Donald James Parker is a rebel with a cause and is the author of nine novels, seven of which he considers culture-flash fiction. His goal is to promote God's kingdom and tear down strongholds of the enemy while he provides entertainment. He writes for The Christian Pulse, Examiner.Com, and EzineArticles.com. The ebooks of all his novels are available for free download from his website at http://donaldJamesParker.com?cfoma. All of Don's books promote sexual purity, but two are especially focused on that topic - Love Waits and Homeless Like Me. The novels that attack the theory of human evolution include More Than Dust in the Wind, All the Voices of the Wind, and All the Fury of the Wind. Reforming the Potter's Clay is an attack on the occult. All the Stillness of the Wind is a spiritual odyssey which spotlights cheap grace and lukewarm living.

Recently, I watched with a mixture of amusement and pathos as a Christian author conducted an Amazon blitz. Don’t know what an Amazon blitz is? It’s one of those games people play to simulate, and hopefully stimulate, success.

The rules of the Amazon blitz game are thus: Conduct a synchronized book launch on multiple Websites/blogs, perhaps offer some prizes for people who register, and then monitor the Amazon rankings throughout the day and record the highest rankings. If the author sells a dozen or so books that day, he or she will hit the top twenty-five for his or her particular genre—something like #10 in the category: Christian/Christian Fiction/Young Adult/Fantasy/Allegories/Plots with Protagonist Named Ebeneezer —the author can then somewhat truthfully add the phrase Best Selling Author to his or her email signature, biographies, and anywhere else the public’s attention can be grabbed. The very next day the rankings will slide quickly, and within a week, the author can be ranked at the half-million spot if no additional copies are sold. You see the success was just a smoke and mirrors thing with no real substance. Just what the world thrives on.

This is Amazon’s fault. Their ranking system is short-termed and shortsighted. This allows authors to play a trick on their own minds to convince themselves that selling a dozen books in one day confers upon them the status of best-selling author. Mark Twain made a hilarious comment in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Courtthat it was impossible to throw a rock without hitting someone of royalty. It appears that we now have that issue with so-called best-selling authors. Be careful not to hurl any stones. Anyway, perhaps Amazon was “dumb like a fox.” The book blitzes might convince people to buy books as a favor for friends or family—books that they might not have purchased otherwise.

I can understand a secular author playing this game, but I don’t understand why a Christian would do it. I’ve repeated this concept ad nauseum: Our goal should not be to win the praises of men but rather the praises of God. This type of activity can only earn further scorn from those who look down their noses at self-published authors. My advice to you is quit playing the games of the world and look to God as your source and your goal. Believe me, His ratings are much more important than Amazon’s.

Do you like historical fiction? I was a history major in college and grew up reading history books like they were Hardy Boy Mysteries. My career change and subsequent lifestyle as a workaholic took me away from that scene, but I’m moving back in that direction. Our featured self-published author for this month is Elaine Cooper. Her book, The Road to Deer Run, appears to be right up my alley (cliché meaning something that I could really dig, something that would float my boat, something I’d consider groovy . . .).

Set in 1777, it is the story of a wounded British soldier and a colonial farm woman whose destinies intertwine in the midst of the American Revolution. Sick and dying, Lt. Daniel Lowe has given up on life and is ready to die. But Mary Thomsen finds this

enemy soldier, and her Christian beliefs will not allow her to abandon him. They face numerous obstacles of fear, illness, bitterness, and unforgiveness. But spiritual transformation occurs in the various characters’ lives as the truth of God’s touch not only brings healing to their bodies but their souls as well.

Reviews:

The Road to Deer Run Book Trailer can be viewed at Elaine’s Website at http://DeerRunBooks.com. You can also order the book there or at major Internet outlets such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you’ve wanted to take a writing course but don’t have big bucks or time to meet at regular intervals, perhaps Virtual University is for you. Check out their list of online courses, which include many on writing fiction and movie scripts (http://vu.ksurf.net/calendar.html).

For those who choose to hire a self-publishing company to produce your book, look out for price gouging! Read more here: http://bit.ly/gH2wpk.