BJ Hoff's GRACE NOTES

Triads

Among most collections of Irish proverbs, you'll find groups of three, each of which is similar to the other, called Triads. They're also found in the Bible. For example, Ch. 30 of Proverbs  presents some groups of three, (but sometimes four). In music, a chord of three tones, i.e., one consisting of a given tone with its major (or minor) third and its perfect, augmented, or diminished fifth is also a triad.

A few examples from Irish proverbs: "Three best to have in plenty: sunshine, wisdom,and generosity." "Three best friends and three worst enemies: fire, wind, and rain." "Three kinds of men who fail to understand women: young men, old men, and middle-aged men." "Three things that cannot be acquired: voice, generosity, and poetry." "Three kinds of poor people: the man poor by the will of God, the man poor by his own will, and the man poor even if he owned the world."

And from Proverbs of the Bible: "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden." "Under three things the earth trembles ... a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married ..."

Just as a little mind game, email  me some of your own triads--but only ones that apply to writers or writing. Let me know if you'd like them published here on Grace Notes, and I'll do so.

Here are a few of my own:

"Three plots a reader will spurn: a story with no hero to cheer for, a story with no conflict or challenge, a story with no sense of setting or place."

"Three writers whose gifts outlast time: the poet whose words reflect beauty and truth, the writer of stories for children, the hymnist who glorifies God."

"Three endings that spoil a good story: an ending that gives the lie to the book's promise, an ending that rambles to nowhere, an ending with no ray of hope."

BJ

Chain Reaction

I suppose I should mention that this isn't an opinion piece. Well, there may be a few opinions sprinkled here and there, but mostly it's an entry about a few news bits going round--a "word is" piece.

(1) Word is ... that Chick-Lit is dead or at least dying, not only in CBA, but in the general market as well--and that it's too far gone to resuscitate, at least in its original form.

(2) Word is ... that historical fiction is on the upswing and in hot demand again.

(3) Word is ... that in spite of the best and most energetic efforts of some of our better fantasy and science fiction writers and fans to make their genre or genres work, sales aren't enough to create much interest or a demanding presence in CBA or in the general market. It's always been especially difficult to create enthusiasm in CBA for fantasy and/or sci-fi, and that apparently hasn't changed.

(4) Word is ... that the CBA market needs to offer a wider variety of genres and more titles that appeal to the general audience as well as their own evangelical "niche" market. The buzz about the need for "edgier" fiction and "literary" fiction never quite goes away. The thought in some circles is that publishers are missing the boat on this one.   

That said ... wait, there's more. There's both reality in the above mumurings but some overreaction as well. Again, taken from those who know the business: agents, editors, publishers, marketing, and sales people, here are at least some of the facts:

About (1): Yes, the Chick-Lit genre is fading fast. It's said that it's as good as gone. One--and only one--of the reasons for its demise that has to be considered is that the market was glutted with too many similar stories, told in too many similar voices--to the point that most of the novels began to sound alike. Sound familiar? It's happened before. Remember the Gothic novels of the sixties and seventies? The "bodice-ripper" historicals? The "recovery" craze? The "angels" trend? That's what I mean by a glutted market with too much similarity in the offerings.

No doubt a few of the more popular writers will continue to sell for an indeterminate period of time, but many of these same authors are also looking for ways to blend and turn the genre to new directions in order to provide readers fresh new stories in a variety of different formats and keep their presence in the market vital and distinctive. Because some of these authors are very good writers and savvy about marketing, you can count on them to do just that. And readers will benefit from the creative challenges they meet and the changes they make.

Regarding (2): Yes, it's true. (Do I hear a few cheers from the historical writers and readers corner?) Agents and editors confirm it: the historical novel that only a few years ago had slipped somewhat--but not completely fallen--from popularity is again on a roll. 

Regarding the fantasy/science fiction genres (3)--this really isn't news, but it's been difficult for some to accept. Even so, it's been the reality for years now. Some inroads have been made in CBA, but by only a very few authors, with some critical acclaim but only modest sales. Consequently, the market has not yet embraced the genres. Entire movements have sprung up, especially on the internet, with the common theme that it's only  a matter of time before science fiction and fantasy are "discovered," that publishers need to do more to help build the genres--sign more authors and produce more (quality) novels in these genres--the thought being that once the publishers catch on to this simple formula and finally catch the vision of the vast audience out there, things will change. The "if you build it, they will come," scenario. After all, if it works in the general market, it will eventually catch fire in the CBA market.

