This has been an incredibly busy quarter for me. Ann Lewis, Heidi Saxton and I have been organizing an on-line conference. The Catholic Writers Conference Online offers free presentations and workshops in chat and forum formats to Catholic writers of all styles and genres. So far, we have 40 presentations on topics spanning the mechanics of writing to the art of marketing, the practical basics like plot or research and the spiritual considerations of how faith interacts with and works in our writing. Registration runs until April 25, if anyone is interested. www.conference.catholicwritersguild.org.

In addition, I've been hard at work on Infinite Space, Infinite God II. Alas, we have not gotten the quality of stories we'd hoped for, so we've extended the submission period to June. As an editor, I can be very cranky, although I keep it out of my rejection letters. My friends--and especially Rob--know how frustrated I get though at folks who send me sloppy submissions. Not sloppiness in the format or the grammar or even the plot, but sloppy in the two things we absolutely insist on:  1. It must be sci-fi and 2. It must be Catholic.

Catholicism is more than "Christian with stained glass." We have specific traditions, beliefs and doctrines that Protestants rejected starting with Martin Luther. I've rejected several otherwise promising stories because the main character claimed to be an Irish Catholic, yet spoke and acted more like a "generic" Christian. I also had a few that tossed out a millennia of Catholic thought with "the (story's) Pope said." And let's not discuss into the author who though a story would qualify if he tossed in a comment about how the priest molested the character in elementary school. Wait--let's do. The guidelines are on the ISIG website, along with reviews, synopses of the stories, bios of the authors, sample chapter and introduction of the first book. A few minutes of reading would have made it clear we were interested in a positive portrayal of the Church.

What's my point here? Like with anything, you need to do your research, both into the thoughts and backgrounds of your character and situation and into the needs of the publication. Just like you couldn't make a 17th century nobleman talk and act like a NASCAR racer, don’t force a character to profess a religion that doesn't fit for them.  By the same token, don't try to shoehorn a religion into a story that doesn't fit. (I actually advised one writer to remove all the Catholic elements out of his story and write it "Christian." It was a great story except where he tried to reconcile the theme with Catholic thinking.)

As you know, this is my hobby-horse, or I would never have started Faith-Filled Fiction. Now I'll get down off it to let you know we have a great issue for you. In our guest column, Penelope Marzec shares how her own faith experiences have influenced the lives of her characters and the plots of her books. Tannia Ortiz-Lopez discusses the concept of One God in Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which is doctrine for Catholic and many non-Catholic Christian religions. Tannia is a poet, which you'll discover as you read her delightful article. Finally, I've got some more of my notes from the Faith in Fiction workshop on the differences between philosophy, spirituality and religion.

FINAL NOTE: I am looking for articles for the next issue, which comes out in July. See the Submission Guidelines for details.

Guest Columnist

Faith, Forgiveness and A Writer's Experience

By Penelope Marzec

I have been writing stories since I was nine years old. Most of my work has been romantic fiction because I enjoy the uplift of a happy ending. My inspirational novels are parables about forgiveness and love. When my characters run up against trouble, they seek comfort and aid in the Lord. That’s because when the tough times come, I have always relied on the Lord to get me through my difficulties. Focusing on the Lord with persistent prayer has given me peace in bad times.

In my March 2008 release, The Keeper’s Promise, Evie St. Marie has been accused of murder.  Trooper Bryce Johnson investigates. Unfortunately, years ago, he and Evie were engaged until her reckless behavior made him call off the wedding. His bitterness clouds his investigation until someone targets Evie herself. Through his faith, he finds a way to forgive her for the way she hurt him and solve the crime before she, too, is murdered.

I know how hard true forgiveness can be. It is one of the toughest tasks to accomplish. I have been deeply hurt, and I have held onto the bitterness that followed, not wanting to let it go--not even when it made me ill.

Years ago, my daughter ran away and a couple I had once trusted harbored her secretly. My husband and I did not know where our daughter was for four months. When I learned of that couples’ duplicity, I wanted revenge. I had suffered and I wanted them to suffer, too. My blood pressure zoomed up as the emotional turmoil inside me churned.

As a Christian, I knew I had to forgive that couple and my daughter. It took a lot of praying, but eventually I succeeded in finding a peace which allowed the anger to fade away. In the calm that followed, our daughter returned home.

Forgiveness is worth the effort, though I know I could not have accomplished it without knowing Christ’s love for all of us. As an author, I now understand what a blessing in disguise my experience turned out to be. After all, I could not write about forgiveness if I did not understand the challenge involved, and I could not write a faith-filled story if I did not truly believe in the promises of Christ.

To read an excerpt of The Keeper’s Promise, visit www.penelopemarzec.com or www.awe-struck.net. It is available in both print and e-book editions at Amazon, and Fictionwise. It can also be ordered at your favorite bookstore. A book trailer can be viewed at www.youtube.com/pennyspix.  

