S. Chris Shirley's Blog
June 12, 2014
The Biggest Challenge in Writing Playing by the Book
There are many challenges in writing a novel and getting it published, but the hardest challenge for me in writing PLAYING BY THE BOOK was making it appeal to both the LGBTQ reader AND the Fundamentalist Christian reader. My early drafts were too religious for the gays and too gay for the religious.
Striking the right balance was a Herculean task, but I attempted to accomplish this through a mix of humor, love, and the struggle that most of us face at some point in our life to fit in. The book is now being billed as "Gossip Girl meets a Teens Guide to Christian Living," and I think that's pretty accurate.
No book can appeal to everyone, but my hope is that PLAYING BY THE BOOK will find its audience, and they will identify with Jake’s search for his own truth.
Striking the right balance was a Herculean task, but I attempted to accomplish this through a mix of humor, love, and the struggle that most of us face at some point in our life to fit in. The book is now being billed as "Gossip Girl meets a Teens Guide to Christian Living," and I think that's pretty accurate.
No book can appeal to everyone, but my hope is that PLAYING BY THE BOOK will find its audience, and they will identify with Jake’s search for his own truth.
June 11, 2014
Playing by the Book Pub Date Thank You's to Jake, Julie, Sam, and Tracy
On this the pub date of my debut novel, I wanted to pause and thank the main characters: Jake, Julie, Sam, and Tracy. We went through some serious ups and downs over the past eight years, but we finally made it. I learned so much from each of you and believe you made me a better person. Thank you.
Playing by the Book
Playing by the Book
June 4, 2013
SChrisShirley: Winners of Lambda Literary Awards Announced - Speakeasy - WSJ http://t.co/x45MYzFGOy via @WSJ
SChrisShirley: Winners of Lambda Literary Awards Announced - Speakeasy - WSJ http://t.co/x45MYzFGOy via @WSJ
June 3, 2013
SChrisShirley: Edmund White gives John Irving the Bridge Builder Awards at the #Lammys!
SChrisShirley: Edmund White gives John Irving the Bridge Builder Awards at the #Lammys!
SChrisShirley: Janis Ian takes the stage at the #Lammys!
SChrisShirley: Janis Ian takes the stage at the #Lammys!
SChrisShirley: Excited for the #Lammys tonight in NYC. Tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
SChrisShirley: Excited for the #Lammys tonight in NYC. Tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
June 1, 2013
SChrisShirley: Over 450 people already have their tickets to the #Lammys on Monday--don't miss the biggest night in LGBT literature http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
SChrisShirley: Over 450 people already have their tickets to the #Lammys on Monday--don't miss the biggest night in LGBT literature http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
May 29, 2013
SChrisShirley: The #Lammys are only 5 days away and only 7 tickets are left to the After-party with DJ Honey Dijon. http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
SChrisShirley: The #Lammys are only 5 days away and only 7 tickets are left to the After-party with DJ Honey Dijon. http://t.co/L1hxzop3yI
May 28, 2013
SChrisShirley: Jury duty, week 4. Perry Mason made it look so easy. Wish we had commercial breaks. #civicduty
SChrisShirley: Jury duty, week 4. Perry Mason made it look so easy. Wish we had commercial breaks. #civicduty
May 25, 2013
SChrisShirley: RT @martinwilson73: See USA Today's list of the top 10 YA books for summer http://t.co/XmiAhejLZq Including @billkonigsberg's Openly Straig…
SChrisShirley: RT @martinwilson73: See USA Today's list of the top 10 YA books for summer http://t.co/XmiAhejLZq Including @billkonigsberg's Openly Straig…
