The fine art of genre switching

Not long after my fifth novel, Heléna’s Legacy, was released last August, I submitted my sixth, The Inheritance, to the same publisher and it was duly accepted for publication. In the meantime, I had begun writing my first full length non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey, an account of my relationship with a dear, older mentor and spiritual friend over the past fifteen years.

After a few months, however, my publishers decided not to proceed with my sixth novel, opting to focus more on non-fiction. Determined not to give in, I sent this same novel off to another Christian publisher here in Australia. This new publisher soon responded, saying she really liked the manuscript, but pointing out various changes she would want made before she would consider publishing it. I agreed to tackle these, but mentioned I also had a non-fiction work I would like her to see. To my surprise, soon I found myself signing not one but two contracts – one for my non-fiction work and the other for my sixth novel again.

But all of this genre switching can become a little confusing, I’ve discovered. While working through all the final edits of Soul Friend over recent weeks, in preparation for its release in October, I found myself thinking at times how a fiction author often has to. Were my characters coming across as ‘real’ enough? Was the plot believable? Did the story have a good ‘arc’? Was the first person point of view used throughout too boring? Had I somehow swapped to omniscient point of view at times? Had I handled direct speech well throughout the manuscript? Were there too many taglines?

Now since my non-fiction work is essentially a story of my own spiritual journey and the impact my friend has had in my life, I realised I still needed to apply many things I had learnt as a fiction author, in order to touch the hearts and grip the attention of my readers. But I soon discovered there are differences as well. For starters, I didn’t have to create my characters – they already exist! Yes, I had to work out how best to portray them, but I couldn’t change who they are. And I couldn’t change the basic storyline. Admittedly, I did have to decide at times what needed to be included and what might be better left out. But the story had to unfold as it happened in real life – my friend and I could not be portrayed as doing things we hadn’t. At times, when I could not remember the exact words we had said to each other and found nothing in my journal entries or emails about the issue at hand, I knew I needed to call on my fiction experience and imagine the words we might have said. But I could not let my imagination run away with me, as I had the luxury to do in my novels. After all, I wanted my non-fiction book to have complete honesty and integrity.

So after October this year, when Soul Friend is released, I will find myself both a fiction and non-fiction author. Have I succeeded in crossing that genre boundary on this occasion? Time will tell – but I hope so, with all my heart. I love writing both and pray I have managed to honour God well in both.

How about you? Have any of you had interesting experiences in changing genre, even if temporarily?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied Education and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry in Sydney. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the written and spoken word and currently has five published novels – ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’, ‘Jenna’ and ‘Heléna’s Legacy’.  She is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and three grandchildren. For more information or to contact Jo-Anne, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

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.

Waiting with four eyes!

In my opinion, the English language contains a wonderful array of interesting vocabulary, fascinating phrases and quaint sayings – a veritable Aladdin’s cave for authors! But having worked as a German and Japanese teacher many years ago and having tried to learn a couple of different languages since then, I have discovered some unique and colourful ways of putting things in other languages too.

Recently I was reminded via an email from a friend who lives in Turkey about a wonderful Turkish phrase often used in everyday language there. My friend told me she was seeing a colleague in another town soon who loves reading my novels. She told me that when she promised this friend she would lend her my latest novel ‘Heléna’s Legacy’, the friend immediately responded: ‘Dört gözle bekliyorum’ – which literally means ‘I’m waiting with four eyes’!

Now what did this girl mean? I guess the closest English equivalent I can think of is the old saying ‘I’m all agog’! Each of these little Turkish and English sentences conjures up for me the image of someone with eyes bulging with excitement and mouth wide open, looking forward with eager anticipation to see what will happen next or what something will be like. And I’m sure you’ll agree it would do any author’s heart good to have the news of the release of his or her latest novel received with such enthusiasm – whatever the language!

One reason I was so impacted by the thought of someone ‘waiting with four eyes’ to read my latest novel was that, this time around, I have found it a little difficult to get too excited about its release myself. Not that I don’t believe in what I wrote or think my novel did not deserve to be published – far from it! I love the characters in it and am hoping and praying the book really ministers to people going through similar issues to those of my characters. And I love the cover too, I’m happy to say. I think it is just that after five new novels being released in the space of five years, with all the necessary speaking and promoting that involves, a little tiredness has crept in – and also the temptation to take things too much for granted.

But when I step back and realise what a privilege it is to have had five novels published in that time, that gives me a much better perspective and puts me on solid ground again with God too. I truly am grateful for God’s grace and inspiration and guidance to me that have enabled these novels to see the light of day. I never want to take for granted the wonderful blessing and fulfilment I have received in the process – and I am humbled to know people’s lives have also been blessed and touched by God through my writing and speaking. I truly do want to remain so thankful and God-honouring in it all.

So I’m very grateful for the fact that right now, somewhere in Turkey, one eager reader is waiting ‘with four eyes’ to read ‘ Heléna’s Legacy’! And may any other author out there feeling a little jaded by the journey be encouraged by the thought that right now, somewhere out there, someone could well be waiting to read your next novel too ‘with four eyes’!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied Education and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry in Sydney. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the written and spoken word and currently has five published novels – ‘Heléna’, ‘All the Days of My Life’, ‘Laura’, ‘Jenna’ and ‘Heléna’s Legacy’. To find out more about Jo-Anne, please visit her website, http://www.jo-anneberthelsen.comanneberthelsen.com.