Novel Review and Christian Redemptive Fiction Award: Haighs Flat by Colin Williams.

Haighs Flat.

Something is lurking in the Australian bush – something terrifying. From the myths and legends of the indigenous people of Australia, from the stories they told around the fire at night comes a creature so horrifying they called it “Banib”- in our language it means “Devil.”

When Bryan Morgan started investigating his brother’s disappearance little did he know the can of worms he would be opening. Town secrets that date back to the 1800s, still haunt people today.

Sara Whitney has only lived in Haighs Flat for three months having moved there to investigate the disappearance of her uncle. Why is it that no one even remembers her uncle living or working there?

Could these disappearances be connected? Murder, conspiracies, and secrets all are being covered up by the powers-that-wanna-be and those with the power will stop at nothing to keep their secret safe.

As each of the theories gets refuted, could it be that the ramblings of an old farmer be the only ones that make any sense? Could it even be scientifically plausible?

With the evidence given them, will Bryan and Sara run with the truth or run from it?

Perspective by Peter:

I really loved this story. It turned out better than any preconceived ideas I had about it. For a debut novelist, Williams has a well-constructed and engaging novel. It has a steady pace, one event builds on the next and all the story arcs are well-placed and further the plot, leading to a very satisfying ending.

There is a lot to like in this novel. A minor story arc of romance between the two main characters, Bryan and Sara. A mysterious ancient creature from Aboriginal lore, the town's secret relating to this creature, missing tourists and town's folk, corrupt police, business, politicians, and local council. How are all these tied together? And where did this creature come from? What is the connection between this creature, dinosaurs, and the Bible?

While reading this novel, I wondered if Williams was going to confirm what I was suspecting, that this creature was the banib (or bunyip in English) of Aboriginal lore that I grew up with in school. Turned out, I was correct. But Williams has tied this in with the Bible and dinosaurs. May not sound feasible or plausible to some, but once you study the Bible and its related topics, it does make sense. Williams does a great job of this as well. He seems to have quite the talent in this regard.

Williams shines in explaining Biblical theology of the story arcs and themes. He has depicted the spiritual aspects of this novel very well and it brings the Bible to life and confirms that it supports science and not what secular society wants to hear, that science disproves the Bible. I applaud him for this. I continue this applause with his presenting the Gospel just as it is in the Bible, with no holes barred and even the inclusion of prayer. Now prayer was not just mentioned as being offered by the Christian characters but said in its entirety. So many times, Christian authors get criticised by Christian readers for including the actual prayer as they find it detracting from the story and pace, but I find this a sad indictment of them as all the author is doing is depicting realistically what the Christian life is. For a Christian fiction story such as this, so it should be. Williams shows how Christianity and a relationship with God should be and can be in the life of the Christian. 

Williams also discusses why some topics are not discussed in Church and how this then leads to confusion, disillusionment, and a stronghold of disbelief in the Christian or the secular person and how they can develop a distorted view of Christianity and the Bible. No wonder there are so many divisions among Believers alike! I remember being cautioned by an elder of the church I was attending if I continued to discuss a topic relating to Genesis 6: 4 concerning the subject of the Nephilim! If it is in the Bible, why cannot it be discussed? Hasn't stopped me though! 

Some of what I have outlined here can be found in Williams' blog on his website. I add it here to support my impressions of the novel: 

The idea of Haighs Flat came to me back in 2018 when I was seriously contemplating writing my first novel. Where did the name Haighs Flat come from? That I cannot answer you, it just came to me as a name for a typical country town, and thankfully there is no town of the same name that I am aware of.

The next thing I had to do was paint a picture of the town in my head. In order to have the story make sense, I had to be aware of directions, travelling and have a general layout in my head something of what the town would look like - and yes, it is loosely based on an existing town in the North-West of New South Wales.

What I wanted for the book was something uniquely Australian. Something that not only Australians will relate to, but something that will attract the attention of international readers as well, hence the culprit in the story is pulled out of an Aboriginal legend that may or may not have had an element of truth about it.

 

Being a Christian, and a creationist at that, I believe that the earth is much younger than the majority of the world believes. I also believe in the creation account as described in Genesis, thus I believe that dinosaurs existed alongside of people.

In chapter ten of my novel, the question is asked: "We read in the Bible of animals which we can interpret as being dinosaurs, existing alongside of people, but why do we not see this in other texts from the past?”

Hopefully I have answered this question in this book by explaining that there are many evidences of dinosaurs having lived along side of people. While this book is fictional, I have tried to keep things historically accurate - especially where it relates to Biblical issues.

