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Spotlight
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." - Proverbs 27:2
A look behind the story to show what motivates these authors to write for God 6/29/2009 I've met bestselling, award-winning author James Scott Bell briefly at the past few American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conferences. He was the keynote speaker one year when I took my son, Ryan, with me to the conference. We both learned a lot from Jim and found him to have a great sense of humor and an innate ability to inspire his fellow writers.  JAMES SCOTT BELL is the bestselling author of Deceived, Try Dying, Try Darkness, Try Fear, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence (Suspense category), and has also been a finalist for the award in the Historical category. He has served as the fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine and has written two bestselling craft books in the Writers Digest series Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing. When he's not writing, he enjoys tooling around his home town of L.A. with his wife, Cindy, and finding new places to explore. Jim's latest release Try Fear comes out this month (July 2009) from Center Street. For Ty Buchanan, defending suspected drunk driver Carl Richess seems routine enough. Ty only takes the case out of sympathy for the defendant’s mother, Kate Richess. Kate reminds him of his own mother, bringing back memories he’s kept locked away even from those closest to him. Other than the defendant’s unusual attire at the time of arrest, the only memorable thing about Carl’s case would have been the intelligent, ambitious, and beautiful Deputy City Attorney, Kimberly Pincus. Despite being bested in the courtroom by him, she’s soon seeking Ty out as a mentor, and possibly something more. And Ty is intrigued by the offer.  But then this simple DUI becomes something no one saw coming–a homicide. As Ty and his assistant, Sister Mary Veritas, dig deeper, they uncover tentacles of corruption that reach right up into the citadels of city power. Soon the case catches the attention of the media, putting Ty, and everyone involved, in the spotlight. When Sister Mary starts getting threatening e-mails from a cyberstalker, Ty is sure it has something to do with the upcoming trial. Now, with Sister Mary’s life at stake, Ty must track down the real killer, and soon. Because somewhere in the dark labyrinth of LA is someone who will do anything to keep from being found out, someone who knows how to use the greatest weapon–fear. You can find Try Fear at these three online bookstores: Amazon Christian Book Distributors, or Barnes & Noble I asked Jim to give us some insight into how God is using him and his writing. Jill: When and how did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Jim: I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing something. I liked to read adventure stories, and was always writing them myself, complete with bad illustrations. So the yearning to write has always been there. It's just that, after college, I had been convinced that writers were "born, not made," and that I didn't have what it took. I spent about ten years believing that, then realized the desire to write wouldn't leave. I decided I'd go for it, even if I never sold a thing. Along the way, I discovered you really can learn the craft, so I've written two books for Writers Digest Books on the subject, to save other writers ten years in the desert. Jill: I've read Plot & Structure and found it easy to understand, well-written, and it helped me get a better grasp on what can be the more technical aspects of story-telling. Can you share with me some of the highlights of your writing journey – something particularly memorable or humorous? Jim:: I was standing in line at a drugstore once, when, from across the store, I heard, "Jim Bell! You are a dirty dog!" I thought, for a moment, it was one of my former criminal clients. It was, instead, a young woman from my church. She approached me and, again, said, "You are a dirty dog!" By this time, the little old lady in front of me was casting strange glances my way. The woman from church went on, "You kept me up all night!"  I shook my head. She said, "I started reading your book and I couldn't put it down!" So, when you're called a dirty dog, it might not be such a bad thing. Just be sure to check. Jill: I'll keep that in mind. :) Tell me a bit about what you write now and what you hope/plan to write in the future. Do you have a favorite genre? Jim: I'm a suspense writer. I want to keep readers breathlessly turning pages. You can do that in a number of genres. In fact, I'd say every novelist needs to do that. You have to give the reader a reason to keep reading. I do like contemporary suspense, in an urban environment. My favorite genre of film is noir, and I love the crime novels of the 40s and 50s. Jill: I love suspense! In my secret life I've written a couple myself - unpublished. And I've read some of yours - you do keep the reader turning pages! (I loved Sins of the Father, btw.) Do you consider your writing the work God has given you to do for a lifetime or for a season of your life? Can you see yourself pursuing something outside of writing for His glory? Jim: I am definitely blessed to be able to do what I love doing. And I am aware that I need to be a good steward of that gift. So I will keep on doing it as long as I can, and do it to the best of my ability. If I could have done anything, I would've chosen professional basketball player. God, however, did not give me the body of LeBron James. Or tremendous speed. When I ran the 40 yard dash they timed me with a calendar. I did develop a deadly jump shot which is still quite potent. But I was never going to be an NBA star.  A lot of life is figuring out what you're good at, strengthening what your weak at, and doing the best with what you've got. Writing is the same way. Jill: I agree. God already knows the works He's planned for us to do, but it's up to us to figure out what they are and then do them! Are there people in your life who encouraged you, who are responsible for you becoming a published author? Jim:: My greatest early encouragement came from a beloved high school teacher, Mrs. Marjorie Bruce. She instilled in me a love for great literature and poetry, and expanded my horizons as a creative writer. I kept in touch with her all the way up until her death at the age of 90, a couple of years ago. I think she was very pleased that I was able to get where I am. Jill: Can you share one struggle that entered your life as a result of writing and how God helped you to overcome it, to make you more like Christ? Jim:: Writing is a humbling profession. Among all the good, there are of course bad reviews, angry emails, disappointments over how projects turn out. Humility is definitely imposed upon you, if you don't fight it. I try not to fight it. Jill: Likewise, is there a particular joy in this writing business/ministry that God has used to remind you that He is, in fact, using your words to His glory? Jim: I find it incredibly wonderful when words I put on a page make a connection that compels someone to write to me and thank me. One memorable letter came from a young woman who, upon reading the Kit Shannon books, decided she was going to pursue a career in the law, because she saw that she could make a difference. Kit Shannon inspired her. Very cool. Jill: That is cool! Has writing opened opportunities for you to give your testimony and witness for Christ or minister to fellow believers? If so, can you give one example? Jim:: I sometimes take on issues that are controversial and hard-hitting. In my novel Presumed Guilty I had a subplot about the porn industry and the damage it causes. I was amazed at how many women readers wrote to me thanking me for dealing with this topic. They had husbands who'd fallen into that addiction, in many instances destroying the marriage. That was an eye opener. But whatever story I write, I'm trying to follow what the great writing teacher John Gardner said: all great art presents the artist's vision of life as it should be. That's what I'm trying to do, give my vision of life as it should be. Up next for Jim: In December comes a new book from Writers Digest: The Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises. In a simple yet practical way, the book covers the fiction writing spectrum, from the business end to craft and submission. It is a field manual for those in the battle for publication and career. Available for pre-order on Amazon. Sounds like a must read for writers! You can visit author James Scott Bell and get to know him better by checking out his website - or by reading his books! Thanks Jim, for joining us this month on Spotlight! ~Jill~ |
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