Letting those early novels go

In September, my sixth novel, The Inheritance, will be released. I’m excited about that as I think it is my best yet—plus I love the two main characters in it! But this novel brings with it two dilemmas for me that I am currently trying to think and pray through.

The first one is this. I wrote this particular novel before my first non-fiction book Soul Friend which was released last September and was given the choice as to which would be published first. So now it’s time to release the novel. But which direction should I head next? Should I alternate my books and aim to complete another non-fiction book this year? Or should I stick to novel writing?

But my second dilemma is the more pressing one at the moment. I feel so blessed, having six books published when I never thought I would have any. My first novel Heléna was released early in 2007 and since then, I have had one book released each year. It’s not that I am particularly prolific, however. It’s just that while I waited to find a publisher for my first novel, I decided to begin the next. So until now, I have always been in the happy place of having another novel completed by the time the previous one was released. But now the question is—do I let those first two novels go and not try to promote them anymore? Although the first one has just become hard to find in most bookstores, there are still a handful of copies of the second around. And small numbers of orders still seem to come in for them via the bookstores, plus I have people contacting me as well for copies from time to time. Also, wherever I speak, it seems people are still interested in those first two novels. I sell almost as many of those as my later ones—which leaves me a little reluctant to run out of copies myself. Yet, if I did, would I sell more of my later novels? It’s a puzzle!

And of course, there is a limit to the number of books I can carry around with me wherever I speak. Often, I am unsure which book people will go for, so I need to take a good number of each. I could no doubt get back the rights of those first two novels and attempt to make them available as e-books only, but to me, that seems to answer only half the question. Also, I know if I did this, I would need to re-edit both novels severely! After all, they were my first two attempts at writing—and back then, I knew nothing about the current anathema against using omniscient point of view or the evils of ‘head hopping’! And my very long sentences are liberally sprinkled with lots of lovely ‘ly’ adverbs! Yet do I want to invest time in re-writing these books? I’m not sure.

So ... you see my dilemma. Any suggestions? I know some of you have had many more novels released over the years than I have, so would you have any wisdom to offer from your own experience?

Meanwhile, I will keep thinking and praying about it—and writing that next best-seller!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney, Australia. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of five published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Her sixth novel, The Inheritance, will be released in September. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and three grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com or www.soulfriend.com.au.

That fact v fiction question again

Over the years I have been writing, I have been asked many times if the stories my novels contain are ‘true’. In August last year, I wrote an ICFW blog on this topic and hoped my days of hearing this question and writing about it were over. But alas, it seems they’re not. Recently, I was challenged quite strongly about it all in a way that left me almost lost for words.

I had been invited to speak to around a dozen women from a church group gathered in someone’s home. I duly launched into my talk and then invited questions, either on the topic covered or on writing in general.

‘Oh, I was under the impression your first two novels were a true story,’ one older lady burst out immediately. ‘I’m so disappointed! I wouldn’t have cried so much all through reading them if I’d known they were made up!’

For a moment I was flabbergasted. How does one respond to such comments? How would you have responded?

Eventually I managed to say a few things in what I hope was a gracious manner. I pointed out that many of the key facts in these books are indeed ‘true’ and happened exactly as I had recounted them—especially the saddest ones. Yet while I had modelled the two main characters on ‘real’ people, I had certainly created others from my imagination and from a variety of traits I had seen in people over the years. And of course I had invented the conversations that took place between them all and so much else too. After all, my books are novels! And it does state on the back cover of each of my first two novels that they were merely ‘inspired by’ a real life story.

I also made the point that if an author purported to be writing non-fiction when it was indeed fiction, I would be concerned about that! In that instance you have lied to your public—which is not on, especially for Christians. But as for including fact in fiction—well, is there a problem with that?

Later in the evening, another lady continued the discussion privately with me.

‘But surely there would have to be a limit to the truth authors are allowed to have in their novels, wouldn’t there?’ she asked in a puzzled tone. ‘Is there some rule about that—perhaps that you can have say fifty percent ‘truth’ and the rest made up?’

Now how would you answer that one?

Well, I must admit I floundered again. In reality, how could anyone ever put a ‘percentage’ on the ‘truth’ that could be included? Aside from material that an author knows is ‘true’, so much of what he or she might write comes from some experience or encounter in real life, intermingled with imagination.

It was all too much for me. With a weak smile, I told her I would think about it a little more.

At that point, the lady who had reacted strongly in our question time came to look at my book table. We chatted amicably—and then she proceeded to buy two more of my novels! I hid a smile and managed to refrain from commenting. But I hope and pray she can allow herself to become lost in them as she reads, without wondering what is ‘true’ and what isn’t. And I hope and pray she is thoroughly blessed in the process.

Truth is stranger than fiction

Often I am asked how much actual ‘truth’ is included in one or other of my novels. Was Heléna, the heroine of my first two novels, a real person? Could Laura, the main character in my third novel really do the things I have her do, despite being blind? Might Jenna, the main character in my fourth novel, possibly be me, the author? And what about my fifth novel? Are the main characters people I knew or did I simply ‘make them up’?

