Author Influence-God

We have now come to the end of the author influence series, and I have saved the best author for last, God.

Image Source

There is no author in all the world that can ever rival Him. He created every single person that has ever lived, and each one of them with a unique story very different from everyone else's. He created all the authors, writers, and storytellers in the world and put their stories in their heads. Each one of us has a unique story, a unique life. God has given each of us writers a special story that only we can tell. I have read countless books, and heard thousands of stories, by many authors. I can still say that not a single story, or author, can ever influence me more than my God. He gave me a life that is a wonderful story unlike anyone else's, unique. He gave me words and stories, and told me to be a writer. I know that He chose me, and that he guides my life's story. He is the greatest author there ever was, is, and will be. I think that you'll agree with me that that's best kind of influence there is.

Author Influence-Jonathan Rogers

Image Source

A few years ago I read some pretty terrible christian fantasy books. They were riddled with cliches, one dimensional characters, unoriginal storylines, bland settings, and predictable endings. Basically what the author had done was take the Bible, the greatest story ever told, and reason that the best way to write a fantasy was to change the setting, character names, and just basically rewrite the Bible with a few minor changes that did nothing to disguise what they were doing. I understand that they were trying to write an allegory, but it really did not work. Needless to say I did not get through the entire series, two books was enough for me. Because of this I am afraid that I lost faith in all christian fantasy authors for a while.

This went on for a while, with me believing that the only good christian fantasy authors were like C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, dead. I wanted nothing to do with such an unoriginal genre. I'm not sure why I picked up "The Bark of the Bog Owl" by Jonathan Rogers, I knew that he was a christian fantasy author, and I suppose that I might have been giving the genre one last chance to redeem itself. Whatever the reason I started reading the book I am very glad I did. What I discovered in this unusual fantasy retelling of the life of King David was fresh, different, and unpredictable. I realized that not all christian fantasy was full of cliches, and that there were still many original stories out there, just waiting to be discovered.

Jonathan Rogers restored my faith in christian fantasy, and allegories. Making me not ashamed to call myself a christian fantasy writer, and be apart of such an interesting and varied genre.

Author Influence-M. M. Kaye

Image Source

"The Ordinary Princess" by M.M. Kaye, is one of my favorite books, it's a light hearted fairy tale, and a quick read, but is none the less up there with the rest of my favorite books. I have not read any other books by M.M. Kaye, but she still has influenced me. When I read the "Ordinary Princess" for the first time I fell in love with it, I believe that I've read that book more times than any other book. It always reminds me that It's okay to believe in fairy tales every once in a while, and that happy endings can happen even to ordinary people. 

You're never too old to read or write fairy tales, they are timeless, reminding us to believe in true love, and happy endings, even if some people think it's childish. 

Author Influence-George MacDonald

George MacDonald is one of my favorite authors. I adore The Princess and the Goblin, and its sequel, The Princess and Curdie, as well as most of his many short stories. George MacDonald influenced both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and I am proud to say that he has influenced me as well. 

Image Source 

George MacDonald has reminded me to dream big, and let my imagination take flight. No idea is too wild, strange, or fanciful, anything can happen. Goblins with shoes, ugly creatures with hearts of gold, princesses as light as air, great old grandmothers who live in attics, fires of roses, children named after horses, a girl who has never seen daylight, and a boy who has never seen the night.

His beautiful stories will stay with me always, lending their glorious color to my imagination. 

Author Influence-J.R.R. Tolkien

There can be no doubt that when it comes to fantasy there is no one greater than Tolkien. The author of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and many other lesser known books of Middle Earth. I fell in love with Tolkien's work as soon as I read it, and I fell in love with hobbits. Ordinary creatures, capable of extraordinary things. A people very fond of food and comfort, but unshakable in adversity, even when the fate of the entire world rests on their shoulders. We can all learn something from hobbits, we are all capable of extraordinary things, as long as we never give up. If a little hobbit can get the one ring from Hobbiton to Mordor, and then write a book about it, then you can finish writing your book. 

“Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.” -The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Author Influence-C.S. Lewis

Image Source

C.S. Lewis is my favorite author from my childhood. My family had The Chronicles of Narnia on CD from Focus on the Family. My siblings and I listened to them so often that we could almost quote them all from memory. C.S. Lewis seemingly effortlessly wove the greatest story ever told into his books, creating amazing books that have been loved by people everywhere of all ages. C.S. Lewis taught me about allegories, and how good always triumphs over evil. His stories with stay with me forever, reminding me that my faith can be a central part to my writing, and to never be ashamed of what I believe in.

