Friday, January 16, 2009

Faux Pas Fiction

I'm a fan of romantic Christian fiction for women, particularly the genre known as "chick lit." The more I read of this genre, the more I find myself wanting a bit more in terms of character development.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 4 adults suffer from a mental disorder...TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT. This percentage isn't translated into Christian fiction much (that I know about, at least). Women (and men) struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, eating disorders...you name it, yet the romantic chick lit genre is certainly silent about them.

As a result of this omission, I believe that I've found my niche as a writer after three years. My intimate acquaintance with these disorders (among others) paves the way for me to weave how they affect women and their relationships with others into the pages of fiction.

So for now, I'm working on a book about a social worker with post-traumatic stress (PTSD). I've completed a book about a woman grieving the loss of her husband and dealing with the reluctance (and guilt) of moving on.

My hope is to get published and bring hope and healing to women everywhere who might struggle with these same disorders or know someone else who does. Once the pain and confusion some people live in as a result of a mental health diagnosis is brought to light, I hope others will have more compassion and understanding, as well.

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