As far as the book goes, chapter ten, which is in a Bible Study setting, would be my favourite chapter. I picked up my pen at around 9 o'clock in the morning and didn't put it down again until the early hours of the next morning, stopping only for meal breaks, and doing a bit of research. The whole chapter just flowed out of my pen and I couldn't stop until it was over.

I totally agree with him about Chapter 10. This is where I mentioned that Williams shines in  Biblical theology and that he links it all back to the book of Genesis. The whole basis of Christianity is found in Genesis, which is the foundation of what we believe and why. In doing so, Williams does touch on Apologetics as well. 

This novel would be a great instrument for a reader who is not a Christian but has questions about Christianity and those mentioned in this novel. Williams gives a comprehensive account of the answers to these questions. I did not find it preachy (another criticism of Christian fiction) but very relevant to the entire story arc of the novel. Williams does not water down the Gospel or any other Biblical account relating to the themes in this novel. 

This novel is an example of what Christian fiction should be for the reader and what I state in the Why Christian Fiction tab in this blog: 

• it has entertained me immensely,

• it has encouraged my walk with God,

• it has not deviated from known biblical doctrine, and it will not, I believe, lead a non-believer astray or promote false doctrine,

• it honours God,

• it does not encourage worship of the created (eg angels) instead of the Creator (God).

Williams succeeds well in this novel. I understand that his next novel is a sequel to Haighs Flat in that it deals with the continuation of the relationship between Bryan and Sara. We can expect this in 2024. I look forward to this immensely. Williams has found his niche in life as a Christian novelist and one that I encourage readers to follow and support. 

I highly recommend this novel. 

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

Story 5/5

Overall Rating: 5/5

The classification below is based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4: Redemptive Fiction

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Spiritually, based on my review and on the following reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland,  Haighs Flat contains the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet: 

In the more realistic scenarios, the new believers give their live to serve the Lord. (Romana 12: 1-3). They can offer a realistic look at the daily walk of faith for a new believer. There is a clear Messiah who died for our sins. Through repentance and baptism, a person is forgiven and cleansed, beginning a new life in the Kingdom of God. 

The truly excellent books on this level share these truths easily, without pretension, in common human relationships. They recognise that most people do not carry on conversation by quoting scripture at each other. They cover the arguments pro and con in natural dialog-exchanged in the way we actually talk to one another. 

The leave it to the person to decide about Jesus, recognizing that you cannot talk anyone into salvation. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. The only source of guidance is scripture, with occasional visits from angles and the like. God speaks though the Bible primarily - at this redemptive level. 

Though the presence of the Lord is visible in these books, He may  not be the center of the story. Characters are benefitted and blessed by His presence in their lives. But salvation is the goal and result. Discipleship and spiritual growth are secondary as salvation provides everything needed by the characters. Growth is found in reading the secrdipture and memorizing key verses. 

The better LEVEL FOUR books have mature elders. There may be pastors, evangelists, and so on. these men and women disciple the new believers. 

It is therefore bestowed upon Colin Williams the, 

Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award

Congratulations, Colin!

If you would like to investigate this novel further, it can be found on the following platforms for the Ebook format:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Haighs Flat and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.

Guest Post: Nathan Keys and His Debut Novel: The Epic of Marindel: Chosen.

I hosted Nathan Keys on 10/07/19 on another blog, now defunct. 

Today, I am hosting novelist, Nathan Keys who novel, The Epic of Marindel: Chosen is released today, July 9th. He relates the story behind how this novel was written and dwells heavily on God's involvement and inspiration.

I came across Nathan and his novel from his GoFundMe advert on my Facebook feed. When I read the campaign, the blurb for the novel, and the vision he had for it, I was impressed. This encouraged me to review it so I contacted him for a review copy. I am so glad I did and it was a well-constructed story, replete with biblical truth and allegory that it was awarded the Reality Calling Christian Redemptive Fiction Award.

My review can be found here that also contains his Award.

Now before we begin, here is what The Epic of Marindel: Chosen is about: 

Long ago, the elven Kingdom of Marindel governed the realm of Tyrizah from its place on the back of a giant sea turtle. But when a great evil was unleashed, the Era of Peace came to a tragic end. Thousands of years passed, and Marindel was all but forgotten.

Connor, a young farmer with a wild imagination, always longed for adventure. When bizarre events cause him to realize his role in the greatest story of all, Connor embarks on a quest to defend the Great King’s daughter from a wicked sorcerer, whose darkness grows with every passing day.

Tarento, a promising Samurai warrior, is disillusioned with the grandeur of his own kingdom. But when he hears the voice of a King he cannot see, he discovers his destiny to save the people of Felidae from impending disaster.