Now it so happens my first two novels were inspired by the life of a Czech migrant woman I met years ago. Some things contained in those books are ‘true’ – and some aren’t. After all, they are novels. But I would say that the events I have been questioned about most often are ones that actually happened. Was Heléna’s husband a member of the Czech underground? Did he really give himself up for her when she was being held captive, as I describe? And what about Heléna’s son – did he really die the way I have written it? Yes, those events honestly did happen to our Czech friend and are indeed ‘true’. And when those questioning me still look a little incredulous, I assure them I am telling the truth. Even I, with my fertile imagination, could not have ‘thought up’ such things!

When it comes to my character Laura in my third novel, I explain how Laura could certainly have done the things I say she did because I modelled her on a friend of mine who is blind. And yes, my friend truly has done some amazing and courageous things, despite being unable to see at all – she was brought up to climb trees and walk along the tops of fences and jump into waterholes along with her sighted brothers and sisters, which made her extremely independent later in life. And yes, the story in the second last chapter really did happen – I was there when my friend asked what the words of a particular hymn were after hearing the melody on the radio. Without thinking, I immediately answered: ‘Oh, that’s Be Thou My Vision!’ We cried together as I read out each verse so that she could type them out using her Brailler – she had sensed God had wanted her to find out the words of this hymn, not knowing its title at all. I will never forget what a blessed, life-giving moment that was for her and how strong God’s presence was around us – and I describe that event in the book exactly as it happened.

No, Jenna, the main character of my fourth novel, isn’t me – but then again, is it? Yes, bits and pieces of things that happen to Jenna happened to me – or to friends of mine. Where does the ‘truth’ begin and end? I can’t honestly say in this case. And yes, I did ‘make up’ most of the characters in my fifth novel – but again, did I really? Even if I do not consciously describe people I have known, how much does my imagination feed on my subconscious memories?

It doesn’t matter in the end whether my readers believe certain people and events in my books are ‘true’ or not. But it does matter if they treat the underlying truths expressed in my novels as fiction. I want my readers to know the gracious love of God and to see it demonstrated in the lives of many of my characters. I want them to understand that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, truly did come to earth and die on the cross for us. This is not a fanciful tale made up centuries ago. Yes, this particular truth may seem stranger than fiction, it may be beyond our understanding, too good really to be true. Yet it is true nevertheless – every word of it. And I’m so glad of that!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds degrees in Arts and Theology and a diploma in Education. She has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of five published novels – ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’, ‘Jenna’ and ‘Heléna’s Legacy’. She is married to a retired minister and lives in Sydney. For more information about Jo-Anne and her novels, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

A note of encouragement

I’m wondering if there are any authors reading this blog who feel they could do with a little extra encouragement right now. Some of you might be riding high on a wave of writing success – perhaps you have a book due for release this year and other exciting speaking and writing opportunities happening. But perhaps some of you are still waiting for that elusive publishing contract or struggling to finish that work that is there in your head but just doesn’t seem to want to take shape on the page. Still others of you might have that publishing contract but are hard-pressed to know how best to promote your book and achieve better sales figures. There is no doubt that, alongside the joy and fulfilment of being an author, the challenges and frustrations abound.

Yes, we need encouragement – but I have found I often need to ask God to open my eyes and ears to see and hear it! It might be my strange personality, but sometimes I find myself so ready to hear the negative comments and allow the difficulties inherent in the whole writing journey to drag me down. I can even miss completely the encouraging word someone is trying to say to me by listening instead to that cynical voice in my head that says, ‘They can’t mean that! That can’t possibly be true about your writing!’ Do you, like me, need to choose to focus on God and receive his encouragement more often, both directly and through others?

I love reading God’s word each day. I keep reading until I believe I have found that particular message of challenge or encouragement or comfort God has for me at that point and I try to meditate on and interact with that word as my day unfolds. For example, recently I read the following words from Isaiah 51:16 that are particularly apt for those of us who speak and write:

I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand – I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’

As God’s people in 2011, how encouraging it is to know God will put his words in our mouths as we listen to him and that we can then allow them to flow out to others!

But I believe God also delights to use friends and family – even strangers – to bring unexpected snippets of encouragement our way. In one day recently, I received a phone call and two emails that had all the hallmarks of a loving, understanding God about them! First off, the phone call was from a ninety-seven year old lady I have met only once who had finished reading my third novel ‘Laura’ and, in her words, ‘just had to phone me’ and say how much she had enjoyed it. Then an email arrived from another lady I have met only once who had just read my first two novels, ‘Heléna’ and ‘All the Days of My Life’ straight through in a couple of days and couldn’t put them down. This email was followed soon after by one from a lady in New Zealand, who had gone to endless trouble to try to get hold of my second novel, having enjoyed my first so much, and finally was contacting me here in Australia to send it to her. I was touched by her keenness and perseverance and greatly encouraged yet again.

So as I write this, I am praying God will open your eyes and ears too to receive the encouragement you need for your journey. May 2011 be a year of great joy and fulfilment as you write what God has laid on your heart and gifted you to write!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney, Australia, and has four published novels, ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’ and ‘Jenna’. For more information, please visit her website, http://www.jo-anneberthelsen.com/.