Writing Tips

The Differences Between Philosphy, Spirituality and Religion

By Karina L. Fabian

(From the Faith in Fiction Workshop by Maya Bohnhoff and Colleen Drippe)

Although philosophy, religion, and spirituality have some elements in common, each has a distinct focus. 

* Philosophy is the seeking of wisdom.  It’s supposed to be objective, intellectual.  Thinking. 

* Spirituality is being open to “the Spirit,” usually God, but some may consider it an undefined superior force.   It is supernatural, subjective and unrestricted by commandments or dogma.  Feeling. 

* Religion is the belief, feelings and acts relating to God.  It has faith, authority, ritual, and miracle.  Acting.

You can have philosophy or spirituality without religion, but only religion has both philosophy and spirituality.  Philosophy does not require God.  Spirituality does not require particular actions or beliefs shared by others.  Religion, however, requires the adoption of a certain philosophy of thinking and a way of living with others based on our spiritual relationship (or promise of a spiritual relationship) with a Superior Entity.  That’s a simplistic answer, but if you want to know more, go to www.ask.com and type in “What’s the difference between philosophy and religion?” (or “spirituality and religion”).  Be sure you have hours free!

How do these definitions help your writing?  

They lay out some requirements, and to portray religion realistically, you should consider them.  For example, I rejected a story for Infinite Space, Infinite God because while the main character spent a lot of time praying for her friend’s soul, there was nothing in her conduct, personality, or vocabulary to distinguish her as Catholic.  

They also point out the gray areas.  In a real-life example, Zen Buddhism does not have belief in God, yet most of the world considers it a religion.  

Finally, when creating your own religion for your worlds, it gives you tools and maybe even a blueprint.  You may find that what you thought was religion was just philosophy—how does that change the story?  Does your alien race have so deep a spirituality that organized religion is unnecessary? 

In real life, the lines between philosophy, spirituality and religion tend to blur. However, thinking about how they apply to your world and your characters, especially when creating your own religion, can help you know where the lines are and where you want them to get fuzzy.

Religion Research

Three Equals One

By Tannia Ortiz-Lopes

Three persons in one:

Father
Son
Holy Spirit

To think of three and to think of “One” is a concept not so difficult to grasp. My human body has three main components.

The skeleton is not visible, but it was created to hold and protect my delicate organs. The head and the cranium are two important parts of the body working as one.

Muscles, nerves, and tendons give me movement. The flesh and the skin cover the bones, but together they work in unison for a common purpose.

The blood is essential to bring nourishment to my body.

God the Father is the skeleton. Everyone knows He exits, but nobody has seen Him; seeing God is reason to die. “Nobody can see me and live,” God told Moses when he asked to see God’s face. But God lovingly allowed Moses to see His shoulder. (Exodus 33:18-23)

Jesus is the flesh, the muscles, the nerves, the tendons that, together with the skeleton, work for a common purpose:

My Salvation
My Redemption
My Evangelization
My Preaching of God’s Word
My Preaching of the Kingdom
My Life everlasting
My happiness

The skeleton with the brain and the flesh create a human illusion for my eyes to see without dying. In Jesus, I find a human God: sinless, blameless, loyal, and reachable to humanity without fear of death for seeing God’s face.

In Jesus, God allows me…

to see His face
to hear His word
to touch His skin
to laugh and cry with Him
to rejoice and suffer for Him
to eat Supper with the Lord
to be filled of the Body and Blood of Christ to satisfy my needs

Jesus is God’s made flesh

to satisfy my needs and wants
to satisfy my curiosity
and to make God reachable
and more loving than ever
so through Him I could be saved.

The Holy Spirit is the blood. The blood nourishes me, cleanses me, and strengthens me. A body without blood is a dead body. A Christian without the Holy Spirit is a dead desert creating illusions of oasis for the thirsty soul looking for a place to rest.

Just as the body needs blood to keep it going, so do I, as a Christian, need…

the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of Truth,
and the Comforter

I need the Advocate…

who cleanses me;
who nourishes me;
who teaches me;
who guides me;
who comforts me;
who enlightens me;

We are one Christian body with God, the Father, as our skeleton and brain; our foundation for faith.

With Jesus, our Lord and Savior, as the flesh I see

the human I know
the man I love
the Savior I long for
With the Holy Spirit, the blood,
to make me holy
to prepare me
to feed me
to quench my thirst
to make me the right vessel
in which the Holy Spirit
through Jesus
sent by the Father
dwells within me
in my pursuit of happiness
through my mortal life
to eternity. Amen.

Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopés is a writer and book reviewer by profession. She is a mother by choice and a wife by the covenant of marriage. She lives in Germany with her husband and her two sons. She is the author of the free-style inspirational poetry book, The Window to My Soul, My Walk with Jesus (2004 Tate Publishing ISBN 0975393359.) Her book was awarded “2006 Best Poetry Book” by www.christianstoryteller.com and can be purchased at www.tatepublishing.com and at all major online stores worldwide. Visit the author at: www.myspace.com/tanniaortizlopes, and http://timewithtannia.tripod.com/