You Call This Christian Fiction????????? By ReShonda Tate Billingsley
By APOOO • Jun 8th, 2008 • Category: Articles •
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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.
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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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.
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
ReShonda,
The one thing that I love about your books is the realness. Anyone can pick one of your books up and can relate on one level or another. I say press forward. Don’t let the devil steal your joy. You are doing a great job and you have many fans this way!!
Wow! I missed this post last year but I’m doing some research on AA Christian authors and it popped up.
Keep doing what you do, ReShonda. Can I Get A Witness? was one of my favorite books last year. (And you already know my judgmental story. Continued mea culpas.)
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Reader/Writer Tidbits — January 26, 2009
Reshonda,
Do not let the Devil try and still your Joy. You are an excellent writer that keeps it real. I would prefer a writer to do that than to mislead me into wrong understandings. I can say that there are authors out there that mainly write about the things these individuals are complaining that you have written about have they wrote to them and told them that they are not Chrisitian. Books are for entertaining and some for educating. Authors, myself as well, do not write to damage anyone or send them to the pits of hell so I believe the ones making these comments against you have taken it way too the extreme.
You are blessed with a talent and you need to use it as God sees fit for you too. I have read all of your books and have been blessed by them even learned from them. Keep up the good work that you do and pray for those that do not understand.