What is it?

I’m so glad you asked.

Earlier this week, I shared with you my personal thoughts about women’s fiction, and why we women read what we do. I talked about my growing desire to read stories about the “happily ever after” we’re so often left out of, and about the glaring vacancy of quality fiction with married main characters, especially in the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association).

I did not discredit any of the fiction already being produced and promoted, in particular, romance novels. In fact, I devotedly declared, “I LOVE romance novels!” and I WRITE romance novels, among other genres. I went on to state, “We shouldn’t stop reading and writing romance novels. In fact, if we remove this genre from our shelves, we remove the foundational premise of the marriage relationship in fiction!”

But I also suggested that the Christian industry, especially, should be compelled by both authors and readers alike to make marriage more attractive. (Click to tweet!). We, as believers, should be making marriage something the world sees as a beautiful, life-breathing celebration of love, NOT the end of the road. NOT an institution. NOT a ball and chain contract, but a path to freedom!

We should be writing and reading stories of epic adventures shared by husbands and wives. Tales of passion and pain, exhilaration and suffering. Sagas of lives torn apart by tragedy and sin, then restored by God, who designed marriage as an earthly representation of His relationship with us.

Yes! Give me the romance novel! Then give me the “what comes ever after,” too.

I want to read about the bud of romance…followed by the full bloom of love, in all its ups and downs, in all its seasons of pain and joy, of sorrow and victory (Click to tweet!).

But HOW? How do we get these stories on the market if the market isn’t putting them out there? (And that’s a post for a whole new day….). How do we encourage and empower marriages through quality fiction that depicts marriage in engaging and captivating ways, if the quality fiction isn’t being produced? How do we encourage and empower new authors – and new genres – when the way seems so insurmountable for so many?

Although we can’t control the CBA, we can influence them by taking action. There’s nothing more ineffective than complaining about the state of something, but doing nothing to change it (Click to tweet!).

Married…With Fiction is our way of taking action. We are recognizing an ever-growing need in this day and age, when “connecting” means punching in 140 characters or less, when being “friends” means hitting a LIKE button that automatically adds us to yet another computer-generated list.

Modern technology, in all its amazing and fathomless advances, has left in its wake, people…who need people (Click to tweet!).

Married…With Fiction is all about mentoring; those who are ahead reaching out to encourage and empower those who are behind. We’re talking about community. Real people, real lives, real stories, a place where mentoring happens organically. All are welcome, because we all have stories to share.

Married…With Fiction is a HUB where authors reach out to connect with other authors, where agents and editors share their insight in the industry, where marriage and other family matters are supported and encouraged in fiction, as well as in a real live community. Along with posts about marriage and family, about industry standards for grammar, formatting, and more, we’re also offering critiques and contests, and running lists of agents and publishers who are actively seeking submissions. We have a lineup of fabulous guests, and some pretty special regulars, too.

We invite you to join us this whole month as we prepare for our April 1^st Launch and our month-long Launch Party where we’ll be giving away gift baskets, holding contests, offering free website listings for followers, and much, much more!!

Every Friday in March, we’re opening up another venue where you can connect with others through Married…With Fiction.

Today, we invite you to join us at our Twitter Account: @MarriedWFiction where we’ll be sending out regular updates for the coming launch.

Next Friday, March 8^th, we hope you’ll join us on our Married… With Fiction Facebook Page.

You can also contact us privately at MarriedWithFiction (at) gmail (dot) com.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions – we’re here for you!