by Andrea Christenson, @AndreaC_Author
Recently I interacted with a man who runs a small publishing company. When he heard I was an author, he asked what I wrote and would he have read anything by me?
“Contemporary Romance,” I said.
“Oh.” His smile dimmed. “I haven’t read fiction for almost ten years.”
“And, I bet you’re not going to start up again by reading romance.” I gave him a wink and a smile to show that I was unbothered by his statement. And, truthfully, I was unbothered.
Kind of.
The fact that I am still working out my feelings by writing this blog post probably says more about whether or not his statement affected me than I’d like it to! I wish I’d had more time to talk with that man in order to have a more thorough understanding of why he chooses not to read fiction. Or, at least, have an opportunity to discuss why I’ve chosen fiction as my arena.
If I could have a conversational do-over, this is what I would have said…
Why I write fiction:
- It gives me an opportunity to explore ideas and experiences I normally wouldn’t encounter. Fiction is a great door into understanding other people and where they are coming from. It can be more easily accessible than a non-fiction dissertation on a topic. I connect more easily to a character and how they handle a problem than reading a three step process on how to deal.
- I get to make stuff up. Sure, there are rules to follow, and I don’t write fantasy or anything, but much of what ends up on the page was first birthed in my own head. (I guess maybe that makes me a little egotistical?? Oops, maybe I shouldn’t admit this one.)
- I don’t have to be an expert. Part of the fun of writing a new character is looking into the things said character would need to know about. This usually includes a deep dive into subjects I’d never considered before, while not needing to be an expert in any of them. I’ve enjoyed learning how to rappel down a cliff, create organic soap, field dress a leg wound, and transport a wedding cake among other skills needed in my books.
- I can reach a broader audience. As a Christian writer, I want to infuse my books with a hope only available through a relationship with God. I pray I never cross the line into proselytizing or otherwise being preachy in my writing, but I do want to include things that are personal to my faith. Sometimes a reader who would never pick up a Christian self help style or Bible study book will pick up one of mine.
There are probably as many reasons to write in any given genre as there are authors who write. I’m curious. Why do you write what you write? Do you ever feel you have to defend your position?
He just wants to erase his past. She can’t seem to escape hers. But facing it might put their future in jeopardy.
The day Jack Stewart walked out of jail, he vowed to keep his conviction a secret. The whole thing was just a terrible mistake, and he did his time. Now he wants a new life in a sleepy town where no one knows his name. Deep Haven is the perfect place to start over as a chef. The last thing the former pararescue jumper wants is to get involved. But when Boone Buckam—the guy he owes for getting him out of the slammer—asks for help, how can he refuse?
Colleen Decker has already escaped evil once—as a teenager, she was kidnapped by a murderer. But she’s put all that behind her as a trauma nurse in Minneapolis. Or maybe not, because a freak mistake in the ER sends her past crashing down on her. She needs a timeout in her hometown of Deep Haven. She doesn’t plan to stay—even when she’s roped into the job of flight nurse for the town’s Crisis Response Team chopper. Colleen’s not sure why she’s drawn to danger, but she’ll be safe enough—after all, she’ll need training, and her teacher is a handsome former pararescue jumper. What could go wrong?
When Jack said he didn’t want to get involved, he especially meant his heart—but being with Colleen feels like a fresh start. He’ll even climb aboard a chopper again, despite his vows. They’re headed for a happy ending…
But secrets never stay buried in a small town. And when disaster strikes one snowy night, they’ll both have to decide if the past will destroy them…or if it just might lead them home.
Cozy up to this perfect Deep Haven drama about discovering a season of second chances.
Andrea Christenson lives in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix—though not usually all at the same time. You can connect with Andrea on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on her website www.AndreaChristenson.com