As their journeys entwine, Connor and Tarento will travel across the realm, uncover the mysteries of Marindel, and face unimaginable odds in their fight to survive. Tension broils in the city of Cloud Summit as diabolical factions vie for control of the Kingdom of Armavir. The adventurers must make a daring rescue attempt—but at what cost?

Now I will hand you over to Nathan so he can recount how his Award-winning novel came to be. 

The Epic of Marindel began with a dream.

I had given my writing gift to the Lord several years prior, telling Him that I didn’t want to write a book unless it was something that would give Him glory, and empower readers with hope and purpose. Four years later, I began to sense my imagination was gearing up for something.

One night, I had a vivid dream of a girl in an underwater world using magic to make plants grow. When I awoke, I asked the Lord what it meant. He said, “This is where I’d like you to start.” In that moment I understood that the dream was a symbol of Eden, before the fall, with mankind (the girl) exercising God-given authority (magic) to make plants grow (cultivate creation, create life, etc). Over the next few days, I spent time praying and processing how to begin. On August 1st 2014, I began writing the first chapter of The Epic of Marindel: Chosen, with only a minimal idea of where it would go. Since then, it has taken a life of its own, and has been prophesied to reach the nations. I’m honored to be used by God to use my writing gift to craft such an incredible story and share His glory with the whole world!

The purpose of The Epic of Marindel, as a complete series, is to tell the story of Jesus’ pursuit of His Bride, the Church, with emphasis on the events leading up to His second coming. The primary audience is a group referred to as “the generation of the Lord’s return,” those who will be alive to witness and experience the final days. The Epic of Marindel, while it is a riveting adventure story that many people will enjoy, is also a discreet warning letter to the Bride of Christ: “See yourself in this story, and understand the urgency of the times. The final days are coming, and they’re coming fast!”

Even in Chosen, Book I of the series, several characters describe a coming conflict, the likes of which the realm of Tyrizah has never seen. In the following excerpt, Prince Eli describes the conflict to the protagonist, Connor, and the role he will play:

“The times are changing, and tension builds between the forces of good and evil in this realm. A time is soon coming when all the kingdoms of Tyrizah will be deceived by the (Great) Serpent, and they will try to destroy Melody once and for all. Even then, out of every kingdom, a remnant will remain steadfast to resist the will of the Serpent. Against all odds, they must unite as one to defend her in her darkest hour. Only through their courageous love and sacrifice will Melody remember the love of the Great King. Only then will she call for the Great Prince of the Sea, and only then can there be everlasting peace in the realm of Tyrizah. … Connor, you are the Final Seer. It is your word, your devotion to truth, your courage, and your leadership that will rally the remnant of every kingdom to stand as one in the final days.”

The Final Conflict, as I call it, will develop and unfold over the course of the series. Characters such as Connor will undergo immense trials and challenges over the course of several years in order to be prepared for the Final Conflict. At the same time, some characters will be involved in realm politics, where the reader will see the gradual unification of the realm against Melody (who represents Israel) and all followers of the Great King.

What does that mean for us? I believe we are in a very similar time here on Earth. We as the people of God need to be aware of what’s happening around us, in tune with the Spirit at all times, so that we will not be alarmed when the real Final Conflict begins. We know how the story will end; there are hundreds of Scripture passages where Jesus, the apostle John, and others tell us what is going to happen. While I don’t intend for The Epic of Marindel to be a play-by-play strategy book for surviving the End Times (that Book has already been written), it is my hope that it will awaken the souls of Christian readers to the urgency of these matters, perhaps in ways that eschatological debates and sermons may not be able to do.

What is the response I’m hoping for? I’d encourage readers of The Epic of Marindel: Chosen and of this blog post to develop a deep friendship with God, practice obeying Him in simple things, study His plan for Israel in the Scriptures, and always keep watch, so that when trials and persecutions escalate on a global scale, we will all be united in Christ together, ready to herald the coming of the King of Kings.

Don’t wait! Start now! It will never be easier to seek after God and His purposes than it is right now. Who knows? You might be a “Connor” with a big role to play in the grand finale. And the only way to know if you’ve been chosen for such a task—and then to prepare for it—is to commune with Jesus every day. That is the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength.” Trust me, He will show you just how significant your life can be if you tune your heart to hear His voice and spend time with Him as with a friend!

The Final Conflict isn’t so intimidating once you realize how “in charge” He really is.

Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
 “Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.”

