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A little about me, and some answers to frequently asked questions
(FAQ).
(last updated 02/15/08... updated an answer to announce Greatest of
These in paperback)
(10/15/07... concerning feedback for stories already completed)
(09/04/07... announced my brother Sam will be handling feedback)
"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things."
~ Philippians 4:8 ~
 eople
often ask me if I'm any relation to the Bronte sisters, (as in Charlotte, Emily,
and Anne). Upon retrospect, I should have expected that when I first took up the
pen name Judith Bronte in 1997!
As a longtime fan of Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre was, and still
is, a great inspiration to me. The dialogue between Mr. Rochester and Jane is much
too small, but what's there, is golden! In my opinion, Jane Eyre has the best
lines ever written (outside of the Bible) between a man and a woman. If you've read
any of my stories, then you already know how much I enjoy portraying the interaction
between the two leading personalities. How often have I scanned books, looking for
the quote marks that signaled more dialogue. Enough comments on the color of the
shrubberies, please! Hurry up and get to "the good stuff"!
Another great influence in my writing has been Jane Austen. Can anyone read Pride
and Prejudice too many times? I don't think so. Jane Austen's Persuasion
is also a particular favorite of mine, and I've always admired the fact that as her
last novel, she was only getting better as a writer! Something to aspire to!
I first began writing some short stories and poetry when I was twenty-one, but still
hadn't quite found my true calling. (You can find much of it at Acacia Vignettes, which also happens to be my
first website.)
In 1998, after I had just finished reading a mediocre novel, I wondered if I could
write a better story. But what to write? I've often heard it said, "Write what
you know." (Very limiting advice, if I do say so myself.) In the end, I compromised
with Izumi Mizukio, the heroine of my first romance novel. Having a German, French,
Irish, and Japanese background, I related to Izumi's multicultural family, and easily
fell into the rhythm of the story.
I remember telling my mom that I wasn't going to publish Journey of the Heart
on the Internet, but when it was finished, she encouraged me to put it out there
and see what happened. I did, and not much happened. Very few read the story, mainly
because I was still new to the Internet, and it takes time to get a website established.
But I didn't know this. What I did know, however, was that I had finally found the
creative outlet that I had been searching for, whether anyone was actually reading
my stories or not.
After months of trying to find "the perfect plot" for my next endeavor,
I finally decided to just sit down and write. Some Pass By was my second love
story, and was soon followed by The Harvest of Christopher Cushing.
At the beginning of 2000, I was at a creative crossroad. I asked myself if I could
do anything, what would it be? I immediately knew the answer: to write a full length
novel. It was then that I started The Greatest of These. As always, I kept
the plot a secret from everyone, even my mom, who up until she passed away, had been
my absolute biggest fan. I would give her each chapter after its completion, and
she would sit at my computer and say, "Oh, look! The scroll bar is already halfway
down! Couldn't you write longer chapters?!" Then she would try to tease future
plot out of me. I miss that. The time we spent together reading my stories, are moments
that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I'm really looking forward to
meeting her in heaven, and asking her opinion of what I've written since.
In 2004, I began writing Abigail's Journey. Since it has received more attention
from readers than the previous stories, I hope it means that I'm growing as a writer.
The book was finished in July of 2006, and was my first, completed, full-length novel.
I finished The Greatest of These in June of 2007, after putting it on hold
to finish Abigail's Journey.
I'm currently working on Mountain Wild, my first historical romance. My dream
is to write professionally for a publisher, while still writing free love stories
for this website. I owe all my readers an immense debt of gratitude for their encouragement
as I find my legs as an Inspirational Romance writer. Whenever someone takes the
time to try my love stories, it's an amazing act of trust on their part-- especially
when they allow the characters into their heart.
ere
are some questions I'm frequently (and not so frequently) asked:
Q: Who are you? How old are you?
Are you married?
Q: If you're not married, how
can you write the way you do? The relationships in your stories feel so real.
Q: John from Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, wondered if my stories had any relation to my own personal life experiences.
Q: If you freely share your real
name on this website, then why do you use a pen name?
Q: While I like your stories, Journey
of the Heart, Some Pass By, and even the first part of Greatest of
These, don't seem to be as well written as Abigail's Journey. Why is that?
Q: How long have you been a
Christian?
Q: When did you first fall in
love with the written word?
Q: What inspired you to write
Christian Romance?
Q: Why is the story you're currently
writing not downloadable like your others?
Q: I submitted feedback about one
of your finished novels, but my comments were never added to the website. Why?