Unfortunately, the solution isn't that simple. Even in the general market, fantasy and science fiction don't account for broad enough sales to allow the genres to grow much beyond where they are, and where they've been, for years now. The greater response is still for only a limited number of authors and titles. And because, as has been frequently pointed out, CBA is a much smaller market--a so-called niche market--it's also a more complicated, difficult market to "crack." 

About (4): the reality is that CBA does today offer a generous variety of genres--so many more now than was the case even a decade ago that for those of us who have been in the industry several years, the change has been fascinating, and at times virtually amazing, to watch. Of course, we can always do more. But for those who weren't acquainted with the CBA market until a few years ago, you can't begin to realize how much things have changed.

Here's what connects all the above, including the cries for more "edgy" and more "literary" fiction: it's in the hands of the consumers. The readers. Those who buy the books. Publishers have to offer what will sell, or soon they won't be in business. Yes, it's a business. And yes, we would hope that this business also incorporates ministry and even some idealism as well, but it remains--and must remain--a business.

This is an example of the publishing business often passed on to new writers: publishing is a chain. The writer sends a manuscript to the publisher ... the publisher buys the manuscript and publishes it ... the marketing and sales people go about showing, publicizing, and selling the book to the bookstores ... the bookstores sell the book to their customers--the readers. If this chain breaks down at any point, you have trouble, possibly failure. You can take a powerfully written book of pure excellence, published by a house that gives it all the best in promotion and marketing, then placed in the hands of an enthusiastic, eager sales force who sell it into bookstores that are convinced it's the next bestseller, and then ...

See what's happening? The chain is still intact, although it could break at any link. But this time it gets all the way into the bookstore before it breaks at the point of the readers ... because they don't buy it. No matter how good it is, no matter how much faith the publisher had in it or how excited the marketing and sales people were about it and how high the hopes of the booksellers were for it, if there's something about that book that doesn't connect with the readers, that's the breakdown of the chain. It can be related to lack of interest or suspicion of the genre or something about the cover--or any number of elements--but the sad reality is that that the chain can remain unbroken right down to the final link ... and still fail.

Publishers, marketing and sales, and bookstore buyers are a part of the process: but the real power lies with the consumer. The reader. 

And that's not news. It's just reality. A reality that writers learn--or need to learn--to live with. 

BJ

For Easter Weekend

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." Luke 24:5

He is risen indeed.

Easter blessings to you and yours throughout these days of remembrance and celebration.

BJ

Q & A

Q. If you were invited to be on any tv show of your choice, which one would it be?

A. I'd be a dog handler on the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And I'd show my own dog, the fabulous, lovable, Golden Retriever--Clever-Trevor. 

Q. What's the worst book you've ever read?

A. Scarlett: The Sequel to Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. To be entirely accurate, let's call it the "worst book I never finished reading." There are at least a dozen others that would also qualify, but I'll restrain myself.

Q. Who are five people you'd most like to have dinner with?

A. My husband and our two daughters and their husbands. If they're not available: Dean Koontz, Andrea Bocelli, Angie Hunt, Kelli Standish, and Nick Harrison. But only if they cook. Or buy.

Q. Who is/was the most important "hero" in your life?

A. Other than my husband? My paternal grandfather, "Paddy-Goff."

Q. Name three of your own favorite characters from your books--and why they're favorites:

A. Jonathan Stuart from my Mountain Song Legacy books--because I loved his kindness, his humility, and his genuine love for children. Jack Kane from my Song of Erin saga--because he's one of the most intriguing and challenging characters I've worked with. His dual nature nearly drove me over the edge, but I kept coming back for more. Michael Emmanuel, from my American Anthem series--because his love of music reflected my own, and his voice was the voice I "hear" when I think of angel choirs.   

BJ

Happy St. Patrick's Day

"Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

Naught is all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought by day and by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word;

I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord ...

Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower;

Raise Thou me heavenward, power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance now and always.

Thou, and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art ...

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all."

     Celtic prayer and hymn, Eighth century. Anonymous

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Blessings on St. Patrick's D ay

BJ

Famous and Faithful: or Will Sucess Spoil Ruby Writer?

