Fiction Worth Reading: a challenge to myself and a pledge to my readers
About the Website:
Fiction Worth Reading
The website of author J.S. Worth
Faith-filled Fantasy & Sanctified Sci-Fi
Where Spiritual Truth meets Speculative Fiction
I knew when I chose Fiction Worth Reading as a site title it might come across as pretentious. But then I thought, “Well, am I writing trite garbage that isn’t worth reading?” (Wait, don’t answer that! At least not until you’ve read my work.)
So I sat down and examined my goals: I wanted to write quality, entertaining fiction driven by memorable characters. I wanted to explore human struggles and longings, our strengths and frailties, our failures and triumphs, all with an ultimate sense of hope.
I also wanted to have fun. To make readers laugh, cry, gasp, and turn the page for more. I wanted to stimulate the mind and engage the emotions. For myself and my readers to experience the story and come away with greater clarity and a deeper encounter with Truth.
I realized then, like any author, I really did want to create Fiction Worth Reading. So I stuck with the title and condensed my goals into the tag line “a challenge to myself and a pledge to my readers”. Of course it’s a play on my surname, but it lets me pay forward as well, by also promoting the works of authors I’ve read and recommend.
All that said, if you’re browsing the site and like what you’re seeing, l invite you to join my readers group, using either one of the opt-in buttons; there’s one at the top and one at the bottom of most pages. If you do join, I assure you, I won’t flood your inbox. Just an email now and then to announce price drops, new recommendations, occasional promos, and when I’m about to release another book. And I always try to give more than I get.
Both my trilogies begin with a free book one at any online retailer where it’s available. At that point the electronic versions of books two and three are very fairly priced with various online vendors.
Like any artist, I’m also very happy to accept tips and words of encouragement. Words of encouragement can be as simple as an email, a few words on a blogpost, or leaving a review for one of my books on the site where you bought it.
If you’d rather just give me more money, the easiest way (for folks who don’t know me personally) is to support me on Patreon. By pledging there for $1 a month you’ll get access to things not seen anywhere else. Drawings I’ve done, or simply pages of works in progress. You can, of course, end donations at any time (and I won’t even cut off your lights). I just like to think of it as a tip jar for my most ardent fans.
Before I end this I do want to say a bit about my first trilogy. While the story is based on the flood account of the Bible, it reads like Epic fantasy and was written with the mindset of someone immersed in the fiction of Tolkien, Leiber, Prachett, Ursula Le Guin, Roger Zelazny, Moorcock, Stephen R. Donaldson, Neil Gaiman, heck the list just goes on and on.
As I’ve said elsewhere on this site, you’ll find prophets, warriors, street urchins, and royalty; political intrigue and personal betrayal; dragons, giants, a ragtag band of misfits; sword fights and drawn bows; visions, and incantations; love, sacrifice, and redemption.
And if you’re thinking it’s simply a rehash of the movie starring Russell Crowe, just read book one. Early drafts of my trilogy were written long before that movie; the only thing in common is the names of a few main characters and the foreknowledge of impending annihilation. That’s all.
Thanks for checking out my work. It’s a big deal that you spend your valuable time reading something I wrote. Readers are a large part of the reason writers succeed or fail. There is of course the craft and skill, which authors must develop. But the sad reality is thousands of very skilled writers never get much in the way of sales or attention.
That’s why I’m asking a small favor – If you like my fiction, kindly consider posting a review on Amazon. That gives my books more visibility and helps others discover my work. And be sure to tell like minded readers about my books. Send them to my free book on Amazon or to an opt-in page. Thanks again. I hope you enjoy the books.
Peace,
John Stacy Worth
About the Author:
Bio – the truth behind the fiction
(or something like that)
How do you describe an author/artist like John Stacy Worth? Well, usually you just get out of the way and let him talk in third person about himself and the art he creates. (It’s less painful that way … probably.)
Though John Stacy Worth may write from a Christian worldview, as he once told his wife, “This ain’t your mama’s Christian Fiction.
His books have no Amish folks (though they are indeed cool), no 1800’s Western setting with a focus on Romance (and Western Romances completely rule – check out ‘Redeeming Love’ by Francine Rivers if you don’t believe it). His fiction is more like, “Can a vampire get saved? What were the Nephilim really like? What happened to those Cherubim and that flaming sword guarding the entrance to Eden?” And, “If you could travel through time to witness the crucifixion and resurrection what would you tell the disciples?”
John Stacy Worth has been writing and illustrating stories like these since he was old enough to trace comic books. He grew up in rural Georgia reading every Tarzan novel he could get his hands on, then moved on to Asimov, Tolkien, Orson Scott Card … you get the picture.
Since those days (way back in the twentieth century), it’s rumored he served in the U.S. Navy (14 countries and, some say, about every island in the Caribbean), spent a year undercover as a High School Science Teacher, then a Chemist for Merck Pharmaceuticals, and (according to certain sources) he’s now at a Nuclear Power Plant.
What’s known for sure is that he’s happily married, somewhere back in Georgia, with two awesome sons. He still likes to draw and make up stories, loves God, and talks about Jesus if you give him half a chance.
His ebooks are just beginning to show up online. He’s also rumored to promote his fiction on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon. And hey, if your mama is that rare and precious type that occasionally wonders “What’s up with Nessie?” or “You know, I believe that Bigfoot critter might be real…” send her his way.
This might be your mama’s Christian Fiction after all.
(Whistler’s mom – down with Fiction Worth Reading. Who knew?)