Q: I've gone to my bookstore, but
can't find any of your books? Is it possible for me to get a hard copy of them?
Q: How long will Mountain Wild
be?
Q: Have you already written the
stories, or are you just posting one chapter a month to string us along? I'm dying
to know what happens next! (No one has actually said this, but it's often implied!
<grin>)
Q: Will you ever stop writing for
free at this website?
Q: Do you base the characters
in your stories on real people?
Q: How do you come up with your story
ideas?
Q: After Mountain Wild is
finished, what other stories do you have in mind? Will you be writing another story
about Abigail and Jake's life?
Q: Can you give me any pointers
or advice on how to become a writer?
Q: How do you write your dialogue?
It's like it's real!
Q: I love Jake from Abigail's Journey,
and think it's great the way God sent Abby to help him. Because of this, I'm thinking
about becoming penpals with someone behind bars. Should I?
Q: Is it possible for you to
write any faster?
Q: I just received a response to
my feedback from someone named Sam. Who is he, and why is he answering your email?
Q: What version of the Bible do you use
for your Scripture verses?
Q: Question from a reader. Warning,
contains one or two plot spoliers to Abigail's Journey!
Q: Who are you?
How old are you? Are you married?
A: Judith Bronte
is the pen name of Sarah
Fall. I'm thirty-one years old and I've never been married.
I live in Southern California, (USA), with my father and two brothers. I work in
the family business as a website and graphic designer, and spend my spare time writing.
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Q: If you're not
married, how can you write the way you do? The relationships in your stories feel
so real.
A: Before my Mom
passed away, she and I had many discussions about Bible based relationships. I learned
a lot from my parents-- not only by listening to what they said, but also by watching
their Christian example. Little did they know, that it would one day come in handy
for a career in writing Inspirational Romance! back
to top
Q: John from Dar
es Salaam, Tanzania, wondered if my stories had any relation to my own personal life
experiences.
A: I've always
joked that if I stuck to subject matter that I've actually lived, my stories would
be pretty short! That's why I usually do so much research for my writing. Even though
I sometimes draw inspiration from my personal life, it's just elements-- and not
entire story plots. For instance, I've never experienced the things that Jake Murphy
from Abigail's Journey did; I've never known the pain that comes from physical
or emotional abuse. Abby, on the other hand, came from a family that I can very much
relate to. In fact, of all the characters I've written, I'd say that Abby probably
comes the closest to my own personality. But I'm not Abby, and these stories are
not autobiographical. They're just the products of an overactive imagination, and
the need to share it with others. back to top
Q: If you freely
share your real name on this website, then why do you use a pen name?
A: When I took
up the pen name Judith Bronte back in 1997, it was mostly out of privacy. I didn't
want to give out too much personal information on the Internet, but I also wanted
the anonymity that a pen name afforded. Writers pour their soul into their words,
and I'm no different. A pen name gave me a little more courage to put myself out
there and just write what I felt God led me to. When I later decided to pursue a
career in Inspirational Romance, I made the decision to publish my real name on this
website. back to top
Q: While I like
your stories, Journey of the Heart, Some Pass By, and even the first
part of Greatest of These, don't seem to be as well written as Abigail's
Journey. Why is that?
A: Journey
of the Heart was written over eight years ago, and was my first love story. With
the exception of a manuscript that I'm working on for future publication, this website
has every single romance I've ever written. From my first foray into penning a short
novel (Journey of the Heart), to trying my hand at something longer (Greatest
of These), all my past mistakes are here for everyone to see. While I currently
make greater efforts to polish the chapters and stories that I publish, the thought
of going back and rewriting my old stories is a little daunting. I have so many projects
going on, that I'd rather use my time writing new material. back to top
Q: How long have
you been a Christian?
A: I was raised
in a Christian family, so I don't actually remember the first time I professed Christ.
Mom told me that as soon as I was old enough to know that Christ had died for my
sins, I was claiming Him as my Savior. back
to top
Q: When did you
first fall in love with the written word?
A: As a child,
I remember watching my father read. Dad loved the written word, and he still does.
I would play with his collection of books on the floor, thumbing through pages, looking
at the infrequent pictures, and wondering what those horizontal tracks of mysterious
characters could possibly mean. Then, one day, when I saw my Dad having an especially
good time with a book, I made up my mind: I was going to learn how to read. As I
became older, I started reading authors such as Laura Ingalls Wilder and L. M. Montgomery.