 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Psalm 2:1-6

If you want to follow Nathan on social media and keep up to date with his writing and the continuation of The Epic of Marindel, he is found on the following media platforms:

Facebook                                     Instagram

If you would like to investigate this novel further, click on the image below:

About Nathan Keys:

Nathan keys is an award-winning epic fantasy author based in San Diego, CA. It is his dream and vocation to write empowering stories that will not only captivate readers but leave them with hope and purpose.

Nathan has been fascinated with storytelling from an early age. As a child, he invented worlds and creatures, played pretend, and told stories to anyone who would listen. He completed his first “novel,” an 85,000-word fanfiction, at age 13. He spent high school summers creating plotlines for role-playing games on a forum site, where many concepts for characters, creatures, and kingdoms in The Epic of Marindel were first developed.

The Epic of Marindel: Chosen is his first published novel. The first of many.

In addition to writing, Nathan works full-time in the biotech industry, serves as a vision lead at the San Diego Kingdom Writers Association, and is a hospitality shift lead at All Peoples Church in San Diego. During his free time he enjoys hiking, exercise, travelling and visiting coffee shops, breweries, and wineries with good friends.

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Epic of Marindel: Chosen and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to). Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing.

Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Novel Review: The Tattooed Cat by Gary W. Ritter

I reviewed this novel on 19/11/19 in another blog, now defunct.

The Tattooed Cat

Dark forces are at work in a small Wisconsin community.

At the cusp of the new millennium, Elena and Greg Bailey arrive in Green Springs to help her hospitalized mother. As they drive into town, cats are everywhere and seem more populous than humans. Within hours, Elena and Greg discover a horrendous scene in the nearby woods. When they report their finding to the police, the response is not what they expect. 

The local church with its tainted past and charismatic pastor has become the only house of worship in Green Springs. Eccentric, billionaire architect Marcus Ahriman manipulates events to suit his satanic mission. At the same time, two mysterious sisters confound Elena as they work behind the scenes for a higher purpose.

If Elena doesn't get to the bottom of the great wickedness in high places that's at work in this enigmatic town, all humanity will suffer.

Perspective by Peter:

I was asked to review this novel by the author in preparation for the audiobook of this novel and Alien Revelation. After being blessed and thoroughly entertained with Alien Revelation, it was a no-brainer to accept this request.

Well, all I can say is that this is a brilliant novel! Made even better by the author's admission when he added the Biblical and spiritual aspects of it following his conversion to Christianity. He had written The Tattooed Cat before his conversion, as he states,

I initially wrote The Tattooed Cat in 1998.  In bringing it out of my dusty archives, it was exactly twenty years old.  The title had stuck with me all those years, so I was pleasantly surprised to read the story again and see that it still had potential.  The one thing I had to change was its strict secular nature, as in the intervening years I had become a follower of Jesus Christ and needed to modify the novel to align it generally with my belief system.  Given the supernatural aspects of the book, the end result is my calling it speculative Christian fiction.  Regardless, my prayer is that there will be some who have never sought a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and who will be convicted to do so through the evangelistic passages they’ve read here.  That’s why God placed me in the position of being able to write novels and to give Him all the glory.  For those who already know Him, please be encouraged that Jesus is coming soon.

It was a captivating, entertaining read and as the cliche says, "...couldn't put it down!" Annoying when life and reality have to shatter these reading episodes! Ritter seems to have this knack of constructing novels with a solid foundation of action, mystery and intrigue to keep you coming back for more and your curiosity piqued to the degree that you invest yourself heavily in the novel.

I am not a cat fan, (despite having two at home and we have an understanding between us!) and this novel has reinforced this. Two days ago, I saw a photo of about 12 cats or more huddled together and I immediately became tense as this reminded me so much of the pack of cats description in this novel. I scrolled past it quickly and had to move on! All I kept thinking about was the effect this had on the character, Charles Mayfair. Looks like this has rubbed off onto me! Ritter had successfully creeped me out! 

It is this cat description that is the first creepy aspect of this novel. They are everywhere! Even at a murder scene, but that is all I am going to say about that!

This "cats are everywhere!" scene at the beginning of the novel is a great platform to introduce our main characters, Greg and Elena and why they have come to Green Springs. It is from here that Ritter shows his expertise at characterisation. I was drawn to Elena but not so much to Greg. I picked up that this latter character had some issues and these were revealed as the novel progressed. It is Elena's well-developed character that becomes a mainstay in this novel as everything revolves around her reason for being in Green Springs and, as it is revealed, her crucial and pivotal role in the events that play out in the satanic manipulations and motives of Marcus Ahriman. But then again, all the characters in this novel are believable and credible to the degree of their involvement in Ritter's plot arcs.

