 |
Creston Mapes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a BA in magazine journalism. Since then, he has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries. He has written for Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Focus on the Family, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and The Urban Alternative. His stories have been featured in magazines including Private Colleges and Universities, In Touch, Leaders for Today, and The Hockey News. Creston makes his home in Georgia.
|
|
Author Profile Interview
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in northeast Ohio with my wonderful parents and an older brother and sister. My dad owned an early American furniture shop, which was 150 years old. The family lived upstairs. There was a little pharmacy across the street where I went with my hard earned money to buy baseball cards—and candy; they had a huge selection. I grew up going to church each week, but never entered into a relationship with Jesus until I was about 27 or 28. I fell in love with a girl in my fourth grade class and, by the grace of God, ended up marrying her. We have four delightful children who are 5, 8, 10, and 15, as well as a big yellow lab and a small tabby cat. For the past 15 years, I have had the good fortune of working out of my home doing free-lance writing, so I get to enjoy being around my children a lot, which I love.
2. How did you become a novelist, and did you always want to write?
Creativity seemed to be a strength from an early age. I wasn't a very good student, but I could write. My fifth grade teacher (Mrs. Thomas) had everyone in her class write their own book of short stories. We even bound it. My mom still has hers! In college (Bowling Green State University in Ohio), I had a wonderful journalism professor who also served as my advisor (Barbara Austin). She was top-notch, had us writing and submitting magazine stories in class, getting our first rejects, and believing we could make a living writing. Back in 1999 my free-lance work slowed and I wrote a novel. I was seriously courted but did not sell. Work picked back up, we saved up more money, work slowed, and I wrote more fiction. The cycle went on like that until about a year ago when Multnomah signed me to a three-book contract. DARK STAR was released in June 2005, FULL TILT will be released in March 2006, and the third book in The Rock Star Chronicles will come out in early 2007.
3. What do you think is significant about Christian fiction?
To me, good Christian fiction is clean, exciting, and intriguing. Besides that, it makes the reader think and question and put himself in other people's shoes. Perhaps it causes him to look at himself more closely in the mirror and see what God may be saying to him.
4. How do you hope your readers react to the stories you write?
That has been astounding to me! Readers say they feel like praying for my characters. They say they can be driving along in the car with friends, wanting to tell them about the characters and plot. They even say my first book, DARK STAR, has caused them to pray for the salvation of today's most popular, hard core rock stars and celebrities. I think the most thrilling comment I receive is that they can't put the book down. Now, I want your audience to know, this is the Lord. It is not me, a mere man, doing any of this. God is using me as a vessel, just like he uses each one in your audience to impact his or her world. Although it's tempting, I cannot take credit for the success of my work.
5. What responses to your novels have affected you the most and why?
Oddly enough, the praise and publicity has impacted me spiritually. When you have a novel published and begin getting positive feedback, it's easy to get carried away with yourself...trust me! But the Bible says, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives (Proverbs 27:21). When we receive praise, it is a real test. How do we deal with it? I think of the times when Christ's disciples healed people and the witnesses of those incidents wanted to bow and worship the disciples. But they said, "Look, we're mere men...just like you." That's the way it is with novelists. So I have a book published that's doing well...I still have a wife and four children at home who look at my as husband and father, who want me and need me. They look at me no differently. Hope that makes sense.
6. How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
It's caused me to do some serious searching. For me, this is an extension of my free-lance writing business. So, is it a business or is it a ministry? That is sometimes difficult to decipher. On one hand, I want my novels to impact lives and draw people closer to Jesus Christ. On the other hand, I want them to sell so we can make the income we need to live. So, to answer the question, I've really been seeking God, asking Him to carry the success of the novels, to do what He wants with them. It can be difficult not to want to, or feel like you need to, spend huge amounts of time writing, editing, and marketing your books. If you tried to cover all the marketing avenues available, there would never be enough hours in a day. I've had to say, "Lord, this is your day. Help me be wise and efficient. Help me do the things on Your list today. I know your yoke is easy, your burden is light. You handle the marketing of the books and help me concentrate on the business I need to, the family issues I need to, and the needs within our church or neighborhood or community that you want me to."
7. Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life?
That is the big goal right now. In addition, I hope to raise children who have deep, loving, strong, secure relationships with Jesus Christ. I hope to be the kind of husband my wife needs, and the kind of son my parents need. I also pray God will empower me to be the friend and encourager he needs me to be for those around me.
8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Between work and family, there is not much spare time! Sometimes, when we get the kids down, I'll run out to Borders, get a coffee drink, and wander and browse. I enjoy meeting with my buddy Vibe, who is my accountability partner. I also love reading both fiction and non-fiction. I do enjoy hearing from readers and responding back to them. And I enjoy the times when my wife and I can escape for a date now and then.
9. What can you tell us about your latest novels?
In the two months since DARK STAR has been released, it has almost reached Multnomah's sales goal for an entire year. That thrills me. I love the fact that this powerful story of God's radical love is reaching people around the world. It's like a dream come true. FULL TILT is written and I'm about to go into a serious editing stage, and we're all very excited about it. I'm already tossing around ideas for book three in The Rock Star Chronicles. And I'm even thinking about some ideas that may come after that.
10. What stories can your fans expect from you in the days ahead?
My greatest hope is to write novels that are thrillers. Page-turners. You MUST know what happens next. I like contemporary settings. So, you're likely going to see some real-life, edgy, action-packed stories whose characters are quite deep. I might add that my editor at Multnomah is fantastic. She is teaching me to be a stronger writer. It was God who brought us together and I hope we work together our entire careers.
|
|
| Other Interviews
|
Back to
the Author Profile of
Creston Mapes
Read Other Author Profile Interviews
|
