Crafting Authentic Christian Themes in Fiction with YA Author Tim Shoemaker

Episode Show Notes:

Introduction:

Welcome to “Read Clean YA with CJ,” a podcast dedicated to exploring captivating worlds, profound themes, and epic stories tailored for teens and young adults seeking content without objectionable elements. In this episode, join CJ Milacci as she delves into an intriguing author interview with Tim Shoemaker, an accomplished young adult author renowned for his High Water series.

About Tim Shoemaker

Tim Shoemaker is the author of more than twenty books and is a popular speaker at conferences and schools around the country. He is a regular contributor to Focus on the Family Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines. Tim loves writing contemporary novels for youth filled with mystery, adventure, and suspense, such as award-winning Easy Target, Escape from the Everglades, and the rest of the High Water series. His contemporary suspense novel Code of Silence was named in the “Top Ten Crime Novels for Youth” by Booklist. Happily married for more than forty years, Tim lives in Illinois and still loves working with youth.

The High Water Series:

The High Water series kicks off with a focus on a park ranger’s son, immersed in a thrilling, perilous setting within the Everglades. As Tim describes, the protagonist, a regular teen, finds himself in hair-raising situations alongside friends like Angelica (Jelly) and Wilson. Tim’s firsthand experiences in the Everglades while researching for the book provided gripping details and tension that deeply influenced the narrative.

Tim’s Unforgettable Everglades Research:

Tim recounts his daring research trip to the Everglades, sharing gripping encounters with alligators and the palpable fear that inspired the series’ authenticity. Despite initial trepidation, his experiences provided invaluable material that intricately wove into the story’s fabric.

Parental Relationships in Young Adult Fiction:

Tim emphasizes portraying parental figures authentically, steering away from depicting them as fools or villains. Instead, he underscores the importance of highlighting their genuine concern, even amid misunderstandings. He weaves these relationships into his narratives to reflect the complexities and depths of familial bonds, aiming to show parents’ unconditional love and guidance, even amidst challenges.

Ordinary Teens as Protagonists:

A distinguishing factor in Tim’s approach is his focus on ordinary protagonists, devoid of supernatural abilities or extraordinary attributes. By showcasing their internal strengths, resilience, and character growth, Tim aims to inspire readers to identify with and emulate their journey, emphasizing that true heroism lies within one’s heart and actions.

High Water Series Outlook:

The High Water series comprises five books, each delving deeper into the gripping adventures of these ordinary yet resilient teens facing extraordinary dangers. Tim’s dedication to portraying relatable characters, emphasizing heart over appearance, and nurturing relationships drives the series’ appeal.

Writing Compelling Christian Fiction — that isn’t “Hokey”

Tim and CJ delve into the challenge of integrating Christian themes into fiction without making it seem contrived or preachy. They emphasize the importance of avoiding clichéd Christian elements in storytelling to create a genuine narrative that resonates with readers. CJ and Tim highlight the significance of weaving deep biblical truths into compelling stories, focusing on character development and realistic situations rather than overtly religious tropes.

Key points covered:

• Avoiding Hokey Christian Fiction: Shoemaker stresses the pitfalls of overly preachy narratives and unrealistic portrayals of Christian characters or situations. He advocates for storytelling that authentically showcases characters’ beliefs amid relatable circumstances.
• Realistic Character Dynamics: He emphasizes the value of portraying Christian characters interacting with individuals of varying faiths or non-believers to illustrate genuine human experiences and challenges.
• Addressing Tough Questions: CJ and Tim discuss the importance of addressing challenging theological questions within narratives, offering nuanced perspectives without diminishing opposing viewpoints.
• Power of Storytelling: Drawing from biblical examples, Shoemaker underscores the potency of stories in conveying truths and touching readers’ hearts, emphasizing that stories have the potential to resonate deeply and convey essential life lessons.
• Fiction as a Teaching Tool: CJ and Tim highlight the misconception that reading fiction is a waste of time and instead emphasizes the transformative power of stories, which, according to them, are a compelling means to instill wisdom and provide experiential learning.
• The Struggle with Fiction Writing: Shoemaker shares insights into the challenges of writing fiction, asserting that crafting compelling, meaningful fiction is often more demanding than producing nonfiction.
• God’s Use of Stories: Reflecting on biblical narratives and Jesus’ teaching methods, Shoemaker and Milacci emphasize how God uses stories to engage, teach, and transform lives.

The discussion showcases how fiction, when crafted with care, can be a powerful vehicle for conveying spiritual truths and teaching valuable life lessons. Shoemaker’s approach emphasizes the importance of authenticity, relatability, and the ability of stories to resonate deeply with readers while conveying profound truths.

For readers interested in exploring Tim Shoemaker’s works, his books can be found on Amazon and various Christian bookstores. Shoemaker’s dedication to creating engaging, faith-infused narratives that captivate readers while imparting meaningful lessons makes his works a compelling choice for those seeking clean, impactful fiction.

Conclusion:

Tim Shoemaker’s High Water series stands as a testament to the power of relatable characters, genuine relationships, and the exploration of inner strength amidst challenging circumstances. Through these gripping narratives, readers discover the beauty of ordinary individuals growing into extraordinary heroes.

Wrapping things Up: from CJ

I hope you had fun listening in on this conversation with Tim Shoemaker. As I’m sure you could tell, this conversation was one I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, we went longer than usual! So I’m going to keep this ending short and sweet.

If you’re looking for edge-of-your-seat adventures, especially books that will appeal to boys, I encourage you to check out Tim’s books. They have intense moments, but Tim’s heart for his readers shines through.

Don’t forget the giveaway!

Tim has also graciously agreed to be part of our Epic Christmas giveaway, and he’s including a copy of Escape from the Everglades. So be sure to head over to the giveaway page and enter for your chance to win this book along with all the other amazing goodies in the Christmas Giveaway.

Here’s the link: https://kingsumo.com/g/tdijpz/epic-christmas-goodies-giveaway

Coming Next Week

Next week I’ll be talking with young adult author RJ Conte, and it was a great conversation, so be sure to tune in.

Thank you so much for listening to Read Clean YA with CJ. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend so they can discover exciting, clean young adult books too.