Another engaging aspect of this novel is just that, plot arcs. Ritter has many of these going on at the same time and either after a few chapters of one arc and its characters, we are introduced to more with other characters, leading up to an explosive end where all these arcs intersect, leading to one very satisfying and action-packed finale. All ends are tied together and everything explained. And this is where the satisfaction comes into play. 

From the intersection of these arcs until the finale, I was exhausted and riveted, curiosity more than piqued! I wanted to know more about the mysterious two sisters, who really is Marcus Ahriman, what is the connection between him and Pastor Nesbitt, and what is it with all these cats! What will become of Charles Mayfair, is Greg really out of the picture or is there something suspicious going on with him? And then there is the sense of evilness that pervades everything to do with Marcus Ahriman and Pastor Nesbit. Is this just their persuasive personalities or is this due to something more? What is the connection between the new Millenium and an ancient artifact that places Elena and her mother at the centre of Nesbit's and Ahriman's attention? Who or what is The Tattooed Cat? 

My goodness if these questions do not keep a reader engrossed and invested in this novel, I don't know what would! 

I agree with Ritter's assessment of this novel being his entrance into speculative fiction, I would add that it is edgy, speculative fiction. I would also consider that it is also his entrance into the Christian Horror genre as well. Not sure if he has considered this, but it does fit into this genre and yes, there is such a thing as Christian Horror! Go here: Christian Horror? Is There Such A Thing by Thomas Smith and Christian Horror: On the Compatibility of a Biblical Worldview and the Horror Genre by Mike Duran for further investigation). Ritter does both well in this novel. However, I would not have picked this up from the original cover below.

I found this cover interesting. Normally a cover is supposed to show what the novel is about or reflect what genre the novel is. It is supposed to grab my attention and demand that I look inside or read the description. With this cover, I had no idea. I was drawn to this novel purely due to the word tattoo in its title. Why? One reason is that I read a secular horror novel about a soldier in WWII who was captured by the Germans and experimented on with tattoos over his body that had living demons in them. These would manifest when he was asleep and cause him to commit horrible atrocities to those he was with (while asleep). I wondered then if The Tattooed Cat was similar to this? The other reason was I wondered why anyone would tattoo a cat, taking the title literally. I then wondered what was the connection with the clock tower in the background that also takes up half of the cover image? These reasons, (a tattooed cat and clock tower) did not lead me immediately to see that this novel was about speculative fiction and Christian horror or even satanic oppression and demonic activity. So, it drew me in for the wrong reasons but is a novel I would have read based on the description alone.

Now, this is not a criticism of the cover. However, I would have preferred to have the cover to have a much darker and sinister atmosphere that would lead me to suspect horror, supernatural and demonic elements. To be fair though, both the cat and the clock tower play important roles in this novel. You will find that you cannot have one without the other and there is a reason why the title combines the two words together. For me to explain further would give away far too many spoilers and invoke the wrath of readers and the author alike. So not going there! To do this is a breach of the unwritten reviewer's code of practice! I have been guilty in the past but have only done so to outline a spiritual aspect of the novel that needed to be explained.

Speaking of spiritual aspects, Ritter has portrayed this well. It shows how easy it is for a congregation to follow blindly whatever a Pastor says or does without question and for all the wrong or inappropriate reasons. This novel shows what happens when a Pastor has no accountability and who is there for his own self-gain and nefarious motivations. No concern is shown for any aspect of his congregation's welfare and is treated as a means to his ends or should I say to the one he serves, and who is not the God of the Bible. How different it would have been if the latter was the case! His charismatic appeal is seductive to both men and women and especially evokes sexual desire in his female members leading to some forbidden boundaries being crossed with horrendous outcomes! When I saw the surname of Marcus I instantly Googled it and was not surprised as to its definition. I have had this name in another supernatural and demonic novel and both usages amount to the same definition. So this gave me more clues as to who Marcus could be and where Ritter was taking this novel. I wondered if this was deliberate on his part or not, but surely this could not be just a coincidence or made up by him? Only Ritter can answer that one.

Reading all the accounts of Nesbitt's congregation and specific ones where members are following blindly what he says and does, reminds me of so many Christians I have seen in other denominations who place their Pastor almost above God and would rather follow the former than the God of the Bible or what He says in His Word. It is tragic that this happens and these followers always end up spiritually mislead, spiritually abused and trapped in cult-like circumstances. We are instructed in his Word to be God pleasers, not man pleasers. However, in this novel, this congregation were not only blindly following the Pastor but were under the demonic oppression to do so.

Marcus also had the same seductive, charismatic appeal and was even more persuasive than Nesbit. Questions are raised in the first half of this novel as to his background and identity but towards the end of the novel, Ritter gives us tidbits of info that fit into place and add more suspense and tension that leads up to the explosive finale.