Sometimes me thinks we do protest too much ... particularly about the element of "success" as referred to in Christian writing, specifically in fiction.

We novelists in the Christian publishing market tend to measure our work (and even ourselves) by very stern standards indeed. In spite of the fact that we're compelled to achieve a certain measure of success in order to keep publishing (not too many publishers are interested in books that don't sell at least a modest number of copies), we try our best not to write with the goal of success in mind.

It does indeed reflect poorly on a writer in the Christian publishing marketplace--or, for that matter, the writer with a Christian worldview in the general publishing marketplace--to focus on the materialistic and commercial aspects of writing and publishing. Far more acceptable is the striving for literary excellence, purity of message, sound doctrine, and rock solid theology. True or false: it's better to offer our readers a carefully constructed, if somewhat "dry," novel emblazoned with doctrinal truths and theological tenets than a fast-flowing page-turner from a heart and imagination committed to Christ, but with a movement that's more story than sermon?

There seems a certain amount of hesitancy to discuss--at least outside the circle of close friends and perhaps one's editor--the nitty gritty need for moderate or significant success in publishing. I'm referring to sales figures and reader demand. It's more "acceptable" to couch references to the business side of art--and we hope that's what the writing of fiction is: an art, albeit one requiring skill and craft and experience, combined with a fair share of common sense and professional acumen--in phrases that highlight ministry and humility and outreach.

Before you even begin to misunderstand me, let me say that I wholeheartedly believe in and endorse ministry and humility and outreach, and if my motives for writing had much at all to do with pursuing success, I would have long ago given up the rocky road of publishing for a real job. Be assured that I do believe in the purity of our "message--" though I question whether fiction is the place for "message--" and I would hope that our theology is sound and never misleading. That's important, because even though the fiction writer had best not be writing theology, if our own doctrinal base and faith walk aren't what they should be, it will eventually bleed out into our novels, and that's not what we want to offer our readers.

That said, let me also add that I think it's quite possibly the biggest mistake a new or aspiring writer can make to believe that becoming a published author will bring recognition and riches. (The word "fantasy" comes to mind.) Whether we like to admit it or not, publishing is a challenging, difficult, competitive, downright grueling arena in which to play--it's not for the fainthearted and definitely not for those with delusions of pie in the sky. If you have to make a living, check the classifieds before taking up the writing of fiction.

But--along with art and ministry, most writers do need to be concerned with the admittedly elusive element of success. Publishers will not give us a free ride. They may, if they believe in our gift and our potential enough, do what they can to gain sales success for our books ... but only for so long. They're not in the business of delivering handouts or bestowing grants. They're in the business of staying afloat and even making a profit.

That being the case, it's no cause for embarrassment or uneasiness to admit the need for some measure of success. And along that same line, it's a scandal to even think, much less openly hint, that the most "successful" authors in the business have "sold out," that their work is somehow substandard just because they're selling lots of books. Be realistic enough and gracious enough to concede that poor sales aren't necessarily a measure of quality or excellence.

Does this happen? You bet it does. Too often there's an implied question about the quality of a mega-seller's work, while almost in the same breath a writer with low sales is esteemed for "pursuing excellence." I've been a part of the publishing industry for over twenty-five years and have friends who fit both sides of the success story, and I can tell you that only the very inexperienced--or naive--would attempt to value the quality of an author's work based on his or her sales success. Or lack thereof.

It seems to me that we're doing our new and younger writers a real disservice if we aren't willing to speak sanely and openly about writing being a business as well as an art. We can help instead of hinder by giving both areas the necessary  attention without pretending that each isn't essential to publishing our fiction.

Instead of hiding the realities behind the hedges, it's perfectly all right to be candid--within reason--and truthful in the way we approach all elements of the publishing process.

A writer-friend and I were discussing this subject the other day,  and we both concluded that the healthy first step in doing away with the perceived conflict between the art and business side of writing would seem to be the recognition that genuine professionalism needs to include a balanced mix of both.

BJ

Potpourri

I'm writing this while looking out on the largest snowfall we've seen here in Ohio for years--about 20 inches or so, with monster drifts. 

