A few weeks ago, when my launch team was sharing different memes and posts about my new book, Destination: Romance, something funny happened. One of my launch team members found a quote she loved in my story and made this meme. She then shared it, and commented how excited she was for everyone else to get to read it because it was the perfect book to get summer started right. Seems innocent enough, right?
One of her neighbors saw the post and commented with,
“This looks like something I’ll need to read in private 
“
Yikes! Not what either of us intended!
My reader, of course, set the neighbor straight and then apologized to me. Honestly, I thought it was funny, but I could see why she was mortified, too. She’d shared something with the intent of it coming across sweet and romantic (which it is, in context) and it was taken as something completely different.
When I was a teenager, I read just about anything I could get my hands on, as long as it had a romance in the story. That included the ones with covers featuring a man whose shirt was either missing or wide open to show off a chiseled chest. You know the kind.
Later, as my faith grew, and my realization of exactly what I was reading grew along with it, I set those aside and tried to only read clean or Christian fiction. You see, my mind does a really good job of picturing what I’m reading and holding onto that image without letting go. And some of those images I don’t need to be picturing with anyone but my own husband–definitely not the shirtless guy on the front of the book.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some great stories behind those covers. But because they choose to not shut the door during certain scenes–or sometimes make the whole romance about the physical aspect of it instead of anything deeper–it’s just not good for my brain to go down that road.
And as I continued growing in my writing journey as well as my reading journey, I decided to make sure my own stories didn’t have anything in them that might lead someone to thoughts anywhere close to those areas. I’m not saying I’m going to avoid nitty gritty subjects or real life situations. But I also don’t want to paint any pictures in someone else’s head that might lead them to thoughts they shouldn’t have.
So, when I titled my post, “Shirts Required,” I’m talking book covers. And maybe what’s inside the covers, too. ;) And that’s why the earlier situation I was talking about was funny but also not funny, too.
I Thessalonians 5:22 says, ” Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Every appearance–not just evil, but anything that even looks like it. And that’s my goal with my writing, too.
Another verse that drives me is Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” It’s hard to keep your thoughts pure. Might as well make it as easy on yourself as you can, right?
So, know that when you read my stories, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. But you’re not going to have to worry about hiding my books from your kids, either.
What about you? Do you have lines you don’t want to cross when reading? Do you have trouble getting written images out of your head? Any tips for abstaining from every appearance of evil?
It’s not every day you bring a boyfriend back as a souvenir.
Katie Wilhite is ready to settle into her new job as a librarian now that college is through, but friends Bree and Skye want one more girls’ trip, and when Bree insists this is her bachelorette fling, Katie agrees. What she didn’t agree to was allowing fun and flighty Skye to dictate the itinerary or for her anxiety to kick in harder than ever … right in front of a cute guy.
Camden Malone had no idea when he agreed to be the voice of reason on his cousin Ryan’s vacation that the trip wouldn’t stay in New Orleans as planned. But when Ryan plots with Skye so that the guys can tag along with the girls all week, he isn’t nearly as upset as he should be. Not with Katie’s fiery temper and flashing eyes intriguing him more by the minute.
Can Katie relax enough to trust Camden and a possible future, or will she continue to push him away as only a vacation fling? And can Camden move past a rocky history of his own to be able to jump into a better future? For a trip that was supposed to be all about fun, there’s a lot of romance going around.
Check it out here.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
I love the fact that you try to ‘avoid all appearance of evil.’ As soon as I read anything is leads my mind the wrong way, I tend to stop reading. So keep up the good work!
I agree with you whole-heartedly, Amy.
Thank you so much. It’s not always easy, but definitely worth it. Glad to know I am not alone.
Thank you, Beth!
I agree, which is why I only read CF and sweet/clean, and really try to limit it to CF, as I really miss the faith element when I read sweet/clean, and think how much better it would be with the faith element in there!! I also don’t go to movies for the same reason. I don’t want to read bad language, and certainly don’t want to hear it!! The last movies I went to see were I Can Only Imagine and War Room, for that reason. I watch old movies, like John Wayne and Gidget!
