Listen up, class. I know you’re here to learn about the importance of literature in our society, but I feel it’s best to start at the beginning. Stories don’t create themselves, so we’re going to be studying the anatomy of an author.
Authors are mysterious creatures, and we’ve been dissecting them for hundreds of years. No, not with scalpels. The key to their structure lies in their background, educational history, culture, location, and community. Right?
Actually, there is much more to an author. There are pieces of her soul that are carefully hidden from the world. Her body is in a classroom, but her mind is in a small coastal town in New England. She cooks dinner for her family, but she’s dreaming of a Chicago high rise. She takes notes in a morning meeting, but her imagination has constructed a homestead in the Alaskan tundra. She has a keen sense of direction, locating the nearest library or bookstore within minutes, and her mind sees things she may never share with us.
Her body may look like a typical human specimen, but the dictionary lives inside her. She takes the same tired twenty-six letters that you and I use and arranges them into beautiful constructions. Readers’ eyes see letters, while their minds see the images brought to life. Somehow, those words and the images they conjure yield emotions. They produce tears, laughter, fear, and anger.
With those words, she gives us a look at the inner workings of her brain. She describes a local fair, and we can taste the sweet funnel cake as the autumn wind whispers in our ears. She creates cities, towns, and thriving communities, some with strife and discord, others with compassion and understanding. They become as real as the characters themselves.
From her mind grow characters who feel pain and love deeply. They have fears, hopes, dreams, and needs that can only be met and satisfied by other characters created by the same author.
Authors are special creatures who are capable of transporting readers through time. She writes of a colonial port in the eighteenth century, and a reader is alive in the bustle of the crowd. She may have lived over one hundred years ago, but her voice echoes when her words are read, comforting modern women as we realize our emotions are universal, and we are not alone.
The author’s brain is multifaceted and remains a mystery.
Her lungs function much the same as yours or mine, but they also breathe life into stories that once didn’t exist. Writing is like air, as it is necessary for the author to survive. She exhales metaphors and hyperboles. She coughs, and paragraphs are born. She sneezes, and scenes are drawn.
An author must be strong. Her shoulders carry the weight of many stories. A lifetime of secrets, plots, intentions, and expectations are within her. She is burdened by the hateful words of the world, yet she holds her head high and never falters.
Her eyes see things differently as she watches the world. Sometimes, she sees things thousands of miles away or looks back in time. When she’s drifting off to sleep, the images come alive again, making stories she’s been led to tell. A sunset is never just a sunset. A flower is immortalized in her words.
Her bones are strong like the binding of the book, holding everything together. They are breakable but not by words. They are tired and worn, yet reinforced by the One who urges her on.
An author’s arms are open, calling for a reader who needs comfort, peace, or rest. Her arms are a shelter to those she’s never met, and they are strong enough to rebuild the walls others have torn down.
Her hair is generally disheveled, but it seems to be inconsequential to her physical makeup.
The blood of an author runs red, as you would expect, but it is more than cells and platelets. Her veins are rivers of words, touching every inch of her body before they flow into the stories she writes.
Her lips tell tales of kings and queens. Legends are reborn and shaped as love is kindled, again and again. She has no language because the love of words is translated in the heart.
Speaking of the heart, an author’s heart is the root of her being.
An author’s heart is a beautiful thing, but a Christian romance author’s heart is special. There is a calling from the Lord, words spoken into her soul that urge her on. The gift of words that inspire the faith and love of Christ sets her apart from all others. She has a mission–a most important responsibility–to share the glory of the Lord in quiet and private ways.
It may sound like a secret, but that silent transfer of hope is loud. It spreads far and wide because love can’t be contained. It changes us from the inside out. The words may seem tangible, but their meanings are inextinguishable.
So, you see, authors are strange creatures. We’ve called in a team of our finest readers who have agreed to diligently study authors and their works. We trust they will one day be able to explain these fascinating creatures. The future of literature depends on it.
What do you love most about authors?
Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books, and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.