Ritter has God playing a behind the scenes part but nonetheless, it is evident that He is very much alive in this background as He has employed his human and non-human agents to do his bidding and raise up certain characters to confront and defeat the satanic powers behind the two antagonists. Ritter has God speaking to one main character directly in guidance and instruction when circumstances have become dire and this character is at the end of themselves. It is very much like the Old Testament verse that says,

So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (HCSB version)

Now how much of this type of supernatural is poetic licence and how much is experienced in reality? I would suspect that Ritter's depiction here is fairly accurate. I have many accounts from fellow Christians who have experienced similar where they have heard audibly or in their mind, the voice of God instructing them in the emergency of their situation or in spiritual warfare. I have experienced this myself. In Christian novels of this genre and calibre, it is very entertaining and suspenseful but in reality, it shows that we need to be open to the Spirit and obedient to His instruction and guidance. It all comes down to trusting in Him, not in ourselves and living out His Word in our lives and not just being hearers of His Word, as James 1: 22 says,

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. (Amplified Bible)

Ritter shows this in this depiction of spiritual warfare. This character hears the audible voice of God, being urged forward on with specific instructions and learns to obey when they realise it is Him and He is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omniscience, and Omnipresent. I pray that Christians will take this to heart of those who need this encouragement, while those who are seeking Him will see that a relationship with God and Jesus is victorious over sin and death, and of any evil employ of satan or any demon spirit.

There are some spiritual and Biblical gems that Ritter has included in the "tying up loose ends" (my wording not Ritter's) section at the end of the novel. Apart from them being relevant to the storyline, they also have more important relevance to the reader, whether Christian or not. And this is where Christian fiction can play such an important role in educating and uplifting the reader, it brings the Christian reader to greater truths of God's Word and challenges the non-Christian reader to consider such truths. This is very consistent with why Ritter writes the novels he does, for the same reasons.

The Editorial Review on this novel's Amazon page is a great advertisement that sings the praises of this novel very aptly. It sums up all my impressions of The Tattooed Cat and Gary's writing. I don't believe in reinventing the wheel so if something has been said before by someone else and it is what I have found to be true, then I will quote it. This is from Gary's Amazon Bio, the following quote is exactly how I find him from his novels:

All of Gary’s books are written from a Christian worldview that highlight God’s grace—just as Gary was saved by that same grace. They also show the flip side of God’s character. The trouble today in our Christian culture is there’s such an emphasis on grace that we forget God must also judge the wicked and condemn them through His wrath.

Gary’s books are realistic and powerful. They demonstrate the struggles many have in coming to the Lord in true faith. Spiritual warfare in its many forms is integral to Gary’s stories. Jesus has already won the victory over sin, but we in real life must fight the battle every day, just as Gary’s characters must as well.

I will leave this review on this positive and encouraging note. If Ritter continues to compose novels like this one and from what I reviewed in another of his novels, Alien Revelation, then this is one author to read, review and follow. God has His hand on this author and l can see will be instrumental in God ministering to Christian and non-Christian alike in his novels. Based on this, I must read his other novels sooner rather than later.

The three ratings below are based on my discernment:

World Building 5/5

Characters 5/5

Story 5/5

The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:

Spiritual Level 4/5

Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5

Overall Rating: 4.4 Stars

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Spiritually, based on my review and on the aforementioned reference booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland (Radiqx Press)and that The Tattooed Cat contains elements of the criteria of what constitutes Christian Redemptive Fiction outlined in this booklet, together with David Bergsland we bestow to Gary W. Ritter,

The Reality Calling Redemptive Fiction Award

Congratulations, Gary!

If you would like to investigate The Tattooed Cat, click on the image below:

 

Readers and reviews are an author’s greatest asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading The Tattooed Cat and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon.

Blog Tour: Interview with Andrew Huff, Author of A Cross To Kill.

I participated in this blog Tour and interview on 10/12/19 in a previous blog, now defunct. 

Today, I have debut novelist, Andrew Huff, as my guest to discuss his novel, A Cross To Kill. This is part of the Read With Audra Blogging Program sponsored by Kregel Publications (publisher of A Cross To Kill).

As part of this blog tour, I reviewed Andrew's novel and my review can be found here.

He was also bestowed a Redemptive Fiction Award by Reality Calling as part of my review. Details of this award can be found in my review.

So sit back and let Andrew give you the background to this Award-winning, fast-paced, suspenseful, edgy, redemptive fiction novel!

Welcome, Andrew, thank you for stopping by! Let's jump right in and investigate your novel and your journey to becoming a novelist:

Q: A Cross to Kill is your first book release. Tell us about your journey to becoming an author.