Wilder taught me how to tell a story, while Montgomery taught me the importance of
character development. Then I discovered the world of Jane Austen, and fell in love
with her dialogues. Just when I thought it couldn't possibly get any better, I read
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Charlotte taught me passion, and I've never
been the same since. After all this, I read a few lines from John Bunyan's The
Pilgrim's Progress and my own journey truly began. See below for more on this...
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Q: What inspired
you to write Christian Romance?
A: Until I started
putting my own stories on the Internet, I didn't even know an Inspirational Romance
genre existed. I only knew that I wanted to write a love story, and since I was Christian,
it only followed that it would be from a Christian perspective. I suppose my biggest
motivation to start writing, was to harness my overactive imagination and use it
for something good. I credit the idea from John Bunyan, who in his apology for The
Pilgrim's Progress wrote, "In this my scribble... to divert myself, in doing
this, From worser thoughts, which make me do amiss." I thought, "If writing
stories worked for him, then maybe it could work for me." Thankfully, it has.
Writing is a way for my overactive imagination to stay out of trouble, and to think
only thoughts that God wants me to think. The great authors I had read before helped
to open this door, and God has been holding it open for me ever since. back to top
Q: Why is the
story you're currently writing not downloadable like your others?
A: Only completed
stories are available in PDF's. As soon as the novel is finished, I'll make it into
a PDF as well. back to top
Q: I submitted
feedback about one of your finished novels, but my comments were never added to the
website. Why?
A: I've made the
decision to stop posting new comments for stories that are already finished. After
I complete a novel, everyone will have one or two additional months to comment, but
then no further feedback will be posted about that story. back to top
Q: I've gone to
my bookstore, but can't find any of your books? Is it possible for me to get a hard
copy of them?
A: Thanks for
looking! For now, the only way to buy a hard copy of my novels is through the Internet.
Currently, Abigail's Journey and The Greatest
of These are available in paperback from Lulu.com.
In the future, I'll also paperback my other completed stories (Journey of the
Heart, Some Pass By, and The Harvest of Christopher Cushing).
Q: How long will
Mountain Wild be?
A: I'm planning
Mountain Wild to be about as long as Abigail's Journey (30 chapters),
and like Abigail, I'd like to put it in paperback after it's finished. back to top
Q: Have you already
written the stories, or are you just posting one chapter a month to string us along?
I'm dying to know what happens next! (No one has actually said this, but it's often
implied! <grin>)
A: Sorry, but
I'm truly writing each chapter on a monthly basis. back
to top
Q: Will you ever
stop writing for free at this website?
A: God willing,
I will continue writing for this website as always. I've been extremely blessed by
this experience, and plan to continue for as long as I can. back to top
Q: Do you base
the characters in your stories on real people?
A: No, I don't.
back to top
Q: How do you
come up with your story ideas?
A: That's a hard
one. Sometimes, I get the emotion first, and then the characters follow. Sometimes,
snippets of dialogue come to me, and then I have to break it apart to understand
why I liked it so much. The bottom line is that I have to be intrigued by the story
line to follow up on it. I love trying to find out what makes a relationship work,
and how people gravitate to each other. And then there's the everyday struggles that
each Christian must face in life, and how they deal with their difficulties and problems.
I don't care what anyone says-- the good guys are MUCH more interesting than the
bad guys! back to top
Q: After Mountain
Wild is finished, what other stories do you have in mind? Will you be writing
another story about Abigail and Jake's life? WARNING:
if you haven't read Abigail's Journey, this might spoil a surprise!
A: I'm plotting
two more romances for the Journey series, to be written for the website sometime
AFTER Mountain Wild is finished. One of the sequels will be Terry's
love story, while the other will be about Jake's son, Ricky. Though Abby and Jake
will be in the two sequels, they will not be the primary focus in either one. They've
already had their book, and I'm eager for Terry and Ricky to have their own journeys!
Eventually, I'm hoping to bring all four Journey books to paperback, so my
readers can set the entire series on their bookshelf!
In addition to all this writing and planning, I'm working on another love story.
This one, however, won't be a free read like my other books. When the manuscript
is finished, I'll consider my options and see what publishing avenues are available.
(And no, this isn't one of the Journey sequels. :-)
As always, I intend to continue writing free romances for this website, so I hope
you'll drop by for the next chapter! back to
top
Q: Can you give
me any pointers or advice on how to become a writer?
