For Churches

My writing is a gift from God and it is my ministry. One question I am always asked is what is Christian Fiction. The Christy Awards web site explains it this way: Christian fiction is a category of stories written by novelists whose Christian world view is woven into the fabric of the plot and character development. I define Christian fiction as fictional stories written to entertain, educate, inspire and minister. Books published in this genre shouldn’t include profanity, gratuitous violence, or explicit sexual situations. Christian fiction books feature credible flawed characters in a fallen world but should ALWAYS point the reader toward God, they should offer hope to the hopeless and encourage the discouraged.

My novel Redemption is a modern day adaptation of Hosea & Gomer’s biblical story while Jezebel was an adaptation of Queen Jezebel’s rise and fall. Although my books are works of fiction, it was my goal to keep the message scripturally sound. I hope that readers will pick up a Bible to read about these fascinating people but more importantly, that they understand what the true word of God is saying.

Teens are inundated with graphic sexual images—in magazines, the television, music and even in young adult books.  The combination of these references and their teenage hormones can only spell trouble.  They also face the perils of drugs readily available via so-called friends and drug dealers. They struggle with becoming their own person while their peers dole out worldly advice them along the way. 

I’ve raised two daughters who are now in their twenties and I have a teenage son still at home, so I know firsthand the challenges of raising teens.  The world tells them that it’s okay to have sex—everybody’s doing it anyway.  The popular books that most teens are reading are written with graphic sex scenes and profanity. 

I believe that while you have to write realistic stories—ones that teens can relate to—I wanted to not only give them what the world has to say but also what the Bible says.  Teens need to know what God has to say about sex, drugs, life in general.  My books are not preachy but I will not write anything I feel will lead them down the wrong path.  Instead, I challenge my readers with this one simple question: What would Jesus do? 

Consider starting a teen book club if your church doesn’t already have one in place.  Because my young adult books are part of a Christian series—they should be on every reading list for teen book clubs and/or in your church library.  I have asked to speak at Purity conferences, youth events, schools and libraries across the country.

If you’ like to have me participate in your upcoming conference, retreat, book club meeting  or youth event, please email publicity@jacquelinthomas.com for an electronic Media Kit or an Author Appearance Request Form.

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