Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

5 on Friday

5 on Friday: Fiction writers who challenge my faith

I love to read stories. Even more, I love to read stories that make me think. Here are five authors whose stories have done that. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

  1. Jeanette Windle, author of Veiled Freedom, Freedom’s Stand and Congo Dawn, among others.
  2. Kathi Macias, author of the Freedom series, which focused on sex trafficking, and the Extreme Devotion series, among others.
  3. Chris Fabry, author of Borders of the Heart, a challenging look at immigration, and Not in the Heart, a story of sacrificial love.
  4. Christa Allan, author of The Edge of Grace, a story of unconditional love when a family member announces he’s gay.
  5. Matt Mikalatos, author of Night of the Living Dead Christian and My Imaginary Jesus, two books that made me laugh and cry, and that hit a little too close to home.

I’m sure I could add others, but novels these authors have written have gone beyond storytelling to challenge stereotypes or draw attention to injustice.

Who would you add to the list?

5 on Friday: Blogs I read regularly

5 on Friday is a new weekly feature on the blog where I’ll share five things I’m reading, watching, listening to, enjoying, thinking about … you get the idea. Read the first one here.

There’s a lot of stuff to read on and off the Internet. Here are five blogging friends I visit regularly. blog note

  1. Abby Frye, blogging about her life with a chronic  kidney disease, transplant issues and her very real feelings about being sick
  2. Carol Cool, blogging about social justice  issues and how ordinary people can make a difference in their worlds
  3. Courtney Walsh, blogging about books and writing and trusting God with tough stuff
  4. Kristen Hershey, blogging about deals for families, craft ideas, adoption and motherhood
  5. Michelle Roberts, blogging about life “in the fish bowl” as a pastor’s wife.

Who are your regular reads on the Internet?