A: Storytelling is something that’s been a part of my life since an early age, though I wasn’t convinced I could actually be an author until much later in life. I would write stories every day using toys, sometimes turning those stories into drawings, and on occasion, writing ideas down. I spent my high school years telling stories through video, even helping develop narrative projects with my home church. Yet I still wasn’t motivated to sit down and attempt to write something longer than a five-minute screenplay. That changed right around the time I finished college.

I was an avid reader growing up, and after finishing my undergraduate degree, I started consuming full-length mystery/suspense novels. The problem I ran into was that many of the authors I enjoyed did not hold to the same worldview or values that I did. And whenever I found a thriller that did, I was often left wanting. So, I decided if I couldn’t find the type of book I wanted to read, then I should try to write it. It took many years of learning the craft and discovering the right story before I was able to sit down and not only start but successfully finish, a full-length, action-packed, suspense story that I was ready to share with readers.

Q: Introduce us to your new series, specifically A Cross to Kill. What inspired the story?

A: I love letting real-life events inspire fiction, and my new series is no exception. When I first started developing the storyline, there were a handful of high-profile executions of journalists at the hands of terrorists overseas. What made these executions unique to this era was the fact that videos of the killings were spread across the internet. As these tragic events were taking place, I found myself wishing someone had intervened. Thus, the rescue attempt at the beginning of A Cross to Kill was born.

The other aspect of real life that inspired the story was my own experience in ministry and the reality of how unique that calling is in the life of a person. I not only spent time in local church ministry myself, but my father was also a small country church pastor during my early elementary years. I loved the idea of capturing the fish-out-of-water experience of someone who did a very different job finding themselves learning what it means to spiritually care for a group of people. I also have to admit, I’m greatly inspired by the thrills of such action franchises like Mission: Impossible, Jason Bourne, and James Bond. I want my series to take the Bible and the Church seriously while offering the same kind of jaw-dropping action those novels and films excel at.

Here is the Novel description now we have established how the novel came about:

John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.

But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf--an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to pay penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.

Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow--even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the crossfire? In the end, his death may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer . . .

Andrew Huff's thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it's also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world.

Andrew, let's pause and give our readers something to pique their interest further, the book trailer you prepared:

Q: The main character, John Cross, is a small-town pastor with a top-secret past the members of his church would find hard to believe. What are some of the things John left behind in his former life?

A: John didn’t just leave behind a past filled with poor choices and immoral behavior. Almost immediately, we get a sense that he performed actions in his role with the CIA and on behalf of his country that he is unable to forgive himself for. At a key moment in the story, we discover that John’s marksmanship was put to use by his superiors in unpleasant ways. You’ll have to read the book for all the details, but what I can say is John can’t help but evaluate his actions through a rigid view of Scripture, and as a result, he’s struggling to believe God could truly forgive him.

What I find interesting is the theological question surrounding his previous life that he’s finding himself at odds with. Is the taking of human life ever justifiable? There’s much to unpack with that question, but when we first meet John, he’s not yet taken the deep plunge into his theological training, and therefore, has very black and white opinions on complicated issues. This creates a conflict within him as he struggles to cope with the memories of his time with the CIA and strives to live under the forgiveness of God in Christ.

Q: What events led up to John finding and following Christ?

A: John’s conversion has already happened when A Cross to Kill begins, but later in the book, we get to hear his version of it. It’s a rather unconventional story, but that’s what I like about it. The fact that his conversion happens while he’s on assignment is such a great picture of the two competing forces in his life, that of his ingrained training and his newfound commitment to Christianity.

The short version is that after performing operations of a lethal nature with the CIA for so long, John lost his sense of humanity. While tracking a target in Spain, he ends up in a cathedral during a Catholic service. Unable to understand the liturgy, he still found himself drawn to the religious symbols. Compelled to know more about the man hanging from the cross, he forgot about his target, found an English Bible at a local shop, and devoted himself to know more. While everyone’s story is different, John’s story is one of God reaching down with an irresistible draw to set aside an undeserving man for His great purpose.

Q: What are some of the faith struggles that John faces along the way that readers can identify with?

A: I know there are faith struggles John faces that readers can identify with because they are ones I struggle with even to this day! For one, John can’t seem to shake loose from past habits and hang-ups. Sometimes those habits can be used for good, but more often than not, John finds himself fighting to walk in faith and love and not let his flesh take control when things go awry. Much of the Christian life is about this same battle. I am at constant odds with the desires of my flesh, and at times, I have sympathized with the ancient monks who punished themselves to try and defeat their own impulses (a practice called flagellation, and one which John has adapted in his own way).

