Introductions

[Jason]

Hey. As the thread name goes, this is just where you introduce yourself... in your very own words, don't let me tell you how to tell everyone who you are.

I'm Jason Brown, been a fan of Christian fiction since the Left Behind series and got into Ted Dekker's THR3E right afterward. Since then, I've been in search of more and more gritty Christian fiction. Who would've guessed there were so many authors willing to break society's 11th Commandement, "Thou Shalt Not Offend"?

[Dustin]

First and foremost, I want to thank you, Jason, for creating this awesome faith-based group. I'm really liking it, so far (though I haven't done much exploring..)


Having said that, my name's Dustin. I'm currently reading Ted Dekker's epic Circle series, and loving every word. I definitely plan on reading more of his work!

[Jason]

Cool deal, and that truly was an epic series by any definition of the word.

[Dustin]

Well I've certainly loved every word of it, so far, Jason!:)

[Tracy]

Hello all. I was invited to this group by Dustin because he knows that I am a Christian and I love horror. I get that many believers don't think you should read horror but lets get real, Revelations is the biggest horror book I have ever read. Seriously, isn't everyday live horror. Some things that happen to some people is so sickening that there isn't a book out there that compares. I read The Girl Next Door and was almost sick when I was told it was based on a true story.
I have read many of Ted Dekker's books and I have loved them all. He is a terrific author.
OK off my soap box. Hello everyone!

[Kathryn]

Hey everyone! I'm Kathryn! I pretty much 'know' or are familiar with you all. Hey Dustin! haha!

I'm a Christian. I was raised a Lutheran, and I really like the idea of a Christian group here. The Left Behind series came out when I was growing up, and I've been collecting them as I see them when they are really inexpensive, so one day I can read them in order! Thanks for inviting me to the group! Looking forward to the discussions!

[Bethica]

Hi everybody. I'm Beth from Iowa. I'm an active Catholic but love love love my horror novels. Just stopping in to check out and support your new group.

[Dustin]

Hello and welcome, everyone! It's wonderful to see you all here. Thank you for accepting my invitations.:)

[Jason]

Great to see that this group is already growing pretty well! And glad to meet y'all.

[Dustin]

Welcome to ALL the new members!! It's great to see everyone here.:)

[[deleted user]]

Hello, I'm Josiah.

I am not actually Christian, but I enjoy Christian fiction and Christian horror.

[[deleted user]]

Sorry about the last comment, I am not Christian, but I believe in the Christian faith.

And yes, the book of revelations is a huge horror book!

[Jason]

Welcome Josiah, welcome!

[Dustin]

Hi, Josiah! It's great to see you here with us.:)

[Dustin]

Hello and welcome, Creston!!:)

[J.S.]

I'm so glad that I stumbled across this group! I'm J. S. Bailey, an aspiring author who hails from the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. I love horror and suspense novels--pretty much anything gritty that can put me on the edge of my seat and make me think. I have one published novel (which is not horror) and another one in the works. My work-in-process, Rage's Echo, is sort of a Christian horror novel. After reading various posts online regarding the Christian publishing industry, I'm kind of concerned that no Christian publisher would want to publish it due to its content...though if Ted can publish a book about people smashing each other with sledgehammers, maybe some companies will publish anything. ;) Please wish me luck!

You all are welcome to join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jsbaileywrites. I'm always eager to meet like-minded folks who love a good book!

[Jason]

Welcome, J.S. I do have a friend whose hometown is Cincinnati, met him in college, Kyle Baughman. And been there myself, the university, one of the hotels, and the mall (high school Upward Bound rocks!). Anyway, I can understand your concern about entirely about the Christian entertainment industry, let alone the books. It's why I made this group, like meeting ground for like-minded people, Christian faith or not. Got sick of the persecution Christians do against non-believers concerning what they read and all other forms of Christian entertainment persecution. Sickens me rather badly. And I'm also an aspiring author as well. Nearly all my story ideas are extremely heavy-handed, to say the least.

[Dustin]

Hi, J.S! Welcome to the group, it's great to have you here with us!!

[Dustin]

Welcome to all our latest members!!

[Jason]

Is it just me? Or is this group starting to grow a bit?

[Kathy]

Hello everyone. My name is Kathy and I'm from Long Island, NY. Thanks for the invite, Dustin. I'm Christian and fairly active in a church several years back. It was made pretty clear that I was expected to give up my horror books & movies. And that was upsetting because I saw nothing wrong with it. I ultimately ended up leaving the church. I am a huge fan of the Left Behind series, but admit I haven't read anymore in that genre.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone, getting book recomnendations and talking books with all of you! :)

[J.S.]