Don't groan--I happen to love it. You've heard from me before about my love of winter, especially snowy winters. One element I particularly love is the quiet. Our town has been virtually silent for two days now. Due to a Level 3 snow emergency, almost everything is closed. Traffic is nearly nonexistent, and other than the occasional sounds of the neighborhood children sledding down the hill and making snow angels--and those are welcome sounds--it's peaceful just about everywhere.

I don't know what accounts for the quirk in my nature that cheers at a snowstorm when most normal folks are grumbling about it, but there you have it. Perhaps it's because I'm a mountain gal--I grew up in the heights of the Appalachians, and to this day nothing tugs at my heart or brings healing to my soul quite so quickly as a return visit to the mountains. If I wanted to be fanciful, I suppose I'd say I left behind a part of myself there.

Whatever the reason, I can't think of anything I enjoy more than a snowy, snug winter's night by the fire. And this has been a weekend for just that. I was actually sad to think that this is probably the last grand hurrah of winter, that I likely won't see such white and pristine beauty again until next year, God willing. So I'm doing my best to enjoy every minute of it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a book I've been wanting to mention to you: Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky. It's an incredible novel, one of the most gripping I've read in years. The story is remarkable, the writing brilliant--as close to perfect as writing can be. The story is set on the eve of the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940. The author was Jewish and died at Auschwitz, leaving the novel unknown for sixty-four years. As you can probably imagine, it's a story of sadness and pathos. And yet it's not all angst. It's more a bittersweet novel, with one moving scene after another, even touches of humor. In truth, it's beyond description.

If you read it, don't miss the supplementary notes in the back. They're fascinating. Thanks to my editor for recommending this one to me--somehow I'd missed it.

~~~~~~~~~~

A reader asked me recently what the Book of Kells is. It's actually a collection of over three hundred "folios" (housed at Trinity College, Dublin), all of which date from the early 9th century. Its exact origin is unknown, but several hands supposedly had a part in its creation. The illustrations are stunning and elaborate, including treatments of the Crucifixion and the Ascension. The four Gospels are woven together as a single life of Christ. All kinds of characters and words are represented in rich colors, including animals--some of which appear charming, others strange and almost grotesque.

It's bound in four volumes, and it's rightfully considered one of the most "wonderful books of the world."

BJ

Changing This and That

You may notice a few changes here on Grace Notes soon. A little "tweaking," a few deletions, an addition or two. But two of the more noticeable changes include going to a "no comment" configuration and less frequent entries.

Writers seem to need so much space. And I don't mean simply office space--although certainly that's a must--but I'm also referring to space in terms of time and choices. I've been mulling over the best way to go with the blog in order to keep it reasonably active--because many of you have indicated that you really want me to continue. But the issue of time just keeps getting more and more complicated. So, in hopes that fewer posts--at least during the more hectic times--would be better than no posts, I'm going to ease off a little in the number of entries. Of course, all of you regulars know I've never tried to pin myself down to a daily schedule for entries--I knew from the beginning that was impossible for me if I were going to maintain my "day job" (writing books), but I have tried to manage at least two or three entries a week. Except for ... some times. Hopefully, not much will change in that regard, but be patient with me when things seem a little slow. I promise you, I'll have a good reason for cutting back if and when I do.

As for going to the "no comment" feature, it's that time factor I mentioned above. Almost from the beginning, I've tried to respond to comments and questions. It's always bothered me when I had to let either hang unanswered.

And then there's the spam issue ... and I'm sure I don't have to tell you how time-consuming this can be. TypePad (where the blog is parked) does a good job with filters, options, etc., but I still get too much in the way of comments that don't look like spam but when I open them to moderate--guess what? They're not really comments at all! Not that I don't appreciate the goodwill behind these offers to send me all kinds of products and information I don't want, and not that I couldn't use a measure of Nigerian riches to supplement the writing income--but it just doesn't seem right to take advantage of the good nature of strangers.

I still invite your input. You have an email address here on Grace Notes where you can always reach me, and there's another link on the Contact page of the web site. I want you to feel free to write to me anytime, not only about the content on Grace Notes but anything else as well. The "plus" to this is that you won't have to wait for me to get around to approving your input, and the length of your remarks won't be limited. And because I hope to save a little time by going this route, you'll probably get a response from me sooner and more often. So please stay in touch. 

Thanks so much to those of you with whom I've discussed options regarding this issue for your encouragement and your requests to keep the blog going. I'll do my best! 

BJ