Writer's Words For God

I'd hope to grow from modest soil an online community based in faith and the appreciation for writers who serve it with intention or without, for all denominations, showcasing and sharing authors spreading their messages of faith through fictional or non-fictional stories.

Some of my favorite faith writers are Ann Lamott, author of "Some Thoughts on Faith." Rick Warren, author of "What on Earth am I Here For?" I also deeply respect the work of newer authors, like myself. I enjoy the works of Thomas Flanagan, comedic e-book author of "Bring It On My Heart" and "Why Call Me Christian if God Calls me Son?" Although his work is spurred by humor, his ideas and clever quips entangle your mind, heart and soul, even as they tickle your funny bone. I met him at a conference and found him to be as quirky as his work is but still a genuine soldier of God and testimony to living in faith.

I'm a big fan of author Anna Kavanaugh who writes the coolest fiction. She approaches the tough subject of death's role in life and vice versa and makes it really entertaining while also very soul awakening. I don't think I've ever quite been forced to think about my faith and my realistic view of God in the way I have since reading her. She's recently retired from writing novels but her sixth book is called The Cord of Callows which was put out in a collectors set and it's an overwhelming read that will have my online groups debating over it for a long time. There was supposed to be a movie based on the book coming out but I don't know if that's still happening. It would be awesome though because writers of stories of faith are too often ignored. I believe it's a true testament to God's work when a mass audience can be touched by issues of faith and spiritual love in an entertaining way without being smothered with it in a strictly religious coined movie. Then again, most of the best stories ever written are demolished when Hollywood gets ahold of them so maybe it's best to stick with the book.

Joan Diddion is a an interesting woman and writer that I happened upon a few years ago on tv. She has lived such a life that I admire and respect. I've come to really appreciate it after reading her new award winner Magical Thinking. What an inspiring and informing book to take us into the step by step of grief and healing. She not only wrote her memoirs as she worked through the sudden death of her husband, fellow colleague and famously talented author John Gregory Dunn, she then lost her daughter. I hope she will explore how to deal with the death of a child and examine the role of God and faith in such unimaginable tragedy.