try not to blink.
If you have some time today in your online reading, may I suggest heading on over to Jeff Gerke’s site HERE for a exclusive interview he did with me over Thanksgiving week. If you are faithful to read all the way through, you may even find a very exciting gift that some of you will be very happy about…
(Make sure to come back here and let me know what you think about it).
CH
No, not here on my site, but if you run on over HERE to John’s site you can read a great interview he did with Stephen yesterday. Apparently he shot out some questions to Mr. Lawhead and indeed got a response back, proving that not all high-profile authors are recluses and some actually like staying in touch with their audience. Very cool!
Happy reading!
CH
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CSFF Blog Tour Participants: Check out what they are saying, too!
Trish Anderson Brandon Barr Wayne Thomas Batson Jim Black Justin Boyer Grace Bridges Amy Browning Jackie Castle Valerie Comer CSFF Blog Tour D. G. D. Davidson Chris Deanne Jeff Draper April Erwin Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Marcus Goodyear Andrea Graham Jill Hart Katie Hart Sherrie Hibbs Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Becca Johnson Jason Joyner Kait Karen Dawn King Tina Kulesa Mike Lynch Margaret Karen McSpadden Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika or Mir’s Here Eve Nielsen John W. Otte John Ottinger Lyn Perry Deena Peterson Rachelle Cheryl Russel Ashley Rutherford Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Rachelle Sperling Steve Trower Speculative Faith Robert Treskillard Jason Waguespac Daniel I. Weaver Laura Williams Timothy Wise
After a few of you left so many great comments yesterday about the stir Lawhead created with Hood and Scarlet, I felt I should simply make a post with what was said.
Robert Treskillard wrote, “A controversy it is! But then, that kind of thing helps sell a book, so you can only say that the man is a genius not only in his writing, but in his marketing.”
Agreed, Robert! One of the main reasons most artists are not successful is because, while incredibly artistic, they lack the entrepreneurial edge to get their art on the market. So to find a true artist that knows how to leverage power in marketing is really a find.
“I think the job of an author is to re-imagine. After all, what story hasn’t been told before by someone?”
As scripture says, there’s nothing new under the sun. But re-telling a story, specifically re-telling it better than the last time it was told is a real art. But Lawhead stands out in those abilities as well.
Nathan aptly said, “I personally don’t have a problem with reinventing a legend or ‘fictional’ story. Lawhead does such a great job too, so that as you read you are so enthralled with the characters, imagery, and story that you don’t care it doesn’t have all of the ‘traditional’ stuff.”
Re-writing pieces of “grey history” certainly seems to be one of Lawhead’s knacks as John points out. “[Hood and Scarlet are] one of those, as was Byzantium (at the time) and the Celtic Crusades for sure. Patrick especially tried to give a more accurate picture of St. Patrick and even now it is more widely accepted that Patrick was a Briton, not Irish as was commonly believed. So perhaps his theory will pan out in the end.”
Wouldn’t that be cool?
Maybe we’ll have a new set of Aero Flynn movies starring Kevin Coster…
…not.
Thanks for spending some time with me today! And please make sure to pick up Hood and Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead as soon as you can! Then come back and let me know what you think!
CH
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CSFF Blog Tour Participants: Check out what they are saying, too!
Trish Anderson Brandon Barr Wayne Thomas Batson Jim Black Justin Boyer Grace Bridges Amy Browning Jackie Castle Valerie Comer CSFF Blog Tour D. G. D. Davidson Chris Deanne Jeff Draper April Erwin Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Marcus Goodyear Andrea Graham Jill Hart Katie Hart Sherrie Hibbs Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Becca Johnson Jason Joyner Kait Karen Dawn King Tina Kulesa Mike Lynch Margaret Karen McSpadden Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika or Mir’s Here Eve Nielsen John W. Otte John Ottinger Lyn Perry Deena Peterson Rachelle Cheryl Russel Ashley Rutherford Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Rachelle Sperling Steve Trower Speculative Faith Robert Treskillard Jason Waguespac Daniel I. Weaver Laura Williams Timothy Wise
For those just joining me, I’m discussing Stephen Lawhead’s newest project, The King Raven Trilogy, centering around the legend of Robin Hood. If you want to know what the CSFF Blog Tour is, or why I seem to be obsessed with Lawhead, I suggest you read yesterday’s post below.
When you finish up book I in the series, aptly named Hood, you are presented with an essay by Lawhead encapsulating his reasoning for placing Bran (Robin) in the Welsh woodlands as opposed to the classic Nottingham Forest. Maybe it’s because I love this author so much, or maybe it’s because everything he wrote just made sense, but I bought it, hook, line and sinker.
It never dawned on me that this would stir a controversy!
In two articles, one HERE on zeenews.com and the other similar piece HERE on thisislondon.co.uk, I was amazed to find that people are vey possessive about their legends. But that’s certainly understandable, especially with a guy like Robin Hood. After all, what little boy didn’t grow up wanting to be a dashing rouge vigilantly, helping the poor, fighting evil and winning the heart of a beautiful maiden?
