You Call This Christian Fiction????????? By ReShonda Tate Billingsley

By APOOO • Jun 8th, 2008 • Category: Articles •

You Call This Christian Fiction????????? By ReShonda Tate Billingsley

I am curious. Do you think people go online and email Janet Jackson and tell her that her latest song sucked? Or do they email Yolanda Adams and tell her she looks too ‘worldly’ in some of her beautiful gowns? I am nowhere near Janet or Yolanda’s status, but it seems strange to me how people so easily can email an author and tell them what they did not like about their latest book. Honestly, I am okay with that part because I am all for constructive criticism. What I am not okay with are the people who stand in judgment of me because my books do not fit into a particular mode (or the mode they think it should fit into).

Case in point–a recent email that told me I ‘wasn’t a Christian’ and in fact was ‘the biggest heathen this side of the Mississippi.’ Why? Because all of my characters are not saved. Some curse, some gossip, some even have sex. Gasp! How dare I “write some trash like that?” Because we know in the real world, everybody is saved. I know I should not let one little email get to me, but I get this quite often and decided enough was enough.
I cannot help where bookstores place my books. Because of my inspirational-themed titles, many automatically place me under Christian Fiction, even though my books were more ‘Christian Friction.’ It is a battle I have stopped trying to fight, but honestly, I prefer that my adult books be called Inspirational or Faith-based fiction for this very reason. When you get the Christian Fiction label, the black robes come out the woodwork. The judges. Those holier-than-thou Christians who stand in judgment of you as a person because of what you write. No joke, I have been told I was going to ‘rot in hell’ because my gay character was not “delivered from his homosexuality.” I have been crucified because my crazy baby mama character cursed her Baby Daddy out. I am sorry. I write reality and in my world, non-married people have sex, people get ig’nant, crackheads curse and men do not ‘pray hard enough and get delivered from their gayness.’ My characters (like myself) struggle in their daily walk with God. Some do not want to know Him. Some swear they know Him. And some need to get to know Him. Just like life.

Now, I will say this, in my growth as a writer, I have learned to tell my stories in “tamer” ways, but the bottom line is I am still going to keep it real. And I am sorry if that offends anyone. My aim is to inspire and entertain through my writing. And judging from the countless positive emails/feedback I get, I am doing just that. I am reaching the sinners (many of whom would NEVER pick up a book they thought was Christian Fiction) and to me that means a lot and in my heart, I know that God is pleased. My books have caused some readers to reflect on their own lives, forgive someone they never thought they could and deal with issues that may not have otherwise faced. And they are able to do that because they see themselves in the pages of my stories.

I am working on my thirteenth book, getting ready to head to California to shoot the movie version of my book, Let the Church Say Amen, and traveling the country touring and speaking. I have been so blessed telling the stories just the way I tell them. Maybe the devil does not like that and he is throwing these darts (people condemning me, questioning my relationship with God, etc). I will continue to pray for strength not to let these people get to me (obviously, I’m not there yet:-).

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Tagged as: books, Christian Fiction, Janet Jackson, Let the Church Say Amen, Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Yolanda Adams

APOOO is an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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2 Responses »

Bonnie on September 28th, 2008 at 1:04 am:
It’s all right. Write what you gotta write and let the “righteous” people read or not read. Keep on being an inspiration to us other writers out here who are trying to get to the place where we can say we are on our “thirteenth” book too! You rock! Keep on dealing with the positive and know that you’ve got fans who love your work!

Bonnie´s last blog post..Olivia Jean is always trying to take care of her daddy.
Nardsbaby on September 28th, 2008 at 8:58 am:
ReShonda,

People in real life should know whether you are saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, not everyone surrounding you is. I love how your books are real. In fact it makes me think of my only family. One part is really touched by God, while others know Him, praise Him; they are still doing their own things learning day to day. People are going to always have something to say. The part that is funny to me is, if they are as saved as they are, aren’t they supposed to encourage and uplift? Now I may not know the word verse by verse, but I do know we aren’t supposed to judge others. Pray for the people who are proclaiming to be more than they are. And honestly, if I had Janet’s email addy I’d tell her she needs to stop it! LMAO!!! OOPS, I text cursed I too love your work and hope that you don’t allow others to change that!!

Nardsbaby´s last blog post..Nardsbaby gave 5 stars to: Nan