I like that authors can weave a story that speaks to my heart and allows me to escape into the book along with the characters. I can feel happy, sad, joyous, and sometimes I even cry happy or sad tears. I can’t wait to finish their book and I am so sad when the book is done.
The books they share with us, the way they share Jesus, in ways I may not have thought of. I also love that most of the indie authors I interact with are more like friends and family, and they appreciate their readers.
I love this blog – it’s one I would like to return to again and again. Each paragraph is special, thank you for an enjoyable read, Mandi Blake
This is beautiful, Mandi. Though I wish coughs and sneezes could produce scenes and paragraphs. I’d have three new books written after this winter. 🤣😉
I love this! Some of my favorite authors have been gone a long time, but I’m grateful that their words live on in their books.
Two reasons:
So kind and generous
They are book nerds like me—they understand what it is like to be excited about a new release in a series, how to have a wish list as long as my arm, never have enough books…
What a beautiful description of an author!
Their words because they are what will be remembered.
Authors are really generous
I love slipping into the world of a book.
I love the ministry of writing Christian romance. I also love the friends. I’m very blessed to have “met” you and so many others!
Thank you Jeannette! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Writing (especially Christian romance) is dear to my heart.
I’m so glad we don’t lose the special words of authors when they’re no longer with us here on earth. It’s a wonderful way for us to revisit them.
Ha! I wish the same. Though sometimes I feel like the words are written even before I type them out. I forget the only exist in my head! I get ahead of myself.
I loved this!
I LOVE the access we have to so many books! It’s a wonderful time to be a reader.
Thank you, Jessica!
I love the words too. I’m glad authors share them with us!
I love this about authors too. The Christian romance community seems to be filled with sweet authors.
Thank you Dalyn!
You hit on such truths in this blog. Authors have vision and if they can get past their fear, their vision becomes a book in a reader’s hands to be loved, cried over, and to bring characters to life.
I love that authors can transport me to another time and place through words. Some books I literally feel like I’m right there with the characters, its an amazing gift authors have.
Getting past the fear is one of the toughest parts.
I agree. I love getting drawn into a book. I’ve leaned so many things without having to leave home.
they share their words
I love that authors love their characters and that they write from their heart .
What a fun post! I love the stories that authors weave together and how they create new friends for me to make
I admire authors for being able to write whole, intricate stories over and over again, but what I love about them is their empathy. Their ability to write about hard situations and circumstances they may or may not have lived through while sharing God’s love, grace, and hope is truly inspiring. Thank you for all you do!
It has to be the books, of course.
I am just thankful for authors becauae of them we have so many great books to read and listen to. The stories they share with us that can give us a temporary escape from the stresses of life and make us smile, laugh or even cry. Christian romance tops my list of favorite type of books to read because we can see more of God and his love for us. Reading books has always been my favorite thing to do.
I love being drawn into a book and connecting with the characters. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, Mandi, I LOVE this post. It is fabulous. You really described authors to a tee. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love that authors write from there heart & make the books very interesting.
I like that they make great describtions & write from there thoughts
This has to be one of the best posts I’ve ever read. All week I’ve tried to describe to others how involved I am in my story world. As much as the words are flying faster than I can type for my MS, I fail to come close in describing what it feels like. You did it for me. Beautiful.
I love this about authors too.
Yes! And I love that readers get to love them too.
Thank you! I love making friends with characters too. My aunt always says that when she finishes a good book, she always wonders what the characters are doing after the book is over.
That is beautiful Priscila! I love that authors can put their characters in difficult situations and also help them redeem themselves or find the path to peace.
Love them!
You’re so right, Dora. I love that we’re able to experience those emotions and events through books.
You’re welcome! I love that part about reading also.
Thank you so much, Debra!
Me too! I love the depth and description of the stories.
Wonderful qualities, Sylvain!
Thank you, Julie! It’s a complicated process for all of us, and we all do things differently! It still fascinates me how we share our imaginations and it brings us closer.
Their ability to use God’s Word in fiction.