R.M. Snider's Blog, page 5

Searching For a Good King

Since I began writing The River Series in March 2016, I’ve felt a pull on my heart to accomplish one goal with it- to show people that God is complexly and creatively good.

But there was a time when I didn’t think God was good.

Back in July 2008, we began “trying”. That is, I got off birth control and we started brainstorming baby names.

Fast forward a year and a half and we still didn’t have a kid. I had never been angry at God before (honestly, I’d never contemplated about God enough to have...

Wanted: Literary Agent

So, I’ve been in this writing game for over 10 years. At times, it’s excited and fast-paced. Everything is progressing at such an enormous rate that you feel you’re moving at warp speed, the accomplishment of your goal growing closer with every second.

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Other times… not so much. Drudgery. Drain. And even dread.

This calendar year, I’ve experienced a fair mixture of all that.

Two nights before the new year began, I decided to republish Rivertown Crooner as two books- Mobtown Player and Riverto...

Always a good reminder (to myself)

When you’re feeling like you’re not enough, remember He made you just the way He wanted you to be. And He likes you that way, too.

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Chiastic Structure of The River Series

So, now for another totally nerdy post (but also totally cool when I think about how God authored this story and then entrusted it to me to tell. He’s awesome!)

Chiastic structure has to do with a piece of writing that basically begins with an idea (A), then progresses to a new idea or ideas (B, C, etc) and then, at some point, the pattern reverses (C’, B’) and it ends up back at A’, but the pattern reversal is such that it is the reciprocal or antithesis of the original idea (A, B, C). Typica...

Bordertown Gypsy

Shortly after America enters WWI, in a town where duplicitous law enforcers have legalized prostitution, an orphaned girl is exploited by her uncle. But when circumstances suddenly change, she begins to discover something that was always hidden in the folds of her story-
God’s complex and creative goodness
working to rescue her. 
-R.M. Snider

‘Tis the Season for Depression

I struggle with depression and have noticed this time of the year is harder, when that post-holiday slump hits. But God gives me joy when I ask and He sends others to help me back up. These lyrics have been rolling around in my head for the past week and I thought I’d share: ‘Tis the season for depression.
Fa-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la!
Sometimes it looks like aggression.
Fa-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la!
Or you want to stay in bed.
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Or you wish that you were dead.
Fa-la-la-la-...

'Tis the Season for Depression

I struggle with depression and have noticed this time of the year is harder, when that post-holiday slump hits. But God gives me joy when I ask and He sends others to help me back up.These lyrics have been rolling around in my head for the past week and I thought I'd share:‘Tis the season for depression.
Fa-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la!
Sometimes it looks like aggression.
Fa-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la!
Or you want to stay in bed.
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Or you wish that you were dead.
Fa-la-la-la-la...

An Incredible Moment

This past Sunday where I worship, an incredible moment struck me. A man got up on stage and invited the congregation to volunteer for Night to Shine (that our congregation is hosting next week). Then, the song leader got up and the entire congregation sang "Light The Fire".
Alright, so this probably doesn’t sound like the incredible moment you were expecting, am I right? But bear with me and allow me to take you back in time so you know where I’m coming from.
There was a place (actually several...

The Saviors- and Why They Are Important to The River Series

Now, savior might seem like a sacrilegious word to call someone other than Christ but bear with me. According to Google, a savior is “a person who saves someone… from danger”. In that case, both Franco and Robert are saviors to Daniella.
The Brother Saviors: Franco vs. RobertEarly in the series, Franco becomes Daniella’s one trusted caregiver. He fights for her- literally. He lies beside her in bed and comforts her (his actions are totally platonic and brotherly). But, sadly, Franco dies and D...

The House on the Corner of 4th and H, Part 2: The Unknown Places

The house on the corner of 4th and H goes on a journey which is a poignant reflection of the journey Daniella goes on. 
This photo is reversed- that's because this is how Daniella's house
is truly laid out to sit on the corner of 4th and H.  
The unknown places.This is Part 2 of a series of author-written exploratory essays about The River Series… That sentence sounded totally boss, didn’t it? But, for real, this is just nerd stuff for people who loved The River Series- or for ot...