Authors Who Have Influenced My Writing

This week, I was considering the need to de-clutter my house. Closets, drawers, entire rooms...

I even told my husband that I might need to downsize my library. (Gasp! I know!)

I have hundreds of books. A couple thousand, probably. And I'm always up for acquiring a few more, so pausing to think about which books I could 'do without' had me puzzled. How could I part with these stories...these AUTHORS...who had meant so much to me?

Obviously these aren't mine, because these
are in much too nice a condition. :)

How could I give away my Little House on the Prairie books? My copy of paperbacks is tattered from being read so often. If I was ever to give them up, it would be because I received a hard cover set with dust jackets.

Laura Ingalls Wilder influenced my writing by showing me that a little girl who once lived in Kansas could grow up to be a writer.

These are but a handful of L'Amour's many books.

What about my collection of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour books? Could I shed a few of those? Um...no.

Louis L'Amour taught me about how to increase the tension in a story and never let up. Zane Grey taught me about description and about the "Code of the West" which is really just that right is right and wrong is wrong.

One of the most respected mystery/thriller writers ever!

Then there are the two entire shelves of Dick Francis books. Dick Francis was a British steeplechase jockey-turned-author who wrote amazing mysteries. He became the benchmark for fast-paced, detailed, and high-stakes mystery fiction, and he won too many awards to list here.

Dick Francis taught me about the power of first-person writing, compelling looks into worlds not my own, and the art of the TWIST ending! He also broke into my sheltered little world and showed me that people live by codes other than my own. He broadened my horizons and my mind.

The author who as influenced me the most!

Then there is Essie Summers. Essie is the author who has influenced me the most. She was a minister's wife in New Zealand, and one of Mills & Boon/Harlequin's first Rock Star authors. She sold millions of books worldwide from 1957 to 1997. She wrote in one of the dedications of her books that she had ceased responding to each and every bit of fan mail sent her way, because she realized if she stopped, she would have time to write a whole extra book a year, and she thought her readers would prefer that. What a professional!

Essie taught me that romance doesn't have to be steamy scenes. That family connections in fiction and cross-over characters are very appealing in fiction. That a story's setting can become a character in and of itself. 

So, after perusing my bookshelves, I think I'll start the decluttering somewhere else. There's always the closet under the stairs, and that utensil drawer in the kitchen. :)

How about you? What authors have influenced you over the years? What are some books with which you could never willingly part?

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Less than 90 days until release!!! Available for pre-order now!!! (<----- Click there!)

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she is married to her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!

Faith and Fiction Bible Study

Happy Friday, Seekers! Carrie here.

Forgive me for being late with this post today - I blame post-CFRR brain fog ;) 

Today I am honored to host a blogging friend of mine, Beckie Burnham, from By the Book! I love Beckie's blog, and if you haven't yet checked it out you really must.

She's here today to talk about her Faith and Fiction Bible Study/Book Club, which I think is one of the BEST ideas EVER...

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“Just because it isn’t real, doesn’t make it not true.”

That is my standard answer when someone says *gasp* they don’t read fiction because it is not real. This maxim is especially true for Christian Fiction. I am an avid reader, a book-pusher, who manages to work books and reading into just about every conversation and activity. When my church’s book club was looking for something a little different to pique interest and encourage attendance, we came up with a combo book club/Bible study. I had just read Charles Martin’s Long Way Gone and knew that this excellent reimagining of the Prodigal Son would be just the thing for our new experiment. When it was met with great enthusiasm the Faith And Fiction Bible Study was born. Studying the Bible plus reading fiction — what could be better!?

The Faith And Fiction group always chooses Christian fiction to accompany its study of scripture. Christian fiction is not only unique in its world view, but CF authors are committed to excellence in writing and research and producing a work that not only entertains, but is written with an audience of One in mind. Across many genres, truths are expressed in unique ways. With hundreds of books to choose from, my group is set for many more studies to come.

From the earliest days our goal was to study the Bible first, but the addition of a complimentary novel has opened our imaginations to dig even deeper into the Word. We have chosen a number of Biblical novels to accompany scripture study — Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith and Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt are just two. Other genres have also offered extraordinary insight into the stories of the Bible, but application in a modern world — How Sweet The Sound by Amy K. Sorrells and For Such A Time by Kate Breslin. Whether we are studying a specific Biblical figure (Miriam by Mesu Andrews) or broader topics like the the healing ministry of Jesus (Madman by Tracy Groot), the novels we have chosen add details of life that we sometimes overlook while reading our Bibles. We find ourselves questioning and researching to ferret our what is truly real. Creative twists are also a wonderful surprise. Many of us were forced from our reading comfort zones when we studied the role of Old Testament prophets and lost ourselves in the fantasy world of Prophet by R. J. Larson.

The format of Faith And Fiction is quite simple. We meet once a week for three weeks of Bible study, and then on the fourth week we have book club. Those book club meetings are great for discussing the usual — character, plot, setting — and also what God was and is up to! Food often plays a role in book clubs, and our group is no exception. We have had middle eastern honey cake, lentil stew, and Hamantashcen to add our own bit of authenticity and fun.

What do you need to start a Faith And Fiction Bible Study / Book Club of your own? Just a love of books and the Book. The following are the topics/people we have studied and the novels we read. Along with the novels listed, there are many, many more CF to choose from.

Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt

For Such A Time by Kate Breslin (Esther)

How Sweet The Sound by Amy K. Sorrells (Tamar)

The Legend of Sheba by Tosca Lee (Solomon and the Queen of Sheba)

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin (The Prodigal Son)

Madman by Tracy Groot (healing ministry of Jesus)

Miriam by Mesu Andrews (Miriam and Exodus)

On This Foundation by Lynn Austin (Nehemiah)

Prophet by R. J. Larson (Old Testament prophets)

Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith (Jacob and Rebekah)

Reign by Ginger Garrett (Ahab and Jezebel)

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Beckie Burnham is a wife, mom to grown kids, and an avid book pusher! A blogger of Christian fiction for almost 10 years, she also leads two book clubs, one of which combines Bible study and a fiction discussion (Faith And Fiction Bible Study). When not reading books (when is that really?!?) she enjoys spending time at her cabin in the north Georgia mountains.  

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What are some other books you think would be great candidates for a Faith & Fiction Bible Study? (tell us the book & what theme it would be great for)

Have you participated in something similar?
How does this appeal to you as an author? As a reader?