Author Influence-Jessica Day George

Image Source                                           Image Source

Jessica Day George is one of my favorite authors. Her Dragon Slippers, and Tuesdays at the Castle series are among my top favorite books of all time. When I read Jessica's books I was surprised to find that her characters were doing things like knitting, or embroidering, and those things became a major plot point in the story. Then I discovered that these were things that Jessica enjoyed doing herself. She had taken things she loved and written about them, in an unusual and fun way. She even wrote her dog, Pippin, into Dragon Slippers. I had always heard that you should write what you love, but Jessica Day George really drove that into my mind. She has inspired me to write what I love, and to keep it fun. You might as well have a good time while you write.

Author Influence-Beatrix Potter

I'll be camping with my family until next wednesday so I thought I would post my sunday post a day early, I'll see you all when I get back! 

Beatrix Potter is the next author in my author influence series. You can check out the previous posts in the series about Christopher Paolini and Brian Jacques if you would like.

Image Source

When I was little one of my favorite books was the complete collection of tales by Beatrix Potter. I loved the illustrations, and the sweet and funny stories. My favorite story was "The Tale of Two Bad Mice" where two mice broke into a dollhouse. "The Tale of The Pie and the Patty-Pan" was another favorite of mine where a dog goes to visit her friend for tea and thinks she swallowed a patty pan. Those stories always made me smile. 

Image Source

I think those stories might have been the ones that inspired me to start telling stories to my older sister at bedtime. I would make up fabulous adventures about chicks, bunnies, hamsters, and all sorts of other small creatures. Eventually I decided to start writing down my stories, If you would like to read the first story I ever wrote down you can read it here.

Image Source

When I got older I appreciated Beatrix Potter's beautiful illustrations even more than I had as a child. They made me want to illustrate my own books. Of course I realized that I'd need a lot of practice, but maybe someday I could do it, I told myself. So I practiced, and I still do, discovering my own style, both in writing and in drawing. I haven't figured everything out yet, but I don't intend to give up. When I learned more about Beatrix Potter's personal history, and the many struggles she faced,  it made me even more determined not to give up. She didn't so I won't either.

Author Influence-Brian Jacques

Brian Jacques is the second author in my author influence series who has influenced my writing. 

Image Source

I've always loved Brian Jacques, I've read the entire Redwall series multiple times. I've always wanted to visit Redwall and Salamandastron, those places have become real to me. I love all of his characters so much, Martin, Matthias, Triss, Tag, and all the rest. I have learned all about writing characters and heroes, especially unlikely heroes from Brian Jacques. There's always a feast in his books with mouth watering descriptions of delicious dishes and drinks. I've found that this has rubbed off on me and I always have to include a few descriptions of food in my stories, and a feast or two always seem to beg to be included.

Image Source

There's also always a death in his books, it's usually the second main character who dies. Eventually I got accustomed to it, and came to expect it in other books, it made me angry sometimes when a character I thought should have died didn't. I got over it eventually, but there's always been something about the death of a character that gives me a bitter sweet satisfaction when a book ends. I'm not a sadist, I don't enjoy reading about pain, or putting my characters in dangerous or even embarrassing situations, but I have come to realize the importance of death in books. Death is a part of life, everyone dies eventually, you can't get around it. You know in your heart that everyone can't get through unscathed, the odds are stacked up too high against them for that to work, and there's something about a death in a story that makes that story real.

Author Influence-Christopher Paolini

For the next few weeks I will be focusing on ten different authors who have influenced me and my writing. I decided to start with Christopher Paolini because he is the author who inspired me to start writing.

Image Source

Before I read Eragon I had only really read the classics. I hadn't read much fantasy before then either. I had read "The Chronicles of Narnia" "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" of course, but nothing like Eragon. I was amazed at the amount of twists the plot had, it was like nothing I had ever read. It was such an exciting and intriguing book that it made me hungry for more fantasy. When I finished the first three books, (Note: Inheritance was not yet published when I started the series) and discovered that Christopher Paolini was only 17 when he published Eragon, I was amazed. I thought: "If he can do it, then why can't I?"

That was four years ago, now I am only three chapters away from finishing my first novel, and have dozens of other ideas clamoring to be written. I have written poetry, and short stories. I have edited and slaved over my manuscript for countless hours. I have completed NaNoWriMo, and attended a writers conference. I have created numerous characters, and discovered whole worlds in my head. I have found a new way of looking at the world, and am inspired by everything I see. I have found life and joy in writing, and I don't intend to stop. 

I have discovered that I am a writer, all because I asked myself "Why can't I?" and I couldn't come up with a good enough reason to stop me.

Image Source