Redemption will come, but how far do I let my characters fall?
July 24th, 2010
It’s hard to believe The Sister Wife hit bookstores just a month ago. One of the greatest joys of a new release is hearing from readers when they’ve just finished reading the book. Some post on Facebook, others send me e-mails, some post reviews on Amazon, others write blog reviews. In this day of instant access and communication, it’s an even greater blessing.
Last week The Sister Wife made the rounds on a blog tour. This was the first time I’ve done this sort of thing and I loved it! I didn’t realize the plethora of bloggers that populate this new book review world. There were those who loved the book, those who became upset with my characters’ choices (totally understandable, I get upset too!), those who thought it controversial, and those who couldn’t wait to tell others about it and posted reviews on Amazon and other blogs. One comment, however, stood out from the others. It was posted by a blogger who said he didn’t read the book because there was no mention of redemption on the cover.
That got me to thinking about the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Not that I don’t think The Sister Wife cover is outstanding (it is!), but I was surprised that someone wouldn’t read a book based on his supposition that because redemption isn’t spelled out on the cover copy, it doesn’t exist. Another blogger — one who did read it — mentioned that because my characters get drawn into polygamy, she didn’t see how there could be redemption in the next two books in the series. Believe me, that also got me to thinking — not just about my characters and the powerful redemptive plot in the next two books, but about all of us, about our lives and the mistakes we make, our failures, our suffering, the dark valleys we sometimes walk. Do we need to walk around with a sign around our necks that says, “Don’t worry about my failures today; redemption will come tomorrow.”
As I work on book 2 in the Brides of Gabriel series, I give a lot of thought to Gabriel’s climb within the hierarchy of the church, his hunger for power, his self-centered choices — all wrapped in the name of religion and good works. I also give a lot of thought to the fact that this could happen today in any church, any organization. Perhaps Gabe’s fall is worse because polygamy is part of the equation, and he brings great harm to his family because he embraces it. But then, I wonder, is this any different than a man or woman in today’s world who doesn’t remain faithful to his or her spouse and family? Are there degrees of sin? Can we even judge which is worse?
And what if I LOVE this character (and think of my love — yes love! — for him as a tiny portrait of the immensity of God’s love for me even in my failures and wrong choices, perhaps because of my failures and wrong choices) and almost weep when he makes these mistakes, these terrible choices, when he stumbles, falls, hurts others, and must suffer the consequences for his actions? But I’m getting off the subject …
My point is that Gabriel must fall in order to know the full extent of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and grace. The greater the fall, the more powerful his redemption. My heart is warmed by those readers who “get” this. Mary Rose, Bronwyn, and Enid — though caught up in a religion they’re only beginning to see as false — are on faith journeys of their own. In one blogger’s opinion, I sprinkled a few words of Scripture throughout, almost as if she believed it was a precursory attempt to make this work “Inspirational.”
Many other reviewers “get” why these Scriptures come to Mary Rose as she contemplates the true God of her childhood through verses taught her by her mother and compares Him to the false god and teachings taught by Gabriel. They “get” that through Scripture learned in childhood, God can speak to us in the silence of our hearts by bringing to mind those truths about himself: “For as rain and snow fall from the heavens and return not again, but water the earth, bringing forth life and giving growth, seed for sowing and bread for eating, so is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty; but it will accomplish that which I have purposed, and prosper in that for which I sent it.” (Is. 55 BCP)
Here are a couple of the reviews that I think captured the heart and soul of The Sister Wife:
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/2010/07/sister-wife-by-diane-noble-is-up-on.html
Blessings of love, joy, and peace to you this day!
Tags: blogging, book reviews, Brides of Gabriel, Polygamy, the sister wife, The Writing Life
