Where are the modern Catholic fiction writers?

[MichaelRichard]

At the risk of self promotion (I have a novel published by IP), I know nothing directly, but it seems that IP is moving toward their IP Novels becoming a semi-autonomous branding for their works of fiction. I hope that as IP Novels gains momentum they will be publishing more novels each year (as quality of received manuscripts allow).

I had the pleasure to read two of their novels now available for pre-publication purchase, IOTA and The Accidental Marriage. I found both to be very good, and professionally written. Neither are heavy handed in their Catholicity and could probably be enjoyed by people of other faiths and perhaps no faith at all.

The usual caveat, of course, that what one person likes in a book, another might not. I have even found myself not much liking a book I used to be very fond of upon re-reading it. Conversely, I have sometimes given a book a second chance years later and liked it very much. I suspect this often depends on what resonates with us at differing points of our life journey.

As readers, we can help. As I did above, if you read something you like, talk about it on social media. Not only will it help those books, but it will help to expand the market itself. There is a growing balkanization of book markets, and social media can help books jump from one niche to another.

 

[edwest2]

This is a question to everyone: where do Catholic/Christian writers get their ideas? Their inspiration? How do you know what to write about? How did others, like Tolkien and Chesterton and Lewis and more know what to write about?

I’m interested because I could never author a book about Christianity and I am amazed by those who can.

As a writer myself who interacts with other talented writers and those involved in the movie industry, almost any idea can be turned into something worthwhile. Some think being a writer (or artist) is meant only for special people. While I believe writing is a gift, it needs to be developed, like building a muscle. Most writers (and artists) I know are naturally drawn to certain subjects. Some like high-tech science fiction, others prefer medieval fantasy.

The authors you mention could write books that were obviously Christian while others weave Christian ideas into their stories that are not obvious to the average reader. At its core, Star Wars is a story about good and evil and the allure of evil. And then, through his son (Son), the man who became Darth Vader is converted and turns from evil. You could write many stories with that background message which could be accessible to all.

Every story has a basic frame or skeleton. Human beings enjoy reading well-written stories about fictional human beings who overcome, although perhaps losing a few people along the way. They want a main character they can relate to.

I dislike using writer-speak but there are only a handful of story themes.

1. Man against himself, meaning a person struggling through a relationship, overcoming a lack of confidence or anger or some other personal fault that he eventually comes to grips with.
2. Man against nature, meaning a man whose plane crashes in a forest, has no radio and needs to survive, or the survivor(s) of a tornado and how they get their lives together and become better people in the process. You could add, making new friends as well.
3. Man against crime. A police officer, detective, secret agent - all out to stop crime and the challenges they face. Again, it’s about overcoming.
4. Man and discovery. The character could be a scientist, space explorer or working on a secret government project. He may need to find a cure, solve a problem, or deal with the good and bad aspects of developing a new weapon, struggling with the ethics of it. Or meeting aliens on a new world, plus any local menaces, like unfriendly animals.

It can be done if anyone wants to apply himself. The main character, flawed as he is, overcomes.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Kay_Cee]

This is a question to everyone: where do Catholic/Christian writers get their ideas? Their inspiration? How do you know what to write about? How did others, like Tolkien and Chesterton and Lewis and more know what to write about?

I’m interested because I could never author a book about Christianity and I am amazed by those who can.

That’s a good question. I can’t speak for Tolkien and others. I can only speak for myself.

I was very much inspired by St. Faustina’s diary Divine Mercy in My Soul. I prayed that I could write a novel about divine mercy. It then occurred to me that if such a book were about mercy, there had to be somebody to be merciful toward. So of course there had to be a villain and there had to be a hero who would help lead him to repentance. But wouldn’t that be horribly difficult–to bring an evil tyrant to repentance, especially if that person were responsible for the deaths of your family and friends and even the destruction of your country? Jesus tells us to love our enemies, but it sure isn’t easy sometimes.

Anyway, that led to Rain from Heaven.