Their argument has some plausible merit, I’ll give them that. But when Stephen Richeux from Nottingham City Council said, “We imagine this author is trying to make a name for himself…” I had to stop.
>dramatic pause<
He already did make a name for himself.
I don’t think he needs to wrap on your legends just to make some waves. The supposition is pretty shallow in my opinion, weak at best, and certainly below the belt. But it makes for a good post!
But let’s say I’m just a crazy, over-patriotic American with no sense of indigenous legacy when it comes to Robin Hood and his “spiritual home” in Nottingham. Two main points of Lawhead’s reasoning that stood out in my mind were:
1.) The forests surrounding Nottingham were simply too small to hide a band of merry men, where as the undeveloped Welsh woodlands were.
2.) The Welsh were record to have obtained and mastered the long bow long before anyone else in Great Brittan.
He has a number of other very valid points, but you can read those for yourself buy purchasing the book.
As to the first point, Nottingham and the legendary Sherwood Forest were not what we Americans picture as some massive woodland sprawling out underneath the Rocky Mountains as part of a national park. It was privately owned, manacured and used by royalty as hunting land. As a boy who grew up roaming hundreds of acres of state forest adjacent to my family’s property, I can tell you how hard it was to keep something in hiding from me in what I liked to call “my forest.” To hide a band of merry men would take an awful lot of forest, far more than Sherwood has to offer, or Nottingham for that matter. Putting Robin in a real forest just makes plain sense.
And as to the use of a long bow, it’s not something to be scoffed at. “Anyone can learn to use a long bow.”
Not likely.
If memory serves me correctly, the long bow was introduced by the Romans, an item they hardly wanted reproduced by their enemies. And learning to fashion the bow, as well as how to use it physically and strategically was more than just a Sunday School lesson. It would take considerable training and insight, guided by knowledgeable hands with plenty of instruction. You don’t just “pick it up.” So when history states the Welsh preceding anyone on the isle with the weapon, it’s significant to say the least. (And yes, I’ve tried to master the weapon for years, both building and shooting–she’s a beast).
And one could then argue that I am ignorant, just favoring Lawhead because he is my favorite author and he’s an American. Well, you nailed me. All true! But then again, if Robin Hood is just a legend, then we should be willing to examine all thoughts on the subject and leave the name making to the intelligent people.
Plus, trying to figure out legends is just plain fun and I love Lawhead’s thought process.
What are your thoughts? I’d love to read your comments so please add them even if they are–dare I say it?–controversial!
Thanks for spending some time with me today!
CH
_____________________________
CSFF Blog Tour Participants: Check out what they are saying, too!
Trish Anderson Brandon Barr Wayne Thomas Batson Jim Black Justin Boyer Grace Bridges Amy Browning Jackie Castle Valerie Comer CSFF Blog Tour D. G. D. Davidson Chris Deanne Jeff Draper April Erwin Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Marcus Goodyear Andrea Graham Jill Hart Katie Hart Sherrie Hibbs Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Becca Johnson Jason Joyner Kait Karen Dawn King Tina Kulesa Mike Lynch Margaret Karen McSpadden Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika or Mir’s Here Eve Nielsen John W. Otte John Ottinger Lyn Perry Deena Peterson Rachelle Cheryl Russel Ashley Rutherford Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Rachelle Sperling Steve Trower Speculative Faith Robert Treskillard Jason Waguespac Daniel I. Weaver Laura Williams Timothy Wise
The reason I read and write? Well, certainly the reason I read is because I can, and I write ultimately for the glory of my King, Jesus. But if you want to know a little more about one of the major influences in my life as it pertains to books, read on.
As a member of the CSFF Blog Tour I’ve had the opportunity to make a lot of new friends, review some amazing books and get a lot of exposure in the literary world (thanks to all the mutual community support). But this month I get to discuss one of my hero’s in literature, if not the hero: Stephen R. Lawhead.
I was marked as a “slow reader” in grade school, something that stuck with me for a long time–in fact I dare say I’m just getting over it, now in my late twenties. And while I had a natural aptitude for creative writing, something all my English teachers took note of, the slow-reading label deterred me from ever wanting to write. So I removed myself from the world of writing–and reading.
One day when I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school and managing a little cell phone store in the country, one of my best friends, Jordan Sandquist, handed my the Song of Albion Trilogy by Lawhead.
“Read these,” he said. I hesitated. “Trust me, bro. You have to read these.”
I reluctantly conceded and forced myself to read the first page, then the second. Within a month I had all three read (books that is, not pages) and the amazing world of books was opened to me for the first time in my life.
But more than that I remember thinking two thoughts: I can do this (writing), and if I ever do, I want to write like Stephen.
Last year after my first book was published I wrote Mr. Lawhead and thanked him for being used by the Lord to inspire me. As a result I’ve had the privilege of striking up a small friendship with him, conversing from time to time, and count it a deep privilege to be able to communicate with one of my heroes in literature.
Tomorrow I’ll touch on his newest project, The King Raven Trilogy.
Thanks for spending some time with me!
