Dear God… Book update…

I received the first drafts of the book cover for “Dear God.. Really?”. They were drastically different in approach than what I had in my mind.

Developing a cover that represents the content well, might be harder than writing the book!  Sheila Cowley and Brett Eddy are pulling the ideas together, trying to make it appeal to the more fickle public.

But these are not the prayers of a younger person. They are the often ill informed and frustrated one sided ranting of an exhausted believer, all too familiar with the limitations of religion when it comes to a true intimate relationship with a personal friend in God. And though they are funny in a sarcastic way, they are filled with disappointment, anger and resentment for what the ‘speaker’ cannot change in life.. mostly “other people”.

The titles would suggest it in little 250 word “devotionals”, “Dear God… I need you to Kill someone”, or “My forgiveness isn’t working” and “I’ll be right back”… but also there are the lighter moments when you realize yer actually having conversations with an all knowing friend… “I suggest we do away with Mondays”.. and “You Fish?”… or “Do You Believe In Atheists?”… and a personal honesty you have with someone you know is safe to talk to… “When can it be about me?”.

This book reminds me of one of my favorite reads of all time, by Elizabeth Brown, “Living Successfully With Screwed Up People”. Her cover looks like a “goofy” humor book but really she is dead serious!

Dear God.. really was turned down by virtually every Christian publishing entity, though it had the interest of Random House and a couple others. I suggested to Brett that we put an “endorsement” comment on the back from the editor of New Christian Voices..” uuuh… I think we’re gonna pass on this one”.

I get that sarcasm is not a popular way to go when speaking to a sincere Christian public… without the tone of voice it can easily be misunderstood. I don’t know why I feel like I have to paddle against the flow of tried and true formulas but I am encouraged by other Authors like Donald Miller, Paul Young, Anne Jackson and Mike Foster, who are demonstrating a cutting edge in Christian thought.

Any way we’re looking at a cover idea involving a disheveled older guy struggling to talk into a can with a string on it!

I will post the final look when we have it! … stay tuned.