Ray Blackston Answers The Faithful Fifteen
July 2005
 FaithfulReader.com: What kind of testimony to your faith are you demonstrating in this book? Do you write fiction that is based upon your faith, or that has a message for the reader? Is your goal to demonstrate your faith in your writing?
Ray Blackston: The testimony is that God is big enough to handle our misplaced motivations (such as going to church just to meet girls), then turn them around and use them for our good. While scenes in my first two novels have paralleled some of my own struggles with faith, more importantly, God's faithfulness has been incredible toward me. As for "demonstrating my faith" in my writings, well, that sounds a bit preachy. There are faith issues --- usually one character is struggling mightily with a particular issue --- but since I'm a fiction writer, my first goal is to be entertaining.
FR: When did you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus? Where are you today in your walk? Is your faith an important part of what you do?
RB I was thirteen years old, in a youth group in Mobile, Alabama, when I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and understood his sacrifice for me. Today I am a member of a dynamic church here in Greenville, SC, am part of a men's group that meets regularly for accountability, and serve on the community missions team. My faith is integral to what I do. I cannot imagine trying to write fiction from a Christian worldview without leaning heavily on faith.
FR: Tell us about your church experiences, how you grew up (or maybe didn't grow up) in the church, where you attend now, your involvement in your local assembly, etc.
RB I was fortunate to have parents who were strong believers, and who took me to church way back in my diaper days. Youth fellowship was a weekly influence on me, as well as a couple of pastors who were very approachable, the kind of guys who would play softball with the kids and go fishing with me at church retreats. During college I made a lame attempt to wander, but God quickly grabbed me by the shirt collar and led me back into a fellowship. He's good at that, ya know.
FR: Tell us about your current church family/fellowship. How does it influence your work?
RB I'm a member of Grace Church, a non-denominational that has grown from 200 to 1,000 in the past five years. The excellence of the pastor, the compassion of the congregation, and the wonderful worship times on Sunday simply energize me for the next work week. Having some real creative friends there also helps! (They volunteer to be test readers).
FR: Who are your spiritual mentors? Your professional mentors?
RB Spiritual mentors would include my pastor, Matt, my best friend, Sandy, and my small group leader, Mike. As for professional mentors, there aren't currently any writers with whom I receive regular input/feedback. When I need a test reader, I simply use a couple of well-read friends, and my sister, Dana. However, I HAVE been motivated to be the best I can be by people outside of the writing world, and in some cases, outside the Christian world. When I see the dedication to his craft that Tiger Woods brings to golf, that Jacques Cousteau brought to the undersea world, and that U2 bring to their music, well, it inspires me to give writing my all. I realize that this is not the most spiritual answer you'll get to this question, but this is who I am --- a writer striving to be in the world but not of the world, a writer who can admire the greatness in people regardless of their beliefs.
FR: Discuss your calling/mission --- as a writer, and as a Christian.
RB God gave me the gift of "stringing words together," so I string them as best I can. I want readers to anticipate the next novel because the previous one was written with excellence. When I sit down at my writing table, I want to write with originality, polish paragraphs obsessively, and leave the sales results to Him who is able.
FR: What are your Scripture reading habits?
RB Mornings, first thing. Read a while, pray a while, then head straight to the writing room with my bowl of Post Honey Bunches 'O Oats cereal.
FR: What books have most influenced your work?
RB ANGELA'S ASHES by Frank McCourt, COLD MOUNTAIN by Charles Frazier, and The Bible, by a bunch of people.
FR: Do you read secular fiction at all? If so, who are your favorite authors, and why?
RB About eighty percent of my fiction reading time is spent on secular fiction. Not for the content (I don't read many books per year), but for learning technique. For all the strides being made in Christian fiction, the majority of the best writing on planet Earth is still found in the mainstream. Like many CBA authors, I am doing my best to get Christian fiction recognized as top quality. But we are not there yet. Again, this may not be the most popular reply to your question. But if you wanted to build a good boat, and the finest boat builder in town was an atheist, would you not ask his advice or seek to learn from him because he was not a member of your faith?
FR: What are your other media habits --- television, movies, music, etc.?
RB I love to go to concerts. I'll watch a good movie, the Weather Channel, sports, Charles Stanley if I'm sick on a Sunday, and of course The Masters golf tournament. That's about it. Contrary to what NBC would have us believe, there is no such thing as "must see TV."
FR: Do you and your family have any special faith-based traditions?
RB Huge Christmas traditions and Easter celebration. And we always have a prayer for each person on their birthday. (Followed, of course, by my mother's delicious Southern cuisine).
FR: Tell us about your prayer life and habits.
RB I pray in the morning, and before bedtime. I also pray "little prayers" during the workday.
FR: Describe what you believe the role of writing in religion is.
RB Jesus used "story," or parables, to richly convey his messages. Today, God is still using story to reach people. When emotions are tapped in a reader (whether it be sadness, anger or, in my case, the funny bone), the door swings open to reveal a truth. Story, story, story!
FR: Tell us about one or more of your favorite encounters with readers.
RB In the acknowledgments of my first novel, FLABBERGASTED, there is mention of an MAF pilot, "Dan" who flew me into the Ecuadorian rainforest, and that this young man died three years later while flying a rescue mission. He left behind a young wife and an 8-month-old daughter. At the end of that acknowledgment I wrote "All blessings to his family." Well, six months after FLABBERGASTED released, I got an email from Dan's father, who lives up in Wisconsin and whom I'd never met. He had somehow gotten hold of the book and read it. He told me that Dan's widow, Phoebe, had remarried to a youth pastor and that they were expecting a child of their own that very week. Then he told me that he had given a copy of FLABBERGASTED to Phoebe while she was in the hospital, going into labor. There she got to read how her first husband influenced me. (That day with Dan was one of the great days of my life: flying in a tiny plane, hiking the jungle, and paddling in a canoe down to the site where Jim Elliott and the other missionaries were martyred). Phoebe's dad ended his email by writing, "Ray, just wanted you to know that God has indeed brought blessings to this family." How can any of my reader encounters top that?
FR: Would you share a story about someone you've brought to Christ or share how your writing has helped someone?
RB I must admit that I hear from a lot of high school, college, and even junior high kids. Mostly they thank me for "writing something real," but some will say things like "Your story made me realize that I don't have to be perfect, and that there are a lot of people who share my struggles." This is particularly true with singles. Somehow God has allowed me to capture that confusing and often hilarious period in many singles' lives. Also, several people have written me and said that they signed up for a mission trip after reading my books. Oh, and I hear that the band ZoeGirl went to Ecuador last year on a mission trip and are going back again this summer. But no, I can't take credit for that.
Back to top.
|
LOST IN ROOVILLE