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- Victoria Christopher Murray is
the author of: Temptation, Joy, Grown Folks
Business: A Novel, Truth Be Told, and her newest release
- A Sin and a Shame (the sequel to Temptation)
- with so much more on the horizon
to come!
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- To order from Amazon.com, click
on the cover you're interested in.
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- Vanessa Davis Griggs: Victoria, I know you just came off
of a whirlwind tour. You are truly a busy woman. First of all,
thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share
with us. Now, for those who may not know: Who is Victoria Christopher
Murray?
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- Victoria Christopher Murray: That's an interesting
question. I don't know if I can sum up who I am in a few words-hopefully,
you can't even do that with the characters I write. But, the
short answer is: I'm a Christian woman who loves the Lord, her
family, and her friends. I love to read, write, workout, and
spend time with people I love.
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- Griggs: What do you feel are the misconceptions about
what Christian fiction is? And what contributions are you making
to change some of these misconceptions?
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- Murray: I think when people hear that tag "Christian
fiction," many expect goody-two shoe stories and characters.
Recently someone wrote to me and told me that while she enjoyed
my writing and the story, she couldn't recommend my books to
her single friends because my stories aren't safe. I'd never
heard that before, but I think that when readers hear that tag,
that's what many expect-safe, boring, preachy. What I'm doing
to change that? No one will ever be able to say that my stories
are safe or boring or preachy. My books read just like any other
contemporary fiction on the market - the only difference is that
God is right in the middle of the books I write.
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- Griggs: You were a trailblazer in this genre that has
taken off called African American Christian fiction well before
it was as fashionable as it is now. What have you learned about
yourself, others, as well as this genre along your journey?
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- Murray: I get a lot of credit for starting this genre,
and I didn't even know Christian fiction existed when I wrote
my first novel. I just wanted to write books about people I knew.
And, I've always taken my faith with me-in any job. So, of course,
God would show up in my writing. I pray that He shows up in all
that I do. What I've discovered about this genre is that there
are some who are clearly called to write these stories, while
there are others who are writing and publishing Christian fiction
to try to profit from the increasing popularity of this genre.
None of that matters to me. I just do what God wants me to do-we
are all going to have to answer to Him.
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- Griggs: You have quite an impressive collection of books
published. Please tell us about each of your books as well as
what we can expect in the future from Victoria Christopher Murray.
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- Murray: My first novel, Temptation
is about a Christian couple who've been blessed with the
best life has to offer; however, they take their life for granted
and Satan walks in messing up everything. Temptation
is a story of spiritual restoration and forgiveness and the building
back of relationships.
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- Joy is about how one word from God can change
your life. The main character is going through a struggle and
when she's faced with a tragedy, she has to listen to God when
everyone around her is giving their opinions.
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- Truth be Told is about how anything done in
the dark will come to light. A woman wins an election in Los
Angeles, on a Christian platform, but the night of her victory
party, all of her secrets come tumbling out of the closet.
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- I wrote Grown Folks Business because I know
the Word of God and the truth of God's Word and I wanted to address
a major social issue-the down low-from God's perspective. In
the first scene of this book, a man who loves God and his wife,
tells his wife that he's fallen in love with a man. This book
is only about the woman's journey-what her life looks like after
17 years of marriage, having a 16 year-old son, and a 10 year-old
daughter at home.
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- And finally, A Sin and A Shame is my latest
novel and first sequel. It brings back the "bad girl"
from Temptation. Jasmine is "saved" now
(by her definition.) And she's decided that she wants to make
heaven her home. So, she moves to New York and begins her search
for a new husband; she's decided that a pastor would be good.
This novel is about the struggle of walking with God and how
we're supposed to continue to grow in Him. Praying the Sinner's
Prayer is not enough. We can't pray that prayer and then stop
right there.
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- Griggs: When you write a book, what is your "intent"
for that work (feel free to be specific if different intents
apply)?
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- Murray: My intent always is to write an entertaining,
page turning story, but most importantly, to exalt God. I want
people who may never enter the church to know the love of Jesus
Christ, and what a personal relationship with Him can do for
you.
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- Griggs: When you reflect back over your life, what are
some of the things you're most proud of? What do you hope to
accomplish that you haven't as yet?
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- Murray: I'm proud that I have so many people who love
me. I'm proud that I've made a positive impact on thousands of
people's lives. I'm proud that after being blessed with an incredible
education (a BS from Hampton Institute and an MBA from New York
University), and after having a blessed career, I'm proud that
I stepped out on faith and did the one thing that I always wanted
to do-I became a published writer. I would still love to reach
higher heights in publishing. A few people have approached me
about my books becoming plays or movies, so we'll see.
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- Griggs: Oprah has--as one of her magazine columns--a section
where she talks about what she knows for sure. What do you know
for sure?
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- Murray: I know FOR SURE that with God you can get
through anything! This is not a cliché for me. I'm speaking
from experience - I've had a few major tragedies in my life,
but God just lifted me up and carried me through until I was
able to walk again on my own.
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- Victoria, thank you for blessing so many not only with
your sweet spirit, but with the love of God people see that just
exudes from you in your everyday walk, as well as the wonderful
books you pen. May the work you do continue to speak for you!
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- Thank you, Vanessa for thinking of me! God bless you.
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- To visit Victoria's Web site, go to: www.VictoriaChristopherMurray.com
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- Interview by: Vanessa Davis Griggs, Author of: Promises
Beyond Jordan & Wings of Grace
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- Copyright © 2006
All rights reserved.
- For permission to use
this interview, contact Vanessa Davis Griggs at Vanessa@VanessaDavisGriggs.com
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