Davis Bunn's Blog, page 45

Will Davis Bunn Be Writing More Sci-Fi?

Maria writes:

I know it's been a while since you wrote The Dream Voyagers but I was wondering if you would consider writing sequels. I would love to hear more about Consuela and Wander and their universe. I would write sequels to it myself, but that wouldn't really be legal, would it?

My Response:

This is amazing. I have not thought of Dream Voyagers in years, and just this week we have entered into discussions with Tor, the biggest SF imprint in the world. There is no telling what may come of this, as things have been a little busy around here.

As you may have heard, I'm working on a big new film project, and have a major release this summer with the mystery thriller, Lion of Babylon (not sci-fi, sorry, but still a pretty good book in my opinion).

So the answer to your question is, I don't know, but I would love love to get involved in a new sci-fi project. That was my first love as a reader, and the passion remains strong. Very strong.

'The Damascus Way' Breathes Life Into the Story of the Early Church (Review)

By Kevin Bunn

Guest Reviewer

The collaborative work of authors Davis Bunn & Janette Oke bring the life and times of ancient Judea into perspective, particularly that period of time following the death of Stephen, the martyr who said at a critical point in his stoning:

"Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!" (Acts 7:56 NLT)

The Damascus Way opens, not in Jerusalem, as one might expect, but rather, in Tiberias, carefully revealing the family of Jamal, the merchant, a man of some wealth and power in those parts of the land in the north near and about Samaria.

Combining the strategy of weaving multiple threads into the warp and woof of this novel's garment, the reader is compelled from one place to another, from one situation to another, from the tale of one person and thence to another, seemingly disconnected; but while continuing to turn the pages the reader sees a link, a connection, the single golden thread that ultimately will culminate in revealing the mysterious work of Jesus to spread the gospel, "beginning at Jerusalem and then to Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

This novel breathes "life" into the story of the early church. Topography, weather, animals, danger, bandits, weariness, sorrow, health, Roman soldiers, courage and the will to survive; the attributes of living so often left out of our often seemingly monotonic reading of the New Testament.

Any reader who has the ability to be carried by their imagination to "far-off lands, times and circumstances" will appreciate how the words of this novel develop the new and returning characters into "real, living beings" whose lives are touched by the swirling world around them.

At the focal point of this "real life" is Julia, a young maiden, the daughter of Jamal who comes to know the Lord in a very special way; but more importantly, who crosses paths with one particular man, at a time of great significance: Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor.

It is here the cloth is nearly complete. The colorful threads have all been identified and inserted, bound together in a way that leads to the high point on the road to Damascus, but further than that event, the impact of the days that followed. Were this story a quilt, every square, every piece would tell another part of the story as they were sewn together, until the whole were made complete.

Many questions are asked and answered in this moving story of adventure, life and history. Is it all real?

No.

But is it possible?

Yes.

We know lives were touched, connected and transformed in the days of the gospel spreading out from Jerusalem. The characters are real enough to help us see how people of faith were needed to live, day-to-day, week-to-week and month-to-month, over and over again to show the world that Jesus lives; Jesus works in the lives of his people; and He touches in very special ways, the hearts and minds of those who seek Him.

About Kevin Bunn (no relation to Davis Bunn): From early childhood I have been associated with the Christian faith. I have always been an avid reader, starting before kindergarten reading the newspaper and anything else I could get my hands on. I remember reading the Bible during church services, especially the Old Testament stories, mostly because when I was young, the sermons were "over my head" in terms of subject matter and theology.

Over the years I absorbed the Biblical history and learned how important these stories are to our ongoing battle with sin, as well as the thread of God's plan for our salvation.

This understanding has helped me as a Bible class teacher, study and home group leader and from time to time, a speaker delivering the message of our faith. More importantly, as a father and husband, I learned how to help my children develop their faith in God and Christ, as well as supporting my wife during her journey to become a Marriage and Family Therapist and Bereavement Counselor.

I am presently a businessman in the construction industry, searching out and developing a focused, niche business to recycle construction debris into marketable product.

