I've been asked to share a little bit about my writing process by my fellow authors and answer a few questions.
1. What are you working on? I am working on the last novel in the Church Love Novel series (slated for release 2015) , and then after that, I plan to finish volume 2 of Church Love B.L.I.S.S. , the non-fiction behind the fiction of Church Love, a relationship manual detailing principles of courtship. You can get volume 1 here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/church-love-bliss-series-volume-1-shantae-charles/1118611732?ean=2940148269243
As a Publisher, I am currently looking at potential editing projects for 2015. If you are interested in those services you can visit my link here: www.facebook.com/pages/GOD-IdeasLLC/170107669721558
2. How does your work differ from others in its genre? Though my work is Christian Romance fiction, it is also prophetic. I see my work as a new genre, Prophetic fiction. I write while fasting and praying and strive not only to tell a good story, but to really hear what God would say to the characters in different situations. I've had people share their stories of encounter with God while reading the series, and I know it is more than a series to entertain, but to impart an understanding of how very much God wants to be involved in our lives. I also feel it is unique in that it takes non-readers and turns them into avid readers. I've had many write and say they HATED reading ANYTHING and are now avid readers and enjoy it. Like Stephen King's writing, I know my work is not for everyone, but it impacts the lives that it needs to and I am satisfied with that.
3. Why do you write what you do? My life of writing started by a prophecy, so I guess it makes sense that it is prophetic. When I was 17, it was spoken over my life that I would write and my writing would impact people all over the world. This was before Facebook. I did not believe this person because I was an artist, not a writer and had NO DESIRE at ALL to write anything. I had graduated high school hating English because my teacher (Mr. Cox) pushed so hard. I was a singer, dancer, visual artist, and had wrote a few songs. I was not a writer in my own eyes. It was not until I watched a movie called Deliver Us From Eva, starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union that God put a fire in my belly. I watched the movie and was livid. I was angry at the portrayal of the Black Church, the Black female, and God. I left the movie thinking, Why does everything that people write have to be about what is wrong with the church? Why is no one writing stories, especially for people of color that shows that there is good in the church and not everyone is sleeping around and singing hallelujah? Who is telling THAT story? Right after that, I heard God say, You are going to write that story. That was the beginning of my literary journey a decade ago. I started with one character, and intended to just write one book. As I wrote, she became a part of what I now call the Kingdom Community. This is how Church Love Series was born. I realized that God wanted to demonstrate the power of love, family, friends, and Christian community. So, I write because I feel divinely commissioned to do so. I write to educate people on true Christian community through my parabolic style writing, and I write to show forth godly principles for marriage and courtship through the Church Love series. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer as I have grown in this gift. I also have four blogs, one which was named a Hidden Gem in 2013 for teens: http://legsclosedmindopen.blogspot.com/
I learned a valuable lesson about purpose: If it makes you angry, that's probably where your passion lies! Moses had a similar dilemma.
4. How does your writing process work? I write in blocks of time and do most of my writing on weekends and holidays. Sometimes I have other story ideas that form from my writing. The picture above is some of my notebooks where I have stories yet to be published but they are written out. I write character sketches, outline my story, and try to stick to it unless the story takes on a life of its own. I also have notebooks solely for research. I am a very detailed writer and I love history, so I like to study out different things and visit the places I am writing about so that my writing is authentic. It is always a compliment when a person from Savannah can picture the places in my story because I have been there and done the research, and lived in the experience so I can write about it in the most authentic way. I even created the drink Chocolatte, so I could accurately write about it. I also created a drink called the Church Love, now quite popular with my local Barista. The joy of writing!
5. What are you reading? Currently, I am reading writing process books, and studying the book of Proverbs along with a FB study group. I am also reading Undaunted by Christine Caine, which ties into my subject matter of Human Trafficking for my last book in the Church Love series.
I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about my writing process and purpose!