My other novel, Nearer the Dawn, started with a question I asked myself. What if an avowed atheist witnessed a bona fide miracle? How would he react? I figured he would try to explain it away. But what if you couldn’t explain it away? It occurred to me that he would still try to explain it away–no matter how ridiculous the explanation. So I created an atheist who experiences all kinds of supernatural events. None of them convince him, of course, because it would take a lot more than even that! (I’m not going to give away the ending by saying what actually happens.)

As for your question about inspiration, I can only say that I pray to my Heavenly Muse, that is, the Holy Spirit.

 

[AggieCatholic22]

Howdy,
I was wondering y’alls thoughts on the Rocky Meadow book series by Linda Rawlins. I was looking up Catholic fiction books the other day and came across that series. If anyone has read the series or any of the books what did y’all think? Also in general has anyone heard of the series before?

Thanks and Gig’em!
God Bless!

 

[Cocoa_Cat]

Sorry, I know it’s been years since anyone has posted on this thread, but did Goldberry and Neildown ever get their books published? I went through and added every recommended book to my to-read shelf on Goodreads, and would like to do the same with Goldberry and Neildown’s books if they have been published yet. If anyone is looking for Catholic fiction for ages 10-18 I have been slowly reading my way through the books on this list; goodreads.com/list/show/17283.Catholic_YA_Fiction

 

[Neildown]

Sorry, I know it’s been years since anyone has posted on this thread, but did Goldberry and Neildown ever get their books published? I went through and added every recommended book to my to-read shelf on Goodreads, and would like to do the same with Goldberry and Neildown’s books if they have been published yet. If anyone is looking for Catholic fiction for ages 10-18 I have been slowly reading my way through the books on this list; goodreads.com/list/show/17283.Catholic_YA_Fiction

Hi, Cocoa Cat!

I can’t speak for Goldberry, but I’m afraid I haven’t published anything yet. I’ve been on so many rabbit trails since my active days on this forum that I don’t know if I’ll ever get anything published at this rate, but I certainly have tons of ideas that I want to get in writing! I have about 3 or 4 book ideas left on the back-burner and a comic-book that I’m slowly working on right now. Thanks for the list!

 

[Bill_Dodds]

Look at Amazon Kindle books.

For years I tried to get “Pope Bob” published. Too “Catholic” for commercial publishers and too . . . “about an alcoholic pope?” . . . for religious publishing houses. One (Catholic house) publisher finally told me, “You should really publish this yourself. It’s a good story.”

And so I did. And followed it with a lot of “too Catholic/not Catholic enough” novels.

Bill

 

[edwest2]

Getting ideas. Sit down and begin thinking, make a lot of notes. Concentrate on: What do I like? What interests me? What do I find exciting? What do I want to explore?

For me, it’s Science Fiction. I’m working on something where the main character is involved in law enforcement in the future. It’s not going to be over the top preachy but it will contain real definitions for law, justice and fairness, and how to treat other human beings, even if they’ve done wrong. The criminals get justice - they aren’t just casually blown away on any pretense. The goal is not a guide to police/detective procedure but I had to research all that so it has enough authenticity but not too much so it doesn’t bog down the story. Truth and Justice are the key themes, and planning and thinking. Not to mention the tech I have in mind.

Research, even for Tom Clancy, is 90% of the job.

Becoming a good writer starts with a basic summary, like on the back cover on a printed book. And then you sit down and begin writing. And writing and more writing. There’s no magic formula, but there are key elements:

Setting

Main character
Supporting characters
Their strengths and weaknesses
First encounter with the problem/bad guy, which does not go too well
Learning more about the bad guy/thing.
Second encounter, which goes better.
Final encounter.

Of course, the bad guy can have henchmen/people he knows that will help him.
Or the problem, and its solution, becomes more and more clear.

I write dialogue in my head and just take notes. If I can’t get it right for one character, I skip to another, and usually a day or so later, the words I couldn’t find for my first character pop into my head.

Take breaks to clear your head.

Take a minute to relax from time to time.

Don’t feel rushed.

“Clever lines” don’t write themselves. And good dialogue helps the reader gain insight into the personalities of those speaking.

