Posts Tagged ‘Christian Fiction’

5
Feb

I Believe in Christ

   Posted by: DaronFraley    in My Writing Life, Spiritual Thoughts

Writing. Editing. Website maintaining. Blogging. Networking. Preparing. Stressing. Worrying.

I have been so busy for the past few months in preparation for my book release that I have nearly forgotten why I feel compelled to write. As I was doing some site maintenance this evening, I came across a recent comment from one of my blog followers. I hope she doesn’t mind me bringing attention to her comment, but Krista said: “Angel’s Song gave me chills”. That statement really grabbed me.

I had just recently finished editing that story with my editor at Valor, Tristi Pinkston, and so the mechanics of it were still in my mind. Why did the story affect Krista that way? I wondered.

So I went to my website page to were it is, and I read it. This time for enjoyment. Funny thing–it gave me chills too. Why? Because it is an extension of my own testimony or witness of Christ. The feelings which I felt and wanted to convey when I wrote the story, flooded back to me.

I know that Christ lives! There is no doubt in my mind that He, under His Father’s direction, created this Earth and the universe in which we find ourselves. He is my King. He is my Savior. As a hen which gathers and protects her chicks under her wings, He loves me, and He loves you.

For all of the self-important biblical “scholars” out there, those few who deny His divinity, who claim that the Bible is merely a historical document full of fable telling of men who are long since dead, and also for all the others who deny the very existence of God because they have forgotten what it feels like to hear His voice in their hearts . . . I say to you: You are wrong. Christ lives. He paid the debt of the Fall, and performed an eternal, infinite, Atonement. He took up His body, now glorified and perfected beyond all description, never to lay it down again.

If you no longer feel His comforting presence in your lives, it is not because God is dead. It is because YOU left HIM. But His arms are stretched out still, and He calls to you to come back into His fold.

Is there any wonder why children easily believe? Coming from the presence of God into this life, they are not yet too far removed from that prior existence to forget. It is the youth and the adults of the world who crush that innate belief. Through sin and disobedience and denial, they smother the very lights of heaven which had previously touched their souls.

I believe in Christ. I trust Him. He always keeps His promises. As the God of the Old Testament, even the Great Jehovah, Christ has always cared for Israel, His children. He has said that His children, those who He calls the children of Israel, are those who are willing to covenant with Him. His children are those who believe and keep His commandments. It really is that simple. Have you forgotten what His influence feels like? Then test Him. Believe. Follow. Try to keep His commandments. Then you will once again feel His influence in your life.

This is why I write what I do. It is because I believe.

I know who my readership and audience will be. My books . . . my stories . . . are written from my heart. They are a written witness to what I believe in my heart, even down to the depths of my soul. I hope that they will touch the hearts of many, especially the youth of this world, who are desperate for clean, uplifting stories which can help them to know who they are, why they are here, and where they are going.

This is why I write.

Thanks be to the Lord for His grace and His love for me, and for the talents He has blessed me with. May I always be worthy of His help in this fantastic journey.

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4
Feb

Prologue and Chapter One for “The Thorn”

   Posted by: DaronFraley    in My Books

I am excited to let you know that I finally have both the Prologue and Chapter One for “The Thorn” on the website! Hurry on over and take a peek!

You can get there by clicking on “READ” in the menu bar, or on this link:

http://www.daronfraley.com/read

Come back here and let me know what you think!

For those of you who are interested, I have a link in the sidebar with a picture of the book cover where you can pre-order the book. Or, you can go here (the order button is on the bottom of the Valor web page):

http://www.valorpublishinggroup.com/Books/the-thorn.php

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5
Nov

Can a Mormon write Christian Fiction?

   Posted by: DaronFraley    in Spiritual Thoughts

Those of you who follow this blog know that I have a book being released in March with Valor Publishing. The book is categorized as Speculative Fiction because of the setting and subject matter. But in my mind, the book also touches an area which book sellers call Christian Fiction. There are references to Jesus Christ in the book. Lots of them. In fact, the entire premise of the story is that there is a world peopled with believing souls, most of which recognize that there will be a Savior born, and that in time He will come to them as their King–much like what we are expecting in a Second Coming here on earth, but for them, it will be a first coming–and they know He will be born, and suffer, and die, and rise again. Just not on their planet. 

If you would like to read the book back-liner for the story, click on BOOKS when you get to my website:  http://daronfraley.com

Curiosity about how the Christian market will receive this book–one that has a unique but almost Old Testament feel to it–has been on my mind almost constantly since I got my publishing contract with Valor Publishing. It is hard to tell what will be said about it until the book is actually released. I suspect that there will be those Christians out there who will automatically reject the book on the grounds that I am LDS (Mormon). That much I can expect.

But for those who do not automatically reject it, I wonder: Are Christian Fiction readers going to be willing to entertain a captivating story which celebrates the purpose and mission of Jesus Christ as an underlying theme, if the author is Mormon?

What do you think?

I am looking for honest, straight-forward conversation here. Please be kind. I respect the beliefs of others, so I would appreciate it if comments are given in such a way that people of all faiths are comfortable and not offended by those comments.

One last item. If you have any doubts as to how I might feel about Christ as my Savior, please read my short story “WATER”.  I wrote that story as a personal, worshipful expression. It can be found here under the subject “Short Stories”, or you can find it on my website under “READ”.  I hope you enjoy it.

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