Kathy wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Kathy and I'm from Long Island, NY. Thanks for the invite, Dustin. I'm Christian and fairly active in a church several years back. It was made pretty clear that I wa..."

That's awful that they didn't want you to read any horror! I guess they never read the Bible, because there's some pretty horrifying things in it, too. :] Welcome!

[Dustin]

You are very welcome, Kathy!
Welcome to the group. It's wonderful to have you here with us!!

[Kathy]

It's great to be here! Thanks! :)

[Dustin]

You are always welcome.

[Tracy]

Kathy wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Kathy and I'm from Long Island, NY. Thanks for the invite, Dustin. I'm Christian and fairly active in a church several years back. It was made pretty clear that I wa..."

That is really sad about the church Kathy but they aren't all that way and J.S. is right, Revelation is the biggest horror book I have ever read.

Welcome to the group.

[Kathy]

Thanks, Tracy. :)

Just to let you all know, I will be going in for extensive back surgery soon. 4/20 & 4/24. I'll be hospitalized from friday for at least a week and then bedridden for about a month. I'll try to stay active via my cellphone, but may be scarce for a little while. I just didn't want to join then disappear immediately after. I'll be back as soon as I can. :)

[Jason]

It's interesting, it's said that Frank Peretti's the father of Christian horror, yet I'm still finding people that either never heard of Christian horror or think it doesn't exist, been told by someone in a local church that maybe God wants me to stop reading horror altogether. Told her if that were the case then I'd have tosop reading the Bible since it does have really intense horror stories. We still talk and get along. I'm just thinking that Hollywood has over-simplified horror to mean blood, guts, gore, and serial killers. Such a shame. Even saw another lady from the same church tonight while at work and she was confused at the term "Christian horror", maybe next time I se her, I'll ask her she thinks horror is then if she knows any of the horror stories in the Bible (the Crucifixion accont counts- domestic torture's considered horror, or, in today's loose lingo, torture "porn").
By the way, thanks for joining, Kathy, glad to have ya here!

[Tracy]

Jason, I think a lot if people's definition of horror is Stephen King. I have read many books in the bible that makes King's novels look like children's books. The bible has horrific, immoral and cruel books in it and that's OK because it is meant to teach us how to live. Right? There are those that don't understand that learning can come from many places. I would not substitute my Bible for any book, like I said there is more horror in it than anything I have ever read.

[Dustin]

Oh, Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear that.. I hope it isn't anything too terribly serious.. Thank you for letting us know, though!

Tracy- I agree with you 100%. I think that most people do define the term "horror" as Stephen King. But speaking personally, his writing is so much more than that. Take a look at The Shawshank redeption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me... those aren't horrific tales, yet they're some of his very best writings, IMO.
And while God's Word was freely given in order for us children to live better lives, and especially to live according to Him, I think there are distinct difference between the Bible and contemporary works of fiction.
For one, the Bible isn't made up. Every single word is truthful and genuine.
Secondly, fiction is mainly read for pleasure, whereas God's Word isn't (or shouldn't be, at least, IMO.) The former usually contains an over abundance of violence, profanity, explicit sexual content, and above all, God's name is needlessly spoken in vain.
The latter is utterly pure.

[Kathy]

Thanks for the welcome, Jason. :)

And thanks for the well wishes, Dustin. I have severe scoliosis that is causing other problems as well. So, bad enougj, but it will get better. :)

[Jason]

Then hope you get better.

[Dustin]

You are very welcome, Kathy. Please get well soon.

[Jenna]

Hi everyone! I’m Jenna, and I’m a Christian, and I also love reading Christian fictions from time to time. I’ve read the Left Behind series back when I was in high school too ;).

I’ve read the conversation here, and I agree to what you all said. I also think that reading Christian horrors or other fiction books can’t really affect our faith in Jesus, unless you choose to (which will be sad). but that’s just my opinion. Personally for me whenever I read any other fiction books, I separate myself from the book. There are times that I get uncomfortable with reading a book (sexual content or plenty of demeaning words), so I stop reading it. anyway, that just depends on the person.

And now I’m curious about those Ted Dekker books, haven’t heard of that one yet. . :)

[J.S.]