I agree. I very much miss the faith element when I read clean/sweet versus CF. And I love John Wayne and Gidget! As well as quite a few other “old” actors. I joked with my husband when we married that my heart beat to the rhythm of “Cary Grant, Cary Grant,” and he would just have to accept that. ;)
welcome today. I love your over. oh my about your friends neighbor. I love this verse. thanks for the reminder. I look at some covers and immediately pass the book up. sometimes the cover is nice but the back rings warning bells, so I pass it up. I have gotten to where I stay pretty much with certain authors. but still I like to check out other christian authors. but how do I know if the author is christian or not. is there a place that has a list of christina authors? would love to find this
Great post! I try my best to avoid steamy romances and stick to either Cheistian fiction or closed door romance. After I became a Christian I stopped enjoyed the more steamy romances as I realized how shallow they usually are since it’s all based on physical attraction and lust.
Hi Amy! Interesting blog. In sweet romances sometimes have shirtless guys on their covers, and have a difficult time when married romance authors discuss in lengthy details swoon worthy male characters. Been married to hubby for 49 years, this reader is put off – hair and eye color, plus slender / muscular is all I need. Maybe because I have a brother, husband, 3 sons, & 2 grandsons – each with unique looks. More interested in their character and interaction with others. Hooray it is raining in SW Michigan. Farmers need the rain for their crops. Residents need rain for lawn, flowers and home garden. Enjoy your weekend.
I was the same, reading anything that had romance in it. Now that I only write inspy/Christian romance, it makes me sad when I meet women who announce they only want to read “the other kind.” I feel like inspy romance can deliver an amazing story with great sparks.
When I was a teenager I also read everything, I never got to read erotic romance but I remember that even youth romances had a sexual component, I tried to escape from that content because due to my age it made me feel uncomfortable (I felt I was underage even so I shouldn’t be reading that) but I just almost never found anything without sex! I don’t remember seeing pages or blogs with such detailed reviews of content as now.
When I converted to Christianity I realized that there was no way to read things that glorified fornication and kept one’s thoughts pure and that even though the characters were married my very active imagination was similar to watching porn reading open door scenes it didn’t matter that it never really have seen it. Simply reading about sex as part of the entertainment took away the private and sacred character that it should have. There are people who say that why so much scandal if the Song of Solomon talks about sex, yes, but it is not in any way explicit but metaphorical, perhaps frank, but in songs nowhere will you find detailed information about what the couple does in the bedroom, as if it happens in many books.
I tend to stick to authors I know or seek out detailed reviews to avoid what I want to avoid.
To be honest? I think that people in a certain sense overestimate the “spark” and the “steamy” at the end of the day, true love is about actions, sacrifice and has a strong component of companionship and friendship. You can get a lot of spark without true love and true love without fireworks and sparks all the time. Many young girls spend their time looking for those huge fireworks, that bubbly feeling and become unable to see that sometimes love comes softly if you don’t get so attached to fantasies.
Lori, thanks for commenting. Obviously, InspyRomance is a great place to find a bunch of Christian authors. There’s also fictionfinder (dot) com which is a place to find authors who are a member of the ACFW. There are even ways to search for different types of books on there.
Exactly how I feel. I wanted more than just the physical attraction. That’s one of the reasons I write what I do. Thanks for commenting!
Hooray for rain!
I agree. I don’t need a ton of details. I will say I will sometimes describe a few muscles on my guy, but I don’t go farther than that. No need. I’m more interested in who he is as a guy.
That is sad! Our books have so much to offer. Maybe we can sneak one in sometime and win them over. ;)
I love this comment so much, Lilly. I even wrote a scene in Saving Grace where I basically said the same thing. Sometimes, the parts of romance that aren’t fireworks are even better because they’re deeper and last longer.
I agree completely. It’s hard to keep thoughts pure when you’re reading things that lead thoughts down an impure road. And the YA fiction has a lot more sex now than it did when I was growing up. I’m having to be super careful as my daughter grows and starts reading books I haven’t read before. It’s a scary world.