More Articles and Reader Reviews About the Acts of Faith series

First-Century Power Players – a 10-part series – by Davis Bunn
Character Sketches for Acts of Faith Series – by Laura Christianson
Reader Takes 'A Short Judean Vacation' With the Acts of Faith Series – Review by By Joy DeKok
'The Centurion's Wife' Transports Readers to Another Time and Place – Review by Pam Nelson
'The Centurion's Wife' Gets 5-Star Review – By Zijlia Kitshoff
Historical Characters in 'The Hidden Flame' Complex and Thoroughly Explored – Review by Violet Nesdoly
Review of 'The Damascus Way' from Hope Scribbles Blog – Review by Elisabeth Allen
On the Road to Damascus, Everything Changes – Review by Karen Barnett

Practicing the Discipline of Waiting

The following comment was written in response to my blog post about 'waiting' by author and speaker Joy Gage. It was so lovely I thought you might enjoy reading it as well:

By Joy Gage

Guest Columnist

You should see the red rocks of Sedona dusted with snow. Two weeks ago we saw snow all around us. Yesterday it was 70 degrees. We love living where we see snow every year yet never have to plow through it. It seems the best of both worlds.

From my youth I learned "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

But I have never found it easy.

Waiting is one of the many disciplines a writer practices. With practice everything else about the craft becomes easier. But waiting remains the same–a difficult discipline.

Three years ago I grew so tired of waiting that I quietly threw in the towel. My agent never seemed to have time to give the feedback I needed; one publisher after another looked at my "very interesting historical novel" and found a reason not to publish it. My muse disappeared as I grasped another pressing responsibility–caring for our daughter who was dying with cancer. I looked back over my time in the publishing world–a respectable record but I had hoped to do so much more. I assumed the time had come to bow out, to quit trying and to be content with teaching on line for Jerry Jenkins.

When our daughter died, (2 years ago) she left such a hole in the family that we collectively reeled for more than a year. I filled my time by volunteering three days a week for a worthy cause. I made a great effort to get involved in the womens ministry at my church. But neither area proved to be the right fit for me. That year did not seem like a waiting period. It seemed more like the final bookend that closed off a former period of my life. But it was not.

God had other plans.

Last summer with no prior pondering an idea for a project came to me–a co-writing project with my husband. The book is finished and is being reviewed by a publisher. So we wait. Since that time I have submitted another proposal and am currently finishing a WWII novel.

In October a study on faith/obedience which I wrote for a mission board was released in Arabic. It has been distributed in Egypt and Jordan and 200 copies are on their way to a country I cannot disclose. A non commercial venture for which I must wait until eternity to discover any impact it will have.

In February within the space of 10 days at least a half dozen people contacted me about my book, When Parents Cry. This book was published over 30 years ago and after numerous editions (including a mass paperback by a N.Y. publisher) went out of print. The current interest has caused me to begin pondering a writing project that screams to be written. I have learned that as a believer, whatever God calls/equips us to do is ultimately in His hand. With Moses we pray, "establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Thus the sales reports and the royalty checks do not tell the whole story. The publisher may determine how long a book stays in print but only God can determine how long that book has an effective ministry.

You are one of the two most gifted writers that I know. And you find ways to minister to other aspiring writers. I have watched you circle a room, encouraging people everyone else overlooks. I pray that while you wait that God will encourage you in many, many ways.

Many, many blessings,

Joy

Waiting…

Today a cold front has moved through. Here on Florida's coast, such moments are truly beautiful. The sky ahead of the front is crystal clear, the air remarkably dry. The wind blows from the south and west, carrying with it the lowest humidity Florida ever sees. The orange trees are blooming now, and the wind carries a fragrance strong as the heat, strong as the sea. And then the clouds arrive, a faint dark ribbon on the northeastern horizon. The wind blows harder still, as though it struggles to hold back the storm. But this moment of perfumed clarity is too divinely passionate to remain for long. And so the front marches towards me, driven on sturdy legs of driving rain.

I have always been comfortable with deadlines. My aim is to beat them. I like to remain ahead of schedule on all fronts. Even when I am juggling a multitude of projects, like now.

But there is a downside.

The work is completed. I have done all I possibly can.

And now I have no choice but to wait.

For a hard-charger like me, this is a rough period. Especially now, as we gradually emerge from the recession, which struck the publishing and entertainment industries with particular ferocity. And even more especially, because at this very odd point in time I am waiting on so many fronts. I cannot remember ever having all these events arrive at the same juncture at precisely the same time.