Jenna Christy wrote: "Hi everyone! I’m Jenna, and I’m a Christian, and I also love reading Christian fictions from time to time. I’ve read the Left Behind series back when I was in high school too ;).

I’ve read the co..."

Ted's books are amazing. It's hard to recommend just one; 'cuz pretty much all of them I've read have been awesome in some way or another.

[Dustin]

Hi, Jenna! Welcome.:)

I cannot recommend Dekker's Circle series highly enough. It is just AMAZING, IMO!

[Dustin]

Welcome to all our latest members!!
It's great to have everyone with us.:)

[Tracy]

I guess Kathy has had her surgery. In an earlier post she said the 24th I think. Has anyone heard from her?

[Dustin]

Hi, Tracy-

I spoke with her shortly after her post, but not since then, and I've been meaning to get back to her.. Thank you for being so thoughtful!:)

[Dibily Do]

Hello everyone, my name is obviously NSA and I am a Born Again Jesus-Freak.
When I read my first book that was considered 'Christian Horror', it was the 'Hangman's Curse' by Frank Peretti, and for me, it was a great book to start out. From that one book I read almost all Peretti's books, about less then half of Ted Dekker's, and I am now expanding into different authors such as: Randy Alcorn, Eric Wilson, and Travis Thrasher.

[Shannon]

Hi my name is Shannon! I live in Illinois and have 2 kids! My girlfriend went to school with this guy who as it turns out is an author of christian books and he had wrote a christian horror book so she told me to read it since I love Christian books and horror books! I loved it thought it was great!! I believe the author was Travis Thrasher! I'm methodist and believe strongly in the power of prayer! I accept friend request so feel free to request me and glad to be in this group!!! :)

[Nike]

I'm Nike Chillemi, a/k/a the Crime Fictionista. I don't write spec ficion, but do write an equally controversial sub-genre: Gritty Christian Romantic Thrillers.

I have two novels published with Desert Breeze. and

The horror story I've like the best is

I also loved Boo, which is not a horror novel but a humor laced novel about a Christian horror writer who gets saved.

[Jason]

Hello everyone! I am a 34 year old Christian who loves reading and writing, especially when it challenges me to think on a deeper level.

I imagine that the concept of "Christian" horror is unfathomable to many Christians because of the worldliness that permeates the genre.

Having said that, I want to pose a slightly different perspective to consider. Arguing the validity of reading/writing horror fiction by comparing it to the benefit of reading the horrific content in the Bible is problematic, at least without further explanation.

Much of the modern horror genre is designed to titilate and provide enjoyment tied to ungodly attituded and actions. On the other hand, the Bible was provided to us for (among other things) instruction and warning. If we can help people understand that there is a Godly way to talk about the harsh realities of life in a Godly way, the aregument then has some teeth to it.

From my personal experience, the issue is missunderstanding of what the genre IS and what it IS NOT. Though I can personally accept calling it "Christian Horror", I think it is a poor label that causes more harm than good. I prefer to discuss subjects or themes rather than labels. This more than anything that helped persuade others to see things differently.

[Jason]

Interesting thoughts from everyone, indeed. And welcome, all of you!

[Dustin]

Hello and welcome, everyone!

It's really great to see such growth within the group, lately.:)

[Justin]

Hi-ho, all! I am brand new to goodreads and was ultra excited to find this group! My name is Justin Joe Sherman, and I cast aside my pharmacist cloak during the day to read (and sometimes even write) suspense at night. Growing up loving King's books and having a wife whose family was haunted by the Bell Witch of Tennessee, I've grown a little tired of some of the anti-Christian perspectives in mainstream horror. I've recently begun finding great authors who write suspense/horror from a Christian worldview and love it! I have been previously published in small-press magazines like Nova SF, Golden Visions, and Hadrosaur Tales. Polishing a novel-length manuscript now, and very hopeful...

Anyway, sorry to ramble on...Greetings!

[Dustin]

Hi, Justin, welcome to the group!!:)

[Justin]

So sorry! I just read my intro in context with everyone else's, and I am very embarrassed. Too much, sorry. Can I close the door behind me and knock politely this time?

[J.S.]

Justin wrote: "So sorry! I just read my intro in context with everyone else's, and I am very embarrassed. Too much, sorry. Can I close the door behind me and knock politely this time?"

What, did you miss my novel-length intro? ;) (See message 16) Welcome!

[Jason]

Glad to have ya! And nice inro, if I may say so.