Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship with God through Christ.
I don't see success as the goal. Obedience is the goal.
The theater of the mind is impossible to compete with, and I like the idea that with a few suggestions, each reader forms in his or her own mind what a character or a place looks like.
Writers write. Dreamers talk about it.
You can't understand where someone's going unless you understand where they've been.
I was raised as a Christian but the transaction has to be made by yourself - you and God - at some point.
In my opinion, Jesus is God's attempt to reach man. But while I believe Jesus is the way to God, it makes no sense to hate people who disagree.
Ironically, in today's marketplace successful nonfiction has to be unbelievable, while successful fiction must be believable.
Left Behind takes what to some people may be unbelievable predictions from the Bible and shows how they might play out. It makes the events of biblical prophecy understandable and thus believable.
SOON was the first novel where I used a rough outline. Usually I have characters and an idea and write as a process of discovery. Like working without a net.
When I was a junior camp counselor and it was my job to tell the campers a bedtime story or devotional, I would tell them a rapture story.
The most comforting feeling ever is knowing that someone truly likes your entire existence. I feel that way right now. Thank you.
Fiction has a unique role in conveying Truth. In fact, only fiction that is Truth with a capital T is worthwhile.
As for dialogue, I think it keeps things moving to cut to the chase.
Good fiction must be entertaining- but what makes fiction special- and True- is that the realness of a novel allows it to carry a larger message.
I've written enough books with real celebrities, such as Walter Payton and Hank Aaron and Billy Graham, to know that fame looks good only to people who don't have it.
While writing my first 90 books, I was magazine editor, publisher, book publisher, executive, etc., so I was established in publishing. three of my seven or so books were biographies of sports stars and really opened doors for me in that area.
Actually 'Soon' has more than the Left Behind series, but I really believe less is more.
I love inventing worlds and characters and settings and scenarios.
No life is messier than one in ministry
Broken relationships are a source of heavy heartbreak that seem to affect every family.
Of course, bad marriages are so pervasive that they have invaded the faith community too.
Books that do a tenth of what Left Behind has done are smashing successes.
When you come to Christ as a real young person, I think when you become a teen-ager either you rebel or you search, doubt, and wonder.
Wherever you have people, you have factions and disagreements and personality conflicts.