Now that the screenplay is finished, I am waiting to learn whether the film's producers can obtain the necessary capital.

Now that my manuscript is completed, I am waiting to hear the public's reaction to Lion of Babylon.

Now that The Damascus Way is released, I am waiting to hear how it will fare in its second month.

Now that I have submitted a proposal for a new project, I am waiting to hear the publishers' response.

Now that my last manuscript has been accepted, I am waiting to hear the timing and direction the publishers would like for my next story.

Waiting.

It is a grinding experience. It fuels a sense of helplessness.

So long as I am involved in the creative process, so long as I am writing, I can dream. The project is still mine, the energy is mine, the timing is mine, the power to hope is very intense.

Now it's all very different.

There is such a concentrated feeling just now. More than vulnerability. My life and my direction are not mine to control. I cannot accelerate the pace. I have done all I can.

The invitation is to become frustrated. To push and prod and ask and shout. Just like a child. Just like a spoiled little kid who can't control his own emotions, much less accept that the world does not rotate around his desires.

So it has been both odd and pleasing to find a new emotion taking hold in this time of empty-handed waiting. I feel calm.

In the past, such moments have spawned a great sense of fear, sometimes even of frustrated anger. I have lashed out for little or no reason, and then spent days trying to make amends. This time, I have been content to sit.

The cold front has arrived. In the space of five minutes, the temperature has dropped thirty-five degrees. The wind has switched and is howling now, a tempest of cold fury and driving rain. The crystal vision is gone, lost beneath a veil of water and cold and wind.

And yet here I sit. Content for this one small moment to release it all, and pray. Oh, that you would bless me with the wisdom to know and do your will. Even when it goes against the deepest portion of my being. Even when I am called to accomplish the impossible:  And Do Nothing.

Aftermath of Tsunami in Sri Lanka: Still in Crisis

Dear Friends,

I normally don't include requests for help in my columns. But the following letter comes from a dear friend and pastor in Sri Lanka, the island nation at the tip of India. As many of you will recall, this was the country hard hit by the tsunami of several years ago. If anyone feels called to assist them in this crisis, you will find their email at the bottom of this letter.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Davis Bunn,

We are now experiencing devastating horror with floods after floods sweeping through our island.

43 people were killed and a million made homeless three weeks ago. Now in the same three districts (north, east, and central provinces) we are in the midst of the second major flood, where 23 people have died and a million made homeless.

More than ten thousand homes have been destroyed or partially damaged. The displaced people are housed in 543 camps. The number of displaced persons continues to rise.

Navy has deployed some 40 lifesaving teams in the affected areas. Large numbers of people are stranded in remote villages. Schools, business establishments, and offices remain closed.

7 Air Force helicopters are engaged in round the clock rescue operation.

Satellite picture shows that the rains will continue for a few more days.

A heartrending experience – when 5 people in the same family were buried alive due to land-slides in our vicinity.

We are now compelled to launch out on a "Mission Mercy" in our own little way and we are looking to you to be a partner in this humanitarian effort.

Immediate relief is to provide 'clothes and dry rations.'

Long term relief is to build houses. We have identified five locations where the homes have been completely destroyed and a rebuilding programme has been put in place. We are awaiting your kind response to these.

We know you will pray for our people who are facing untold hardships.

Awaiting your response – Warm greetings – Donald Fernando

Rev. Don M. Fernando K.I.C.

Galaha Road

8th Mile Post

Hindagala

Kandy

Sri Lanka

Clifferd@eureka.lk

His phone number is: +94 11 81 2389502

The Centurion's Wife Transports Reader to Another Time and Place (Review)

By Pam Nelson

Guest Reviewer

I had a heart transplant several years ago and consequently have lots of time on my hands. One of my greatest passions is reading. I was introduced to Davis Bunn when he first began to co-author books with Janette Oke, and he was quickly added to my list of favorite authors. I have never been disappointed in his books, and this one was no exception.

The story begins immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and revolves around two main characters.

Leah is the niece of Pontius Pilate and servant to his wife, Procula.

Alban is a Roman centurion who has lofty goals for advancement and wishes to be granted the hand of Leah in marriage. The same centurion whose servant Jesus healed and said, "I have not seen such a faith in all of Israel."