This is something I am very careful about. For a period of time when I wasn’t living the way I knew to be right I read a lot of books that had all but healthy content. My mind seems to still hold that stuff. So now I am very careful about the content when choosing books. I stick with mostly Christian books but do read some clean. Even though I know it doesn’t always mean the content follows what I don’t want I generally pass over books with shirtless men on the covers.
Another thing I try to avoid is foul language. I have had this discussion with a Christian author who covers hot button topics. The opinion I have shared is when the main character is witnessing to a person who would, in reality, use foul language then there are rare occasions when I could see using one or two curse words. However, there is usually a way to state what they said without actually using the word. Even then, I only think it is necessary for the storyline if that person makes the decision to accept Christ as their Savior and the main character helps to walk them through the day to day process of changing their life, including the change in their language, sexual habits, etc. I do know this is part of starting to follow Christ and when this is the central theme of the book these things have to be included, being reality. I think when a reader is choosing these topics they are looking to see changes in people and expect to see the way others have dealt with the true, day to day life. Hopefully a reader may make this decision to accept Christ as well and if so, reading about ways to deal with these daily changes would be incredibly helpful.
That was a rather long description but hope it described my thoughts on this subject clearly. Have a fantastic weekend!
I agree with you on foul language. It drives me crazy and ruins a book for me. And there are work-arounds to show a character lives that way without actually SHOWING it.
I agree with you Amy, Some books just go too far and beyond from what it should be taken to. I love good clean reading books that set a limit as to how far it should be taken to. Have a great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Thanks so much for swinging by and commenting, Alicia!
fun cover
Thank you so much!
The shirtless covers really do telegraph the contents I feel.
Definitely!
I am in a book club that at times picks questionable books. Other times, the books are fabulous. When the list is posted at the beginning of the year, It is hard to know how the book will be laid out with the storyline until you begin to read it. Yes. I have trouble at times leaving those images behind. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
My book club has similar issues at times, but I and a couple others are urging more for cleaner books. I feel your struggle.
I have to agree with everyone here about book content. I don’t want to put things in my mind that shouldn’t be there in the first place. I’ve come to like the “sweet” romance where the author builds the relationship based on anything but the physical. I mean there’s attraction, of course, but it’s never taken too far nor does it drive the story. I stick to Christian fiction with the occasional clean Regency or Historical by trusted authors. I’ve also enjoyed a few women’s fiction that aren’t necessarily Christian, but certainly clean & wonderfully deep stories.
I love that there are writers out there like you, Amy!
P.S. I guess I don’t see what’s wrong with the picture or book quote? Maybe I missed something.
Thanks for commenting, Trixi. The point was that there wasn’t anything wrong with the picture or book quote, but that the friend took it where it was wrong. Definitely not what I or my reader intended.
And it’s what got me thinking more about all this in the first place. Just an example of how it’s so easy to head down a road we might not intend to travel in this day and age.
I only read clean romance or christain romance I really like the harlequin heartwarming and love inspired books.I don’t like when books have bad language or an book describes child abuse or an spouse is abusive
So late been one of those weeks. Yes I agree with you. I don’t want open door bedroom scenes. I still can’t forget a Christian Historical that went way to far in a rape scene. Yes it happened back then (Early days of Australian settlement with the convicts etc) but I can know it happened without details. I also don’t want the bedroom scenes with married people. Yes I know it happens but you don’t have to write it (although some say but they are married and its a beautiful thing. It maybe but not all readers are married and even those who are don’t need that image) I think sometimes its like if what they wrote was played out in life the couple wouldn’t be exposing themselves to the whole world.
The other things that can make me DNF or read is Blasphemy in a book even the Initials and the it was a non Christian who said it so it was appropriate excuse does not fly with me. I don’t like cussing and swearing.
Yes, I totally agree with you about images from a book sticking with me long after I finish the story. In fiction, I read mainly CF and sweet/clean because I don’t need to let my mind go to those other places.
Thanks for commenting! Don’t we live in such a great time where we have so many clean options?
Books with abuse are really hard for me to handle, too.
Completely agree. Cussing and swearing are so unnecessary. And those scenes can be acknowledged without all the details.