Hope this helps,

Ed

 

[Viki63]

For me, it’s Science Fiction. I’m working on something where the main character is involved in law enforcement in the future. It’s not going to be over the top preachy but it will contain real definitions for law, justice and fairness, and how to treat other human beings, even if they’ve done wrong. The criminals get justice - they aren’t just casually blown away on any pretense. The goal is not a guide to police/detective procedure but I had to research all that so it has enough authenticity but not too much so it doesn’t bog down the story. Truth and Justice are the key themes, and planning and thinking. Not to mention the tech I have in mind.

It looks good. Let us know when it comes out.

Have you read any of J.D.Robb’s In Death series? i really enjoy them although I generally skip the steamy scenes. They follow a homicide detective set in future New York, and are amusing as well as thrillers.

.

 

[Kay_Cee]

That’s a good question. I can’t speak for Tolkien and others. I can only speak for myself.

I was very much inspired by St. Faustina’s diary Divine Mercy in My Soul. I prayed that I could write a novel about divine mercy. It then occurred to me that if such a book were about mercy, there had to be somebody to be merciful toward. So of course there had to be a villain and there had to be a hero who would help lead him to repentance. But wouldn’t that be horribly difficult–to bring an evil tyrant to repentance, especially if that person were responsible for the deaths of your family and friends and even the destruction of your country? Jesus tells us to love our enemies, but it sure isn’t easy sometimes.

Anyway, that led to Rain from Heaven.

My other novel, Nearer the Dawn, started with a question I asked myself. What if an avowed atheist witnessed a bona fide miracle? How would he react? I figured he would try to explain it away. But what if you couldn’t explain it away? It occurred to me that he would still try to explain it away–no matter how ridiculous the explanation. So I created an atheist who experiences all kinds of supernatural events. None of them convince him, of course, because it would take a lot more than even that! (I’m not going to give away the ending by saying what actually happens.)

As for your question about inspiration, I can only say that I pray to my Heavenly Muse, that is, the Holy Spirit.

Since I wrote the above, I’ve published another novel, Amaranth. I got my inspiration from something Peter Kreeft said in an article somewhere, about how scientists are working on physical immortality and how this would not be a good thing. So I came up with a plot in which somebody actually has created a wonder drug that not only keeps a person from aging but returns him to young adulthood. Lose a finger? It grows back. Eat too much? No pounds gained. Always your body is in its prime condition.

Would you take such a drug? What if the price was your soul?

 

[edwest2]

It looks good. Let us know when it comes out.

Have you read any of J.D.Robb’s In Death series? i really enjoy them although I generally skip the steamy scenes. They follow a homicide detective set in future New York, and are amusing as well as thrillers.

.

It will take a while. In the meantime, I’m avoiding anything in any medium with death or dark, especially dark, in the title. And I have no interest in steamy scenes. In my view, there’s way too much of that.

Ed

 

[edwest2]

Since I wrote the above, I’ve published another novel, Amaranth. I got my inspiration from something Peter Kreeft said in an article somewhere, about how scientists are working on physical immortality and how this would not be a good thing. So I came up with a plot in which somebody actually has created a wonder drug that not only keeps a person from aging but returns him to young adulthood. Lose a finger? It grows back. Eat too much? No pounds gained. Always your body is in its prime condition.

Would you take such a drug? What if the price was your soul?

See. It’s that kind of speculative fiction that interests me. It has to seem plausible and yes, having a high price in terms of ethics/morality sets up a nice point of conflict. A “what if this was you” point of view is always interesting, weighing the pros and cons.

Ed

 

[bluerose]

“Amaranth” is an amazing novel and so is “Nearer the Dawn”. All three of KayCee’s books deserve a wider audience!

 

[Viki63]

It will take a while. In the meantime, I’m avoiding anything in any medium with death or dark, especially dark, in the title. And I have no interest in steamy scenes. In my view, there’s way too much of that.

Ed

Absolutely. It spoils otherwise interesting reads.

.

 

[Kay_Cee]

“Amaranth” is an amazing novel and so is “Nearer the Dawn”. All three of KayCee’s books deserve a wider audience!

Thank you, bluerose.

I might mention that my first book, Rain from Heaven, is now in paperback.