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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
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A Sin and a Shame (the sequel to Temptation)
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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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Griggs: When you write a book, what is your "intent" for that work (feel free to be specific if different intents apply)?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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!
- 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
- Interview by: Vanessa Davis Griggs, Author of: Promises Beyond Jordan & Wings of Grace
- Copyright © 2006 All rights reserved.
- For permission to use this interview, contact Vanessa Davis Griggs at Vanessa@VanessaDavisGriggs.com
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