A: I'm not a great
one for advice, but I can tell you that it's extremely important to write on an ongoing
basis. Write, write, write. It's one of the reasons why I like writing on a monthly
schedule so much. It forces me to keep going. I throw myself into the story, and
then go back and fix all the typos and make sure the words flow properly. I have
a few rules of thumb that I always try to hold myself to:
- In all things, glorify God. He is the reason I'm writing, and
it's essential that I never forget that.
- Be as true to the moment as possible, no matter how hard or painful
it may be.
- Don't force it. If I sit down to write, and nothing comes, then
it means I wasn't prepared. Go do more research and spend time thinking it through.
Writer's block is just another way of saying that I wasn't properly prepared. When
I am, the words should come as a free flowing stream.
- Write with my heart. If I'm not ready and willing to empty myself
into the story, then I might as well walk away. I shouldn't waste my time or anyone
else's if I'm not willing to give it absolutely everything I've got.
- Just tell the story. When writing rules are bogging me down, and
self doubt threaten to stall creativity, push it all aside and simply tell the story.
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Q: How do you
write your dialogue? It's like it's real!
A: To me, it is
real. I often wake up in the middle of the night, and find myself listening to the
characters in my head, as they try to work out their differences. Sounds crazy, I
know, but it happens. By the time I go to write the story, it's almost as if I'm
simply putting down what I heard and saw in my imagination. back to top
Q: I love Jake
from Abigail's Journey, and think it's great the way God sent Abby to help
him. Because of this, I'm thinking about becoming penpals with someone behind bars.
Should I?
A: Even though
no one has asked me this question, I'd like to address it here. I would caution anyone
becoming romantic penpals with someone behind bars. From the research I've done for
this book, I've read of male prisoners soliciting women on the "outside"
to be penpals, because the women felt sorry for them. Just because Jake is a sweetheart,
doesn't necessarily mean that the majority of other prisoners are like that. I think
this is best explained by one of my readers:
I've lived around some pretty "rough" people at times,
even a few guys whose life was like Jake's... I've seen abused people become abusers
and takers themselves. You have to be careful that you're not reacting out of emotion...
I've been in a few situations where the worst thing I could do was to give them what
they thought they needed... we have to be sensitive that in our interactions with
others, we are being led by the Spirit. back
to top
Q: Is it possible
for you to write any faster?
A: Sorry, but
one chapter a month for the Internet is all I have time for. back to top
Q: I just received
a response to my feedback from someone named Sam. Who is he, and why is he answering
your email?
A: Over the years,
my readership has been growing and I'm finding that what used to work in the past,
isn't working so well in the present. I'm reevaluating the way I handle things, so
my health and creativity won't burn out.
One of my longtime readers joked that I would one day need a secretary to answer
my fan mail, simply because I wouldn't have time to respond to everyone. She'll probably
laugh now that it's finally happened! I appreciate readers' email, but I'm discovering
that it's building pressure on me as a writer. So, I've decided it's finally time
to let someone else handle my fan mail. That way, I can keep my attention on writing
stories. My brother Sam has volunteered to handle feedback (thanks a bunch Sam!)
and will make decisions on what comments get posted to the website. Besides my mom,
Sam has been one of my biggest supporters, and he's more than qualified to answer
questions and respond to feedback.
Words don't express how much I've appreciated the outpouring of support and encouragement
I've received from those who read my stories. You guys are wonderful, and with God's
help, I hope to continue long into the future! back
to top
Q: What version
of the Bible do you use for your Scripture verses?
A: I use the King
James Version, or KJV. back to top
[Warning, the following Q&A contain
one or two plot spoilers! If you haven't read Abigail's Journey yet, then
stop here!]
Q: "My name
is Rachel, and I live in Ontario. I love your online books... they are very encouraging...
I have one question about the novel Abigail's Journey. I am a writer myself...
My focus when I write is on romantic relationships and marriage, quite similar to
what you write. I was wondering how you got the courage and what went through your
mind when you decided to write about such personal issues such as rape and the aftermath
of it in a marriage. Sex is a misunderstood and rarely discussed topic in many congregations,
but I believe that many people, single and married, struggle with problems in the
area of sexuality. I'm not married myself but with everything that is said about
sex in society, more books like yours need to be written... the people in the body
of Jesus Christ need to know that the topic of sex is not dirty or disgusting in
itself-- it is the way in which it is used. Did you have any misgivings about sex
being one of the main issues in this novel? I commend you for bringing such an an
important issue into this novel, and even though Abby and Jake are fictitious characters,
I'm certain that your book will help free many people from situations in this area
of their lives." - Rachel (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
A: Rachel, you
asked some very thoughtful questions... You wondered how I got the courage to write
what I do. Well, when I'm writing, I'm not aware of anyone else but me, God, and
the characters in my story. Creating the story is a very private process-- that's
why I don't discuss my stories with anyone before they're written. I just keep them
hidden away in my heart, until it's time for them to come out.
