After witnessing the suicide of a church sister, Minister Francine Amen is disgusted with herself for turning against the young woman and refusing to accept her claim of abuse by their pastor. Now, after a short stay in a psychiatric hospital, Francine is trying to pull her life and her ministry back together. But first she must face all of the people she has hurt so deeply—including her younger sister, Dawn. But can Dawn trust her? Francine used to date Dawn's husband, Sly—who now seems just a little too interested in Francine's recovery. As far as Dawn is concerned, Sly would be better off spending his time making amends to her for his own sins.Angela Benson writes Christian fiction featuring African-Americans. Her stories are neither formulaic nor cliched. They will make you think and look at your own faith walk. If you like "edgy" Christian fiction, add Angela's books to your list.
The Amen Sisters deals with abusive church situations and forgiveness. Suicide, sexual abuse, sibling rifts...they're all in there. I read this one in hardcover, published by WalkWorthy Press, and I'm glad that it is now released in paperback so that more readers will have an opportunity to read it.
You can read an excerpt from The Amen Sisters here.
Angela has received numerous accolades for her fiction, including being named a finalist for both the RITA and Christy awards. She has been named winner of Best Multicultural Romance from Romantic Times, Best of Contemporary Ethnic Romance from Affaire de Coeur, and of the Romance Slam Jam's Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance. The Amen Sisters, an Essence bestseller, was her second work to receive the Emma Award. Her tenth novel, Up Pops the Devil, will be released by HarperCollins in September 2008.
I didn't have a chance to interview Angela for this post, what with the holidays and all, but I certainly intend to do so for her September release. She is one author who has inspired me in my writing, beginning with her first Christian fiction title, Awakening Mercy, which showed me that there was a market for Christian romance featuring African-American characters.
Learn more about Angela and her books across the web:
Shelfari: www.shelfari.com/angelabenson
MySpace: www.myspace.com/angelabenson
Shoutlife: www.shoutlife.com/angelabenson
Angela's website: www.theamensisters.com
Angela's blog: www.angelabenson.com
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Work Hard. Believe.
9 comments:
I must check this one out because I need to see how edgy Walk Worthy is. Recently I read the guidelines for the "Love Inspired" line, and realized I'll never make it with them. Their list of banned words/phrases include: bra or undergarments of any kind, Gee, Heck, Golly, Darn, sex, sexual attraction, characters dancing any ance other than square dances and balls not even a waltz! Give me a break! What world do these people live in?
Definitely check them out, Chicki. I've seen other publishers with what I would call "edgy" Christian fiction but as far as AA Christian fiction, if you want to push the envelope a bit, Walkworthy appears to be a good place to do it.
I know what you mean though. A lot of Christian fiction is very sanitized. Not all of it but a lot of it. And that doesn't represent real-world for most people, especially AA Christians, who might still hop up and get a good Electric Slide going and don't have a problem talking about some of the "blue" topics.
Funny you should mention this. I am currently finishing up a synopsis about a sexy, single Midwestern Baptist minister. I'm thinking it'll be a hard sell because it seems to be taboo to show church people having sex (unless it's Curtis Black). As my character points out, he's a Baptist minister and not a Catholic priest.
Sigh . . .
Oops. Got off topic there. Just wanted to say that I've read Angela's early Arabesque romances and found them to be realistic and enjoyable.
Victoria Christopher Murray definitely writes about sexual topics in her Christian fiction.
Another author who has pulled this off is Lutisha Lovely who had her debut book, Sex In the Sanctuary out earlier last year with Kensington and I think a second book toward the end of the year.
Don't hold me to it but I think Felicia Mason's Testimony might have also. That might not be the right book. I can picture the book I'm thinking of in my head--it has lavendar wallpaper type stripes--but I can't see the title. LOL! I'll try to remember since I don't own it anymore.
When I started looking for examples, I thought there might be a lot but aside from Ms. Murray's growing list of titles, there isn't much that I can point to.
Although I'm drawing a blank on titles, I'm sure there are others that incorporate sex between married folks at least as a normal thing that occurs in everyday life, and sex between unmarrieds as having real consequences. Yet you'll be pressed to find an actual "love scene" in Christian fiction.
I think it comes down to playing up the emotion and not the specifics.
Great post, Patricia. I love Angela Benson's work. I started out a big fan of her romance and then her inspirational romance novels. I have a copy of this book, but I haven't read it yet. So many books, so little time...
Gwyneth
I know the feeling, Gwyneth. LOL!
Ladies, I'm sorry I missed the discussion. In my upcoming book I had a guy having sex (not on the page) and then suggesting that he thought he was dreaming. My edutor was like, are you for real? Needless to say, that scene is gone.
I still get a kick out of that one. I think Patricia is right, in the CBA Christian books, no sex on the page. But I'm sure you could get away with it with any of the secular publishers.
Thanks again for hosting me, Patricia!
Angela
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