by line.

It’s a disease.

Do you have pets?

Last year I found a Black Lab puppy on my doorstep two hours after I’d told God, “If we’re supposed to have a dog You will drop one on my doorstep.” (I was six months pregnant and not in the best mood) We named her Maggie and she has managed to worm her way into our hearts while destroying most everything we own. She’s eighty pounds of hyper, slobbering, puppy love. And the only other girl in the house besides me.

What are you working on now?

At the moment there are fifteen novels in various stages of development tucked away on my hard drive. The two that I am concentrating on at the moment both involve mysteries: one from Shakespeare and one from 1930’s New York City. But you’ll have to wait for details.

Susan Meissner, Interviewed

Hi Susan, thanks for joining us to talk about our SheReads pick: Shape of Mercy. We are honored to have you join us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your family?

I am a pastor’s wife, mom to four wonderful young adults – a daughter and three sons ages 24 to 16– and I work part-time at my church as director of small groups and connection ministries. I love the ocean and the mountains – am rather schizophrenic about my admiration and devotion to both so I’m glad I am a native Southern Californian where one is a few miles one way and the other a few miles the other way. I love books, bookstores, coffee shops inside bookstores and the smell of bookstores. My husband and I recently returned to Southern California after living away for 21 years, most recently in Minnesota, but also in Arkansas, England, and Germany. It’s good to be back home. In addition to being a pastor, my husband Bob is a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves.

How did you get started writing?

I would have to say that God, the wildly creative Author of our souls, has taught me more about the art and power of story than anyone. He placed within my life wonderful teachers in both elementary and high school who saw promise in me and made a point to encourage me, even though I didn’t do any serious writing until my mid-thirties. I’ve learned more about the human condition and what we long for from being in relationships and observing relationships, rather than a particular course of study, though I highly recommend studying the art of writing. God knows everything, sees everything, understands everything. And this is what all novelists attempt. We try to make sense of the world we see through story. My primary tutor for this has always been God. I learned the art of disciplined writing from working for ten years in community journalism. Those ten years as a reporter and then editor taught me so much about making every word count.

You have been writing Christian fiction for awhile. How many books did you write before you wrote The Shape Of Mercy?

The Shape of Mercy is my tenth novel. All but three are contemporary stand-alones. I wrote a mystery series a couple years back for Harvest House, which was very enjoyable to create, but stand-alones are my wheelhouse, I think.

How have you seen the Christian fiction industry change since you began writing?

In the last five years we have seen Christian fiction expand into nearly every genre, and at last garner the respect of secular reviewers. That, to me, is incredibly good news. We have extremely talented Christian-world-view writers producing everything from suspense thrillers to speculative to literary fiction. This isn’t just great news for Christian novelists, but also for readers looking for great stories without R-rated themes and dialogue. Those great stories can now be found in every genre. It’s fantastic news, really.

What prompted you to write The Shape Of Mercy?

I read a newspaper article a couple years ago about a woman who was petitioning a Massachusetts court to exonerate her great-times-eight grandmother. This ancestor of hers was accused and convicted of witchcraft during the Salem trials, was released when the hysteria ended, but whose name was never cleared. This article was of particular interest to me because I had played the role of an innocent girl accused of witchcraft when I was in junior high school. I was reminded of how it felt, even just as an actress, to be accused of being something I was not - and the far worse feeling of accusing someone I knew was innocent. These people who died in 1692 Salem were all innocent. They all died refusing to confess they were in league with the devil. They held onto truth to the point of death. That, to me, is incredibly inspiring. The three women in my story have three very basic things in common. They are all daughters of influential men, all raised as an only child, and each one must decide who they are. Are they women who stand for the truth even if they stand alone or do they let fear propel them to do what the crowd says to do, even if the crowd is wrong?

Did you have a purpose for the book-- something you wanted the readers to take away from the experience of reading it?

When I begin to write a book, I usually have a takeaway in mind for my reader beyond just entertainment. I wouldn’t say my books are message-driven, but I think it’s worth noting that every book – not just Christian books – has a message of some kind within its pages. Even Green Eggs & Ham has a message within it. The Salem Witch Trials reveal rather poignantly how rushed judgments and fear can bring out the worst in us. Everyone who was executed in Salem in 1692 was later exonerated. Hysteria, not reason, ruled the day for those long months when innocent people were accused of horrible acts. It didn’t matter how long or how loud the accused proclaimed their innocence. In Salem, you were whatever the crowd said you were. I could have chosen Dachau as the setting. Or Rwanda. Salem wasn’t the first setting people died because the crowd accused them of deserving death and no one stood up to say, “Now hold on there.” I guess I’d like every reader, after they’ve turned the last page, to consider how quick they are to embrace snap judgments, even so-called harmless ones, based on groupthink.


In The Shape of Mercy, Lauren encounters a diary written during the Salem Witch Trials. How much research on this time period did you have to do to create Mercy's diary?

I wrote the diary first; before I wrote anything else. I read several different kinds of books on the Salem Witch Trials - all listed in the back of the book – to prepare myself mentally to step into 1692. I interview my characters before I write, so I already had several imaginary conversations with Mercy Hayworth before I began to write the diary. I knew how she was wired, what she excelled at, what she feared, what she was willing to do for the people she loved. I didn’t come across any other diary in my research other than a fictional one written for school-age kids. But the testimonies of the accused can all be found on the Internet. I found particular inspiration from Rebecca Nurse and Mary Easty, hung as witches and later exonerated – both of whom were brave believers who refused to confess to an allegiance with the devil.

You recently won an award for The Shape Of Mercy. Can you share about that experience?

The Shape of Mercy was named the 2009 Christian Book of the Year for Fiction by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Hearing my name at the awards ceremony in Dallas was surreal. I was among a talented group of finalists and was floored to be announced the winner. It was incredibly affirming to me to have this book recognized in this way. I struggle from time to time with confidence. It’s nice to have a significant pat on the back once in awhile to let me know I am putting out something of value.

What are you working on now?

Next month “White Picket Fences” will release, which is a story about a family that seems to have the perfect iconic life. Perfect house, perfect jobs, perfect neighborhood, perfect everything. But they live on the same fallen planet as the rest of us and suffer the same flaws. To pretend all is well when all is not is to doom yourself to a life of pretense and disappointment. We need to be honest about who we are and Who we must run to for help, healing and hope. I included as a historical thread the amazing heroes of WWII’s Warsaw Ghetto, who risked everything to smuggle children away from certain death.

What is something you are excited about in your writing future?

I just finished a manuscript for WaterBrook called “Lady in Waiting,” which dovetails the historical account of Lady Jane Grey (she was queen of England for nine days, at the age of sixteen) with a woman in present-day Manhattan at a major crossroads in her life. That book releases in the fall of 2010. I learned so much about what it means to choose to love in the writing of this one. I am anxious to share those thoughts with my readers.

Thanks so much for sharing with us and we hope to hear lots more from you in the future!

My pleasure! For those who enjoyed The Shape of Mercy and want to continue spending time with these characters, I have a character blog where Lauren, Clarissa, Abigail, Esperanza and even Mercy write the posts. It’s been active for over a year, so you will need to head to the archives to pick up where the story leaves off. Here’s the address:

http://theshapeofmercy.blogspot.com

You can purchase The Shape of Mercy here!