Another faith struggle that I know many readers can identify with is the difficulty of accepting God’s forgiveness for not only the sins we’ve committed in the past but the sins we will commit in the future. John struggles to believe God could forgive him for what he did while in the employ of the CIA, and that affects his ability to pass forgiveness on to others. This is something I, myself, have also found difficult. It’s not hard to believe God might forgive a single mistake here and there, but after failing again and again and again, it’s easy to expect a limit to God’s forgiveness. That’s when we can become trapped in the erroneous belief that faith is not enough, and we must work to retain God’s favor.

Q: Writers usually write what they know. Is there any of you in John Cross?

A: If there was, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you. Just kidding! The more exciting aspects of John’s story are nothing like mine, and I only wish I had half of his intuition and skill. It is true, however, that writers usually write what they know, and I’m no exception. The part of me in John Cross is less the man and more the day-to-day experience in local church ministry.

When I wrote A Cross to Kill, I was on staff with a Southern Baptist church in Central Virginia, though a much larger church than Rural Grove. So much of what John experiences with the church and its members is based on real experiences that I drew from during my time on a church staff as well as from growing up as a preacher’s kid in rural Tennessee churches. The congregants we get to know are not based on individuals as much as an amalgamation of wonderful people I had the opportunity to get to know through the years.

Q: The book description states that A Cross to Kill is not only a riveting story of suspense, it’s also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world. Can we talk more about moral quandaries?

A: A big moral quandary John faces, and I believe many of us wrestle with, is whether there is any legitimate justification for the taking of the life of another person. Is it ever right to kill another person? The Scripture could not be clearer that we are not to murder, and Jesus goes further by condemning any hateful thought toward a fellow human. There is much more Scripture to consider on the issue, but the answer to the question is not cut and dry.

The debate always seems to yield the same “yes,” “no,” and “sometimes,” answers. I didn’t want to try and provide a rigid response one way or the other in the novel, but I did want the characters to wrestle with the question and answers. Naturally, they probably wouldn’t ultimately agree. But for John in particular, what the characters decide, would drive the decisions they make when faced with danger. This is what we have to understand about the issue ourselves: If we believe Scripture gives a clear answer, whatever answer that might be, we must be prepared to let that answer influence how we respond to particular situations and issues regardless of how unconventional and perhaps even countercultural that may be.

Q: Is it possible to truly put our pasts behind us? How should we respond when our previous mistakes and decisions don’t stay in the past?

A: I don’t believe it’s possible to truly put our pasts behind us, and I don’t think that’s ever been God’s intention. We see many times in the Scriptures how God seeks to remind His people not only of the good they’ve experienced but also the bad. The past is not meant to be forgotten, but to shape our response today. And that can be both the pleasant memories as well as the painful regrets we carry from before.

When we remember God’s goodness in our past, it is cause for celebration and worship. In much the same way, when our previous mistakes and decisions come back into our present, it is a moment for us to acknowledge how God continues to be good in the midst of a broken world. We see His goodness in the fact that those mistakes are still covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and there’s nothing we did then or could even do now to change that. When our past mistakes return and remind others of the pain we may have caused, it’s important to not only acknowledge God’s grace and mercy but also seek reconciliation and restoration to the best of our ability. Ultimately, when we humble ourselves before the Lord, He is faithful to do a work in us and in others so that even in our shortcomings, He can be glorified.

Q: Without giving away too much, what can readers expect as the Shepherd Suspense series continues?

A: I’m so excited to continue the story with these characters, and I can’t wait for readers to pick up the next books in the series. One thing that is true about the Christian life is that it is a lifelong pursuit of Christlikeness includes many ups and downs. We won’t find our sanctification complete this side of heaven, and so neither will my characters!

For John, he may have crossed a hurdle by accepting God’s forgiveness for his past, but that doesn’t mean he’s dealt with every decision he’s made leading up to becoming the pastor of Rural Grove Baptist Church. And John’s not the only one with a complicated past. The thing I’m most excited about sharing is the action-packed twists and turns that promise to keep the characters on their heels and the readers up past their bedtimes.

Want to read the first two chapters? You can do so by clicking here.

If this interview has encouraged you to investigate this novel further or to buy it, click on the image below:

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading A Cross To Kill and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to). Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

About Andrew Huff:

Andrew Huff spent 10 years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the Product Director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com). 

He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014 & 2017) and also won the Best Screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. 

Huff holds a Bachelor of Science in Religion degree from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.

Learn more about Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense Novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com. He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites) and Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff). 

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.