What went through my mind to write about rape and the aftermath of it in a marriage?
I'd have to say it came from where my research led me while I was finding out who
Jake was. I knew that he had been tortured and abused as a small boy by his father,
but as I researched more of our prison system in America, I began to realize that
it would be unrealistic of me to say that the abuse stopped there. But, that's such
an awful thing to deal with. Then I remembered something that I had learned while
writing about the subject of Alzheimer's Disease in The Greatest of These:
the good MUST be sweeter than the bad, or else it's going to be a rotten story. Enter
Abigail. I already knew that she was a very self-possessed, confident young woman
who had grown up in a stable, loving home. Her childhood was everything that Jake
could only imagine. The more contrasts that the two leading characters had, the more
I realized I wanted to tell their story. To leave out the effects of such a violent
and painful past, when trying to go on with your future, seemed to be ignoring that
elephant sitting in the room. I had to address the issues, and not run from them.
Really, the only time I had to be brave about something I wrote, was when Jake was
raped again in prison. I literally held my breath to see how the readers would react.
Because the good was sweeter than the bad, it was received better than I hoped.
I agree that sex is often a misunderstood subject in the Christian community, but
I think it's because we don't know how to talk about it without fearing that we will
be seen as indecent or immoral. When depicting an intimate relationship, always remember
that it's essential to never go beyond the limits of what your conscience tells you
is right. I don't care if it's in the name of being realistic, or not. Right is right
and wrong is wrong. Understandably, each person's conscience will differ from another's,
so the place where you draw the line will depend on you. That said, I think there's
a lot of latitude for the Christian writer who is sensitive to the Holy Spirit's
leading.
When we read, we get a mental image from the words that the writer chooses to use.
A good example of this is in chapter 24, "Jake's Choice," where the entire
chapter is about sex. (See the end of this email for what one reader said.) I purposefully
mentioned in a few key scenes, what Jake and Abby were wearing, so that it wouldn't
be left to the reader's imagination. I wanted to influence their mental picture as
much as possible, and even came right out and asked the reader to stop at the bedroom
door.
I also strive to depict characters on an emotional level, so that their motives and
attraction to each other are not solely based on whether her skin is showing or not.
Relationships are hard things, and it takes a lot of commitment and dedication to
make them work. Just because it's a story, doesn't mean that everything magically
works out-- unless you're writing a fairy tale, that is! Instead of running from
or stepping around the hard and difficult, use them to your advantage. Problems are
your chance to let the characters prove themselves and who they really are. There's
a saying, "People are like tea bags: you don't know how strong they are, until
they're in hot water." The same is so for the characters in your stories.
Did I have any misgivings about discussing sex? Sure I did, but when you keep the
focus not so much on the sensual but on the emotional, I think you can say more than
someone who just uses physical attraction. The bond can be deeper, and mean more.
After all, what makes your heroine better than the woman standing next to her? Is
it just because the light is glinting off her hair and that makes the hero fall madly
in love with her? Or, was it because just minutes before, he heard her witness to
a homeless woman and saw her compassion for others? You get the idea. What's in a
person's heart is worth more than how they look.
Below is an excerpt from a reader (thanks, Narelle!) who had told me previously,
that she had such a vivid imagination, she had trouble not letting it get into trouble.
This is what she had to say about chapter 24:
"Oh, Judith, I just finished reading chapter 24 of Abigail's Journey. Well done
once again; but I am especially proud of the way you handled such a delicate chapter.
To be able to draw us into the story-line with understanding and knowledge of Abby's
and Jake's feelings and tumultuous, at times, emotions, without bordering on the
indecent is a triumph in itself! I loved how, especially, you allowed the bedroom
door to stay firmly shut to us, who had no right to cross the line on a married couple's
intimacy. Too many writers are willing to cross that line simply because they know
that their characters are not true people, with true feelings, and are willing to
lead their readers into sin under this pretence. Thanks for still being an author
that I am able to read without having to worry about what's around the corner, that
spiritually, I know will cause me to have to walk away forever from a story and characters
that I love."
That email meant a lot to me, and it's a great instance of how writers can control
the story, so that it's safe to read-- even when the subject is sex. back to top
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