ajoobacats – Lee Duigon

From June 14, 2015

The other day my fellow blogger, Ajoobacats–she has a whale of a blog, totally dwarfing mine: just tons and tons of readers; I recommend her book reviews to all–honored me with a review of my Bell Mountain, which I am happy to say she liked very much ( http://leeduigon.com/2015/06/12/book-review-bell-mountain-by-lee-duigon/). I don’t think I’ve ever seen her review a fantasy before: but she admits that my book was about as far off her beaten track as she’s ever gone.

I must draw attention to one remark she made: “The underlying spiritual theme may not be in fashion…”

Well, that’s putting it mildly!

In fact, I know I’m out of fashion: it’s what I intended. The whole point of the Bell Mountain series is to “renormalize religion” by showing it to be a basic and indispensable component of the characters’ daily life, culture, and psychology: and more, to proclaim that God is a Person, the Supreme Being, who interacts with individuals, families, and whole nations.

My books have struck a few readers as odd because they have come to expect no trace of religion in any work of fiction, be it a novel, a movie or TV script, or anything else. But the total absence of God or gods in our fiction depicts an extremely weird kind of civilization that has never actually existed except in faculty lounges and some of the least wholesome, darkest corners of politics and business.

But how, asks the ninny, do you manage to fit God or religion into Zombie Apocalypse or Superheroes vs. Climate Change Deniers?

That’s the wrong question. If God is in your life, you may not have a yen to spend much time in Zombie Apocalypse. Not that you can never just veg out and relax by watching some nonsense or other. I love silly old monster movies. It’s only a problem when the nonsense takes over your life.

I believe it has done us harm, as a nation, to spend such vast amounts of time consuming “entertainment” from which the very concept of God has been excluded.

Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong.

One of my fellow bloggers has nominated me for a Creative Blogger Award. I didn’t know there was such an award, and it’s gratifying to be considered.

Now I’m supposed to follow directions and do certain things. First, to provide five facts about myself.

1. I know almost nothing about computers, and not much about the social media, either. My wife, my editor, and a few of my friends keep this blog ball rolling for me, allowing me to concentrate on the content.

2. I read the Bible every day, for my sanity. On some days it’s the only truth I get.

3. I have lived in the same small town all my life.

4. My heroes and role models are all long dead.

5. Writing and reading are my main activities, but my wife and I always reserve time for each other. Work efficiently, and you buy time.

Now I am supposed to nominate five other bloggers for the award. That’ll be a pleasure–always bearing in mind that I can’t nominate all the blogs I read all the time.

1. Rivendale Review. Michael Graeme is simply a superb writer.

2. Aman Himself. He’s not afraid to review the most formidable literary classics, including books I doubt have been read by anybody else for many years.

3. Ajoobacats. You rock, Doc. Your eclectic literary tastes have turned up many books I now plan to read.

4. Through Open Lens. Beautiful, original photography, every day. Plus corny jokes.

5. Weavingword. She’s a fantasy writer who writes fantasy in the service of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Us folks gotta stick together.

Finally, I have to somehow let my nominees know I’ve nominated them. Well, here goes… betcha I’ve done it all wrong…