CH
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CSFF Blog Tour Participants:
Trish Anderson Brandon Barr Wayne Thomas Batson Jim Black Justin Boyer Grace Bridges Amy Browning Jackie Castle Valerie Comer CSFF Blog Tour D. G. D. Davidson Chris Deanne Jeff Draper April Erwin Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Marcus Goodyear Andrea Graham Jill Hart Katie Hart Sherrie Hibbs Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Becca Johnson Jason Joyner Kait Karen Dawn King Tina Kulesa Mike Lynch Margaret Karen McSpadden Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika or Mir’s Here Eve Nielsen John W. Otte John Ottinger Lyn Perry Deena Peterson Rachelle Cheryl Russel Ashley Rutherford Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Rachelle Sperling Steve Trower Speculative Faith Robert Treskillard Jason Waguespac Daniel I. Weaver Laura Williams Timothy Wise
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My friend, Chris Mooney, and I try and meet on Tuesday mornings during the week to discuss writing as we’re both working on our books–his first, my third. I say “try” because inevitably we postpone it to “next week” a few times, and mostly on my account. But when we do meet it’s very good and a great source of inspiration, mutual kicking-in-the-pants and not to mention friendship.
Two weeks ago he slipped an article across the breakfast table and said, “Check this out.” What I read positively shocked me and deeply encouraged me.
As you’ve read on my blog before, and on many others that I’m linked with, there is an underlying angst, a general fed up-frustration with the term “Christian” anything when it comes to marketing a product produced by a Christian–especially in the realm of art–and specifically music and books.
To demonstrate my point, let me ask you: When the last time you purchased a Christian blender at Sears? How about a Christian box of chocolates (although by now I’m sure they have them)? Or perhaps a Christian cell phone from Verizon? When was the last time you had Christian plumbing done in your house? Or Christian yard work done? Chances are, never. In fact it sounds foolish.
But somehow attaching the term to music and books is acceptable.
I don’t think that any of my fellow musicians and authors think negatively of the word “Christian”; I’m sure all would adamantly state they are one–a Christ follower. But the use of the term, promoted mostly by the recording and publishing undustries in the early 1980′s as a niche market began to present itself, has not only boxed in an artist’s ability to create freely, but has also limited its audience dramatically. With both sever pressure from the Christian industry (there it is again!) to create art that “fits its mold,” and from a buying public which is divided by those who buy (and distribute) “Christian” products and those who don’t, most authors and musicians I meet today who are serious about effecting culture find the generic term a nuisance–something they never want th word Christian to be.
Personally I have had a true love-hate relationship with the prefix. It proudly identifies me as a Jesus freak, a blood bought, Spirit filled Christian. And the fact that I would make art worthy enough of representing Him is humbling to say the least. However, I remember the first time I called up a distributor in an attempt to get my first record in music stores nationwide.
“What’s your style?”
“Rock,” I relied confidently.
“And your target audience?”
“Young adult,” I said.
“And your preferred venues?”
“High schools, colleges, and churches.”
There was a slight pause.
“Oh, so this is Christian Music.”
“Well, I’m a Christian, but it’s actually Rock Music.”
“Well, we have to list it as Christian.”
The phone call got me nowhere, but all the wiser for a world I would spend the next ten years being at odds with. If a Christian artist (or an artist who is a Christian) is being honest, they want to reach as many people with their art as possible. But they find themselves more and more hampered by the very term that they are devoted to.
While I could sit here and rant all day about how the title needs to change, and one day it just may, the chances are very unlikely that it will in my lifetime. That’s realism. But realism also presents another option, one that serves two purposes: Making superior art and reshaping the industry…
Be the best, and do it as a Christian.
The article I read, mentioned above, is by a man named Terry Mattingly on the subject of John Grisham–being a Christian. You can read the full story at: http://tmatt.gospelcom.net/column/2000/03/15/ (and well worth it), but basically Mr. Mattingly discloses that Mr. Grisham is a born again Christian, something I never knew. He avoided the label, I believe, for one main reasons: His writing is outstanding. It stands on its own.
When a piece of art is so good that it sells itself, there need not be a title put on it. Save one: remarkable.
Granted, I could easily be misunderstood, concluding that art that has a Christian label on it is not remarkable. This is false. Many marvelous albums and books have been published that will forever wear the term “Christian.” There is no shame there. But the audience is limited.
The point being here that God wants Christians in the workplace, affecting culture, shaping minds, and having a role in the most influential of places. And the easiest way to break the label-stamping of our art as Christians is to be so good that the world can’t help but give it a place of respect. John Grisham is one of those people for me. Even his characters’ encounters with God are placed in a strong believable setting, yet his work is listed under “Popular Fiction.”
The term “Christian ___(art)____” admittedly has (did) open the market for a new wave of Christian writers and singers over the past three decades. But it has also served to box them in as stated above. I believe and trust that the next wave of Christian artisan will blow the top off the box, not because they fail to mention God, because their work is the pace-setting sort, not the follow-five-steps-behind sort.
I am as guilty as anyone where my creativity and dedication to outstanding excellence is concerned. I point the finger right here first. And with it I call all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ higher…
May we do our best.
CH