Pilate sends him on a mission to find out what has happened to the body of Jesus and also determine the probability of a revolt against Rome by the Jews. If he succeeds, he will be granted Leah's hand and his coveted advancement.

At the same time Leah is sent by Procula on the same mission. Their separate journeys lead them to places they did not anticipate and a quest they did not desire. Somewhere along the journey, their quest changes from simply finding answers to finding the truth. And the TRUTH will change them in ways they never dreamed possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for a number of reasons.

First of all, the history woven through these pages was fascinating. It was a beautiful look at the birth of the first-century church.

I felt like I knew the characters intimately after reading this. Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, the disciples, and others were all vividly brought to life.

Also, the characters, Alban and Leah, were compelling. I fell in love with them both, partially because I could see myself in their hopes, ambitions, and their searching hearts. Their story was a picture of how God draws us, changes our perspective, and gives us life abundant.

In addition, this book drew me in so much that I wanted to close my eyes and be transported to another time and another place. In reality, for a few hours, I was!

Readers Comment on 'The Book of Hours'

Karen writes:

I just started reading The Book Of Hours, and am overjoyed to have found your writing and books. I can't seem to put this book down; it's rich with culture, scenery, and you tell the story so well with each character's traits.

My Response:

Welcome to my readership. This the first time I have used these words. It's a little odd, like a formal greeting to a new clan member. It's grand to know you connected so enthusiastically to your first story.

If I could make a suggestion, other fans of The Book of Hours have written to say how much they enjoyed two other books in particular, My Soul To Keep and All Through The Night. Again, thank you for writing.

Marilyn writes:

The Book of Hours was so interesting, and when you begin to reveal the intimacy of Jesus to each person, it was so beautiful I wept. Especially at the powerful, prayerful ending.

I think the bells should still ring in every town around the world on the hour until the Lord's return.

For those of us who are alone, books like your provide adventures we long for in a positive experience. We may only have your books as the means to interact with characters we relate to.

The detailed descriptions are astonishingly precise and we are transported right into the places and conversations. So please, know what a service you provide and the many joys you remind us of.

Janice writes:

I picked up The Book of Hours at a discount store thinking it looked pretty good. I read it three times and it is still having an impact on me. I have read thousands of books and some seem to have more of an impact than others, but this one just will not let me go.

I have always liked to read and when I am in the mood I read anything in sight, but for some reason this book has haunted me. I loaned it to my daughter and I know that she will probably have it for several months before she reads it. I just hope she likes it as well as I did.

Virginia Wilson writes:

The Book of Hours was given to me by my daughter-in-law as a Christmas present. I have always loved novels, especially novels of English history. I love to travel and tour England. Always been enthralled by stories of King Arthur and ancient England. My heart's desire would be to spend some time in one of the small towns in England and get to know the people who reside there. I have plans to go to the library and find more of your novels!

Caroline writes:

I absolutely love this book. I have read it and reread it. I thought I would see if it was offered as an audio download and it is not. It would be nice to listen to while traveling or just relaxing. Do you think that will happen?

My Response:

What delightful notes. I have recently started sketching a new story in the same vein as Book of Hours, and to receive these lovely thoughts really does help the work move with joy.

To answer Caroline's question, it is unlikely that a book that has been out this long (nine years and counting) would have a group make an audio version. This normally happens right around the same time that the book is released.

Hopefully you will be able to find similar joy in one of my other titles that is offered in audio version.

Thank you all again for writing.

On Writing Fiction: The More Complex the Issues, The Simpler the Structure Must Be

Nick Harrison, Senior Editor at Harvest House Publishers, asks:

How does the final draft of the book differ (if it does differ) from your original vision for the book when you began it?

My Response:

I am going to write a longer answer than you would probably prefer, Nick. But this to me is not a simple question.

If I take my current work as an example:  Lion of Babylon is the first time I have ever based a story upon my experiences of working and living in the Middle East. I wrote the outline over a six month period, coming back to it time and again between other projects.

Then I just sat on it for months, knowing I needed something more, but not sure what it was. Finally I showed it to Carol Johnson and Dave Horton at Bethany House. It was only when I received their feedback that I felt the book begin to genuinely solidify.

Focus on my weakest areas

Generally when preparing the outline, I focus upon my weakest areas. In this case, my desire was to have half the story told from the POV of an Arab Christian.

