Its January 2008, and this year starts another great year of the CSFF Blog tour. As I look back at all that has progressed in this genre, I literally look down in amazement at it all for so much has occurred. Such things as a Eastern Coast book tour, Wayne Batson being on Fox News near the release of Deathly Hallows, and a ton of wonderful books. This month's book Auralia's Colors by:Jefferey Overstreet spoke to me in great volumes. I feel as though I am holding a piece of something that like Door Within may be a market jumper. Meaning anyone of either the nonsecular and secular market may buy it and enjoy it. The story itself is not obscenely Christian, though the message of color being taken by those higher up, and art being controlled is quite universal in its scope. When I first cracked the spine of this book, at once I did not love it. My mind merely drifted with the words, flipping the pages, somewhat thinking of other things I could be doing for the day. Throughout my reading, I felt no real connection to the characters, that for me remained throughout reading the biggest issue. But the writing started to absorb me as Overstreet has a real knack of painting a picture in your mind, that and his message for me is what may this for me a rather great read.
It was the message that I fell in love with. The book spoke, of color (art) being restricted by those higher up. Color was richest when outside the kingdom. Hmmm.... this is really started to sound like what I have been thinking lately. This to me reflected one of my main issues with "some" churches. No, I am not turning this into a religious debate. Its just sometimes I feel as though instead of looking and analyzing art, some Christians barely stare at the source material and mark it as heresy.
A good example of this is anime. I have literally seen some mark "all anime" as a work of Satan. No not just one title, "all anime" That made me rub my head and say "Huh!" How can a whole genre be bad. But even some mark fantasy as such, I have literally have been hounded for recommending Door Within to some just because it looks similar to Harry Potter. Now I personally love Harry Potter, but that is unimportant to this. What is, is that sometimes the banning and all out campaigns against art sometimes makes people afraid of any art even if its good. By making Harry Potter look to be the worst, makes some believe then all fantasy must be bad. Instead of banning, instead of pervading online forums and shouting out random verses upon Harry Potter forums, saying all who read this are going to hell. Let us instead gently provide discernment against such books, instead of banning. All banning does is either make people want to read it more or make people universally hate everything of that genre.
*Take deep breath* One of the reasons I joined this Blog tour, was for raising the awareness of such a great genre. I have been on here for about six months, the people, the communication is awesome. I literally have been reading some great stuff by being on here. My book drought ended, and my money depleted.. We are Auralia, raising awareness of art that others frown down upon, showing we can depict God in a way that also mixes the fantasy elements of great masterpieces as LOTRs and Narnia. I have seen more God in Lord of the Rings than in mere "How to do" Christian books. No other genre to me paints God better. Through the mystic elements, he shows his wonders and majesty.
As 2008 starts let us like last year, spread the word to all, show how the art of fantasy could be used as wonders and for great expression of our spiritual gifts! I am only writing one post for I have been busy writing the rough draft of my novel. But I will take time to visit other blogs of this tour, I have been religiously reading Jefferey's Overstreet's blog, his posts are wonderfully written and some of his musings of the day, I fully agree upon and sometimes I think we think alike. I especially loved what he wrote about His Dark Materials!! Auralia's Colors is one of those rare novels, that anyone can enjoy, if they love great messages! Spread the word! Anyways, I'm off to write! God bless! Sayonara! Good bye!
P.S.-Check out Christopher Hopper's site, not only does he have a great contest running, but he also has written other great posts as well. Hey! also check out his books, believe me they are good!-
Links Of Interest-Other Participants-
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Jackie Castle
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Pamela Morrisson
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Where to purchase the book?
Author's website
Author's Blog

Happy New Year to all!!

As I look before of the dischevelment of events, good and bad, that have happened, I get this sense of overwhelment. God really has done so much, whether I make sense of it all or not. What were the best memories, what happened during the holiday break? Going to my first anime convention, attending one of my first concerts, meeting four wonderful Christian Fantasy authors and also the women who really knows how to write an awesome Vampire series and reading some amazing books that have helped to escape and discern the fragments of life and find meaning of the mess that lays around me.

But the question is as I walked through the continious shadows of the darkness. There occurs for me a feeling of trepidation. It ails my soul, I am afraid to take the next steps.

For me the New Year does not toll rebirth and joyous. But fear, what awaits me! I have no sense of what God may put me through this year. My heart jumps, the water drips from the top cieling of the labyrinth. My torch's light resonates around me, giving me hints upon the right direction of where I am to go.

So as I walk into the New Year, I worry and fear what lays ahead of me. I am almost afraid to walk through the Labyrinth. But I know sooner or later I must walk, or I may be stuck where I am, making no progress.