What does it mean to live as a member of a minority faith?
What are the current circumstances faced by such a person and their family?

In order for such issues to NOT get in the way of the overall story, I need to grow utterly comfortable with this man, his world, and his 'skin', at the outline phase.

Goal of the first draft

In the first draft, the aim is balance. All the various elements of the story need to be molded into a smooth orchestral arrangement. With this story, my aim was to reveal a deep complexity in a simple fashion, much like what I did with The Great Divide.

The more complex and emotional the issues, the simpler the structure needs to be. I have always found this to be a vital truth of good storytelling. Like in 'Divide', I wanted to go beyond the basic components of a good thriller, and tell a story with heart.

The Crucial Change Point

In general, the crucial change between outline and first draft is the climax. I have never had my first vision of the climax actually become the book's culmination. Lion of Babylon is no exception. As usual, what I envisioned as the climax actually became one of the crucial moments LEADING to the climax. I find I like this uncertainty, this unexpectedness. If I don't know, the reader normally can't anticipate.

At the same time, I need to have some sense of the ultimate goal. Where is the story headed?  Having a climax in mind is crucial. Having it change is part of the fun.

On the Road to Damascus, Everything Changes (Review of 'The Damascus Way')

The Damascus Way, which Janette Oke and I co-authored, is currently #2 on the CBA best seller's list.  The novel is the third and final book in the Acts of Faith series.

Karen Barnett reviewed The Damascus Way on her blog, "Cannot Be Shaken," and she graciously allowed me to reprint her review here.

By Karen Barnett

The roads in Judea, Samaria, Galilee and Syria were treacherous and travelers risked bandits, murderous zealots, and sandstorms as they struggled to reach their destinations. But, on the road to Damascus–everything changed.

The Damascus Way is a sweeping saga that gives readers a glimpse into the uncertain lives of the people of "the Way," the first century followers of the risen Christ. Authors Davis Bunn and Janette Oke show how this new faith brought not only persecution to the early church, but also miraculously transformed former enemies into family. The lives of Roman centurions, Syrian traders, Judean merchants and Samaritan slaves are bound together as they travel the Roman roads that unite their lands.

Young Julia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is horrified when she learns that she and her mother are, in reality, her father's second family and that her father never actually married her mother. Jacob, one of her father's caravan guards and a follower of The Way, is also searching for his place in the world. The two meet when they both become reluctant couriers for the communities of believers–a task that puts both them and their families at risk from the temple priests and Pharisees, such as Saul of Tarsus, who seek to rid the land of this dangerous new movement.

The Damascus Way is the third book in the Acts of Faith series. I read it without having read the two previous books and had no difficulty following the storyline. Readers who have read The Centurion's Wife and The Hidden Flame will likely enjoy seeing the continuation of some of the familiar characters from those books. Now that I've finished The Damascus Way, I'm eager to go back and read the first two books of the series. The authors painted such a vivid scene that I feel like I've just gotten back from my own journey and I'm still shaking the sand from my shoes.

Karen Barnett writes about faith, motherhood and writing in her blog, Cannot Be Shaken. An aspiring Christian fiction writer, she lives in Albany, Oregon with her husband and two children. She is published in Guideposts and Ladybug magazines.

New Book by Diana Wallis Taylor Brings Martha of Bethany of Life

One of the biblical characters Janette Oke and I brought to life in the Acts of Faith series is Martha of Bethany, the sister of Mary and Lazarus.

I thought my readers might be interested in a forthcoming novel by Diana Wallis Taylor, titled Martha.

Here's what Revell's catalog says about the book, which will be released in May 2011:

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented characters of the New Testament is Martha. Often painted in the colors of reproach, Martha seems to be the poster child for how not to be a follower of Jesus.

From the mind of Diana Wallis Taylor comes this touching, well-researched portrayal of Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus. Through Taylor's lush descriptions and inspired combination of imagined and recorded dialogue, Martha's world—her trials, triumphs, and loves—vibrantly comes to life.

Follow Martha as she is jilted by her betrothed, falls in love with a Roman soldier, grieves the death of her father, cares for her siblings, and serves her Lord with dignity and grace. Readers will never read the biblical story of Martha the same way again.